PUSD UPDATE

Dear PUSD Community,

As we head into Thanksgiving, we have much to be thankful for this year starting with our families and loved ones. With everything going on in the world, being part of a caring community is more important than ever.

I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as Interim Superintendent for a community I consider to be my extended family. I’m grateful for our talented and hard-working students, our teachers, administrators, and staff, and our award-winning schools. Our students are at the heart of everything we do.

In this week’s Update, our students’ academic, artistic, and athletic achievements give us reasons to celebrate. We’re also looking forward to the annual Rose Bowl Turkey Trot, a fun and family-friendly community event on Thanksgiving day that will benefit PUSD athletic programs again this year.

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

Student finalists in the annual Parade of Roses art contest were honored at a special ceremony Nov. 12 at the Tournament of Roses. PUSD students in grades 4-8 designed and painted rose bud vases inspired by this year’s Rose Parade theme “Celebrating a World of Music: The Universal Language.”

(from left) Tournaments of Roses President Alex Aghajanian, 1st place champions Maddie Chavez, grade 5, Hamilton Elementary School and Sophie Zarkaryan, grade 8, Sierra Madre Middle School, interim Superintendent Elizabeth J. Blanco

Finalists of the 2023 Parade of Roses art contest with the 2024 Royal Court (back row)

Nearly 1,000 PUSD students, parents and community members turned up for a fantastic fall festival recently. Madison Elementary’s 2nd annual Harvest Festival featured a petting zoo, bouncy houses, games, face painting, prize drawings, arts and crafts. Caltech scientists also showcased super-cool science experiments. Local business donations from Pasadena Burger and Winchell's made the event even sweeter.

The Model A Ford club at PHS is one-of-a-kind, just like the classic cars its members rebuild. Dedicated to the restoration, preservation, and enjoyment of Ford Model A vehicles manufactured between 1928 and 1931, it is the only Model A club anywhere in the nation that is based on a high school campus. It is also one of the only programs in the Los Angeles area geared towards automotive technology.

Club Director and former PUSD Board Member, Wilbert Smith, Ph.D., donates his time teaching students about tool safety, parts of the car, how to take apart the motor and put it back together. Dr. Smith believes this type of hands-on auto body education is absolutely necessary right now. The PHS Model A Club now has about 40 members but welcomes new members and donations. For more information, visit https://www.pusd.us/page/5122.

Get ready to join the “PUSD Trot Squad” at 9 a.m. Thanksgiving Day for the 6th Annual 5K Rose Bowl Turkey Trot! This year’s Turkey Trot around the recreational loop at the Rose Bowl Stadium will support athletics at four PUSD high schools - Blair, John Muir, Marshall, and PHS.

To purchase tickets, click here https://runsignup.com/Race/Register?raceId=68850&coupon=Z156HQPM8 PUSD students get free entry. All patrons 9 and under are always free, regardless of PUSD affiliation. For PUSD students only ages 10 - 18, the promo code will be applied at the checkout page using this link.