Parent Newsletter #11: 10/3/25

Website | Phone: (510) 594-2626

Location: 800 Magnolia Ave, Piedmont, CA 94611
Instagram: @piedmonthigh

Parent Newsletter: Archives | Parent Club

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

Dear Highlander Families,

It has been a most productive week as we welcome in October. We are locked in with many aspects of school from academic programming, to extracurriculars of theater, sports, and competitive teams. Our students are involved with our school from sunrise until well after sunset.

Next week will bring PR2 to a close. We encourage students to please reach out to their teachers, counselors, or other trusted adults if they need support in their classes. We still have time to help your child get on the right track.

Have a wonderful weekend, and we'll see everyone on Monday.

Warmly,

Dr. Yoshihara

October 4: PreACT at PHS

October 4: Oktoberfest (more info below)

October 5: PUSD Rainbow Connections (11-12:30pm, Piedmont Park)

October 8: Time Capsule Event (Class of 2027, see below for more info)

October 8: Financial Aid Night (6-8pm, AHT)

October 8: Board Meeting re: New Courses & Grad Requirements (7 pm, 120 Vista Ave)

October 13: Indigenous People's Day and non-student day

October 17: Date of Determination (Eligibility for extracurriculars)

October 18: PSAT at PHS

November 1: Day of the Dead Celebration (5-7pm, Student Center & Amphitheater)

November 2: Daylight Savings Time ends

At the next Board meeting (10/8), they will be considering some new course offerings for rising 9th-11th grade students. They will be considering the addition of:

• AP Modern World History
• AP Business with Personal Finance
• AP Research
• AP Cybersecurity
• Honors English 3-4
• Honors Ceramics
• Honors Art

We invite our parent community to come if you'd like to hear more about this. Of course, we will provide much more communication based upon their action next Wednesday. You may get the agenda and associated materials here.

Highlanders, it is time to officially vote for your mascot and give it a name. This vote is ONLY available to current PHS/MHS students. You may only vote once. Voting will close on Thursday at 5pm. Please choose wisely (smile). I hope to announce the winner in next week's newsletter.

Vote for Mascot Name

Your Junior ASB reps are excited to announce a unique and memorable event happening on Wednesday, October 8, 2025: the Class of 2027 Time Capsule! This is a chance for every junior to leave a “snapshot” of who they are right now; something they’ll look back on years later with their classmates.

Students are encouraged to bring in items that reflect their personalities, passions, and experiences. Popular choices might include photos, artwork, sports medals, old school notes or supplies, favorite hats or shirts, and even group contributions like a football from the team. If students are to bring a larger item (wouldn’t fit in a shoe box), this should be a group item. No items should be perishable.

ASB will provide letters and envelopes for students to write to their friends or to themselves. They will have the option to send out these letters around the time of graduation or put them in the time capsule to be opened when they’re adults!

On the day of the event, juniors will stop by the time capsule in the school amphitheater, place their

contributions inside, and enjoy some snacks while connecting with their classmates. Students will also get the chance to decorate the box together, adding their own personal touches to the shared Time Capsule. The capsule will then be sealed and kept safe until the Class of 2027’s reunion, when students will get to open it together and relive our countless memories. Wednesday will only be our first collection, but we would love participation from all juniors!

One more note - last year’s class of 2027 sweaters will also be sold during this event! Have your student bring $15 or a $15 check to PHS ASB to purchase one at our discounted price. Looking forward to a fun Wednesday!

From your Junior Class President (Colin) and VP (Mehrad)

Final reminder that the Pre-Act will be offered tomorrow morning. Please report to the STEAM building by 8:45 am for your room assignment. Have your ID ready for check-in to your room. Good luck! Any questions should be directed to Mr. Marik.

All students should have completed and passed the Digital Citizenship Quiz at this point. Students who have not completed or not passed the quiz (email with score was emailed) will lose access to much of their internet access at the end of next week. An email from Ms. Branisa to take or retake the quiz is going out again this weekend. Please have your student reach out to Ms. Branisa if they have questions.

This is a reminder that our first Date of Determination is on October 17th. We will be reviewing Unexcused Absences, Tardies, and GPA. If a student does not meet minimum expectations, they will be deemed ineligible for all extracurriculars for the next period (10/24 - 1/19). If you have any questions, see Mr. Marik

If your student is leaving early for an appointment, we ask that you send a note with your student and the student drops it off at the front office. A physical note allows us to process immediately and ensure a pass is delivered to the appropriate teacher on time.

