Dear AUSD Community,

As we move further into the school year, I want to take a moment to recognize all that our students and staff have already accomplished. Across our district, we have seen outstanding achievements, with students excelling in and out of the classroom and earning recognition in local and statewide competitions, including the impressive accomplishments at the recent Los Angeles County Academic Decathlon. (See our first “featured” event below for more details.) These successes are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, teachers, and families.

However, none of these achievements would be possible without regular and consistent school attendance. While we absolutely want students to stay home when they are truly ill, missing school for other reasons can add up quickly. Missing just one or two days each month can total nearly a full year of lost instruction by the time a student completes 12th grade. Research shows that chronic absenteeism (missing 10% or more school days) is linked to lower academic performance, difficulty keeping up with coursework, and a higher risk of not graduating on time.

We recognize that the recent wildfires led to multiple days of school closures across our entire district in January and that Mark Keppel High School faced additional closures due to a power outage earlier this month. Closing our schools is a decision we do not take lightly, but in these cases, the closures were necessary due to the unforeseen circumstances. These unexpected disruptions make it even more critical for students to be in school every day. Every lesson missed is an opportunity lost, and we want to ensure that all students have the best chance to reach their full potential.

Thank you for your partnership in making attendance a priority. If your family is facing challenges related to attendance, please reach out to your school’s office. We are here to support you as we continue to work together to make this school year a great one!

Warm Regards,

Denise R. Jaramillo, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Congratulations to Coach Jose Sanchez and Alhambra High School's Academic Decathlon team for WINNING the 2025 LA County competition with an overall score of 47,430 points! On February 13th, the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) hosted their AcaDec award luncheon at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, where it was announced the AHS team is now a Back-to-Back champion. They won first place overall and first place in the highly competitive Division 1 Super Quiz event, focused on this year's theme of "Our Changing Climate." In total, they won 74 individual medals, including 41 gold! Among the many highlights were:

• Overall top scorer Kevin San
• Overall second top scorer Kevin San
• Top scorer in the Scholastic division: Oscar Diaz
• Four gold medalists in the Speech category, including a perfect score of 1,000 by Cesar Gonzalez

More good news for AUSD: Mark Keppel High School finished with the second highest score (46,307 points) and will join AHS at the California State Finals March 20-23 in Santa Clara. They were also awarded recognition as Most Improved team. Additionally, San Gabriel High School's 12th place finish secured them a spot in the State's virtual AcaDec competition on March 8th. AUSD is so proud of all three teams, and wishes them the best of luck as they continue their competitive journey at the next level! (Read more about their accomplishments in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune & Colorado Boulevard.)

Although these slide decks give you an overview and basic information on these topics, we encourage you to attend our BOARD MEETINGS and listen to the detailed staff reports as they are presented to the Board. Click on the images below to access PDFs of Tuesday's staff report slide decks.

At Tuesday's Board Meeting, Dr. Lily Jarvis (Director of Educational Equity and Accountability) provided a brief update on AUSD's initial plan to elevate Black history, heritage, and culture while promoting meaningful representation throughout the year. She was joined by committee members Keiko Rakin (AHS student), Briana Hampton (SGHS student), Angel Obike (SGHS student), and Ronnell Davis (SGHS parent & coach). A highlight of the presentation was the recitation of an original poem, "The Power We Inherit" by students Niyah Davis and Paisleigh Davis.

Please click on the image below to view a PDF of the presentation slide deck. Make sure to also watch the video below, which highlights AUSD activities during Black History Month 2025.

At Tuesday's Board of Education meeting, the Board adopted several resolutions (Recognition of Welcoming District for All Students and Staff, Recognition of Arts Education Month in California-March 2025, and Recognition of Women's History Month-March 2025). You can read the entire contents of each resolution by downloading the PDF below.

Please join us for our next Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) Meeting, which will take place on Monday, March 24, 2025 from 6:45pm-8:00pm via Zoom.

Click on the image to download a PDF of the flyer in multiple languages, with a clickable link to attend the Zoom meeting.

Each month the AUSD STEM teachers for the primary grades put out a monthly newsletter highlighting each school's STEM projects.

