PUSD UPDATE

February 20, 2024

MESSAGE FROM THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT

Dear PUSD Community,

I hope you had a good weekend. This weekend, PUSD student musicians, dancers, and cheer teams participated in Pasadena’s annual Black History Parade and Festival. PUSD was there in force, with Board of Education members and representatives from the district’s early childhood, student wellness and support, African American Parent Council, and Black Student & Family Task Force, along with information about enrolling in PUSD. It was a wonderful celebration of our community.

This weekend, I also sent you a message about the district’s upcoming budget development. In the coming months, our district will be engaging in a challenging budget process that includes the ending of COVID-19 one-time funding, a decline in enrollment, and the need to allocate our resources responsibly. We are facing the difficult decision of implementing reductions. We will strive to make well-informed decisions that prioritize both the quality education and the well-being of our students, and will keep you informed as the process unfolds.

In other news, PUSD’s 2024 Summer Learning catalog is here! Also, Octavia E. Butler Magnet middle school celebrates its centennial, PUSD high school students are college-bound after the Black College Expo, the PTA celebrates its Founders Day, and LEARNs hosts a cheer and dance competition.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth J. Blanco, Ed.D.

Interim Superintendent

SUMMER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

PUSD has so many options in the 2024 Summer Learning Opportunities Catalog! From athletics to arts classes and everything in between, the catalog describes all of the wonderful summer learning opportunities available to PUSD families along with information on how to apply. Visit www.pusd.us/summer for more information.

PUSD STUDENTS COLLEGE-BOUND AFTER SUCCESSFUL EXPO

Many PUSD students were able to get college acceptances and scholarships on the spot at the Black College Expo held earlier this month at the Los Angeles Convention Center. About 200 PUSD students and chaperones received valuable information about historically Black colleges or universities (HBCU), University of California schools, Cal State universities and private institutions. PUSD’s African American Parent Council (AAPC) and the PTA Council helped coordinate the event. With funding from the Tournament of Roses Foundation, PUSD college hopefuls also received free admission, bus transportation, swag and lunch at the neighboring LA Live complex.

A photo of a group of students at the Black College Expo

Student smiles and stands in front of South Carolina State University's booth holding a certificate award.

BLACK HISTORY PARADE AND FESTIVAL

The PUSD community was there in force with student bands, dance performances, booths, and more at the 42nd Annual Black History Parade and Festival on Saturday. This year’s theme paid tribute to the Life and Legacy of Jackie Robinson. Check out the highlights.

Pasadena High School happily dances in the Black History Parade

A photo of the John Muir Early College Magnet Marching Band at the Black History Parade

Young students stand in front of PUSD's booth at the Black History Festival.

NOW ENROLLING: SECOND LOTTERY IS MARCH 4-8, 2024

PUSD schools are now enrolling for the 2024-2025 school year. PUSD is a district of choice, which means that you can select your neighborhood school or apply to another program at different school. If you live outside of PUSD, you may apply to one of our schools via PUSD’s Open Enrollment process.

In case you missed the first lottery of Open Enrollment, the second lottery is March 4-8, 2024.
If you participated in the first lottery of Open Enrollment, you should have received notifications regarding the results. Please accept school offers by March 1, 2024.

School tours continue! Visit pusd.us/tours for more information.

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CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

Reminder: Octavia E. Butler (OEB) Magnet (formerly Washington Middle School) will celebrate 100 Years on the Hill this week. Please join us for this special event on Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. The historic celebration will include a commemorative tree planting, school tours to showcase murals from the Lightbringer Project, a beautiful exhibition of memorabilia and more! Please register to attend or call 626-396-5830 ext. 76064.

black and white photo of Octavia E. Butler Magnet school

ENRICHMENT EVENING

A parent and student evening of enrichment will be hosted by PUSD’s Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. this Wednesday, February 21. Please RSVP at http://tinyurl.com/GATEPUSD.

PASADENA LEARNS CHEER & DANCE COMPETITION

On Saturday, February 24, Pasadena LEARNs hosts its annual cheer and dance competition, Blast from the Past, that celebrates another generation of talented teams. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. John Muir Early College Magnet High School Gym, 1905 N. Lincoln Ave., Pasadena

BLACK EDUCATION EXPO

Please join us this Saturday for another excellent expo – this one is called the Black Education Expo, a large in-person event in Pasadena where families can learn about the new FAFSA application, holistic wellness, college costs, Estate Planning for Black and Brown Prosperity, and more. The free event takes place on Saturday, February 24, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets are limited, please register here.

THANKS TO OUR PTAs

On Saturday, February 17, the PTA Council of PTA recognized PTA Founders Day. It honors Alice McLellan Birney, Phoebe Apperson Hearst and Selena Sloan Butler, women who in 1897 did not have the right to vote yet managed to organize the nation’s first PTA, called the National Congress of Parents and Teachers. We are grateful for their work and for the present-day PTA Council of Pasadena that currently has 4,300 members. They generously volunteer countless hours of service to Pasadena public schools, while assisting each of the 21 PTA units in PUSD.

Washington Elementary STEM PTA Formation Meeting - January 18, 2024

UPCOMING BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS

Regular meeting of the PUSD Board of Education – Thursday, February 22, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. Elbie J. Hickambottom Board Room (Room 236), 351 S. Hudson Ave, Pasadena. Agenda at pusd.us/board

PUSD UPDATE

February 20, 2024

MESSAGE FROM THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT MESSAGE FROM THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT

SUMMER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES SUMMER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

PUSD STUDENTS COLLEGE-BOUND AFTER SUCCESSFUL EXPO PUSD STUDENTS COLLEGE-BOUND AFTER SUCCESSFUL EXPO

BLACK HISTORY PARADE AND FESTIVAL BLACK HISTORY PARADE AND FESTIVAL

NOW ENROLLING: SECOND LOTTERY IS MARCH 4-8, 2024 NOW ENROLLING: SECOND LOTTERY IS MARCH 4-8, 2024

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

ENRICHMENT EVENING ENRICHMENT EVENING

PASADENA LEARNS CHEER & DANCE COMPETITION PASADENA LEARNS CHEER & DANCE COMPETITION

BLACK EDUCATION EXPO BLACK EDUCATION EXPO

THANKS TO OUR PTAs THANKS TO OUR PTAs

UPCOMING BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS UPCOMING BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS