Piedmont Pulse

March 2, 2026

Dear PUSD Families & Staff:

It was great seeing our staff and community at Friday's Lunar New Year celebration at the Ellen Driscoll Theater. A special thanks to Xinjia Xia, our Mandarin teacher for all she does to inspire language and culture in our students and community. I also had a chance to see our Girls Basketball team prevail over Clayton Valley later that night, which was a joy to see. Our girls are on fire this season, and I am looking forward to their CIF Division 1 State Tournament Round 1 home game against Antelope HS on Tuesday at 7pm.

Speaking of athletics, thank you to the parents who joined Tyler Small, Director of Athletics; Dr. David Yoshihara, PHS Principal, and me for a community meeting last Thursday on the topic of sportsmanship and spectator conduct. We held a productive discussion about the importance of our athletics program and how our community comes together to support our athletes. What I appreciated about our discussion was the focus on how to help our already outstanding program get even better. We discussed such topics as safety, how we model behavior for visiting teams/fans, and how we can promote positive sportsmanship in our students. Thanks also to Jean Takazawa for sharing important perspectives about sports culture at the middle and high school levels. The presentation deck is linked HERE, including the notes we took during the meeting based on community input. If you have additional ideas on how we can continue to improve and support our athletics programs related to sportsmanship and spectator conduct, please reach out to Tyler Small, Dr. Yoshihara, or me. We will continue our work to enhance our programs, and community input is key to our success.

In Community,

Jennifer Hawn, Ed.D.

Superintendent

I am pleased to recommend the appointment of Jamie Van Kleeck as the next Principal for Piedmont Middle School, pending Board approval at the March 4, 2026, Board meeting.

While our district typically conducts a broad interview process for leadership roles, Jamie’s exceptional qualifications and her specific, proven impact at PMS make a direct appointment the most appropriate choice for the school’s future. Her seamless transition from teacher to administrator has already demonstrated that she possesses the unique vision required to take PMS to the next level without the delay or disruption of an external search. Jamie Van Kleeck has my full confidence and recommendation to take on this leadership position successfully.

Professional Background and Leadership

Since joining the district in 2012 as a classroom teacher, Jamie has served the Piedmont Middle School community in multiple capacities, including Core 7 and English 8 teacher, ASB advisor, instructional mentor through TEAM and TIP, and member of the MTSS team, before transitioning to Assistant Principal in 2024. In her administrative role, she has focused on strengthening campus culture, refining systems of student support and accountability, and fostering strong partnerships with students, staff, and families. Her leadership has contributed to continued schoolwide growth and recognition, including Piedmont Middle School’s Schools to Watch designation.

Educational Background

Jamie holds an Administrative Services Credential from California State University, East Bay. Her academic preparation includes a Single Subject Teaching Credential (UC San Diego), a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential (Saint Mary’s College of California), and a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Hayward.

Transition Timeline

Jamie’s appointment to Principal is effective July 1, 2026. Following her appointment, the District will formally post the position of Assistant Principal to begin the search for her replacement.

Highlander Robotics Summer camps registration now open!

NEW! FLL Champs Academy for FLL-C rising 5th-7th grade

Highlander Robotics is pleased to announce a new summer camp for experienced FIRST Lego League–Challenge (FLL-C) kids! Highlander Robotics software team members will teach advanced robotics concepts including the engineering method, mechanism design, path following with sensors and gyros, and debugging. We will be teaching in Spike Prime.

Dates: June 8-12, 2026, M-F 9:00am-12:00n at the Mary G. Ross Engineering Lab at Piedmont High School. All campers should have at least one season of FLL-C experience and be a rising 5th-7th grader. Each camper will need to bring a tablet or laptop loaded with current SPIKE software. Details will be provided after registration. Cost $575. REGISTER HERE

Summer aCADemy Returns in 2026

Attention STEM loving Middle Schoolers!

Highlander Robotics Summer aCADemy for rising 7th to 9th graders,

Dates: June 8-12, 2026, M-F 1:00-4:00 pm at Piedmont High School. Summer aCADemy is an introduction to fabrication and computer aided design (CAD) using Onshape taught by Highlander team members in our Ross Engineering Lab. Registration is $500. REGISTER HERE

More info or to contact us: FRC8033.com

(Piedmont, Ca., January 22, 2026) – The Piedmont Unified School District (PUSD) is excited to announce nominations for the 2026 Arthur Hecht Volunteer of the Year Award are now being accepted. The award is presented annually to individuals who have volunteered their efforts over a period of time and made a difference because of their involvement and commitment to Piedmont’s youth.

Previous recipients include: Hunter McCreary (1998); Ann Chandler (1999); Ruth Cuming (2000); Lisa Lomenzo (2001); jointly by Cathie Geddeis and Marion Souyoultzis (2002); jointly by Fritz and Mary Wooster (2003); Elizabeth (Betsy) Gentry (2004); Cynthia Gorman (2005); Grier Graff (2006); Julia Burke (2007); Maude Pervere (2008); jointly to Anne-Marie Lamarche and Mark Menke (2009); Janiele Maffei Tovani (2010); Andrea Swenson (2011), June Monach (2012), Bill Drum (posthumously) and Mary Ireland (2013), Ray Perman (2014), Jennifer Fox (2015), Katie Korotzer (2016), Hilary Cooper (2017) Holly Hanke (2018), Cathy Glazier (2019), Sue Smegal (2020), Ken Li (2021), Eileen Ruby (2022), David Ragones (2023), Sarah Pearson (2024) and most recently, Cory Smegal in 2025.

Art Hecht was a tireless community volunteer, and was dedicated to students in both Piedmont and Oakland. He served on Piedmont’s Board of Education from 1970 to 1982. Art also was very active with the Piedmont Continuation High School (now called Millennium High School). In 1998, the Art Hecht Volunteer of the Year Award was established in his memory.

