PUSD UPDATE

Dear PUSD Community,

PUSD students and teachers are hard at work preparing for the end of the first semester, with final exams for high school students, music and art presentations, and celebrations of athletic achievements.

Students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community members came together to converge ideas on the future of PUSD at a strategic planning conference this weekend. Teams have been working for the last few months to gather community input and formulate ideas on a five-year plan to take PUSD to the next level.

This week, we welcome two newly-elected members of the Board of Education: Dr. Yarma Velasquez (District 7) and Patrice Marshall McKenzie (District 5). Michelle Richardson Bailey (District 3) and Kimberly Kenne (District 1) were also reelected to serve on the Board.

Dr. Yarma Velasquez (District 7)

Patrice Marshall McKenzie (District 5)

Michelle Richardson Bailey (District 3)

Kimberly Kenne (District 1)

I would also like to express sincere gratitude to two outgoing Board of Education trustees for their years of dedication and service to Pasadena Unified. Dr. Elizabeth Pomeroy (District 5) has been a board member since 2009 and Scott Phelps (District 7) since 2005. I am thankful for their leadership, generosity, and their ability to make a difference in the lives of countless students.

Dr. Elizabeth Pomeroy (District 5) - board member since 2009.

Scott Phelps (District 7) - board member since 2005.

I hope you have a great week!

Sincerely,

Brian McDonald, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Starting on Jan. 9, 2023, new and continuing TK-12 PUSD students may apply for schools other than their neighborhood school or apply for a dual-language immersion program through the first lottery of the Open Enrollment process. Children of PUSD employees or City of Pasadena employees are also eligible to participate in the lottery along with families who missed the sibling/priority application period. The first lottery runs through Jan. 27, 2023, at 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.pusd.us/enroll

If you are having trouble understanding the enrollment process, we want to make it easier. The Office of Enrollment will host an Open Enrollment workshop on Thursday, Dec. 15, from 5-6 p.m. at the Early Childhood Center (Cleveland campus), 524 Palisade St., Pasadena, CA 91103, Room B102. No registration is required.

John Muir Early College Magnet has a lot to be proud of this fall - school teams won two CIF division championships this season: the CIF Division 6 Boys Water Polo Championship and the CIF Division 10 football championship!

And though the state championship didn’t go their way this weekend, the Mustangs football team still got the champion’s welcome home after their game in Hughson, CA. Despite a tough loss, members of the football team carried themselves with dignity during and after the game – showing strength, determination, and teamwork on and off the field. Principal Lawton Gray said, “I know that we did not get the result that we were hoping for, but I am so proud of our program.” He said to the team, “The young men on the football team have unified the city to cheer on your success. Each of you has taken care of business not only on the field but in the classroom and on campus. I am so proud of each of you and thankful for the journey you all created not only for yourself, but our entire community.”

We’re so #PUSDproud of you, Mustangs! Congratulations to all of the amazing student-athletes, their coaches, families, and community members who worked so hard to support our ‘Stangs!! #mustangpride

PUSD is developing a five-year Strategic Plan (2023-2028) that will define why we do what we do, where we want to go, and how we believe we will get there. We’re excited to foster a multifaceted planning process that reflects the rich diversity of our school communities and is inclusive of the voices of our students, teachers, administrators, families, and community members.

Teams have been working for the last few months to gather community input and formulate ideas to take PUSD to the next level. On Saturday, members of the six teams - strategists, designers, teachers, administrators, parents, and students - came together at a day-long retreat held at the Pasadena Convention Center. It was a convergence of their work, and an opportunity to connect, identify gaps, and collaborate on drafting a comprehensive five-year strategic plan for PUSD. Learn more at www.pusd.us/strategicplan

Would you like to modernize your school campus and improve athletic facilities? Then, tell us so! Please share your vision for your campus by taking the Facilities Master Plan survey. PUSD needs your input in the district-wide planning process to guide us in prioritizing improvements at our campuses. We aim to better serve the needs of families in the area and to ensure that our schools adhere to the latest safety standards. Take the survey – it’s fast and easy and it runs now through Dec. 31, 2022.

Check www.pusd.us/fmp for more information.

We wanted to thank our PUSD musicians, dancers and musical directors for such an amazing performance at the Hollywood Christmas Parade! We were so proud to see our All Stars perform on the red carpet – always such a wonderful sight to see! If you were unable to join the thousands who lined the parade route, you can still watch the parade which will air this Friday, Dec. 16, on the CW at 8 p.m. Eastern/Pacific. You can also follow the link below to keep up on any other air dates that may be announced. https://thehollywoodchristmasparade.org/tv-and-air-dates/