Dear AUSD Community,

I hope this message finds you enjoying these final weeks of summer. Whether your days have been filled with travel, family time, enrichment activities, or well-deserved relaxation, I trust this time has provided an opportunity to recharge and prepare for the school year ahead.

Our commitment to serving all students does not take a break during the summer. As we continue through the remainder of summer, our team has been hard at work preparing for the upcoming school year. They have been busy cleaning/updating classrooms, refining curriculum, and planning programs and activities that support academic achievement and student well-being.

As the first day of school approaches, we encourage families to stay informed by regularly checking your school’s website and social media accounts for important updates, back-to-school information, and event details. These platforms will be your best sources for the latest news as each school finalizes schedules, supply lists, orientation dates, and more.

Very soon, I will be sending out my annual back-to-school letter, as will each school’s principal. Families should also be aware that most schools send important information (i.e., teacher assignments, class schedules, welcome messages) to the primary email account on file. If you have not already done so, now is a great time to log into the AUSD Parent Portal for returning student registration and to update/verify confirm your contact information to ensure you don’t miss any critical information during the 2025–26 school year. Visit www.ausd.us/enroll to access the Parent Portal. (FYI: This is also the link for new enrollees and permit applications.)

We also invite all AUSD families, students, and staff to follow and subscribe to the District’s official social media accounts (@AlhambraUSD) on Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube. Staying connected through AUSD’s social media accounts is a great way to celebrate student/staff success, learn about new programs, and keep up with districtwide news and announcements.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back soon and beginning a new year of learning, growth, and shared achievement. Until then, I wish you continued health, happiness, and a safe remainder of your summer.

Warm Regards,

Denise R. Jaramillo, Ed.D.

Superintendent

We are grateful to the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) for hosting the first-ever Student Empowerment Summit at UCLA. Ten current and former AUSD Student Advisory Council (SAC) joined hundreds of student leaders for this unforgettable event on June 20th that was created by students, for students.

Alhambra Unified's own Gabby Wong (recent Mark Keppel High School graduate and LACOE Superintendent's Advisory Council) played a key leadership role in the event, co-moderating boththe Career Panel and Student Panel. Representing all three AUSD high schools at this summit were: Emily Huang, Jasmin Huang, Michelle Lim, Isabella Majeau, Mia Morales, Drexel Ngo, Keiko Rakin, Kevin Tang, Nancy Vo, and Angelina Yip. We are excited for our student leaders to put their learning into action in the upcoming year.

(Make sure to check out their fun 360-degree photobooth videos below.)

PLEASE NOTE:

There were no Staff Reports presented at the July 22nd Board meeting. But if you are interested in reading the minutes from the this or any other AUSD Board of Education meeting, they will be posted HERE when they are finalized.

Help ensure the Alhambra Unified School District receives the maximum amount of federal funds for our schools by completing the Alternative Income Form (AIF). The collection of household income information is a necessary step for AUSD to receive thousands of dollars in federal funds for the school your child attends. ALL families should complete the Alternative Income Form (AIF), irrespective of their household income. One AIF is needed for each student.

Scan the QR code, click HERE, download the flyer below, or visit www.tinyurl.com/AIFdirections for instructions to access the Family Portal to start completing your form for the 2025-2026 school year.

The school that demonstrates the greatest overall increase to Alternative Income Form (AIF) form submissions will receive additional funds to support student programs. Growth will be measured using multiple factors, including increased parent participation through the Parent Portal, growth in the percentage of socioeconomically disadvantaged (SED) students identified, and the use of innovative strategies to collect AIF information. Click HERE for details and complete the AIF form by September 30, 2025 for your submission to count towards this friendly incentive contest.

New & Returning AUSD Parents: Please make sure you have signed up for SMS/Text message alerts through the Parent Portal. The SMS/Text feature of our mass communication system (Blackboard) has significantly improved our communication capabilities, ensuring timely and efficient updates for our staff and families, especially during emergencies, but you have to make sure you have entered a cell number in the Emergency Messaging section for the system to alert. Click HERE to view our SMS/Text Frequently Asked Questions.

• All AUSD 9th-12 grade families are invited.
• Find out how Alhambra Unified School District high school students can earn free college credits.
• Date: Wednesday, July 30, 2025
• Time: 7:00pm-8:00pm (Zoom link will be sent via email after you RSVP)
• RSVP: www.tinyurl.com/ausdcc0730
• Translations available in Chinese, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Check out the Fall 2025 Class Schedule by visiting https://tinyurl.com/ausd-ECP-classes. Remember to submit the interest form no later than Friday, August 15th at 11:59pm. Classes will begin September 8, 2025.