Athletes have a few options for storing equipment during the school day when needed:

• Football Team - Please store your equipment in the Witter locker rooms, we are working with coaches to have adequate space available
• Binks - Athletes can check a locker out in Binks for use during their season. Please see Coach Peters to do so.
• STEAM Building Staircase - Athletes can store a bag under the 1st floor staircase in the STEAM building.

Please join for our Financial Aid Night next Wednesday (10/8) at 6:00 pm. See the College and Career Newsletter from Ms. ML for more details.

We at the DEIB office are finally able to begin offering "The Belonging Space" once again. If you do not know or remember, "The Belonging Space" is held after school every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month in PMS Room 306 as a non-threatening space where students and staff can exist and be validated in their identities. The space is casual and can be used as a safe meeting place, homework space, or just to hang out. Our first day was Thursday, 10/2.

Please see this flyer for more info.

The Giving Campaign is officially underway, and we’re aiming for 100% participation from PHS families. This fundraiser is critical to maintaining excellence in our Piedmont schools, and every gift, at any level, truly makes a difference.

Please consider giving what feels meaningful for your family. To see the impact of your donation, take a moment to watch this short video: Giving Campaign Impact.

If you have any questions - such as where the money goes, how the per-student ask is calculated, or how to donate through a DAF or company match - please don’t hesitate to reach out to your PHS liaisons: Charlotte Ero (charlottevburton@gmail.com) and Cortney Allen (cortney.allen@gmail.com).

Peer Tutoring has officially started! Tag yourself to Peer Tutoring with Mr. Ortak on Wednesdays in rm 127 and Peer Tutoring with Ms. Branisa on Fridays in the Library for homework help, study sessions, and test review. Tutors are well-versed in Biology, Chemistry, Spanish, IM 1, 2 and 3, with more to come. Email peertutoring@piedmont.k12.ca.us with any questions!

Calling all tutors! Any expertise is appreciated, and there is no required attendance. Honors society hours are available for Academy tutoring session you can attend. Tag yourself to Peer Tutoring too. Email peertutoring@piedmont.k12.ca.us with your interest and tutoring focus.

We are making great progress in our attendance for the current year. We are hovering just around 98% thus far. We are also making strides in reducing our tardies. I see students moving to their classes with less time loitering in the halls and outside areas.

I would like us to increase our on-time attendance during the first class of the day--periods 1 and 2. As such, I will consider positive incentives to support this. The general idea is that students who arrive before the first bell (8:20 am) can get a raffle ticket from me. They can then put it into a raffle jar. Then, once a week, we will draw a winner to get some prize. And of course maybe spotlighting the student with a photo and their prize would emphasize our efforts in this space.

I'm a few weeks to a month from putting this fully into place, but wanted to let our families know that this is coming. My goal is to get to zero tardies to periods 1 and 2. Let's do this!

Some parents who attended the August Parents' Club meeting provided feedback that Friday mornings were not easy to attend. They asked us to consider nighttime and Zoom meetings. To be responsive, and to welcome and encourage greater participation and involvement from a wider group of parents/families, we are changing the October meeting to nighttime on Monday, October 20, 7:00-8:30pm, and the November 14 meeting to Zoom only (still Friday morning). Please join us!

REVISED 2025-2026 Meeting Dates, 9:00-10:30am in the Alan Harvey Theater Lobby (unless specified below)

• August 15
• September 19
• October 20, 7:00-8:30 pm
• November 14, Zoom only
• December 12
• January 16
• February 13
• March 20
• April 17
• May 15

Have a fun and spirited weekend,

Sally Baack and Dana Lung

Co-Presidents, PHS Parents' Club 2025-2026

The PHS Parents' Club will celebrate World Teacher Day next week Friday, October 3, to honor the dedication and commitment of our faculty and staff. Our fabulous Hospitality team is organizing a catered lunch and is asking parents to sign up to contribute drinks, dessert, coffee pods (for the teachers' lounge and front office) and monetary donations if they can. Here's the sign-up and thank you in advance!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508044CA5AD2DA20-58740767-phsworld

Later this evening, an important survey will go out to all 9th-11th grade students seeking input on potential course offerings for 2026-27. This is an important step in the decision-making process of offering new courses. We ask that you encourage your children to check their email and answer the 9 questions as honestly as possible. The survey will close at 5pm on Wednesday, October 1. I have attached the questions for the survey below.

This is a reminder that students must attend school to participate in after school activities (i.e. athletic practice, athletic competition, musical production rehearsal, etc.). See language from our handbook below:

Attendance & Absences Day of Event

A student participating in extracurricular activities may not have any unexcused absences on the day of an extracurricular event in order to participate in the event.

