Piedmont Ahead>>>
Piedmont Unified School District Newsletter - March 2022
PHS Boys Soccer Wins NCS Championship
Students Get First Look at New Performing Arts Center
PUSD Aligns with State/County on Indoor Mask Guidelines
PMS Principal Ryan Fletcher Moving on from PUSD
After nine years as Principal of Piedmont Middle School, Ryan Fletcher will step down at the end of the school year. He and his family will be relocating to Colorado where he will take on the role of principal for a middle school in suburban Denver.
“I am so grateful for all that I have learned and gained during my time at PMS. As I begin this next chapter and enter a new school community, I can only hope to feel as embraced and supported as I have been throughout my time in Piedmont. While Laura and I are excited to plant new roots in Colorado, we are sad to end this chapter in Piedmont and will forever feel connected to our time and our experience as part of this special community. This move is truly bittersweet, and I will carry with me all the wonderful moments, memories, and people who have made my time here so meaningful. I am grateful for all that we have accomplished together, and all the ways we have grown as a community.” (Related - PHS Principal Adam Littlefield Announces Retirement)
March Madness Includes PUSD Alum
Havens Elementary Students Help with COVID-Detection Training Program
PHS Advanced Acting Class Presents 'Lord of the Flies'
High School/Middle School Jazz Bands Return for 'Evening at Yoshi's'
After a three-year hiatus, the Piedmont High School and Middle School Jazz Bands return to perform at an "Evening at Yoshi's" Monday, April 4, for the program's annual fundraiser. Tickets can be purchased online at yoshis.com. This year's performance will feature many soloists including All-State Jazz Band drummer, PHS senior Will Davies.
PHS Dance Department Hosts Spring Concert
PUSD News & Notes
Congratulations to 2022 Arthur Hecht Award Winner - At the March 23 meeting of the PUSD Board of Education, Superintendent Randall Booker announced Eileen Ruby as this year's recipient of the Arthur Hecht Award. The award is presented annually to individuals who have volunteered their efforts over a period of time and made a difference because of their involvement and commitment to Piedmont’s youth. Ms. Ruby will be honored at the Board's May 11 meeting. More details coming soon!
Piedmont Anti-Racism & Diversity Committee Fireside Chat - PUSD was proud to participate in a virtual fireside chat hosted by the Piedmont Anti-Racism & Diversity Committee (PADC) to discuss the District's efforts to create safe and inclusive learning environments.
PHS/MHS Rally Indoors - Piedmont and Millennium High Schools were excited to host their first indoor Rally in two years on March 18. See photos here & here, plus a great dance number from school staff.
Website Modernization Update - Over the winter, PUSD has met with several website hosting services and will soon announce its partner for the District's website modernization project. We are excited to launch a new, user-friendly site with advanced features to find the information you need. More information coming soon.
Healthy School Survey - PUSD is participating in the California Healthy Schools Survey. The CalSCHLS system was created by the California Department of Education in 1997 to efficiently and cost-effectively provide school districts and their partner communities with quality local data which can be used to improve student academic performance and social-emotional, behavioral, and physical health of all youth. The survey assesses key indicators linked to success in school, career, and life. District-wide surveys were sent to families earlier this month. Visit the District website for more information.
Open Houses - PUSD elementary schools are excited for the return of in-person Open Houses on Thursday, April 7. Please check your school newsletters for important information to ensure the comfort and safety of students, staff and families.
COVID Communications - PUSD has a dedicated page on its website for all COVID-related communications to families as well as an updated Safety Plan.
Universal Meals Program - Starting in the fall, students will be offered free meals as PUSD will participate in the National School Lunch Program for the 2022-23 school year. Look for more information on the program soon, as well as details on a week-long pilot program at Piedmont High School & Middle School later this spring.
Enrollment for 2022-23 School Year - PUSD is accepting applications for the 2022-23 school year. Visit the District website for more information. Families interested in Inter-District Transfers can find more information here.
Daily Health Screener - Students and families are reminded to continue filling out the District’s Daily Health Screener daily before coming to school. The information provided is important in assessing student health and is vital for contact tracing in the event of a positive COVID case. The screener is sent to all families every morning via email and text.
Local & State COVID-19 School Guidance - The Alameda County Office of Education and California Department of Public Health are great resources of updated COVID-19 information for families.
