PUSD UPDATE
January 22, 2024
MESSAGE FROM THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT
Dear PUSD Community,
Pasadena Unified has accomplished many firsts and today one of our schools – Eliot Arts Magnet – was the very first middle school in the Los Angeles area to be featured on KCAL News in several “Class Act” segments. The students and teachers seized the opportunity to give viewers a glimpse of Eliot’s French Dual Language Immersion program, mariachi and rock band practice, visual art, and costume design programs. I was so very impressed with our students’ seamless performances on camera this morning. Congratulations!
In this week’s newsletter, we are also focusing on “supreme” second graders, experienced educators, fantastic field trips, and making kindness contagious. Please take a moment to catch up on the latest PUSD news and have a great week!
Sincerely,
Elizabeth J. Blanco, Ed.D.
Interim Superintendent
SUPREME HONOR
Students at Willard Elementary were delighted to hear back from U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor after sending her inquisitive letters and original artwork. In the letter addressed to second graders, Justice Sotomayor took time to answer many of the children’s questions and encouraged them to use their talents to serve others.
“Always remember that dreams can come true when you work hard to achieve them.”
– Sonia Sotomayor
Justice Sotomayor is the third woman, first woman of color, the first Hispanic, and first Latina to serve on the Supreme Court.
Teacher Susana Teran pictured with her second graders at Willard Elementary
PUSD schools are now enrolling for the 2024-2025 school year and the first Open Enrollment Lottery is going on now through January 26, 2024!
FIRST OPEN ENROLLMENT LOTTERY IS JANUARY 9-26, 2024
PUSD is a district of choice, which means that if the program you are interested in is not at your neighborhood school or if you live outside of Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre, you may apply to a PUSD school via the district’s Open Enrollment process.
The first lottery application period is January 9-26, 2024, for PUSD families, PUSD employees and Pasadena City employees; the second lottery is March 4-8, 2024
Families can request any PUSD school that interests them, regardless of their home address. Learn more about Open Enrollment
Beginning March 25, 2024, families who reside outside the boundaries of PUSD may apply for Interdistrict Permits
School tours continue! Visit pusd.us/Tours for more information.
LEARNING THROUGH PLAY AT TK
For young learners, PUSD’s early child education focuses on creativity, learning through play, and building foundational knowledge and skills to prepare them for success in traditional Kindergarten. Full-day Transitional Kindergarten (TK) is the first year of a two-year Kindergarten program for four-year-old children with birthdays between September 2 and June 2.
Taught by credentialled PUSD teachers, TK is a fun and age-appropriate introduction to kindergarten and is available at all neighborhood schools. TK choices include magnet schools, dual language, STEM, and International Baccalaureate.
Families may also submit an Open Enrollment application to request their preferred schools or a dual language immersion program.
GREAT KINDNESS CHALLENGE
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Wondering how to choose the best school for your family? Join us on Tuesday, February 6, for a community conversation with Altadena students, parents, and faculty and discover the many options for your pre-K to 8th grade student. Participating schools: Altadena Arts Magnet Elementary, Mary W. Jackson STEAM Multilingual Magnet Elementary, Webster Elementary, and Eliot Arts Magnet Academy
EXCELLENT EDUCATORS
After a selection process that included input from school community members, Sandra Rizzo has been selected as principal of San Rafael Elementary, pending approval by the Board of Education. Ms. Rizzo has served as interim principal of the school since July 2023.
Ms. Rizzo brings more than 24 years of experience as an educator in the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) to San Rafael Elementary. She was assistant principal of Marshall Fundamental Secondary School for 13 years. She began her career in PUSD as a Spanish language and literature teacher at Marshall, where she initiated the Spanish for Native Speakers program; 100% of her first-year students passed the AP Spanish exam.
Ms. Rizzo is a product of PUSD schools and attended Hamilton, Jefferson, Wilson, and Marshall Fundamental. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish language from California State University Northridge, a Master’s in School Administration, and an administrative credential from California State Polytechnic University Pomona.
PUSD students are going places! The PUSD Arts My Masterpieces program, in collaboration with the Pasadena Educational Foundation, takes TK-6th graders on memory-making field trips throughout the school year. Children can discover art in their community, experiencing Pasadena’s amazing cultural institutions such as Kidspace, the Huntington, the Gamble House, the Pasadena Museum of History, the Norton Simon Museum, the USC Pacific Asia Museum, and the Art Center College of Design.
INDEPENDENT STUDY
PUSD’S Center for Independent Studies (CIS) offers both virtual and in-person learning for TK-12th grade students with non-traditional schedules or locations the opportunity to stay in school, recover credits, and even accelerate their pace. The Superintendent’s Leadership Team visited the campus to observe and talk with faculty staff about the alternative education program that addresses individual student needs and learning styles while allowing students to complete their academics outside the traditional classroom setting. We are #PUSDproud of this personalized and flexible approach to learning for our students.
UPCOMING BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
Regular meeting of the PUSD Board of Education – Thursday, January 25, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. Elbie J. Hickambottom Board Room (Room 236), 351 S. Hudson Ave, Pasadena. Agenda at pusd.us/board