Please click HERE or the image to access the February Newsletter

The recent windstorm/fire events and school closures spotlighted the importance of the addition of our SMS/Text messaging system in helping us keep families and staff members informed. We added the SMS/Text feature to our mass communication system (Blackboard) in August 2024. This enhancement has significantly improved our communication capabilities, ensuring timely and efficient updates for our staff and families, especially during emergencies. We have appreciated your patience as we transitioned to this new notification tool and hope to see even more families sign up. Click HERE to see our SMS Community Frequently Asked Questions.

Incoming 9th Grade Students and Families

Attend our information session & learn more about the unique pathways we offer, Summer Opportunities for students, and our exciting new Associate of Arts (AA) Degree Pathway. (Translations will be available in Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish, & Vietnamese.)

In Person Info Session 6:00pm-7:00pm

RSVP Link: http://tinyurl.com/AUSDECP25

• Thursday, April 10, 2025 at Mark Keppel HS Cafeteria

Zoom Info Session 7:00pm-8:00pm

RSVP Link: http://tinyurl.com/AUSDECP34

• Tuesday, March 4, 2025

• All AUSD 9th-12th grade families are invited.

• Learn about ELAC's College Promise, skill certificates, and pathways to Law/STEM, including Summer Bridge programs and transfer options like AA/AAT/TAG.
• Date: Wednesday, March 5, 2025
• Time: 7:00pm-8:00pm (via Zoom)
• RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/AUSDecp0305 (Zoom link will be sent via email after you RSVP)
• Translation available in Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish, & Vietnamese.

AUSD's Tobacco Use Prevention Education program is proud to present a FREE screening of this important documentary: SCREENAGERS UNDER THE INFLUENCE.

• Monday, March 3rd
• 5:00pm - 7:00pm ( Food will be provided at 5:00pm. Film begins at 5:30pm)
• Alhambra High School Auditorium (101 South Second Street in Alhambra)

A discussion will follow the documentary. Kids aged 6th grade and up are welcome to attend. No childcare will be provided. Translation services will be provided during the film and the discussion to follow. Click HERE to RSVP or by scanning the QR code.

Questions & Concerns please email: TUPE@ausd.us

Our custodial team removed several layers of wax by scraping off the excess and stripping it down to the bare floors at Fremont ES. The floors were then cleaned and prepared for applying four layers of wax. After days of relentless efforts, the cafeteria floors look spotless.

Facilities services prepped the sites for the forecasted rainstorm over the last week. Stormwater drains were cleared, debris was removed from the roof to avoid gutter blockage, trash cans, and waste baskets were placed in case of water penetrations, and leaves, tree debris, and trash were cleared around the floor drains to prevent water pooling and ponding.

Have you voted yet? Help determine the San Gabriel Valley's BEST! Last year, AlhambraUSD was voted BEST School District and FAVORITE Workplace! Additionally, every AUSD school was voted as either Best or Favorite in their category! The Alhambra Educational Foundation was also named BEST Non-Profit Organization! CAN WE DO IT AGAIN? Vote HERE no later than March 16, 2025 at 11:59pm! (Note: You must make at least FIVE selections to submit your vote.)

Clue In to School Breakfast: Find breakfast in your school cafeteria and win prizes!

• AUSD students pick up your frequent diner card on Monday, March 3rd from your school cafeteria at breakfast.
• Have your breakfast every day during school breakfast week.
• Bring your card and get one stamp on the card each day.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS: Submit the fully-stamped card to the cafeteria on Friday, March 7th for the grand prize drawing!
HIGH SCHOOLS: Submit the fully-stamped card to the vafeteria on Friday, March 7th for the grand prize drawing for a VIP PASS (front-of-the-Line pass).

February's Harvest of the Month (HOTM) is Mandarins! Each month, teachers around AUSD incorporate Harvest of the Month lessons into their teaching and share photos of the fun their students have sampling the selected fruit or vegetable of the month.

Click HERE for a list of non-district sponsored activities from our local cities and community partner organizations.

The city of Monterey Park is developing the 2025-2029 Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Consolidated Plan, which identifies key affordable housing and community development needs for Monterey Park residents.

Community input is essential and we encourage all Monterey Park families to complete this survey:

• English Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9KQYHM9
• Chinese Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/89SGHF6
• Spanish Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/87ZVTCQ

The deadline to complete the survey is TODAY, February 28, 2025 - Please fill it in and then help spread the word to your friends and neighbors!

The AUSD/ATA Food Pantry needs your help to restock its shelves after our big January distribution. Your donations will support struggling families in our community, including staff and students who were impacted by the fires.

