Parent Newsletter #23: 1/16/26
Highlander News from the Principal's Office
About Piedmont High School
Website | Phone: (510) 594-2626
Location: 800 Magnolia Ave, Piedmont, CA 94611
Instagram: @piedmonthigh
Bell Schedule (Regular) | Library Schedule
Road to Graduation | Athletic Newsletter
College & Career Newsletter | Yearbook Info
2025-26 School Profile | Student Handbook
Principal: Dr. Yoshihara | Asst. Principal: Mr. Marik
From the Desk of Your Principal
Dear Highlander Families,
What a beautiful week. It reminds me of how lucky we are to enjoy such sunny weather in January. We hope everyone enjoys the holiday weekend. We being on a regular Tuesday schedule next week.
Warmly,
Dr. Yoshihara
Important Dates
January 22: Last day to add semester 2 classes
January 26: Student Health & Wellness Workshop (6-8pm, AHT)
February 7: Winter Ball
February 10: Boosters Meeting (7 pm, Student Center)
February 13: Parents' Club Meeting (9 am, AHT Lobby)
March 20: 57th Annual Bird Calling Contest (7 pm, AHT)
Announcing the 57th Bird Calling Contest Poster Competition
57th Annual Bird Calling Contest
Theme: “Free As A Bird”
Friday, March 20, at 7:00 pm in the Alan Harvey Theater.
The PUSD high school student-designed poster will be used for promotional purposes for the Bird Calling Show.
We will reproduce it in an 8.5X11 inch format, in a large poster format, on the cover of the program, and in publications for publicity.
The artist will be paid $200 for their work, receive two tickets to the show, and their poster will appear in the publicity for the show.
Please submit work digitally via email to: phsbirdcallingcontest@gmail.com
Deadline: Monday, February 23rd 5:00pm
The poster design must be original work by the student, and include the following information on the poster itself:
57th Annual Piedmont Bird Calling Contest
Free As A Bird
Friday, March 20th at 7pm
Allan Harvey Theater
California Healthy Kids Survey - January 30th
CalSCHLS is a survey system offered by the California Department of Education (CDE) to provide quality local data to districts, schools, and communities on school climate and safety; learning supports and barriers; and youth development, health, and wellness. The CDE surveys assess perceptions of students, staff, and parents/guardians about school climate, student well-being, and the learning environment in California public schools. PHS uses this data to inform school wide programming. Students will be completing this survey during academy on January 30th. Links to the parent version of this survey will be sent around that time. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Marik.
Results from previous CHKS surveys can be found on the PUSD website here.
Grease! The Musical
Piedmont High School presents Grease Jan. 29 through Feb. 1. Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey wrote the book, music and lyrics for this rollicking musical comedy evoking the look and sound of the 1950s. A cultural touchstone written 55 years ago, Grease continues to resonate with its themes of identity, peer pressure and rebellion. The show contains mature themes which may not be suitable for younger audience members.
The production includes 65 student performers, 11 student band/orchestra members, 10 stage crew members and is directed and choreographed by PHS dance teacher Amy Moorhead, with the orchestra conducted by PHS band and orchestra teacher Trevor Meseroll.
Performance Times
- Thursday, Jan. 29, 7 p.m.
- Friday, Jan. 30, 7 p.m.
- Saturday, Jan. 31, 7 p.m.
- Sunday, Feb. 1, 4 p.m.
All performances are at the Alan Harvey Theater, 800 Magnolia Ave. Piedmont, CA 94611
Tickets are $15–$35 and can be purchased online. Online tickets can be purchased at https://phsmusicalsdance.ludus.com.
Tickets can also be purchased at the door, with cash or check to PUSD, for an additional $2 per ticket. Online purchase is encouraged. There are no refunds.
Contact the director at amoorhead@piedmont.k12.ca.us with questions.
World Language Placement Information
Bonjour ! ¡Hola! 你好 ! Please see the below table for information regarding the PHS World Language Placement Tests for 2026-27, for currently enrolled PUSD students. Students enrolling in PUSD over the summer may test on August 7th, 2026. Registration forms for the Fall tests will be shared at a later date. For French questions, please contact Mr. Smith (bsmith@piedmont.k12.ca.us). For Spanish questions, please contact Ms. Sahagon (dsahagon@piedmont.k12.ca.us). For Chinese questions, please contact Ms. Xia (xxia@piedmont.k12.ca.us). There is no make-up test date planned for the Spring tests, so please ensure to plan appointments, etc., accordingly.
Important Info for Seniors
Seniors- Your semester grades are now on your transcript. Counselors will send these grades to the Common Application Colleges/ Universities very soon.
If there is any issue or question, please email your counselor as soon as possible.
If you have a college/university that is not on the Common App ( and not a CSU or UC) that needs your semester grades, please email or let your counselor know where to send your grades.
Also, seniors - Its very important to keep up your grades, classes as you begin to hear from the colleges/ universities to where you have applied. Even if you are admitted to a campus( Of course we congratulate you!!!), making changes or letting your grades skip can effect your admissions. This acceptance is based upon the classes on your application and the continued level of grades you have been earning.
If you have dropped or changed a class that was noted on your college application, please email or call each campus to which you applied.
News From Your Parents' Club
Thanks to all of you who attended our PHS Parents' Club meeting this morning. In addition to the helpful updates from Principal Yoshihara and Assistant Principal Marik, we had a wonderful financial overview from PUSD's Chief Business Officer Ruth Alahydoian. Her presentation was very informative and useful, and we are grateful to Ruth for her preparation, insight, transparency and time. The minutes of the meeting, including Ruth's presentation, will be posted on the PHS PC webpage after they are approved next month.
