Piedmont Pulse
Piedmont USD - Week 3 Update >>>
December 2, 2024
Dear PUSD Families:
In the wake of last week’s tragedy, I have thought a lot about the remarkable strength and compassion of our community. Only in Piedmont could the annual Turkey Trot transform into a heartfelt event that provides solace and support during a time of grief. Only in Piedmont could hundreds of community members, including our students, gather for an evening vigil, united in quiet care for one another. Only in Piedmont do we come together to heal and wrap around each other in the face of sorrow.
As a mother, school superintendent, and former English teacher, many of you know I regularly look to literature for wisdom and solace about how to be human. I love Naomi Shihab Nye’s poem about what it means to be a parent and what it means to care for each other in community. Parents in our community have shared insights that feel more relevant than ever at this moment: Your children are my children, and although we may not have the right words for this tragedy, our words matter. For Soren Dixon, Jack Nelson, and Krysta Tsukahara, your memories endure in our community. To grieve is to love. For Jordan Miller, we are sending good energy for a full recovery. For our families, friends, and loved ones, we share your sorrow.
Shoulders
A man crosses the street in rain,
stepping gently, looking two times north and south,
because his son is asleep on his shoulder.
No car must splash him.
No car drive too near to his shadow.
This man carries the world’s most sensitive cargo
but he’s not marked.
Nowhere does his jacket say FRAGILE,
HANDLE WITH CARE.
His ear fills up with breathing.
He hears the hum of a boy’s dream
deep inside him.
We’re not going to be able
to live in this world
if we’re not willing to do what he’s doing
with one another.
The road will only be wide.
The rain will never stop falling.
--Naomi Shihab Nye
In Community,
Jennifer Hawn, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Supporting our students and staff is front of mind for us following last week's tragedy. Below are links to letters that have gone out to families at our schools. Thank you to our administrators who coordinated to plan additional supports for this week, along with our teachers who asked for a moment of silence this morning. And, thank you to our counseling staff who have been called upon several times throughout this last month.
Turkey Trot - Thank you to Sydney Proctor and all of those who organized this year's Turkey Trot, including the Tiny Tot Trot, which were bittersweet events that reflected the best of our community. Thank you to Mayor Jen Cavenaugh who spoke eloquently in recognition of the four students involved in the car accident on 11/27, three of whom died and one who is hospitalized. The event brought our community together, which is what makes Piedmont second to none.
The Science of Sourdough - I confess, I have not seen so much sourdough bread since the pandemic; however, thanks to Shelley Seto-Rosen who held "bread day" in her Biology classes, judging of the best sourdough bread occurred with a great deal of fun and enjoyment. Thank you, Shelley, for making Biology a delicious learning experience.
Gratitude for Wildwood - Ariel Dolowich and I had a chance to spend some time supervising Wildwood before Thanksgiving break, and just a note of gratitude for our staff, students, and families for their support. I confess, these moments where I get a chance to serve as "Principal" again are joyful, as you can see from my effort to prepare students for their spelling test. Thanks to Jen Kessler for the photo.
Please be on the lookout for Infinite Campus messages with sign-up links for the following community meetings:
Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) - 12/5 at 4PM - District Office
Chief Business Official, Ruth Alahydoian will present information on the budget, including a preview of the 1st Interim Budget presentation to the Board on December 11th.
Superintendent's Advisory Committee (SAC) - 11/20 at 4:30PM - Follow-Up Materials
Superintendent, Jennifer Hawn led a session, along with Director of Facilities, Pete Palmer, and Chief Business Official, Ruth Alahydoian, on Green Space opportunities throughout our schools. We also had landscape architect Amy Cupples join us to share her work with our staff and students regarding the high school Student Center outdoor area. The presentation deck for the Green Space meeting is linked HERE, along with a more comprehensive report linked HERE. If you are interested in contributing to our green spaces in PUSD, please let us know HERE.
LCAP/Curriculum Community Meeting - Date TBA
Assistant Superintendent, Ariel Dolowich, will lead a session on our progress toward meeting our goals according to our LCAP.
District Technology Advisory Committee - 12/9 at 3:45PM - Havens Library
Director of Instructional Technology, Stephanie Griffin will lead this meeting in the Haven's Library and virtually. This session will focus on how teachers are using AI and on our proposed policy regarding instructional uses of AI.
Special Education Community Meeting - 12/10 at 4PM (Location TBA)
Director of Special Education, Jean Fagin will lead a session on updates in Special Education.
Piedmont Unified School District
Email: communication@piedmont.k12.ca.us
Website: www.piedmont.k12.ca.us
Location: 760 Magnolia Avenue, Piedmont, CA, USA
Phone: 510-594-2600