Failure to attend the majority (+51%) of a student's assigned classes prior to time for dismissal for the extracurricular event, even when the absences from these classes are excused by the parent/guardian, will make the student ineligible to participate in the event. In compelling circumstances, the principal or designee may make exceptions to this rule.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Marik.

We have confirmed with Berkeley City College our Dual Enrollment courses for Spring 26. We are excited to let you know that we have two courses that we are offering:

• Math 3E: Linear Algebra. In this course, students will study linear equations, vectors, matrices, and vector spaces, and their associated linear transformations.
• Instructor: Professor Parasiuk-Zasun (same as Math 3C)
• Dates of Instruction: January 21-May 15
• Final Exams: Week of May 18-23
• Units: 3
• Meeting Times: W/F: 1:20-2:35 pm
• Pre/Co-requisite: Math Analysis, Honors Math Analysis, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, Math 3E
• Instruction during breaks: TBD
• Business 45: Small Business Management. This course will provide an overview of the factors involved in starting or growing a business: Business plan development; marketing, sales, and promotional strategies; financial management and forecasting techniques; human resources management; and information systems management.
• Instructor: Professor Langford
• Dates of Instruction: January 20-May 14
• Final Exams: Week of May 18-23
• Units: 3
• Meeting Times: T/Th: 2:05-3:20 pm
• Pre/Co-requisite: Financial Literacy recommended, strong writing skills
• During President’s week (2/16-20) and Piedmont’s Spring break (4/6-10) no in-person classes will be held, but students will be expected to complete work asynchronously. On March 24 and 31, class will run from 2:30-3:45 pm.
• During PCCD’s spring break (March 30-April 3) no in-person classes will be held, but students will be expected to complete work asynchronously.

Students should see their counselors to sign up for either/both of these courses. Please note that these are college-level courses, are all weighted, and do not apply against the credit limit defined in the Alt Credits Policy.

If you are available on October 18 and can volunteer to help proctor the PSAT, please sign up below.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090B4AAAAB22A75-58942430-satparent

There will be a virtual training for all volunteers on either September 29 or October 14 at 4:00pm. Zoom information will be sent to volunteers after they sign up. If volunteers can't make the training, all materials will be available for review.

PHS Arts is thrilled to partner with local Piedmont artist Will Mouat in support of our incredible student artists! From September 17 through October 5, when you make a $150 donation to the PHS Arts Materials Fund, you’ll receive an archival giclée print by Will Mouat — a beautiful piece of art and a meaningful way to support the next generation of Piedmont artists. Please visit this website for details and donation information.

The Piedmont community's support of the Visual Arts has always been strong, and we are deeply grateful for it. Your contribution helps ensure our students have access to the materials they need to learn, grow, and create. Our current kiln has served PHS Arts faithfully for over 9 years, but it's finally reached the end of the line, the cost to repair it now exceeds the cost to replace it. Our goal? To see 30 of Will’s beautiful, posters proudly displayed throughout Piedmont — each one supporting the future of visual arts at PHS. The first $3000 in donations will go toward buying a new PHS kiln, and any amount in addition to that will be shared by the arts departments at all grade levels.

Let’s kick off the school year together!

When: Thursday, October 16 · 6:30–8:30 pm

Where: 51st & Tel

5018 Telegraph Ave. @ 51st St.

Casual attire

The owners are happy for us to bring in food—you can order pizza from Pizzaiolo or delicious Ethiopian from next door. Beverages available for purchase.

Come out and join us - we hope to see you there!

Hosted by: Julia Ruthven, Amelie Kappes, Susan Fizzell & Ramya Srinivasen

AP Test Ordering will go live in the next two weeks. Students must indicate in their College Board profile if they are taking the test AND pay for the test through the IC store. More details to come.

Any student taking an AP exam or any of the SAT exams must create a College Board account. Directions can be found here. We encourage students to use a personal email address so they can access their account after graduating high school. If a student has already made an account with their school email, they should update the email address for their account. DO NOT make a second account. Students should see Mr. Marik if they have any questions or can call College Board directly.

College Board's Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) provides approved testing accommodations for the PSAT, SAT, and AP exams. Students work with their school's SSD coordinator to request accommodations through SSD Online, College Board's online management system. The process involves the school submitting the request with documentation of the student's disability and the need for accommodations. Once approved, the student can use these accommodations on College Board exams throughout high school.

How to Request Accommodations

1. Contact your school's SSD Coordinator:

   Each school has a designated SSD coordinator, such as a special education coordinator or guidance counselor, who serves as a liaison with College Board.

2. Submit the Request:

   The SSD coordinator uses the online system, SSD Online, to submit accommodation requests for the student.

