PJUSD Newsletter

Dear PJUSD Families, Staff, and Community,

As we welcome November, it is a wonderful time to reflect on the many people who make Patterson Joint Unified School District such a special place to learn, work, and grow.

I want to express my sincere appreciation to our dedicated teachers, classified staff, administrators, and support teams for their continued commitment to our students. Each day, their hard work and dedication help create safe, welcoming, and engaging learning environments where students can thrive.

I also want to recognize our Board of Trustees for their leadership, dedication, and ongoing commitment to the success and well-being of every student. Their service and support play an important role in helping our district move forward.

To our students, thank you for your enthusiasm, perseverance, and the many ways you contribute to our schools. I also want to extend my appreciation to our parents, families, and community partners. Your involvement, support, and collaboration are essential to our students' success. Strong partnerships between our schools, families, and community help create meaningful opportunities for every child to learn, grow, and achieve.

November also reminds us of the importance of kindness, compassion, and appreciation for others. A simple act of kindness, a word of encouragement, or a gesture of gratitude can make a meaningful difference in someone's day.

As we approach the November break, I hope our students, staff, and families have an opportunity to rest, recharge, and spend meaningful time with loved ones.

Thank you for being an important part of our PJUSD community. Together, we will continue creating opportunities for every student to learn, grow, and succeed.

With appreciation,

Dr. Gauna
Superintendent

➗ Building Mathematical Thinkers with Amplify Desmos Math
K–8 teachers took part in Amplify Desmos Math training to strengthen their use of the district’s new math curriculum. Educators explored curriculum tools and resources, strategies that promote mathematical thinking and student discourse, and ways to plan engaging lessons that make math accessible to every learner.

🔤 Strengthening Literacy Through Essential Standards
K–6 teachers then turned to literacy, working together to identify the essential standards in reading and writing at each grade level. By answering the question “What do we want all students to learn?”, teachers built a shared focus that will guide instruction, assessment, and support so every student grows as a reader and writer.

📊 Strengthening Language Instruction and Assessment at the High School
High school teachers took part in professional development focused on strengthening language instruction across content areas. Teachers also worked together to develop grade-level, standards-aligned assessments that show when students have mastered key learning and help guide next steps in instruction.

From math and literacy to language and assessment, this professional learning day reflected our ongoing commitment to Deepening Our Work and Elevating Our Impact for every student in PJUSD. Through collaboration and continuous growth, our educators are ensuring that all students learn, thrive, and succeed every day.

Our recent Family Math Night was a wonderful evening of learning, connection, and family engagement! Hosted by our Educational Services Department, the event brought families into the learning experience, giving parents an opportunity to explore the math curriculum firsthand through hands-on activities and games. Families walked away with practical tools to support their children's learning at home, helping strengthen the connection between school and home. With a delicious dinner and fun childcare activities provided by our Student Services team, it was a great evening of bringing our PJUSD community together!

We're excited to partner with the Patterson Lions Club to launch our Pop Tab Challenge at all PJUSD elementary schools! From now through April, we're encouraging families to save aluminum pop tabs from beverage cans and send them to school with their children to support Ronald McDonald House, which provides a home away from home for families with children receiving medical care.

Every tab counts! The elementary classroom that collects the most tabs across the district will win a pizza party, courtesy of the Patterson Lions Club. Start collecting today and help us make a BIG impact!

As we enter November and the season of gratitude, Patterson Joint Unified School District has so much to be thankful for! Across our District, exciting construction projects are taking shape as we continue investing in our students, improving our campuses, and creating spaces where learning and community can thrive.

Here's a look at the exciting progress happening around PJUSD!

Almond Blossom Elementary – A New School Takes Shape!

Our newest elementary school continues to come to life! Construction is progressing on classroom buildings, along with a brand-new multipurpose and cafeteria building that will serve as an important gathering place for students, staff, and families. With buildings taking shape across the campus, we're excited to see this future school community becoming a reality as we work toward opening in 2027!

Creekside Middle School – Finishing Touches Underway!

Exciting progress continues on Creekside's new cafeteria! Crews are currently completing exterior stucco and finishing work, while interior improvements—including flooring and other final details—are moving forward. These improvements will provide students with a welcoming, updated space to enjoy meals and connect with friends.

Patterson High School – Building Tiger Pride!

The new PHS gymnasium is making tremendous progress! The front fencing and parking lot improvements are complete, and construction is now focused on the front entryway. Wall construction and roofing are scheduled as crews work toward making the gym weather-tight by winter.

We're excited to see this impressive new facility taking shape and look forward to the opportunities it will bring to our students, athletes, and community!

Transportation Depot – Breaking Ground Soon!

Another exciting project is right around the corner! PJUSD is preparing to break ground on our new Transportation Depot within the next 60–90 days. Upcoming work includes environmental soil sampling and infrastructure preparation to get the site ready for construction.

This new facility will strengthen our transportation operations and help support the safe, reliable services our students and families depend on every day.

Grayson Elementary – Improvements That Matter!

We're celebrating the successful installation of a new water pressure pump at Grayson Elementary! Additional landscaping and irrigation improvements are moving forward, along with plans for a new walk-in cooler to support our student nutrition program. Sometimes the improvements you don't see make just as big a difference!

Thankful for Our Community!

As we celebrate this season of gratitude, we want to recognize the dedicated staff, construction teams, families, and community partners who help make these improvements possible.

Every new classroom, upgraded facility, and campus improvement represents more than construction—it represents opportunity, growth, and our shared commitment to providing the very best for our students.

We appreciate your patience and support as our campuses continue to grow and improve. There's plenty to be excited about, and we look forward to sharing more progress in the months ahead!

From all of us at PJUSD, we wish our families, staff, and community a wonderful season of thanks!

We’ve posted four short videos on our district YouTube channel to help families use our online tools. The videos show you how to check your student’s grades and attendance, and how to update your contact information. If there is a topic you would like to see a video on please contact our helpdesk and let us know.

Watch them here: https://www.youtube.com/@pattersonjointunifiedschoo9988/videos

1. Slow down. Scammers try to rush you. If a message says “act now” or “your account is locked,” stop and check before you do anything.
   
   
2. Don’t click links in surprise texts or emails. This includes messages about packages, prizes, or problems with an order. Go to the store’s website or app yourself instead.
   
   
3. Never pay with gift cards. Real companies and government offices will never ask you to pay with gift cards.
   
   
4. Keep your codes private. If someone asks you for a code sent to your phone, don’t share it. That code is the key to your account.
   
   
5. Talk with your kids. Remind them not to trust offers for free games, coins, or prizes online, and to ask you before clicking or sharing anything.
   
   

PJUSD will never ask for your password or your child’s password by phone, text, or email.

Congratulations to Grayson Elementary for leading the district in attendance with an impressive 95.36%! Creekside Middle School followed in second place with 94.68%, and Northmead Elementary took third with 94.58%!

Most Improved Attendance Award

A special shoutout to West Valley Learning Center Preschool for earning the Most Improved Necklace Award with a 0.72 percentage point increase in attendance from the previous month!

We are excited to announce the recipients of our November 2026, "PJUSD Promise Awards:"

Certificated - Pilar Lemus-Tejeda (Walnut Grove Elementary School)

Classified - Yesenia Gallardo (PJUSD Information Technology Department)

Congratulations Pilar and Yesenia!

Looking for a flexible way to work with our District?

We're currently accepting applications for Classified Substitute positions! This is a great opportunity to support our schools, students, and staff while gaining experience across PJUSD.

Applications are open now through Friday, October 9th.

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