• All AUSD 9th- 12th grade families are invited to attend
• Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2025
• Location: San Gabriel High School
• Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm

On August 5th, AUSD Student Support Services will be participating at the Alhambra Police Department 2025 National Night Out from 6:00-8:30pm at the Alhambra Police Department (211 S. First St., Alhambra).

Be sure to join us for an unforgettable evening filled with fun, food, education and demonstrations about ways to keep our community safe and connected. Stop by and visit with our SSS Team and connect with your fellow neighbors.

Have you noticed any new neighbors? If they have children, please make sure they know the new school year starts on August 12th. They need to make sure their child is enrolled so they can begin on the first day of school. Many of our schools are also still accepting permits from families who live outside the AUSD attendance area. Visit the www.ausd.us/enroll for more information.

We have put together many resources to support our immigrant families. Please click on the image or "button" below to visit our website and access these resources.

The Board of Education of the Alhambra Unified School District is seeking qualified, interested individuals to fill two (2) vacancies on its independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee (“COC”) for the District’s Measure HS and Measure AE school facilities bond programs.

Vacant Positions:

1) One member active in a bona fide taxpayers association

2) One member active in a business organization located in the district

Interested community members who live within the AUSD boundaries are encouraged to apply. Click HERE to review the committee bylaws and complete the application. Completed applications should be sent to the Alhambra Unified School District Office of the Superintendent.

Committee Responsibilities:

In accordance with Education Code Section 15278(b), the Citizens’ Oversight Committee shall:

• Inform the public concerning the District's expenditure of bond proceeds of Measure HS

and Measure AE.

• Review expenditure reports produced by the District to ensure that Measure HS and

Measure AE bond proceeds were expended only for the purposes set forth in Measure HS

and Measure AE, respectively; and

• Present to the Board in public session, an annual written report outlining their activities and

conclusions regarding the expenditure of bond proceeds of Measure HS and Measure AE.

If you have any questions, please call (626) 943-3330.

Thank you to the Custodial, Grounds, and Maintenance team for their dedication to completing projects, special assignments, and deep cleaning in time for the opening of the new school year!

The Facilities Services Department worked diligently to prepare all school sites for the return of students and staff of Alhambra Unified School District. They completed over 70 scheduled projects this summer!

The Grounds team cleared out the dirt and debris from the storage bays at San Gabriel High School.This area will be used to store gravel, mulch, soil, and other bulk materials to streamline the grounds operations.

The Maintenance and Custodial teams worked together to revamp Garfield's Auditorium. The Auditorium was repainted, the seats were removed, and the wooden floors were sanded down to apply new coats of wax. The auditorium seats were reinstalled once the floors and paint were complete. Garfield's Auditorium is ready for the students and staff to use this school year!

LITTLE BITS OF GOOD NEWS & INFORMATION FROM AROUND THE DISTRICT

(Visit our social media platforms to see additional photos of many of these events/activities.)

Thank you to the Alhambra USD community and readers of the Southern California News Group (Pasadena Star-News, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, and Whittier Daily News). Because of your support, AUSD has been named the San Gabriel Valley’s BEST PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT and a FAVORITE WORKPLACE in the 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards AGAIN!

Mark Keppel High School was named BEST HIGH SCHOOL and Ramona School was named BEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL & BEST MIDDLE SCHOOL. Additionally, ALL other AUSD TK-12 schools were named a FAVORITE SCHOOL in their respective categories. Congratulations to ALL our schools!

Congratulations to our 2025-2026 Student Board Member KEIKO RAKIN & Student Board Member Alternate ANGELINA YIP. They will be leading our Student Advisory Council SAC during the upcoming school year. Please click HERE and scroll through to meet all 12 members of SAC. We are excited to have the voices of these elected student leaders as we make important decisions for the school district.

During LACOE's Student Empowerment Summit (Breaking Barriers, Making History), our student leaders took a break from their learning and enjoyed LACOE's 360 degree photo booth! We love all the fun moments and activities LACOE included during this powerful student-centered summit!

The regulation for a milk substitution has changed. Parents may now complete THIS FORM to request a milk substitution (soy milk) with your child's school meals. This form is for a milk substitution ONLY and does NOT require a medical professional's signature.

All other food substitutions still require the Medical Statement to Request Special Meals and/or Accommodations Form, which is available HERE.

