PUSD UPDATE

Dear PUSD Community,

This week, we celebrate the start of Black History Month. This year’s theme is African Americans and the Arts and it’s designed to illustrate the immeasurable impacts Black Americans have had on visual arts, music, cultural movements, and more. People across the nation will honor these achievements throughout February.

At PUSD, Black history is more than a month, more than a mention. It is our daily mission to spearhead systemic change, to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to enhance achievement for all students. I’m proud of the work PUSD has accomplished - the equity lens that guides our decisions and actions, the addition of ethnic studies courses, the Black Student & Family Task Force, and much more. My colleagues and I are committed to promoting excellence through educational equity and eliminating barriers that keep students, especially those from marginalized communities, from receiving a high-quality education.

In this week’s update, we invite you to a conversation about PUSD schools in Altadena, spotlight spelling bee champions and student athletes, honor Fred Koromatsu, the Asian American civil rights leader, and more.

Have a great week!

Sincerely,

Elizabeth J. Blanco, Ed.D.

Interim Superintendent

PUSD schools are now enrolling for the 2024-2025 school year. PUSD is a district of choice, which means that if the program you are interested in is not at your neighborhood school or if you live outside the district, you may apply to a PUSD school via the PUSD’s Open Enrollment process.

• Results of the first lottery application period will be available online by February 16, 2024, 11:59 p.m.

• Please accept school offers by March 1, 2024.

• In case you missed the first lottery, the second lottery is March 4-8, 2024.

School tours continue! Visit pusd.us/tours for more information.

PUSD’s early child education focuses on creativity, learning through play, and building skills to prepare for traditional Kindergarten. Full-day Transitional Kindergarten (TK) is a fun introduction to kindergarten and is available at all neighborhood schools for children who turn 5 years old between September 2 and June 2 for the 2024-2025 school year. Families may also submit an Open Enrollment application to request their preferred schools or a dual language immersion program.

PRESCHOOL

Full and half-day preschool programs for children ages 3 and 4 include activities such as language development, science, technology, engineering, art, and math - all in a fun and nurturing environment that’s just right for our youngest learners. Dual language immersion programs in Spanish and Mandarin are also available. Register for PUSD’s Early Childhood Education at pusd.us/ece.

Congratulations to three bright students who won the district-wide spelling bee last week!

(In photo from left to right)

• Noah Marquez, Grade 4, Field, 1st Place

• Lukas Olsen, Grade 5, Webster, 2nd Place

• Liam Condon, Grade 6, Marshall, 3rd Place

“Dialysis” was the winning word in this year’s bee. Competitors from grades four through six went head to head, syllable to syllable, for 19 challenging rounds. We are #PUSDproud of all of the spellers who competed this year.

Congratulations to the PHS boys basketball team currently ranked number one in Division 2A! With just a few days left in the regular season, PHS will face off against Muir on Thursday, February 1. Best of luck to both teams and to all of our outstanding PUSD student-athletes!

PUSD’s annual Innovation Exposition will showcase original and creative projects by students in grades K-8 on Friday, February 2, 2024, at the McKinley School Gymnasium (325 S. Oak Knoll Ave., Pasadena). The Expo is known as Pasadena’s “alternative to the traditional science fair” because it goes beyond the typical science fair allowing students to explore six unique areas: Invention, Science Fiction Writing, Scientific Inquiry, Environmental Innovation, 3D Printing, and Reverse Engineering. Thank you to the judges, who are experts in their fields, for volunteering their time to evaluate student presentations.

Take the LCAP Survey! PUSD has begun developing the 2024-2027 Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP). The LCAP is built using the feedback from students, their families/caregivers, teachers and other employees, community partners, and members of the PUSD community who may not have children attending our schools. Complete the survey today! Survey ends February 16, 2024. pusd.us/survey

Fred Korematsu was an American civil rights hero who resisted the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. During last week’s PUSD Board of Education meeting, a longtime PUSD advocate, Linda Machida, described how her mother was also incarcerated in an internment camp and she reiterated why it’s so important to educate students about the courage of Fred Korematsu. Arrested and convicted of defying the government’s order, his case was not overturned for four decades and, in 1998, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Once again this year, the PUSD Board officially declared January 30 as the annual Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution. It is the first statewide day in U.S. history named after an Asian American.

Need help paying for college? PUSD seniors could win a $2,500 Rose Scholarship through the Tournament of Roses Foundation. The program will award eight $2,500 scholarships to graduating seniors from PUSD. Apply before the deadline, March 4, 2024.

Outstanding attendance pays off in so many ways at PUSD. Dr. Elisa Pérez, the principal at Madison Elementary, encourages kids to come to school on time every day. Every month, a group of five students with excellent attendance are treated to a special lunch to talk about their dreams and hopes for the future. We know from our own experiences that getting young children (and ‘tweens and teens) to school on time every day can be a tall order. PUSD’s department of Child Welfare and Attendance is here to support you and your family. Visit pusd.us/attendance.

Worried about being able to afford college? Attend a “Cash for College” webinar organized by the California Student Aid Commission. These webinars will provide students and their families information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and California Dream Act Application (CADAA). Details

• Regular meeting of the PUSD Board of Education – Thursday, February 22, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. Elbie J. Hickambottom Board Room (Room 236), 351 S. Hudson Ave, Pasadena. Agenda at pusd.us/board.