3. Provide Documentation:

   The student's parents/guardians must consent to the request, and the school provides appropriate documentation of the student's disability and how it impacts their ability to take the test.

4. Track the Status:

   The SSD coordinator can use SSD Online to track the status of the accommodation request.

   
   

Please email Chris Hartford, if you want to request official accommodations on College Board exams. chartford@piedmont.k12.ca.us.

All student chromebooks feature a web content filter that works at school and at home. Unlike many student phones, the chromebooks run a CIPA (Children's Internet Protection Act) compliant filter that does a good job blocking students from inappropriate content, including pornography, obscenity, gambling and other types of undesirable content. Additionally our filter blocks access to many non-educational resources to help reinforce the devices' use as a tool for school. Of course, no filter is perfect, and interpretations of "appropriate" content differ, and the internet is an ever-growing landscape where new sites are created everyday.

In addition to the filter already at work on your child's school issued chromebook, we also have a tool that provides parents with more control over the school issued chromebook after school hours. The GoGuardian Parent App gives parents and guardians the ability to see their child's browsing history, turn off their child's internet access at any time after school hours, and/or block specific sites, among other things. Of course-- this only applies to activity on the school chromebook.

To access the app, please follow the below instructions:

1. Download the app

1. Download via Apple Store

2. Download via Google Play Store

2. After the app is successfully downloaded and installed, open it up and enter the email address you have provided to the school (the address that bulletins, etc. get sent to).

3. Login/Check Email: Check your email on your phone for a link to log in to the app. Tap the "Verify your email", and it will take you straight to the app. Note: If you don't have access to your email through the device you used to log in, tap on "Login with verification code", and copy and paste the verification code from the email into the app.

If you have any questions, please reach out to asaville@piedmont.k12.ca.us.

More information about the service can be found here: GoGuardian Parent for Guardians.

Step by step instructions for setting up access can be found here: Getting Started with GoGuardian Parent.

Sun Oct 5, 11-12:30 pm. Join us for PUSD’s first LGBTQ+ Family & Staff Meet Up - Rainbow Connections. Come join us in Piedmont Park to meet and connect with other LGBTQ+ families in PUSD. This event is open to all parents/guardians and staff (and their kids!) within PUSD who identify as LGBTQ+.

Our families are fantastic, and I notice from time to time donations of items that may not be used anymore. I am reaching out to see if any of our families may have an extra keyboard or two that they would consider donating to a great cause. We have two distinct needs for keyboards:

1. Our World Languages program does a singing competition each year, twice a year. Our students often like to have music accompany their performance and a keyboard is a staple of this performance.
2. Our music program is growing and with multiple pianists in some of our classes, we could use an additional keyboard.

If this is something you may have or know someone who may be able to help, please reach out to me so I can verify if the item matches the need of our teachers. Thanks so much.

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:

Tuesday, October 21: 7:30-9:00 pm

Facilitators: Sara Ironside, Jen Ferguson

RSVP: jen.c.ferg@gmail.com for more information

Meetings for the remainder of the year:

• Wednesday, November 19: 7:30-9:00 pm

• Wednesday, December 17: TBD (tentative date)

• Thursday, January 22: 7:30-9:00 pm

• 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:

Wednesday, October 22: 7:00-8:30 pm: College Choices: What’s the best fit for your child? We are still looking for a host for this meeting and seeking input for topics for future meetings. If you have thoughts, please fill out this form: Google Form for 11 Grade

Facilitator: Kristen Brett

RSVP: kbrett@srvusd.net

Meetings for the remainder of the year:

• Thursday, November 20: 7:00-8:30 pm

• Thursday, January 22: 7:00-8:30 pm

• 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: Coming Soon!

Facilitators: Sarah Puckett, Maggie Mittan

RSVP: sarahbeamish@hotmail.com or maggie.mittan@gmail.com to be added to the 10th grade PPN email list.

9th Grade:Wednesday, October 15: 7:00-8:30 pm

Facilitators: Judy Lin, Yoko Ichikawa, Anne Hawkins

RSVP: hawkins42@gmail.com for location information

Upcoming Meetings:

• Thursday, November 13: 8:45-10:00 am

• Tuesday, December 9: 7:00-8:30 pm

• Kudos to our Parents for today's amazing lunch for staff. So much food that we might not be eating for a while (smile).
• A big Thank You to all our students who participated in the recent survey regarding potential new courses. That data will be used at the presentation to the Board on October 8.
• Shout Out to Board Member Struble for visiting our new AP Seminar Class. We always welcome our Board members to see the amazing everyday.