Click HERE for non-district sponsored activities from our local cities and community organizations.

The cities of Alhambra and Monterey Park are continuing to offer FREE meals for ages 18 and under at select local locations. For more information, please click on each flyer.

For the second year in a row, the Alhambra Educational Foundation was voted San Gabriel Valleys' BEST Non-Profit Organization in the recent Southern California News Group's Readers Choice Awards!

Shop the deepest discounts of the year and support the Alhambra Educational Foundation all in one day!

Plan to join us on Saturday, September 20th 9:00am to 9:00pm.

Tickets are on sale now! Click HERE to view more details on the flyer.

The 12th annual Pumpkin Run is scheduled for Sunday, October 26th. Proceeds from this fun community event will benefit the Alhambra Educational Foundation. Register by August 31st to qualify for early bird registration prices.

For more information or to register, please visit: https://alhambrapumpkinrun.com.

Come be a part of the AUSD Team! Please click HERE for full-and part-time positions. We have competitive salaries and excellent benefits! AUSD posts all job opportunities at EdJoin.org/alhambrausd. Make sure to check back often.

As we move closer the the first day of school, we would like to announce ALL the site administrative teams for the 2025-2026 school year. Please click on the image below (or THIS LINK) to see the new and returning administrators at our high schools and elementary schools. Congratulations to everyone who was promoted and/or who will be going to a new site!

https://www.ausd.us/apps/events/

• July 30: College & Career Workshop: Early College Program (ECP) Information Session 7:00pm-8:00pm via Zoom (Flyer, RSVP)
• August 5: Board of Education Meeting (Agendas & Minutes)
• August 5: SSS at Alhambra Police Department National Night Out 6:00pm-8:30pm (Flyer)
• August 8: "AUSD Connection" Newsletter emailed to Parents, Students, and Staff Members
• August 12: First Day of School - Welcome Back!
• August 26: Board of Education Meeting (Agendas & Minutes)
• August 29: "AUSD Connection" Newsletter emailed to Parents, Students, and Staff Members
• September 1: Labor Day Holiday (All AUSD schools/offices will be closed)
• September 16: Board of Education Meeting (Agendas & Minutes)
• September 17: AUSD 18th Annual College Fair 6:00pm-8:00pm (Flyer)
• September 19: "AUSD Connection" Newsletter emailed to Parents, Students, and Staff Members
• September 20: Citadel Shopping Extravaganza (Supports AEF) 9:00am-9:00pm (Flyer, Tickets)

The start of the school year will be here before you know it! Please make sure you have marked your calendar with the revised dates for the 2025 -2026 school year.

(NOTE the change of the last day of school year!)

AUSD was honored to join Jason Kim and Johanna Quach of Paris Baguette San Gabriel as they were honored by Congressmember Judy Chu as 2025 Congressional Leadership Award recipients for Business Persons of the Year! The celebratory reception was held on July 12th at the Arcadia Community Center. Superintendent Dr. Denise Jaramillo nominated Jason and Johanna for this recognition because of their incredible support of AUSD, especially their partnership with our LIFT (Learning Independence For Transition) program, where they welcome our adult students for hands-on job training and inclusive employment opportunities.

Even though the award was presented to Jason and Johanna, it is reflective of the work of the entire Paris Baguette team. We appreciate all they do to make the San Gabriel Paris Baguette a place where people are served with care and compassion. To see our LIFT students in action, stop by Mondays through Fridays (9:00am - 11:00am) once the school year resumes. We encourage our community to support Paris Baguette and their inclusive hiring practices, and we hope other local businesses will follow their inspiring example by providing employment opportunities for our students with special needs. If you know of a business that is interested in partnering with AUSD, please ask their owner/manager to contact the staff at the LIFT program to learn more.

Alhambra Unified School District is often featured in local media (print and television news). Click below to access some of our favorite stories, featuring AUSD students, staff members, schools and programs!

Do you have something newsworthy to share? Click on the Publicity Request button so we can spread the word!

Please visit us on social media (@AlhambraUSD) to keep up with the latest AUSD news. We are especially active on Facebook and Instagram. If you want our notifications/reminders to show up on your timeline, make sure to follow/like us!

CONTACT US:

Website: www.ausd.us
Address: 1515 West Mission Road, Alhambra, CA, USA
Email: AlhambraUSD@ausd.us

Phone: (626) 943-3000

Facebook: @AlhambraUSD
Instagram: @AlhambraUSD

Twitter/X: @AlhambraUSD

YouTube: @AlhambraUSD

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