Please call (626) 289-1933 or email (ataoffice303@gmail.com) to arrange for a drop-off during ATA's office hours. Thank you for your donations!

Please make plans to join the Alhambra Council PTA at their Annual PTA Founders' Day Awards Dinner and Silent Auction. This year's Founders' Day Awards Dinner and Silent Auction will be held on April 11, 2025, 6:00pm at the Hilton Los Angeles/San Gabriel Hotel. Please contact your local PTA to purchase tickets.

Proceeds from this fundraiser will support essential ACPTA activities including the Reflections Art Program, scholarships for our graduating high school seniors, and the newly-introduced scholarships for our promoting elementary school 8th graders.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Asian American Association (AAA) of AUSD's Lunar New Year banquet on February 21st. We enjoyed a delicious 10-course meal, fun and fierce lion dancers, exciting prize drawings. Most importantly, we celebrated three outstanding AUSD seniors who were this year's AAA scholarship recipients: Danny Thach from AHS, Gabby Wong from MKHS, and Hope Tran from SGHS. Each student received a $1,000 scholarship to support their post-secondary plans. Congratulations to Danny, Gabby, and Hope!

Mark your calendar and plan to join us at next's Lunar New Year banquet on February 27, 2026!

Photos by AUSD Communications Interns Karlie Yonemoto and Justin Lim (IG: @juhsteenfoto).

We are excited to see everyone at tomorrow's Alhambra Educational Foundation's 18th annual awards dinner/gala, which will be held at the Hilton Los Angeles/San Gabriel. Every year, AEF recognizes individuals & community organizations who have contributed to the education of children in our community. This year's 2025 "Service to Education" Award recipients are:

• Sky Zone Alhambra (Business)
• Page Nadine Phillips (Education)
• Natalie Tee-Gaither (Education)
• Diane Velasco Hyland (Community Service)
• Linda Wong (Community Service)

We will be sharing photos from AUSD Communications Interns Maddie Nguyen and Haley Wong after the event, so stay tuned! If you are unable to attend this fundraising event, but would like to make a tax-deductible DONATION to support AEF, please click HERE. All proceeds will benefit AUSD schools, students, and programs! 💝

Our sixth graders had an AMAZING time at camp last year...several groups even got to enjoy some snow!

Please help Alhambra Unified School District and the Alhambra Educational Foundation to continue this new tradition by supporting the Adopt-A-Camper program.

Use this LINK to donate. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

The Alhambra Latino Association (ALA) 2025 Scholarship Applications are now available! This scholarship is open to Alhambra USD seniors who identify as Latina/o/x and plan to enroll in post-secondary education in the fall of 2025. Winners will be selected from each AUSD high school. Scholarshop applications packet are due March 14, 2025 to submit their application packets. Click HERE to apply.

On Saturday, March 22, 2025, ALA will be hosting "Celebrating Our Cultures" at Mark Keppel High School from 11:00am until 1:00pm. We hope you that you can join in on this fun festival! Registration is now available. Click HERE to register.

Please join the Alhambra Latino Association at their Scholarship Awards Dinner & Dance. This year ALA will be honoring Alhambra High School Teacher Joshua Moreno and AUSD High School scholarship recipients. The dinner & dance will be held on Friday, May 2, 2025 at 5:30pm at Almansor Court in Alhambra. To RSVP click HERE. Deadline to RSVP is April 19th.

Congratulations to our February 2025 Game Changers: Irasema Fonseca, Certificated Game Changer from Fremont School and Yolanda Rosales, Classified Game Changer from Ynez School. Nominate a deserving certificated or classified employee to be a Game Changer HERE.

AUSD was named San Gabriel Valley's Favorite Work Place by the Southern California News Group!

Be a part of the AUSD Team! Please click HERE for full-and part-time positions. We have competitive salaries and excellent benefits! AUSD posts all job opportunities at EdJoin.com/alhambrausd. Make sure to check back often.

https://www.ausd.us/apps/events/

Mark your calendar and join us for an amazing trio of spring musicals at our high schools!

AUSD Open Houses take place February through May.

You can download a list of all AUSD Open House dates/times (see below).

More information will be provided by your child's teacher/school.

Click on the high school logo to access their current athletic calendars.

