May 13, 2024
Dear PUSD Families:
I hope all of our moms had a wonderful Mother's Day yesterday. Also, it was great to see so many families at the Spring Fling! What an incredible event, and we have such gratitude to our parents for your support of our elementary programs. Thank you to the entire PEF team, including Marco, Max, and Michael for chairing this amazing event! In this week’s edition of the Piedmont Pulse, I will be sharing information about the following topics:
- Celebrations
- New Director of Athletics
- PIP: Piedmont Inclusive Preschool
- Alumni Network
- Reminders: PUSD Summer Adventures & MHS Open Enrollment
In partnership,
Jennifer Hawn, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Wildwood Proclamation - Thank you to the Wildwood Parents Club and to City Council for commemorating Wildwood’s 100th year. On May 6th, City Council recognized Wildwood’s 100th year with a proclamation, and over the last several weeks, the Wildwood Parents Club held several celebrations to showcase the history of Wildwood over the last 100 years. Congratulations to the Wildwood staff and families, and let’s hear it for another 100 years or more!
Climate Literacy in PUSD - On May 8th, staff recommended approval of a Climate Literacy Resolution, which will move our district forward on the critical issue of climate change. It is important to note that climate change is one of the top concerns of Gen Z and Millennials, and this request emerged out of a committee of students, staff and community members. As with all instructional programs, we will move forward in a collaborative manner, with staff leading our efforts, alongside leveraging the expertise of our community and the voice of our students.
PMS Diversity Day - Congratulations to Anne Smith and the PMS team for an outstanding Diversity Day on May 6th. Students engaged in lessons, music, and interacted with speakers on a variety of DEIB topics. It was a wonderful day for all.
We are thrilled to announce Tyler Small as our next Director of Athletics. Originally from Central Indiana, Tyler Small has been in education for 16 years with over 10 years of leadership experience. Earning a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and Health from Indiana University, he started his career as a High School Teacher and Coach. He coached High School Football, Wrestling, Golf, and was the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach.
Tyler has always had a passion for children with special needs and attained his Master of Arts in Special Education from Ball State University and a post master’s certification in Educational Leadership. He has spent the last 10 years of his career in educational leadership roles including Assistant Principal, High School Principal, and his most recent role as Regional Vice President of Spectrum Schools and Programs. Tyler has a proven track record of developing high-performing teams leading to academic and athletic excellence for the students and teachers he’s served. As a member of the Piedmont community, Tyler enjoys spending time with his wife Jessie and their four children who currently attend PMS and Beach Elementary.
We put Tyler through a rigorous hiring process, including three interviews and a background check. My thanks to the interview panelists, who included teachers, coaches, board members, community members, parents, and even students. Throughout this intensive process, Tyler shined through as just the person we are looking for here in Piedmont USD. Welcome Tyler!
PUSD is thrilled to be expanding its esteemed Early Intervention Preschool Program at Havens by offering children who reside in Piedmont, who do not meet TK-age eligibility, an opportunity to attend PUSD as a preschooler. The PUSD Early Intervention Preschool program has supported the community’s youngest learners with disabilities since 2014 and is now enrolling a limited number of general education preschool-age students to create an inclusive preschool.
More information about the program is linked HERE.
PIP is a nurturing, play-based, sensory-enriched preschool that fosters inclusivity and promotes the holistic development of all children. First and foremost, our classroom is play-based. We structure each week’s art, music, and circle-time activities around a theme (e.g., “dinosaurs”, “outer space,” “rainbows”).
Our program is designed to build children’s:
Language and vocabulary
Social-emotional development
Social and play skills
Self-care and school readiness skills
Motor skills
Pre-academic skills
Self-regulation skills
Curriculum that are built into each week include Zones of Regulation, Handwriting Without Tears, and Kimochis.
I am thrilled to launch the Piedmont Alumni Network! Linked HERE is a page on our PUSD website to invite alumni of PHS and MHS to sign up. Over the last year, I have connected with many alumni who have shared various Facebook pages and other social media sites with alumni grouped across sites and connected by individuals. The goal is to build and reinforce connections and community pride by connecting alumni in one place. We are in the early stages of exploring how we might connect our alumni, but for now, please share this link with any of our alumni. Whether you graduated many years ago, or recently, we would love to have you sign up HERE.
Get ready for an unforgettable summer as Summer Adventures makes its grand return for the first time since COVID! Join us as we embark on a journey filled with fun, laughter, and endless discoveries. Our dedicated team of teachers and staff have been hard at work planning an array of awesome classes and experiences, including Junior Journalist, Superhero Fitness, Marvelous Math, Spanish, Junior Naturalists, and arts and writing classes, ensuring there's something for every age level to enjoy! Plus, we're thrilled to bring back the programs designed to ease transitions, including Welcome to TK, Welcome to Kindergarten, and Welcome to 6th Grade.
Session Dates:
Session 1: June 5-14 (8 days)
Location: Havens Elementary
Grades: TK-8th grade
Registration Fees:
Morning Only (9:00 am - 12:00 pm): $525.00
Full Day (9:00 am - 3:00 pm): $1050.00
Registration is open on Infinite Campus. Visit our website and learn more about our exciting summer programs: https://www.piedmont.k12.ca.us/summer-school
For more information, contact Erin Rivera, Summer Adventures Coordinator, at erivera@piedmont.k12.ca.us.
Millennium High School is a free, small, public alternative high school and is part of the Piedmont Unified School District. Millennium is currently accepting applications for students who live outside of Piedmont and are entering grades 9th through 12th. No application is required for Piedmont residents.
ABOUT MILLENNIUM HIGH SCHOOL
- College Preparatory Courses
- Safe, Supportive, and Non-Competitive Environment Where Everyone is Welcome
- Small Learning Community with a Low Teacher to Student Ratio
- Diverse and Inclusive Student Body
- Student-Centered Environment focused on Wellness and Individual Success
- Students live in cities throughout the East Bay
APPLY TODAY!
Visit the Millennium website to apply: https://mhs.piedmont.k12.ca.us/about-mhs/application-process. The new school year starts on August 12, 2024. If you have questions, please feel free to contact Principal Irma Muñoz Daniels directly at (510) 594-2703 or imunoz@piedmont.k12.ca.us, or see more information linked HERE
Piedmont Unified School District
Email: communication@piedmont.k12.ca.us
Website: www.piedmont.k12.ca.us
Location: 760 Magnolia Avenue, Piedmont, CA, USA
Phone: 510-594-2600