The next Parents' club meeting will be on Friday, February 13, at 9:00 am in the Alan Harvey Theater lobby. Please join us!
Have cheery long weekend,
Sally Baack and Dana Lung
Co-Presidents, PHS Parents' Club 2025-2026
Date of Determination
Our next date for determining extracurricular eligibility is on Monday 1/12. Administrators will review data and reach out to ineligible students (and their families) by the end-of-the week. Please reach out to Mr. Marik if you have any questions.
Start of School 2026
As the December meeting, the Board approved the 2026-27 Academic Calendar. It sets the first student day as August 10. PHS is looking at the role of Walkthrough registration for the coming year. Normally, we would hold this on August 7--the Friday prior. With the evolution of technology and such, we are exploring options for removing this day altogether. At this time, we have some details to work out and will get back to families as soon as we have definitive information on this.
Senior Launchpad Seminars - Sign up now!
Senior Launchpad Seminars - Sign up now!
Welcome to 2nd semester senior year! There is a lot to look forward to as you get ready for this next stage of life. Senior Launchpad provides practical life skills to prepare you for college and beyond. Two sessions are currently planned. Sessions are FREE, but space is limited to 50 students, so sign up now!
Session 1: Sexpectations with Natasha Singh
Date: Sunday, January 25, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Location: PHS Library
PHS Host Families Needed
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
Calling all artists and writers! The Piedmont Anti-Racism and Diversity Committee (PADC) invites K-12 students to submit their art or writing inspired by the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The art and writing will be showcased at the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration on Monday, Jan. 19. (Check out last year’s amazing work!). All participants will be entered into a drawing to win one of 10 gift cards to Mulberry’s. The deadline is Wednesday, Jan. 14.
The theme of this year’s celebration is “Choosing our Future: Chaos or Community.” Students are asked to create a piece of art or writing imagining what they’d like our future community to look like.
Art should be made on 8.5. X 11 paper; writing should be limited to one page. It can be dropped off at the front office of your school or uploaded to PADC’s website. Please include your name somewhere on your work. If you are dropping it off, please fill out and attach this form.
More info is available at www.padc.info/artandwriting. Questions? Please reach out to Ellen Lee at hiellenlee@gmail.com.
SAT Ordering
We will be offering the SAT on Monday, March 16th. The test can be ordered in IC and will be available through 2/13/26. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Marik.
Weekly Attendance Winner: Cazden C
This week's report was run from 11/17-12/19 (4 weeks). 219 students had perfect attendance during this period. This includes:
- No tardies (of any type)
- No absences (of any type)
Congratulations to Cazden for such great attendance. Please email the Principal with your Crumbl cookie choice, and I'll personally deliver it to your class.
1/12: 12 tardies to period 1 (4/4/2/2)
1/13: 25 tardies to period 2 (2/7/4/12)
1/14: 23 tardies to period 3 (2/14/7/0)
1/15: 21 tardies to period 4 (2/7/4/8)
1/16: 17 tardies to period 1 (1/8/6/2)
Last week proved oh so close for our freshmen several times. In fact, on Friday, we only had one tardy (unexcused) and four days with only 2 tardies. Nonetheless, our seniors did it again. On Wednesday (1/14), we had no seniors who were tardy. As such, our seniors will be allowed open campus at brunch on Thursday, January 22.
Piedmont Parents Network
What is PPN?
Piedmont Parents Network (PPN) is a parent-run organization that holds monthly meetings to provide parents with the opportunity to meet, connect and discuss issues affecting their child, the school, and our community All parents of students at PHS/PMS/MHS are welcome - there are no membership dues - RSVP and show up!
When are the next meetings?
12th Grade:
Next Meeting: Thursday, January 22: 7:30-9:00 pm
Facilitators: Sara Ironside, Jen Ferguson
RSVP: jen.c.ferg@gmail.com for more information
Meetings for 2026:
- Wednesday, February 25: 7:30-9:00 pm
- Wednesday, March 25: 7:30-9:00 pm
- Thursday, April 23: 7:30-9:00 pm
- Tuesday, May 19: 7:30-9:00 pm
11th Grade:
Next Meeting: Thursday, January 22: 7:00-8:30 pm
If you have thoughts, please fill out this form: Google Form for 11 Grade
Facilitator: Kristen Brett
RSVP: kbrett@srvusd.net
Meetings for 2026:
Wednesday, February 25: 7:00-8:30 pm
Thursday, March 26: 7:00-8:30 pm
Thursday, April 23: 7:00-8:30 pm
10th Grade:
Next Meeting Date: Tuesday, January 27: 8:00-9:30 pm
Facilitators: Sarah Puckett, Maggie Mittan
RSVP: maggie.mittan@gmail.com for more information
Meetings for 2026
- Tuesday, February 24: 8-9:30 pm
- Tuesday, March 24: 8-9:30 pm
- Tuesday, April 28: 8-9:30 pm
- Tuesday, May 26: 8-9:30 pm
9th Grade:
Next Meeting Date: Thursday, January 29: 7:00-8:30 pm
Facilitators: Judy Lin, Yoko Ichikawa, Anne Hawkins
RSVP: hawkins42@gmail.com for location information
Upcoming Meetings:
Friday, February 27: 8:45-10:15 am
Thursday, March 19: 7:00-8:30 pm
Friday, April 24: 8:45-10:15 am
Thursday, May 21: 7:00-8:30 pm
Thanks & Appreciations
- I just wanted to take a moment to thank our fans at some recent sporting events (O'Dowd and Berkeley). While it can be very difficult to hold back and be the better person/school, we managed to do just that. We will be hosting O'Dowd in the near future, and I know we can show them why we are better. Cheer our players, be loud to the opposing team, and enjoy the rivalry!