PJUSD Newsletter

As we enter the month of November, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to our students, families, and staff for the dedication, care, and teamwork you demonstrate every day. This time of year reminds us of the importance of connection, celebrating our successes, supporting one another, and reflecting on how far we’ve come together as a community.

November also brings opportunities for growth and giving. Whether through acts of kindness on campus, family gatherings, or service to others, I hope each of you finds time this month to pause and appreciate the people and moments that make a difference in your life.

Thank you for continuing to make our schools a place where we strive for all students to feel seen, supported, and inspired to learn. I am deeply proud of what we are accomplishing together, and I wish you all a safe, restful, and gratitude-filled Thanksgiving season.

Warm regards,

Dr. Reyes Gauna

Superintendent

On October 24, our PJUSD teachers and school leaders spent the day learning new ways to support student success. Through hands-on workshops, educators practiced strategies to make learning more engaging, meaningful, and effective for all students.

Teachers explored ways to build stronger reading and writing skills using the 95 Percent Group curriculum and learned new approaches to teaching math that help students think deeply and understand key concepts. Other sessions focused on using classroom data to guide instruction, supporting English Learners, and creating fun, curiosity-driven math lessons. Art and Transitional Kindergarten teachers also learned new ways to make lessons inclusive, creative, and hands-on.

This professional learning day is part of our ongoing commitment to give every student high-quality instruction and the support they need to grow and succeed.

Visit our district's News & Announcements page to explore "Our Promise Features"

Each month, this section will shine a light on the people, programs, and initiatives that make a difference across our District. From staff who go above and beyond, to programs that support student success, and initiatives that help us fulfill our PJUSD Promise, these stories remind us of the incredible work happening in our schools.

This month’s Promise Feature highlights Grayson Elementary School Paraeducator, Fabiola Zapien, and how her childhood dreams in Bolivia turned into reality at Grayson. Make sure to visit the link above to read Fabiola's story!

Halloween fun around PJUSD! Our students and staff showed plenty of school spirit with creative costumes, festive activities, and lots of smiles.

The Las Palmas parking lot project is nearing full completion and will soon offer more than 45 new parking stalls along with electric vehicle charging stations. Site work has also begun at Almond Blossom Elementary, marking an exciting step forward in bringing our newest school to life.

IT Technician J Dressed as Steve Jobs for Halloween

The start-of-year rush is behind us and we are moving forward on improving support to our students, parents, and community. Starting November 3rd, we will be adding improvements to the call flow at Patterson High and Creekside Middle School. We will roll the changes out to other sites soon after. The goal is to help our parents reach the people they need to reach without long wait times. We appreciate your support as we work on improving this process.

Several campus safety improvement projects have been completed. We partnered with Motorola to migrate to the Alta security camera platform. This platform connects all cameras on the same platform. We have updated over 90 cameras across the district to improve visibility and have plans to add 10 more. We worked with Student Services to script, test, and deploy an emergency messaging system at all sites. Preliminary tests during the Great California Shakeout worked great. It is a system we hope we never need but have just in case.

Our winner for the biggest attendance gain from September to October and the proud new holder of the G.O.A.T. necklace is Del Puerto, with an impressive 1.49 percent increase. Way to go, everyone!

The best gift you can give your child this holiday season is the gift of learning. Every day in school counts, especially before and after winter break.

We know it can be tempting to start vacations early or extend them a little longer, but even a few missed days can add up and make it harder for students to stay on track. Regular attendance builds strong learning habits and helps students succeed in school and beyond.

Please make sure your child is in school every day until break begins. If your family needs to travel or your child must miss school, contact your school office ahead of time to discuss a plan or request Short Term Independent Study.

Thank you for helping us keep students learning and growing this holiday season.

Our PJUSD Health Team has put together a Fall Newsletter with tips on staying healthy this winter. Check out the document below!

We kindly remind all parents and visitors that maintaining a respectful and appropriate demeanor while on our school sites is essential to creating a safe and positive environment for our students, staff, and community. As role models, adults set the tone for how students interact and resolve conflicts. Please use courteous language, follow school procedures, and treat all members of our school community with kindness and understanding. Together, we can ensure our campuses remain welcoming, and supportive places where every student can thrive.

At Creekside Middle School, Wellness Facilitator Krisha Vento recently hosted a creative and engaging event in partnership with Modesto Junior College. Students participated in a Pokémon Trading Card Game workshop, where they learned how to play, connect with peers, and build social skills, all while having fun!

The event was a huge success, with both sessions filled to capacity and students eager to learn something new. Activities like these highlight the importance of hobbies and healthy outlets for stress, especially during the middle school years.

This fall, Patterson High School opened its new Wellness Center, led by Wellness Facilitator Jesse Tovar. The center provides a warm, welcoming space where students and staff can access school supplies, clothing, and hygiene items.

Thanks to generous community partners, the center stays stocked with snacks and essentials to support student well-being. Beyond meeting basic needs, the Wellness Center offers self-guided activities, Wellness Walks, and monthly staff potlucks that promote connection, mindfulness, and care for all.

Last week, our Student Services Department partnered with Soles for Kids 209, Patterson Rotary, Love Patterson, and various community volunteers to provide brand-new, name-brand shoes to students across the district at no cost. Each student was fitted, received new socks, and picked out a pair of shoes to take home. We are thankful to everyone who helped make this special event possible.

Join us in celebrating the success of former Patterson graduates with our monthly United Patterson Graduate Profile series. Our latest profile features Genevieve Valentine, a proud graduate of Patterson High School Class of 1998.

Read her story and discover more inspiring profiles on our district's website under the News & Announcements page and by clicking on the "United Patterson Profiles" filter.

Do you know a Patterson graduate who has moved on to do some incredible thing? Share their story with our community by clicking the following link: https://bit.ly/UPprofile.

We are excited to announce the recipients of our November 2025 "PJUSD Promise Award" winners:

Certificated - Abel Lucero (Del Puerto High School)

Classified - Jessica Alcala Garcia (Patterson High School)

PJUSD is hiring! Check out or Edjoin page to see current open positions in our District: https://bit.ly/pjusdedjoin

If you or someone you know is interested, please reach out to: Katie Jones at kajones@patterson.k12.ca.us or Delia Salinas at dsalinas@patterson.k12.ca.us for more information.

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