PUSD UPDATE

The last few weeks before the end of the school year will be quite busy with festivities, open houses, and end of year events.

This week is Administrative Professionals Week and I would like to take a moment to pause and thank the administrative professionals – secretaries, office managers, administrative assistants, and other office professionals – who do so much for our schools behind the scenes.

In this week’s Update, we celebrate the accomplishments of student musicians, athletes, scientists, and artists. We also invite you to help determine the future of our district by taking the LCAP survey and participating in the upcoming Board of Education Town Hall on the Strategic Plan.

Have a great week!

Brian McDonald, Ed.D.

Superintendent

There’s nothing quite like practicing with pros. Student musicians had an opportunity to get pointers from professionals at PUSD’s 2023 Adjudicated Music Festivals last week. Middle and high school students performed with a choir, band, or orchestra and then received constructive feedback from professional musicians. Composer/director Richard Meyer, who taught at PUSD for 11 years and conducted the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra for over 16 years, says the festival allows students to hear other groups play and to perform in a large auditorium. One key benefit – getting input from someone who is going to “tell it like it is” while at the same time allowing students to discover on their own and work in harmony with a group.

“My main approach is a climate of discovery. I let the students find things out for themselves,” Mr. Meyer said.

He also noted that PUSD provides music class as part of the school day, not just as a club after school. Starting in third grade, all students get instrumental music instruction as part of the school day. For more information on PUSD music programs, click here.

Members of Marshall’s Orchestra getting valuable feedback from professional composer and conductor, Richard Meyer.

We hope you enjoyed our largest Science Fest ever on Earth Day this past Saturday. As a District, we’ve always remained committed to the environment. John Muir High School was founded in 1926 and is named for the well-known naturalist and environmental philosopher. The Engineering & Environmental Science Academy at John Muir Early College Magnet prepares students for college and career. In Fall 2023, a new environmental science program will open at Washington Elementary STEM Magnet.

Essotina and Oliver, Kindergarden students from Altadena Arts Magnet School, learn about how comets are created.

The Marshall Fundamental Varsity Baseball Team has clinched first place in the Mission Valley League for the 2023 Season after a 14-game winning streak this season. Congratulations to all the players and coaches and good luck in the 1st Round CIF playoff on May 4!

Leading up to and during the month of April, Creative Arts Media and Design (CAMAD) sophomores at PHS have been working on an exhibition honoring the people terrorized, ravaged, and displaced as well as those who survived genocide. It highlights Armenia, Cambodia, Darfur, Herero, Holodomor, the Holocaust, Native American, and Rwandan survivors and heroes. The Exhibition is on view at the North gate of the PHS campus. The exhibition continues through April 28.

To raise awareness of the Armenian Genocide of 1915, students from the Armenian Academy at Blair and from Webster Elementary (home to an Armenian World Language Program) presented a Genocide resolution to the PUSD Board of Education recently. The Board passed Resolution No. 2700 and reaffirmed its commitment to ensure that genocide studies remain an important part of education at PUSD.

PUSD is developing a five-year Strategic Plan (2023-2028) that will define why we do what we do, where we want to go, and how we believe we will get there. Please join us for a Strategic Plan Town Hall on May 11. We want to hear from the entire community!

Help determine what areas PUSD should prioritize in the development of its Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) for the next school year. www.pusd.us/survey

This week, April 23 -29, is National Administrative Professionals Week and we celebrate the work of secretaries, office managers, administrative assistants, and other office professionals for their enormous contributions to our schools.

Join us at the Third Annual Art Walk at Altadena Eliot Arts Magnet, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm. It will feature a curated selection of artwork, student performances, and special presentations. The event also celebrates the elementary school’s recent designation as a National Demonstration Magnet School and a new multimillion dollar arts and French magnet grant at the middle school campus.

This Thursday, April 27, we invite you to wear blue in support of Autism Awareness Month. On Thursday, PUSD’s Special Education team will also present a resolution to the Board of Education reiterating the District’s commitment to increasing public awareness, and supporting individuals with autism and the family members and professionals who care for them.

Have you visited your school library or public library lately? Now is the perfect time because this week, April 23-29 is National Library Week. We are joining bibliophiles everywhere to celebrate the contributions of our nation's libraries and librarians.

"Feeling anxious about your child's first year in kindergarten? Join us to learn how to prepare your child for the school year! We will go over summer preparations, self-care, academic standards, how to navigate PUSD, and so much more. Childcare will be available.

The English workshop will be held in person at Longfellow Elementary School on Wednesday, May 3 from 6pm-7:30pm.

The Spanish workshop will be held in person at Madison Elementary School on Thursday, May 4 from 6pm-7:30pm.

Neighborhood school enrollment continues for:

• TK-12 students who live within PUSD and are entering their school of residence for the first time.

• New to PUSD students entering Transitional Kindergarten. TK students must turn 5 years old between September 2, 2023 - April 2, 2024.

• Current PUSD students who are advancing to 6th or 9th grades and plan to attend their neighborhood school

Please note: registration is not required for TK-12th grade students to continue at the same school. For example, if a child is moving on from 2nd to 3rd grade at their current neighborhood school, parents are not required to re-register. Please visit www.pusd.us/enroll for more information.

• Regular meeting of the PUSD Board of Education is April 27, 2023, 4:00 p.m. Elbie J. Hickambottom Board Room (Room 236), 351 S. Hudson Ave, Pasadena. Agenda at www.pusd.us/Page/639