Board Meeting Summaries - Summaries of all Piedmont Unified Board of Education meetings are available on the District website and social media. Read summaries of recent meetings below:
Work for PUSD - PUSD is hiring! Visit the District’s EdJoin page for a complete list of all available positions.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Update from Dr. V - As I have met many people and community groups, the question always centers on what is Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEI-B)? How do you think about it Dr. V.? How does it impact my school? Child? Academic program? As I think about DEI-B, it is not a zero-sum game meaning that to do one, we lose something else. We won’t lose academic excellence, rigor and all of the academic structures that are a part of Piedmont. The irony is that with this possible misunderstanding that we will lose academic prowess, in my role, we are actually working to build structures to (1) embed and not take away, (2) make natural connections - not forced, and (3) create equitable programs - not diminish. In other words, DEI-B is about expansion in order for our future global leaders to become stronger allies in a multicultural world. Outlined below are just three areas of focus with lots of tentacles underneath!
First, at the system level, I think that all actions we take together must meet and exceed expectations enunciated with Board Racial Equity Policy BP/AR-0415.1. As you know, the Board of Education and the leadership team is participating in a book study “Courageous Conversations about Race,“ (Third edition 2020) by Glenn Singleton in order for all of us to have common language, demonstrated practice in using the tools and creating a commitment to engage in this ally work as we provide leadership in our perspective roles.
Second, we are at the end of the first-year in a three-year cycle with LCAP, an action plan that has the Board Racial Equity policy at the center. As we refine this work and move into year two, in my role, the work shifts to curriculum/instruction as we begin to embed both anti-racist/culturally responsive and social-emotional learning into instructional practices to meet the needs of all students. Through this process, we seek to ensure students are mastering the subject matter, understand themselves in relationship with the content and how the curricula inclusively represents cultural, racial, ethnic and linguistic diversity. To find joy in learning, all students must be able to see themselves beyond superficial, fictional or perhaps stereotypical ways, and with peers critically analyze the past, engage in ramifications and impact for today in order to provide leadership to change/challenge the future.
Third, with inquiries from parent committees, we are beginning dialogue to determine what significant adults in students' lives need in order to be able to fully participate in the DEI-B discussions that happen in the community and around the kitchen table. In the beginning stages, I have met several school based parent groups, in discussion with PREC and PADC with much more to follow.
Most importantly, I am listening to students as they have been the leaders in the DEI-B work well before I arrived. They are full of ideas, have strength in numbers and want to fully engage in the work. Creating opportunities to hear from students as well as creating a DEI-B student advisory committee are next steps in the process of engagement.
I know this is brief and not all inclusive. I hope this gives you a snapshot into the work design as I engage in strengthening our powerful system of learning so that all students have a remarkable learning experience. There is much work to be done, and I truly believe that Piedmont should and will lead the way . . .together!
Marguerite Vanden Wyngaard 'Dr. V'
Director Diversity Equity & Inclusion
Follow PUSD on Social Media - Keep up to date on everything happening around the District on PUSD’s social media outlets. The District Facebook (@piedmontunified), Twitter (@piedmontunified) and Instagram (@piedmontusd) pages are active with multiple posts daily. Watch PUSD video content on the District's YouTube page.
Previous 'Piedmont Ahead' Newsletters - Read previous editions of Piedmont Ahead from earlier in the school year
Upcoming Events
- March 31-April 3 - PHS Spring Play - 'Lord of the Flies'
- April 2 - Bunny Blast
- April 4 - PHS/PMS Jazz Band - 'Evening at Yoshi's'
- April 7 - Tri-School Open Houses
- April 11-15 - Spring Break
- April 18 - PEF Spring Fling Online Auction Opens
- April 22-23 - PHS Dance Concert
- April 24 - Piedmont Food Fest
- April 24 - Piedmont Maker Faire
- April 27 - Board Meeting
- April 28 - Education Speaker Series
- April 29 - Piedmont Middle School Talent Show
Piedmont Unified School District
Email: communications@piedmont.k12.ca.us
Website: www.piedmont.k12.ca.us
Location: 760 Magnolia Avenue, Piedmont, CA, USA
Phone: 510-594-2600
Facebook: facebook.com/piedmontunified
Twitter: @Piedmontunified