Message from the Superintendent
April 11, 2022
Message from the Superintendent
Dear PUSD Community,
I hope you had time to relax over Spring Break because we have so much to do during these last few weeks of school. I know this can be a stressful time for many families who are trying to make decisions about college and make plans for the future. I want you to know that our teachers, counselors and staff are here to support and guide you. I am grateful for their expertise as they “prepare students for the future by inspiring the joy of learning in every child every day!” I am also so thankful for what our students have already accomplished this year.
Congratulations to eight outstanding PUSD high school seniors who have been selected as 2022 ROSE Scholars by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association. This year, the program awarded $20,000 in scholarships to eight students who submitted a creative piece that reflected their future dreams, goals, and aspirations. Instead of a minimum GPA requirement, applicants were also asked to obtain a recommendation from a teacher, coach, counselor, or community member. Their hard work and dedication have paid off – all have been accepted to various excellent universities around the country. We couldn’t be more #PUSDproud of these kids!
Gabriela Castillo – John Muir High School
Celeste Edell – Pasadena High School
Matthew Fowler – John Muir High School
Sergio Gonzalez – Rose City High School
Cecilia Grane – Marshall Fundamental Secondary School
Oswald Guerra – John Muir High School
Kennedy Hackett – John Muir High School
Nagma Shakur–Frank – Pasadena High School
Back row, from left to right; Pasadena Tournament of Roses President Amy Wainscott, Citizens Business Bank President and Chief Executive Officer David A. Brager, Celeste Edell. Second row; Pasadena Unified School District Chief Academic Officer Dr. Elizabeth Blanco, Nagma Shakur-Frank, Matthew Fowler, Sergio Gonzalez, Citizens Business Bank Senior Vice President, Director of Treasury Management and Marketing LaVon Short, Front row: Cecilia Grane, Kennedy Hackett, Oswald Guerra, Gabriela Castillo.
MATH FIELD DAY
Our 2022 Math Field Day celebration will add up to total fun on Thursday, April 14, 2022 at Marshall Fundamental. All PUSD families are invited to celebrate our Math Madness students beginning with field games at 5:00 pm followed by a parade and awards ceremony.
The 2022 Summer Learning Catalog is here! The catalog provides information on programs available for PUSD families this summer. Program spaces are limited, so please encourage your families to enroll in their selected programs as soon as possible. For more information, go to pusd.us/learns; you can find the pdf version here: PUSD Summer Learning Catalog 2022.
Art students will push past their limits and explore endless creativity at No Boundaries, PUSD’s annual student art exhibition this month. The 17th annual exhibit kicks off with a grand opening reception – Artnight Pasadena – on Friday, April 29 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Paseo in historic downtown Pasadena. The event will showcase hundreds of works by students from all 24 District schools and will be free to the public through May 8. Gallery hours are Monday - Friday: 3-6 p.m. and Saturday - Sunday 1-4 p.m. For more information, go to gopusd.com/arts.
April is public schools month, so help us spread the word – Applications of Interest are now being accepted for PUSD residents who missed the lottery and for out-of-district applicants. Note: If you choose to enroll your student in their school of residence for the 2022-23 school year, no lottery application is required unless the requested program is dual language immersion.
ARMENIAN WORLD LANGUAGE PROGRAMS
Webster Elementary will have the honor of offering the very first elementary Armenian world language program in PUSD. The Armenian language program will be available for the 2022/23 school year and implemented over the next five years. The language program is an option developed to meet the language interests of the Armenian community of Pasadena and Glendale. It provides one daily Armenian Language Arts class per grade level and the remainder of the student’s instructional day will include classes conducted in English. All language immersion classes will be taught by fully-credentialed, bilingual teachers who have additional preparation and expertise in teaching Armenian. Webster Elementary prepares students for the Armenian language program offered at Blair Middle & High School.
CHECK OUT PROPOSED NEW TEXTBOOKS
History-Social Science Instructional Material Public Review
PUSD is piloting and considering adopting new History-Social Science instructional materials (textbooks, technology-based materials, and/or other educational materials) for use by students in grades 6-12. The instructional materials being considered for adoption are TCI's History Alive! for grades 6-8 & 10-11 and TCI's Government Alive! and Econ Alive! for 12th grade. Parents/guardians and members of the public are encouraged to review and provide input on the instructional material now being considered for adoption and use in PUSD's 6-12 History-Social Science classes. The materials can be reviewed at the PUSD Education Center (351 S. Hudson Ave. Room 214, Pasadena) from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. The public comment form is available in English and Spanish at gopusd.com/pilotreview
English Language Arts Instructional Material Public Review
PUSD is piloting and considering adopting new English Language Arts instructional materials (textbooks, technology-based materials, and/or other educational materials) for use by students in grades 9-11. The instructional materials being considered for adoption are Carnegie Learning's Mirrors & Windows. Parents/guardians and members of the public are encouraged to review and provide input on the instructional material now being considered for adoption and use in PUSD's 9-11th grade English Language Arts classes. These materials can be reviewed at the PUSD Education Center (351 S. Hudson Ave. Room 214, Pasadena) from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. The public comment form is available in English and Spanish at gopusd.com/pilotreview
SCIENCE FICTION IS FUN – IT’S A FACT
You’re invited to celebrate all things science fiction at the Octavia E. Butler Science Fiction Festival on Friday, April 22nd at 3 p.m. at Washington STEAM Multilingual Academy. Award-winning author Ibi Zoboi will be speaking to students about her new book, Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler, and will be available to sign books. The event will also feature sci-fi demos, workshops, crafts, book giveaways, food for purchase and more. Click here to register your attendance for faster entry into the event.
If one day devoted to science is not enough, the celebrations continue at the Altadena Eliot Arts Magnet Science Fest. The community is invited to the PUSD Science Fest, an EXTRAVAGANZA of technology, engineering, the environment, medicine, health, and all things science! Saturday, April 23, noon to 4p.m. at Eliot Arts Magnet Academy campus, entry from the Boston Street gate. See full details of participating groups and the schedule for virtual presentations at http://www.gopusd.com/eliotsciencenight
SUMMER INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUSD STUDENTS
Summer is fast approaching and many high school students will be looking for internship opportunities. We are here to help! The Office of College and Careers helps to place ALL academy juniors in pathway aligned internships. Academy students who are currently in 11th grade can fill out their application now. Here is the link for the application: https://www.pusd.us/Page/5488 or you can speak to your CTE teacher. For non-academy students, please see our list of opportunities in the Pasadena/ Los Angeles community found here: https://www.pusd.us/Page/9871 These internships can be applied to via the links and registration processes outlined by the hosts.
Have a great week!
Sincerely,
Brian McDonald, Ed.D.
Superintendent
The Perseverance Awards are on hold as we perfect the way we honor students.