PJUSD Newsletter

May 2025

Dr. Reyes Gauna

Email

Contact:

Susan White

Senior Executive Assistant / Cabinet Member

swhite@patterson.k12.ca.us

Superintendent's Message (English)

Superintendent's Message (Spanish)

Communications

Visit our district's News & Announcements page on our website to explore our new highlight feature:

Our Promise Features: Showcases our staff for the incredible work they do throughout the district. This spotlight is particularly aimed at those whose work often goes unnoticed but provides significant value to our district, schools, students, and/or staff. It offers a small moment of appreciation for their dedicated efforts in fulfilling our PJUSD Promise.

This month's Promise Feature highlights Northmead Administrative Assistant, Irma Olvera, and her 35 (and continuing) year career at Northmead!

United Patterson Graduate Profile

Join us in celebrating the success of former Patterson graduates with our monthly United Patterson Graduate Profile series. Our latest profile features Victoria Navarro, a proud graduate of Patterson High School Class of 2014.

Read her story and discover more inspiring profiles on our district's website under the News & Announcements page and by clicking on the "United Patterson Profiles" filter.

Do you know a Patterson graduate who has moved on to do some incredible thing? Share their story with our community by clicking the following link: https://bit.ly/UPprofile.

Dear Students, Parents, Staff, and Community Members,

As we enter the final month of the school year, we invite you to participate in a short survey designed to help us evaluate and improve our district’s communication efforts.

Your feedback is important. The insights you share will guide how we strengthen and refine communication practices across Patterson Unified School District. Whether you're a student, family member, staff member, or community partner—your voice matters!

We truly value your time and input, and we look forward to using your responses to better serve our school community.

📆 The survey will remain open until 4:00 PM on Friday, May 16th.

Thank you for being an essential part of our continued growth and success!

Communications Preferences Survey Link

Educational Services

Expanded Learning Programs for Students

PJUSD offers both after school and expanded learning opportunities to our students in transitional kindergarten through eighth grade through our ASES program and our Extended Learning Opportunity Program (ELOP).

The After School Education and Safety (ASES) program for 7th and 8th grade students provides a structured, supportive environment where students can complete homework, explore enrichment activities, and build positive relationships. ASES helps middle schoolers stay engaged in learning, develop leadership skills, and prepare for a successful transition to high school.The Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) offers enriching before- and after-school activities that support academic growth, creativity, and social development in a safe, engaging environment. Participation in ELOP helps children build confidence, develop new skills, and stay connected to their school community beyond regular classroom hours. ELOP is available for students in transitional kindergarten through the sixth grade.

For further information regarding our ASES or ELO-P programs, or how to enroll for the 2025/26 school year, please contact Mariela Aguilar-Munoz, Expanded Learning Program Manager, at (209) 895-7700, ext. 22052.

Transitional Kindergarten and Preschool

For the 2025/26 school year in California, children are eligible for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) if they turn 4 years old on or before September 1, 2025. Children born between September 2, 2020, and September 1, 2021, are eligible for TK during that school year. TK serves as the first year of a two-year kindergarten program, providing a bridge between preschool and kindergarten. It offers developmentally appropriate curriculum led by credentialed teachers, aiming to prepare young learners for success in school.

Also, children who are three or four years old may also enroll and attend one of our excellent preschool programs. Enrolling your child in a California State Preschool Program provides a strong foundation for lifelong learning through play-based, developmentally appropriate activities that build early literacy, math, and social skills. These high-quality programs are led by qualified educators and help children thrive emotionally, socially, and academically—preparing them for success in kindergarten and beyond.

To inquire about PJUSD’s transitional kindergarten program or our preschool programs, including how to enroll, please contact the West Valley Learning Center staff at (209) 892-4550.

Student Support Services

Join Us for Our Final Parent Café of the School Year!

Dear Patterson Families and Community Members,

We are excited to invite you to our final Parent Café of the school year on Monday, May 13th at 4:30 PM sharp! This event will take place at the PJUSD Professional Development Center, 530 Keystone Blvd.

We’re proud to welcome presenters from La Familia Central Valley, who will lead an official Mental Health First Aid Training, facilitated by a licensed mental health clinician. This FREE training will provide you with valuable tools to support the mental wellness of your family and community.

All attendees will receive a certificate of completion, officially recognizing their training with a professional. This certificate can be added to your résumé and applied in real-life situations where mental health support is needed.

RSVP Now:

Please RSVP today by clicking the link below or scanning the QR code on the flyer.

Need help registering? Contact one of our Family Support Specialists:

Joanna: (209) 913-9290 (habla español)
Martha: (209) 913-9694 (habla español)

Event Information

Final Parent Cafe of the Year with Opportunity to Earn Certificate!

When?

Monday, May 12, 2025, 04:30 PM

Where?

530 Keystone Boulevard, Patterson, CA, USA

Parent Cafe Flyer (English)

Parent Cafe Flyer (Spanish)

Human Resources

PJUSD Promise Awards

We are excited to announce the recipients of our May 2025 PJUSD Promise Awards:

Certificated - Catelyn McGuire (Northmead)

Classified - Inez Ferro (Apricot Valley)

Congratulations to Catelyn and Inez! We look forward to honoring you at our regular Board meeting on Monday, May 5, 2025.

As we celebrate our May recipients, we also want to recognize our April 2025 Promise Award winners:

Certificated – Jason Thompson (Creekside Middle School)

Classified – Katy Cardona (Creekside Middle School)

Be sure to check out their photos below and join us in recognizing all of these outstanding individuals for their dedication, service, and embodiment of the PJUSD Promise.

Join Us at the Spring Job Fair!

Our Human Resources Team will be at the City of Patterson and Patterson-Westley Chamber of Commerce Spring Job Fair on Wednesday, May 22nd from 3:30–6:00 PM at the Hammon Senior Center. This free event is a great opportunity to learn more about working with the Patterson Joint Unified School District. If you’ve ever been curious about joining our team, stop by and say hello!

Join Our Team!

We are always looking to fill vacancies internal and external vacancies throughout our district. These roles may vary from part-time, substitute, to fulltime roles. Please visit our district's website to find out how to Join Our Team!

https://www.patterson.k12.ca.us/district/careers

Those not interested in fulltime employment with Patterson Joint can apply to become a qualified substitute to fill in for staff absences. If you want more information on how to be added to our substitute list please use the following link: https://www.edjoin.org/Home/JobPosting/1879360