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Parent Newsletter #40: 6/6/25

Highlander News from the Principal's Office

Parent Newsletter#40: 6/6/25Highlander News from the Principal's Office

About Piedmont High School

From the Desk of Your Principal

Dear Highlander Families,


We have reached the end of our academic year. For our class of '26 families, this is your final newsletter from me. Graduation was a heartwarming denouement to an amazing year filled with laughter, tears of joy, and so much spirit.


For our returning families, we have many exciting activities in store for 2025-26 [corrected the year]. From day 1 to day 180, it will be exciting. I hope our families have a fun-filled, safe, and memorable summer. We look forward to seeing all our returning families and our rising 8th graders in 66 days--August 11!


The next newsletter is tentatively scheduled to come out on July 25.


Warmly,

Dr. Yoshihara

Important Dates

August 7: New Parent Meeting (TBD)

August 8: Walkthrough Registration (12-6 pm)

August 11: First day of school

August 22: Senior Sunrise (6:30-8 am, TBD)

August 29: ASB Friday Fest (TBD)

September 4: Back to School Night (Tentative)

September 5: ASB Club Day (Lunch)

September 5: Senior Picnic Fest

Some Class of 2025 Candid Photos

So much fun, so much love, so much JOY. Thank you class of 2025! And for those who want to relive the memory...over and over, you may now do so!

2025 Graduation Ceremony

2025-26 Parent Club Meetings

Dear PHS Families,

Before you check out for the summer and embark on travel, lounge by the pool, or start a house project, please note the dates for next year's Parents' Club meetings, which will be held in the Alan Harvey Theater lobby on the following Fridays from 9:00-10:30 am:

  • August 15, 2025
  • September 19, 2025
  • October 17, 2025
  • November 14, 2025
  • December 12, 2025
  • January 16, 2026
  • February 13, 2026
  • March 20, 2026
  • April 17, 2026
  • May 15, 2026


Happy Summer,

Sally Baack and Dana Lung

Co-Presidents, PHS Parents' Club

2025-26 Cell Phone Policy

Per AB 3216 (Phone-Free School Act) signed by Governor Newsom in September 2024, all school districts must develop policies limiting or prohibiting phone use by July 1, 2026.


On May 28, 2025, the Board approved a policy that restricts cell phones to only be permitted before school, after school, and at lunch. This extends to all personally connected devices, including but not limited to:

  • Tablets (e.g. IPads)

  • Smartwatches

  • Earbuds/earphones

  • Smart watches

  • Laptops (beyond District-issued Chromebooks)


During class time, including Academy, all students shall place their phones into the “cell phone hotels”. They shall remain in the hotel until the end of the class. This shall include Academy.


During passing and brunch, cell phones shall be off (or on silent) in your backpack.

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Cell Phone Enforcement

In the classroom, teachers may remind students to put phones in the hotel. Otherwise, they may collect the phone for the remainder of the period or ask that office staff come retrieve the phone. If office staff retrieves the phone, a parent/guardian will be asked to come pick up the phone.


During passing periods and brunch, staff will ask students to put away or remove personally connected devices. Repeated violation of this may result in the phone being confiscated and picked up by a parent/guardian.

Entrepreneurship Coming in Spring 2026

In support of the LCAP goal of providing outstanding academics, we are planning to offer our second dual enrollment course to be offered in Spring 2026. The professor has been identified. The class is entitled BUS 54: Small Business Management.


This course will provide an overview of the factors involved in starting or growing a business including, but not limited to:


  • Business plan development
  • Marketing, sales, and promotional strategies
  • Financial management and forecasting techniques
  • Human Resources management
  • Information systems management


This 3-unit class will meet twice a week. Final details will be ironed out over the summer, and student enrollment will start in August. Like Math 3c, we will follow the calendar at Berkeley City College for attendance purposes. More details will be provided in the next newsletter.

SAT/ACT Testing Dates for 2025-26 School Year

We will offer the following college entrance exams next school year. The dates are still tentative but we want to get information out to you know for planning purposes. All orders will be made through Infinite Campus School Store which can be done when the school year starts next year. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Marik


  • Pre-ACT - Saturday, 10/4/25 (confirmed)
  • PSAT - Saturday, 10/11/25 (confirmed)
  • SAT - Monday, 3/16/26 (still tentative)

PHS Walk Through Registration Signups

We need volunteers for Walkthrough Registration on August 8, 2025 [date fixed on 6/12]. Already? Yep, already. Part of what makes PHS amazing is the level of advanced planning of our parents. Please lock in on this date if you can. It'll be a beautiful, sunny California Classic day!


PHS Walk Through Registration Signup

Class of 2025: Join the Alumni Network

Seniors (and parents), did you know that we have an alumni network? This was launched this year and is used as a tool for PUSD to reach out to our alumni to give back to our schools. Some examples of ways that alumni can support our schools is through activities like Career Day, chaperoning field trips, or even subbing in our schools.


This can also be a resource for alumni to get in touch with each other. Linked HERE is a page on our PUSD website to invite alumni of PHS and MHS to sign up. If you wish to sign up directly, you may do so HERE.

FRC Robotics (Team 8033) Registration Open for 2025-2026

Registration is now open for 2025-2026 FRC season for rising 9th-12 graders. FIRST Robotics is an opportunity to collaborate and compete in a supportive team-oriented and respectful community, learn technical, process, design, operational and business skills, and socialize with like-minded people and make lifelong friends. Students get real world engineering experience and practices, including hands-on prototyping, CAD, fabrication, and programming, engineering design process, and iterative problem-solving skills.


To learn more, view our FRC Highlander Robotics Slideshow 2025-2026, visit https://www.piedmontmakers.org/robotics, or email us frc8033@piedmontmakers.org.

Thanks & Appreciations

  • Much thanks to Jen Rinna-Hildreth and all the students in their creation of the mural outside room 40. It looks beautiful!
  • Kudos to Mr. David Cole for his masterful craftwork for the Highlander Hunt plaque. Your amazing talents are greatly appreciated and will last for many years.
David Yoshihara
David is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters