PJUSD Newsletter

Dear Families and Staff,

As we begin the month of October, I want to thank you for your continued partnership in supporting our students. This month brings meaningful opportunities for learning, collaboration, and growth across our schools.

Key October Highlights

• Parent-Teacher Conferences (Elementary and Creekside Schools): October is an important time for families and teachers to connect on student progress and set goals for the remainder of the year. Please check your school’s schedule for specific dates and times.
• Red Ribbon Week (Oct. 23–31): This national campaign encourages healthy, drug-free lifestyles. Schools will share information about the activities and events planned at each site.
• Staff Development Day (Oct. 24, 2025): This non-student day is dedicated to professional learning, giving our educators time to strengthen their skills and enhance the high-quality instruction provided in our classrooms.

As always, our top priority is to ensure that every student feels safe, supported, and inspired to achieve. I encourage you to stay engaged with your school community and to take part in the many opportunities October brings.

Thank you for your ongoing support of Patterson Unified School District and for helping us provide the best possible learning environment for our students.

Warm regards,

Dr. Reyes Gauna, Superintendent

Our District recently hosted its fourth Walking and Talking Instructional Event, where teachers, administrators, and staff visited classrooms to observe effective teaching and share ideas to strengthen student learning. These meaningful conversations help refine instructional practices and ensure every student receives a high-quality education.Thank you to the teachers and students who opened their classrooms and to all who participated.

Reading is the foundation for success in every subject, and families play an important role in building strong habits. Even a few minutes each day makes a big difference.

For younger children, read together for 10–15 minutes, point out words in everyday places, and ask simple questions about the story. For elementary students, encourage different types of reading like stories, magazines, or informational books and talk about the main idea. Middle schoolers benefit from discussing connections between books and the world around them, while high schoolers can grow by reading more complex texts and comparing perspectives.

At every age, celebrate reading and make it part of family life. When families and schools work together, students build the confidence and skills they need to succeed.

Visit our district's News & Announcements page to explore our new Our Promise Feature:

Each month, this section will shine a light on the people, programs, and initiatives that make a difference across our District. From staff who go above and beyond, to programs that support student success, to initiatives that help us fulfill our PJUSD Promise, these stories remind us of the incredible work happening in our schools.

This month’s Promise Feature highlights West Valley Learning Center Autism Teacher, Mayra Munoz and the incredible work she does for her school and our District.

On September 10, we proudly celebrated the ribbon cutting for the new Grayson Library. Students, staff, and community members toured the new facility, which will be a place to explore reading, gather for after-school clubs, and create in a new makerspace. We are excited to open this wonderful space for our students and community to enjoy for years to come.

These projects reflect our commitment to providing safe, modern, and inspiring spaces for all students, and we look forward to celebrating these milestones with you.

This October, we’re highlighting a few simple ways families can stay safe online and recognize authentic communication from our district:

• Don’t Take the Bait (Phishing)

  If an email or text looks suspicious—like it’s asking for personal info or has odd links—pause before clicking. Online “tricks” are a lot less fun than Halloween ones.

• Passwords Need Sidekicks (MFA)

  Strong passwords are important, but pairing them with Multi-Factor Authentication (that quick code sent to your phone or app) makes your accounts much safer. It’s like locking the front door and then adding a deadbolt.

• Trust the Source (Branding & Approved Platforms)

  For district updates, always look for messages from our official communication platforms (www.patterson.k12.ca.us and ParentSquare) and district branding. If you see a message that doesn’t match our usual look or channels, treat it with caution—it might not be the real deal.

Together, these steps help protect your family’s information and ensure you always have the right connection to Patterson USD.

🏆 Congratulations to Grayson Elementary! For the second month in a row, Grayson had the highest attendance in the district with 96.64 percent in September. Way to go, Grayson! 🎉

🎉 Congratulations to our Attendance Awareness Month winners! We had many students recognized across the district, and while only some are pictured here, we are so proud of all our winners for showing amazing attendance habits. Keep up the great work! 👏

We encourage all PJUSD students, families, and staff to download the STOPit app. This free app gives students a safe and anonymous way to report bullying, safety concerns, or anything that makes them feel uncomfortable at school. By using STOPit, students can speak up, support one another, and help us keep our schools safe and welcoming for everyone.

Dear PJUSD Families,

Please see the attachments below for important information about California’s safe storage laws for firearms. The memo explains parent and guardian responsibilities, why safe storage matters, and how keeping firearms locked and secured helps protect children and keep our schools safe.

Thank you for taking the time to review this important information.

Join us in celebrating the success of former Patterson graduates with our monthly United Patterson Graduate Profile series. Our latest profile features Frank Martinez, a proud graduate of Patterson High School Class of 2007.

Read his story and discover more inspiring profiles on our district's website under the News & Announcements page and by clicking on the "United Patterson Profiles" filter.

Do you know a Patterson graduate who has moved on to do some incredible thing? Share their story with our community by clicking the following link: https://bit.ly/UPprofile.

PJUSD is hiring! Check out or Edjoin page to see current open positions in our District: https://bit.ly/pjusdedjoin

If you or someone you know is interested, please reach out to: Katie Jones at kajones@patterson.k12.ca.us or Delia Salinas at dsalinas@patterson.k12.ca.us for more information.

Website: https://www.patterson.k12.ca.us
Location: 510 Keystone Boulevard, Patterson, CA, USA
Phone: 209-895-7700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PJUSD95363
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pattersonschools