PUSD UPDATE

EDITOR’S NOTE REGARDING

PUSD UPDATE

November 6, 2023

CORRECTION: Language options corrected to add Washington and Willard, remove Jefferson TK, and revise Blair language programs which begin in 6th grade, not 9th. Please see corrections below.

Dear PUSD Community,

November is a month of gratitude and appreciation. As Interim Superintendent, I appreciate the awareness and care we all take to make sure that our students are globally-minded, ready for a world that is rapidly changing, and mindful of their connection to each other. PUSD’s incredible language programs (described below) speak directly to our commitment to cultural responsiveness and academic excellence.

Friday, November 10 is Veterans Day, when we thank and honor all the brave individuals who served in the armed forces.

Please enjoy this week’s Update and have a great week!

Sincerely,

Elizabeth J. Blanco, Ed.D.

Interim Superintendent

CORRECTION: Language options corrected to add Washington and Willard, remove Jefferson TK, and revise Blair language programs which begin in 6th grade, not 9th. Please see corrections below.

PUSD schools are preparing preK-12th grade students for a globalizing world through Dual Language Immersion Programs (DLIP) and world language programs in Armenian, French, Mandarin, and Spanish. World languages are offered at more than a dozen PUSD preschools, elementary, middle and high schools in four languages.

Spanish Dual Language Immersion Preschool Program

• Cleveland Dual Language Children's Center

• San Rafael Elementary Preschool

• Jackson Elementary Preschool

• Jefferson Children’s Center

Mandarin Dual Language Immersion Preschool Program

• Field Elementary

Armenian Grades TK-12

• Webster: TK-5

• Blair School: 6-12

French Grades K-8

• Altadena Arts Magnet: K-5

• Eliot Arts Magnet: 6-8

Mandarin Grades TK-12

• Field Elementary: TK-5

• Sierra Madre Middle School: 6-8

• Pasadena High School: 9-1

Spanish Grades TK-12

• Jackson STEM Dual Language Magnet Academy: TK-5

• Longfellow Elementary School: TK-5

• San Rafael Elementary School: K-5

• Washington Elementary STEM Magnet: TK-5

• Willard International Baccalaureate School: TK-5

• Octavia E. Butler Magnet Academy: 6-8

• Blair School: 6-12

Be sure to enroll now if your child has a sibling enrolled in PUSD or is continuing to grades 6 or 9 in a signature program (Dual Language, International Baccalaureate, STEM/Arts Magnet). Applications for sibling/priority enrollment are due November 13, 2023 at 4 p.m. https://www.pusd.us/enroll

Families may register children to attend their neighborhood school beginning December 4, 2023 if the child is a new to PUSD K-12 student who prefers their neighborhood school or if they are just entering transitional kindergarten (TK). Find your school at www.pusd.us/findmyschool and register on or after December 4, 2023.

New and continuing TK-12 students who live in Pasadena, Altadena, or Sierra Madre may apply for schools other than their assigned neighborhood school for PUSD signature programs through two lotteries. Children of full-time PUSD and City of Pasadena employees are also eligible. Apply online: pusd.schoolmint.com

• 1st Lottery Application Period: January 9, 2024 at 9 a.m. through January 26, 2024 at 4 p.m.

• 2nd Lottery: March 4, 2024, 9 a.m. - March 8, 2024, 4 p.m.

Transitional Kindergarten (TK) is expanding for the 2024-25 school year to include children who turn five by June 2, 2025. TK will be available at all PUSD schools, and Spanish immersion TK will expand to two sites (Longfellow and Jackson). Space is limited, so please see the application dates above and apply as soon as you are eligible!

The PUSD Board of Education is asking for your help in selecting the next superintendent. To ensure this is a collaborative and inclusive process, the Board invites students, staff, parents, and community members to provide their input via an anonymous survey. The survey is open through November 17, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. Take the survey

Save the Date! Superintendent Search Community Forums

November 29, 2023 - 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

John Muir High School

1905 N. Lincoln Ave., Pasadena

Rooms: Auditorium, A132, A136

November 30, 2023 - 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Pasadena High School

2925 E. Sierra Madre Blvd., Pasadena

Rooms: Auditorium, Cafeteria, Library

Reminder - the California Healthy Kids Survey runs through November 27, 2023 for PUSD families and staff and for students in grades 6, 7, 9, and 11. The survey gathers feedback on elements that affect learning, such as health risks, school connectedness, school climate, and school violence. It is anonymous, confidential, and voluntary but highly encouraged because your voice is valuable! Each school will send families, staff, and participating students a link specifically for their school.

Join us Wednesday, November 8, 2023 at 6 p.m. at John Muir Early College Magnet High School for a celebration of PUSD marching bands.

Get ready to join the “PUSD Trot Squad” at 9 a.m. Thanksgiving Day for the 6th Annual 5K Rose Bowl Turkey Trot! We’ll trot, skip, walk or run around the 5K recreational loop at the Rose Bowl Stadium. This year’s Turkey Trot supports athletics at four PUSD high schools - Blair, John Muir, Marshall, and PHS. To purchase tickets, click here or scan the QR code below. PUSD students get free entry. All patrons 9 and under are always free, regardless of PUSD affiliation. For PUSD students only ages 10 - 18, the promo code will be applied at the checkout page using this link.