PUSD UPDATE

Dear PUSD Community,

As a parent, it breaks my heart to see or hear about a child being bullied. As a leader, I am compelled and committed to doing something about it, but I cannot do it alone. Every one of us - students, teachers and staff, parents, and community members - must take on the tough job of stopping bullying behavior in our schools so that all children feel accepted and happy when they come into our classrooms. In this week’s update, discover how we can help kids who are being bullied and how we can all be prepared to step in and say something when we see it happening. Together, we can confront this problem head-on and help our children become successful leaders of tomorrow.

Speaking of future leaders, several students are gaining ground in the study of seismology. Others are celebrating their Latino Heritage and we are always celebrating the work of our amazing educators. This week, we highlight the artistry of an educator who’s been with PUSD for two decades! I am so grateful for all of our dedicated teachers and staff and I’m so proud of our students’ many accomplishments – it’s hard to put it into words let alone one newsletter. Thank you for your hard work and have a great week!

Sincerely,

Brian McDonald, Ed.D.
Superintendent

Discover your child’s path to greatness! From academics to life skills, see for yourself how PUSD equips your child to thrive. Sign up to tour today! www.pusd.us/tours

Sign up for the Pasadena Education Network’s (PEN) Choosing an Elementary program, which will take place this Wednesday evening, Sept. 28. Local parent and Assistant Professor of Education Jennifer Miyake-Trapp explains how your own family’s values along with insights from school visits and currently enrolled parents can contribute to a thoughtful, well-informed decision. This virtual program will be followed by an in-person Parent meet-and-greet on Sunday, Oct. 2, at 4 p.m.

(Part of a series)

If teaching is an art, then Victoria Camargo might be our very own Georgia O'Keeffe. Ms. Camargo, the Arts Specialist at Altadena Arts Magnet, was surprised last week with a $1,000 DonorsChoose gift card for dedicating her 20-year career to showing students the importance of the arts. The Pasadena Tournament of Roses, along with the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation, presented the “Big Day for Teachers” award at a morning assembly. Not only is Ms. Camargo a leader, mentor, liaison and teacher, she created the annual Art Walk and reimagined Art Education online during quarantine. Congratulations on your Big Day, Ms. Camargo, you simply make our world more beautiful!

PUSD students are gaining solid experience in seismology through Caltech’s Earthquake Fellows Program, just launched this year. Pasadena High schoolers Maia Dimas and Evan Wade (shown in the video) were among those who conducted research, gathered data with individual seismometers, and collaborated in small groups. The first group of earthquake investigators presented results of their summer research last week. After finishing the program, participants keep their laptops and seismometers and receive a $1,000 stipend.

One out of every five students nationwide report being bullied each year and Pasadena Unified is working to change that startling statistic. We believe every student deserves a safe space for learning and self-expression.

The PUSD Board of Education has officially recognized the month of October as National Bullying Prevention Month and noted that it is a communitywide issue. Students, families, and educators all have a role in changing school culture and creating a climate that is free of fear. Bullying isn’t a childhood rite of passage; it has real implications for a child’s education, health, and safety, and it can leave devastating and often long-term effects.

PUSD Mental Health Services and THRIVE: School Mental Health aim to provide a spectrum of comprehensive, integrated, culturally sensitive services that support the well-being of students, staff, and their family members. If you know a student who is being bullied, please contact your school site administrator. Care Solace can also help you find a provider and can support you in any language.

• Call 888-515-0595 available 24/7/365

• Visit www.caresolace.com/pasadena and either search on your own OR click “Book Appointment” for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.

• National Suicide Prevention Hotline: Call or text: 988 or call (800) 273-8255 (TALK)

For the fourth year in a row, PUSD schools will participate in Unity Day, an annual event occurring during National Bullying Prevention Month that promotes joining together to create healthier communities through kindness, acceptance of difference, and inclusion. On October 19, we encourage you to wear and share the color orange as a tangible representation of the supportive, universal message that our schools want to prevent bullying, and are united for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.

For more information regarding Unity Day, visit www.pacer.org/bullying

Join the PUSD All-Star Band, community groups, elected officials, neighbors, and friends at the Latino Heritage Parade and Festival on Saturday, Oct. 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Villa Parke, 363 E. Villa St., Pasadena.

Visual Arts and Design Academy (VADA) students at PHS have been hard at work creating hand-painted travel posters inspired by this year's theme, De Colores. Many students are working from a place of personal connection to the cities and countries they chose to represent. We’re excited to see the 24th Annual Parade and to see you at the PUSD booth!

All PUSD 8th graders will get a chance to see a musical adaptation of George Orwell’s satire Animal Farm at Pasadena’s A Noise Within Theater this fall as part of the District’s Open Stage program. Open Stage is a performing arts education program for PUSD middle school students and teachers. Artists-in-residence and teachers collaborate to integrate theater with the history/social studies and English/language arts curricula by attending live performances and by creating lessons that incorporate reading, writing, interpreting, and performing arts. Many students saw the show on Sept. 21 and others will attend on Sept. 28.

We need your help in designing the district of the future. PUSD has started a Facilities Master Plan to guide us as we prioritize campus improvements, accommodate new models of learning, serve emerging needs of families, and ensure that all of our facilities adhere to the latest safety standards. Please join us and share your vision for your campus. Virtual school meetings are scheduled through October 11, 2022. Check https://www.pusd.us/fmp for times and links.

Can one chip send a kid to the hospital? Yes, it can if it’s made of the same ingredients found in pepper spray. The “Paqui One-Chip Challenge” is a dangerous trend, recently resurrected on TikTok after first being introduced on social media in 2016. It involves eating a chip laced with Carolina Reaper and Scorpion peppers, two of the hottest known peppers. PUSD and school districts across the country have banned the chips because the challenge is sending children to the emergency room. We urge parents to discuss the serious risks of social media challenges. This challenge could lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fainting, difficulty breathing, and hospitalization.