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PUSD UPDATE

May 30, 2023

PUSD UPDATE May 30, 2023

MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

A Portrait of Dr. Brian McDonald, PUSD Superintendent
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Dear PUSD Community,


It’s the last week of the school year! It’s a time to celebrate all that our students have accomplished, their growth as learners, artists, and athletes.


High school graduation ceremonies are taking place in the next few days and I’m excited to see our seniors graduate. The Class of 2023 includes Posse and QuestBridge Scholars, elite athletes, and talented artists. They’re headed to college and higher education and entering the workforce or the military. They are critical thinkers, creative problem solvers, and strong communicators who are ready for the world.


Their high school years have been marked by tremendous change as the world navigated a pandemic and the transformation that followed, touching every aspect of life and society. Through it all, we’ve watched them turn obstacles into opportunities, champion inclusion and equity, and drive positive change in our community.


PUSD is honored to have been part of that journey. I wish you the very best.


Sincerely,


Brian McDonald, Ed.D.

Superintendent

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL/FIRST DAY OF NEW SCHOOL YEAR

The last day of school for students is Thursday, June 1, 2023! The first day of the 2023-2024 school year is August 14 for students. Have a great summer!

GRADUATION & PROMOTION CEREMONIES

PUSD high school graduation and middle school promotions are scheduled this week. Schedule

CELEBRATING PUSD’S CLASS OF 2023

Congratulations to PUSD’s high school Class of 2023! Visit www.pusd.us/graduates for highlights of some of this year’s graduates and links to livestreams of the ceremonies. Look for special editions of the PUSD Spotlight on Graduates coming soon!

GRADUATE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Marshall Fundamental Second Secondary School senior Jesus Cortes graduates this week and will head to Colby College in Maine this fall to major in Biochemistry. He is the recipient of the full-ride, highly-selective QuestBridge scholarship which covers tuition, room and board, books, supplies, and travel expenses. Jesus was in the top six percent of 17,800 candidates in one of the most competitive applicant pools in Colby’s history.

Jesus attended kindergarten at Jefferson Elementary and Marshall since sixth grade. He is a member of the National Honor Society, the Asian Club, the Armenian Club, the Christian Club, the Students for Environmental Awareness (SEA) Club, and the Puente Club and its STARS program.


In Puente, he tutored and mentored younger students and received the Puente Merit-Based Scholarship for Academic Excellence. He is the founder of the Gym Club and a founding member of the ACT (Action Changes Things) Club. He enjoys practicing Jiu Jitsu and kickboxing. Jesus has participated in the Cal State Upward Bound math/science program since 9th grade and says it helped him meet his college goals, “Upward Bound Summer Enrichment Program STEM class helped me find my passion for chemistry.”


Sounds like the definition of the PUSD Graduate Profile. Congratulations, Jesus!

SUMMER LEARNING

Pasadena LEARNs Summer of Discovery programs begin June 6, 2023. Please check our Summer Learning Opportunities catalog at www.pusd.us/summer for other program starting dates.

SUMMER MEALS

This summer, PUSD offers free breakfast and lunch for children and youth ages 18 and younger at more than 20 schools, libraries, and community centers in Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre. For a list of sites, visit https://www.pusd.us/Page/10485

WEAR ORANGE - GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS

PUSD believes that all children, faculty, and staff have the right to come to school every day without fear of gun violence. To that end, the district will take part in National Gun Violence Prevention Day on Friday, June 2, by encouraging everyone to #WearOrange and post a selfie or a photo with friends. Five $25 gift card winners will be selected by Day One, a local non profit organization committed to “empowering youth and igniting change.” For more information visit https://wearorange.org and https://www.godayone.org/.

PUSD STUDENTS’ BUG WORK AWARDED BIG TIME

Several Sierra Madre Middle School (SMMS) students are being recognized for their insect insights and research on mosquito-borne diseases. At last week’s PUSD Board Meeting, leaders from the San Gabriel Valley Vector Control District presented “Vector Inspector of the Year” awards to 24 SMMS students, the most of any participating school. The awards stem from months of work studying specimens found in the students’ own backyards as part of Operation Mosquito G.R.I.D. (Growth, Reduction & Increased Detection). The program also introduces students to potential career paths and allows them to use the same equipment and observational techniques as professional ecologists. In March, we announced that their science teacher, Ravishanth Dev Anandhan (Mr. Dev), became the first PUSD teacher to receive the Public Health Teacher of the Year Award 2022. Congratulations to Mr. Dev and his awesome students!

UPCOMING BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

  • The regular meeting of the PUSD Board of Education is Thursday, June 22 at 4:00 p.m. Elbie J. Hickambottom Board Room (Room 236), 351 S. Hudson Ave, Pasadena. Agenda at www.pusd.us/Page/639

Pasadena Unified School District
Our Children. Learning Today. Leading Tomorrow.
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351 S. Hudson Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91109