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PUSD UPDATE

April 22, 2024

PUSD UPDATE April 22, 2024

MESSAGE FROM THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT

Dear PUSD Community,

This week, PUSD schools celebrate Environmental Education Week and Earth Day by learning about our planet and how to protect our natural resources, from planting trees to nurturing school gardens.


Today’s Update highlights students learning about history, a continuing partnership with the LA Dodgers, opportunities for parents/caregivers to engage with schools, and more.


We also celebrate administrative professionals this week, and our appreciation for the administrative assistants and office managers who provide essential support to our students, staff, and parents.


Have a great week!


Sincerely,


Elizabeth J. Blanco, Ed.D.

Interim Superintendent

JOHN MUIR FIELD OF DREAMS

Student athletes at John Muir Early College Magnet celebrated the rededication of the school baseball field last week with representatives from the LA Dodgers Foundation and members of Jackie Robinson’s family. Thanks to the Dodgers, the Mookie and Brianna Betts Foundation, the Webster Foundation, and the Pasadena Educational Foundation, John Muir’s baseball field has an upgraded dugout, backstop, windscreens, and more. Jackie Robinson, who graduated from John Muir and went on to shatter race barriers in Major League baseball 77 years ago.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION WEEK

Earth Day is April 22 and PUSD schools are celebrating environmental education this week with a tree planting at Altadena Arts Magnet Elementary and a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new farm at John Muir Early College Magnet. Jill McArthur, PUSD’s master gardener, says “Students come out to use the garden for their classes on business, art, photography, and chemistry” and that the Muir Farm Lab is an “opportunity to get outside in a safe space and experience nature in many different forms.”

Altadena Arts Magnet Elementary Tree Planting

John Muir Early College Magnet's Farm Lab Opening

LEARNs SHOWCASE

Student visual and performing arts projects were on display at this weekend’s LEARNs showcase. The Pasadena LEARNs program offers before and after school and enrichment programs throughout the year.

BUILDING EMPATHY PROJECT

Last week, 18 PUSD students from Blair and Pasadena High School (PHS) took a four-hour bus ride to Manzanar Historic National Park, one of ten camps where the U.S. government incarcerated people of Japanese ancestry during World War II. The visit brought to life the history of Japanese Americans that they have been studying since 2022 as part of the Building Empathy project, funded by grants from the California State Library’s Civil Liberties and California Humanities and administered by the Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF). “After a long time of learning about the Japanese Americans and the camps, I was finally able to see it with my own eyes,” said a Blair ninth grader.

Students from Blair and PHS explored Manzanar Historic National Park, its visitor center, barracks, and cemetery.

Students from both schools reenact a basketball game on one of the courts at Manzanar.

PUSD STATE OF SCHOOLS: SAVE THE DATE!

PUSD Board of Education President Kimberly Kenne will deliver the annual State of the Schools address on April 30, 2024 at 6 p.m. at Octavia E. Butler Magnet School (1505 N. Marengo Ave., Pasadena, CA 91103) The State of Schools will be streamed live at www.pusd.us/stateofschools and aired on District’s KLRN-TV (Ch. 95 on Charter Spectrum and Ch. 99 on AT&T U-Verse).

YOUTH TOWN HALL

PUSD middle and high school students, parents, and caregivers are invited to join a virtual town hall Tuesday, April 23, 2024 from 5:30- 7:30 p.m. about sexually transmitted infections, prevention and treatment. Watch it live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaOcD2sOQkQ

Send in your questions here https://forms.gle/YWWqitPTnUxX3u839

PARENT WORKSHOP

Is your child entering Kindergarten? Join us for the “Welcome to Kindergarten” Workshop Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at 6 p.m. at Franklin Elementary School, 527 Ventura St. Altadena. PUSD’s Family and Community Engagement Office presents a program for families with children entering TK or Kindergarten this fall. Parent ambassadors from the Pasadena Education Network will also be on hand to share their experiences and perspectives.

CAC RESOURCE FAIR

All PUSD families are invited to a resource fair on Saturday, April 27, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The fair is particularly designed to support the growth of students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). Several community partners and service providers will be available to answer questions and to help families discover the various supports available to all students. Families will also find out about social and emotional learning, early childhood options, healthcare, career opportunities and more. The event will take place in the North parking lot of the Ed Center at 351 S. Hudson Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101. Please register in advance.

BLACK HISTORY LIVING MUSEUM

Save the date for the Black History Living Museum on May 14, 2024 at the Robinson Recreation Center. PUSD students in grades 3-5 will show up in costume as the “living” embodiment of a Black individual who has made notable contributions in various fields such as education, history, politics, arts, athletics and science. The students will give a 90-second presentation to museum visitors and have the opportunity to compete for prizes. The Museum is open to the public at 6:30 p.m.

NOW ENROLLING

PUSD schools are now enrolling for the 2024-2025 school year!


  • Apply for schools/programs with openings at pusd.schoolmint.com. With magnet schools, dual language immersion, high school academies, STEM, arts, and more, PUSD has something for every learner. Explore PUSD schools at pusd.us/enroll

  • Families who reside outside of PUSD boundaries can also apply by completing an Interdistrict Permit Request Form to enter PUSD: Enrollment application

  • School tours continue! Visit pusd.us/tours for more information.

UPCOMING BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

  • Regular meeting of the PUSD Board of Education – Thursday, April 25, 2024, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. Elbie J. Hickambottom Board Room (Room 236), 351 S. Hudson Ave, Pasadena. Agenda at pusd.us/board.
Pasadena Unified School District
Our Children. Learning Today. Leading Tomorrow.

351 S. Hudson Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91109