• March 1: AEF 18th Annual "Service to Education" Awards Dinner & Gala (AEF Website, Flyer)
• March 2: AUSD Booth at Alhambra Farmers Market 9:00am-11:00am
• March 3: AUSD TUPE Program screening of SCREENAGERS - UNDER THE INFLUENCE 5:00pm-7:00pm (Flyer, RSVP)
• March 4: Early College Program Information Session for Incoming 9th grade students and families ZOOM 7:00pm-8:00pm (Flyer)
• March 5: College & Career Workshop: ELAC College Promise, Certificates, Pathway & More Zoom 7:00pm-8:00pm (Flyer, RSVP)
• March 7: MKHS Theatre Production of AVENUE Q 7:00pm (Flyer, Tickets)
• March 8: MKHS Theatre Production of AVENUE Q 2:00pm (Flyer, Tickets)
• March 9: AUSD Booth at Alhambra Farmers Market 9:00am-11:00am
• March 11: Board of Education Meeting (Agendas & Minutes)
• March 14: MKHS Theatre Production of AVENUE Q 7:00pm (Flyer, Tickets)
• March 14: "AUSD Connection" Newsletter emailed to Parents, Students, and Staff Members
• March 15: MKHS Theatre Production of AVENUE Q 2:00pm (Flyer, Tickets)
• March 16: AUSD Booth at Alhambra Farmers Market 9:00am-11:00am
• March 19: Open House Night (Repetto TK-8; See LIST of dates and times)
• March 22: ALA Celebrating Our Cultures 11:00am-1:00pm (Flyer, RSVP)
• March 23: AUSD Booth at Alhambra Farmers Market 9:00am-11:00am
• March 24: Parent Advisory Committee 6:45pm-8:00pm (Flyer, Link)
• March 26: Open House Nights (Baldwin, Fremont, & Ynez; See LIST of dates and times)
• March 27: Open House Nights (Emery Park, Garfield, Granada, Marguerita, Monterey Highlands, LIFT, Alhambra High School, & Mark Keppel High School; See LIST of dates and times)
• March 31: Cesar Chavez Day (All Schools & Offices are Closed)
• March 31-April 4: SPRING BREAK (All Schools are Closed)
• April 7: SBAC Testing Starts (Specific schedules vary by school sites)
• April 8: Board of Education Meeting (Agendas & Minutes)
  
• April 10: Open House Night (Moor Field Preschool; See LIST of dates and times)
• April 10: Early College Program Information Session for Incoming 9th grade students and families at Mark Keppel HS Cafeteria 6:00pm-7:00pm (Flyer, RSVP)
• April 11: SGHS Drama Spring Musical of Beetlejuice Jr. 7:00pm (Flyer, Tickets)
• April 11: Alhambra Council PTA Annual Founders' Day Awards Dinner 6:00pm-10:00pm (Flyer)
• April 11: "AUSD Connection" Newsletter emailed to Parents, Students, and Staff Members

AUSD continues its exchange partnership with South Korea. This month, a delegation of South Korean high schoolers and teachers visited Alhambra High School & Mark Keppel High School to learn about American education and culture. The students also stayed with AUSD host students and their families. During spring break, AUSD will send a delegation to South Korea to reunite with their new friends and learn about their culture and school system. We love this amazing partnership and the opportunity for our students and staff to continue participating in this cultural exchange.

(Photo Credit for AHS: Tiffany Von Ins from Furious Photographers; Photo Credit for MKHS: AUSD Communications Interns Katelyn Anguiano & Suna Kwan)

Click on the masthead images below to view digital versions of the current issues. AUSD students, staff members, and programs are heavily featured in both papers. NOTE: Each month, look for AUSD Communications Interns' (ACI) photographs and/or writing featured in both community publications.)

Alhambra Unified School District is often featured in local media (print and television news). Click below to access some of our favorite stories, featuring AUSD students, staff members, schools and programs!

Do you have something newsworthy to share? Click on the Publicity Request button so we can spread the word!

Please visit us on social media to keep up with the latest AUSD news. If you want our notifications/reminders to show up on your timeline, make sure to follow/like us!

CONTACT US:

Website: www.ausd.us
Address: 1515 West Mission Road, Alhambra, CA, USA
Email: AlhambraUSD@ausd.us

Phone: (626) 943-3000

Facebook: @AlhambraUSD
Instagram: @AlhambraUSD

Twitter/X: @AlhambraUSD

YouTube: @AlhambraUSD

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