Nominations for this award are now being sought and will be kept strictly confidential. The deadline for nominations is March 13, 2026. A selection committee will vote on the award recipient, who will be recognized at the May 6, 2026, Board of Education meeting, where the honoree’s good works will be acknowledged.

Nomination Forms are available on the District website, in the District Office or by calling Rosalina Barrios, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent, at (510) 594-2614.

PUSD Adventures Programs

Piedmont Unified School District is excited to offer a variety of Adventures programs for students Kindergarten through 9th grade.

Spring Adventures: April 6–10

Spring Adventures is a fun mix of learning and creating, filled with special activities designed to keep kids engaged and excited. Each day blends hands-on academic enrichment with creative projects, games, and time to connect with friends.

Spring Adventures runs from 9:00 AM–3:00 PM for TK–5th grade students, with extended care available from 8:00–9:00 AM and 3:00–5:00 PM to support busy families.

It’s the perfect way to welcome spring—with curiosity, creativity, and plenty of fun!

Register using this link:PUSD Homeroom. Adventures 2026

Summer Adventures 2026 is a PUSD teacher-led summer enrichment program offering multiple options.

Session Dates: June 8–18 and June 22–July 2
Fees: Half Day $590 per session | Full Day $1,180 per session

• Summer Adventures (1st–5th Grade): Morning academic enrichment paired with afternoon creative projects, games, and hands-on group activities.
  
  

• Welcome to Kindergarten: A gentle introduction to the school day with age-appropriate activities that build confidence, routines, and friendships.
  
  

• Welcome to 6th Grade: A transition program focused on team-building, confidence, and familiarity with middle school schedules and expectations.
  
  

• Junior Counselor in Training (CIT) Program (7th–9th Grade): A leadership opportunity for older students to build responsibility and teamwork while supporting younger campers.
  Fee: $340 per session
  
  

Summer Adventures registration is now open and is available through PUSD Homeroom. Adventures 2026

For questions or additional information please contact Erin Rivera erivera@piedmont.k12.ca.us

March Community Meetings

We have a series of opportunities for staff and parents to come together to discuss programs and important issues throughout our district. Please join us!

Residents with children not currently enrolled in Piedmont schools - new kindergarteners or a student switching to Piedmont schools - are invited to start the enrollment process now.

Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Program

If your child is four years old by September 1st, 2026, they are eligible for our District’s outstanding Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program. This specially designed program ensures a solid foundation for your child's educational journey. For families with children already enrolled at Wildwood, TK students will attend Beach for TK and move back to Wildwood for Kindergarten. A TK Information Night will be held 1/22 at 6pm at Beach Elementary School. More information about TK can be found HERE (click on TK)

Kindergarten Program

Kindergarten students must be five years old by September 1. Not five by September 1st? Check out our Transitional Kindergarten program! More information about Kindergarten can be found HERE (click on Kindergarten).

Non-Resident Transfer Permits

For families considering a transfer from outside our district, mark your calendars for March 1st, 2026, as the date Alameda County school districts may accept non-resident applications. All non-resident families will need to follow the inter-district transfer process. Please note that we are currently at capacity and do not anticipate open seats for non-residents for the 2026-27 school year.

Next Steps

We genuinely look forward to welcoming your children into our school family next year. The journey of education is a collaborative effort, and we are excited to partner with you in nurturing the potential within each child.

In preparation for enrollment opening, check out the resources on our website https://www.piedmont.k12.ca.us/about/enrolling/enrolling-info, and gather the required documents. Families will be notified of their successfully processed application on a rolling basis. Piedmont residents can enroll at any time after January 14th, but please note that priority for neighborhood schools is determined by the date of the complete application. We encourage you to complete the application promptly to secure your preferred school placement.

Looking forward to a fantastic 2026-27 school year together!

Women's History Month - The California Department of Education and PUSD recognize March as Women's History Month. To our students, staff, and families, we celebrate you now and ALWAYS!

Green Space Volunteer/Sponsorship Opportunities - For groups who wish to sponsor or volunteer to cultivate green spaces, please review our this green space report, and contact Pete Palmer at ppalmer@piedmont.k12.ca.us.

The Wellness Center: A special thanks to the Wellness Center team, including our amazing staff along with our supportive parents and community members. Mental health funding continues to be reduced at the State and federal levels, which means school districts must fundraise to offer the services our students need. This year, the Wellness Center must raise at least $50,000 for the 2025–2026 school year. Donate HERE. Questions? Contact Piedmont Wellness Support Committee at piedmontwellnessctr@gmail.com. Learn More about the Wellness Center at PiedmontWellness.org

Independent Study at PHS/MHS: Is your child a professional athlete? In the entertainment industry? Or, in need of an online independent study program? More information is linked HERE. For additional questions, please contact Principal Irma Muñoz Daniels at imunozdaniels@piedmont.k12.ca.us. Please note that MHS is also open for in-person enrollment.

Piedmont Portal - For all of the latest school and community events, please visit the Piedmont Portal linked HERE

State of the District Report 2025-26: State of the District reports are linked HERE.

Piedmont Alumni Network:

The second issue of the Piedmont Alumni Newsletter, linked HERE. The Alumni Newsletter highlights the many events and ways our alumni can stay connected to the Piedmont community. If you are a graduate of PHS or MHS, please connect with us HERE.

Follow PUSD - Please read our school newsletters sent out weekly for update to date information. The District Facebook (@piedmontunified) and Instagram (@piedmontusd)

Email: communication@piedmont.k12.ca.us
Website: www.piedmont.k12.ca.us
Location: 760 Magnolia Avenue, Piedmont, CA, USA
Phone: 510-594-2600