PUSD UPDATE

Two PUSD middle school libraries are now sophisticated media centers, thanks to major makeovers revealed last week at Octavia E. Butler (OEB) Magnet and at Eliot Arts Magnet schools. Students got their first glimpse of the renovations, explored new technology, checked out virtual reality headsets, and sampled comfortable new seating throughout the re-designed spaces.

“Today, this school library is a place for students to gather, to play games and create, to relax in a safe and welcoming environment, to find books with characters that resemble their own life experiences written by authors who look like them, all to inspire their curiosity and creativity outside of any academic pressures or requirements,” said OEB Librarian Natalie Daily.

Student Yasmine Gaida said the updated library at Eliot (originally built in 1931) is “a center for hands-on learning, acting, visual arts, digital arts, and more. With the newly upgraded environment, it will definitely promote the space for students’ studies, especially the arts.”

The library makeovers were powered by the College Football Playoff Foundation (CFPF) with support from the Tournament of Roses and the Pasadena Educational Foundation. The installations and transformations were completed by CFPF partner, School Specialty, Inc.

PUSD employees know how to put the “class” in classified! Next week – May 21–27 – is Classified School Employee Week. Classified employees often work behind the scenes and play a vital role in the care, guidance, and safety of our students. Their work is essential and their positions include: office/clerical employees, custodians, bus drivers, business managers, and more. We appreciate the important work you do for our schools and students!

All students, parents, guardians, teachers, staff, administrators, and community members are invited to the annual State of Schools address at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 18, 2023, at John Muir High School Early College Magnet. Board of Education President Michelle Richardson Bailey will deliver the annual speech. 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).

Congratulations to three PUSD schools for winning several awards in the Los Angeles County Math Field Day competition on April 29!

• Jackson Magnet STEM Dual Language Academy

• Bronze for Conceptual Understanding

• Sierra Madre Elementary School

• Gold for Individual

• Silver for Problem Solving

• Sierra Madre Middle School

• Silver for Conceptual Understanding (7th grade)

• Silver for Problem Solving and Conceptual Understanding (8th grade)

PUSD teachers never stop learning and that’s why they recently tackled a tough assignment – to reexamine materials and English Language Arts (ELA) instruction in grades K-8 across nine schools. In order to complete the task, PUSD partnered with The New Teacher Project (TNTP), a national nonprofit organization founded by teachers who believe all students deserve great teaching. The goal of the review is to understand students’ access to four critical resources:

1. Grade-appropriate assignments

2. Standards-aligned instruction

3. Deep engagement

4. Teachers who believe students can meet the demands of rigorous standards

The process involved collecting student work samples, observing classrooms, and surveying students, teachers, and school leaders. To learn more about the findings and recommendations for literacy instruction, please read our comprehensive report located here.

Pasadena LEARNs is excited to begin accepting applications for our 2023-24 afterschool programs! Priority enrollment begins today for students eligible for Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P) including: English language learners, those residing in foster care, experiencing homelessness, and/or receiving free/reduced rice meals based on income. All other LEARNs Program applications will be accepted starting Monday, May 22, 2023. Applications are available at www.pusd.us/learns, in the main office at your child's school, and in the LEARNs office. For questions, contact the LEARNs site coordinator at your child's school, call (626) 396-3614, or email us at pasadenalearns@pusd.us. Enrollment is on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Neighborhood school enrollment continues for:

• TK-12 students who live within PUSD and are entering their school of residence for the first time.

• New to PUSD students entering Transitional Kindergarten. TK students must turn 5 years old between September 2, 2023 and April 2, 2024.

• Current PUSD students who are advancing to 6th or 9th grades and plan to attend their neighborhood school

Please note: registration is not required for TK-12th grade students to continue at the same school. For example, if a child is moving on from 2nd to 3rd grade at their current neighborhood school, parents are not required to re-register. Please visit www.pusd.us/enroll for more information.

• Regular meeting of the PUSD Board of Education is Thursday, May 25, 2023, 4:00 p.m. Elbie J. Hickambottom Board Room (Room 236), 351 S. Hudson Ave, Pasadena. Agenda at www.pusd.us/Page/639