Parent Newsletter #24: 1/23/26
Highlander News from the Principal's Office
Website | Phone: (510) 594-2626
Location: 800 Magnolia Ave, Piedmont, CA 94611
Instagram: @piedmonthigh
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
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Dress Best For Less (DBFL) https://dressbestforless.org for their generous funding of another year of a district-wide New York Times subscription for PUSD students and staff. Their support makes a meaningful difference, opening up valuable learning resources for our students and enriching the classroom experience for our teachers. This academic subscription plan also provides PUSD staff with a powerful resource to stay informed. Thank you, DBFL, for investing in our PUSD community’s learning and growth!
If your child is not already subscribed or needs to re-subscribe, go to: https://www.nytimes.com/passes and use their PUSD email address. For issues, contact jbranisa@piedmont.k12.ca.us
PHS/MHS/PMS Librarians and library support staff:
Carolyn White, Jennifer Gulassa, JacobAn Stahl, Jana Branisa
As a reminder, students should not be using personal computers on campus unless specifically allowed to do so by individual teachers for a specific reason in class. If your student needs access to an online class they are taking outside of school, please have them make an appointment with our Tech Coordinator, Ms. Branisa (jbranisa@piedmont.k12.ca.us), for support.
Below is the link to the CHK Parent Survey that we discussed in the newsletter last week. This information is used to help us understand how our students, families, and staff are feeling about being members of the community. Please consider sharing your perspective! Students will complete the survey on Friday, 1/30. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Marik.
57th Annual Bird Calling Contest
Theme: “Free As A Bird”
Friday, March 20, at 7:00 pm in the Alan Harvey Theater.
The PUSD high school student-designed poster will be used for promotional purposes for the Bird Calling Show.
We will reproduce it in an 8.5X11 inch format, in a large poster format, on the cover of the program, and in publications for publicity.
The artist will be paid $200 for their work, receive two tickets to the show, and their poster will appear in the publicity for the show.
Please submit work digitally via email to: phsbirdcallingcontest@gmail.com
Deadline: Monday, February 23rd 5:00pm
The poster design must be original work by the student, and include the following information on the poster itself:
57th Annual Piedmont Bird Calling Contest
Free As A Bird
Friday, March 20th at 7pm
Allan Harvey Theater
CalSCHLS is a survey system offered by the California Department of Education (CDE) to provide quality local data to districts, schools, and communities on school climate and safety; learning supports and barriers; and youth development, health, and wellness. The CDE surveys assess perceptions of students, staff, and parents/guardians about school climate, student well-being, and the learning environment in California public schools. PHS uses this data to inform school wide programming. Students will be completing this survey during academy on January 30th. Links to the parent version of this survey will be sent around that time. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Marik.
Results from previous CHKS surveys can be found on the PUSD website here.
Piedmont High School presents Grease Jan. 29 through Feb. 1. Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey wrote the book, music and lyrics for this rollicking musical comedy evoking the look and sound of the 1950s. A cultural touchstone written 55 years ago, Grease continues to resonate with its themes of identity, peer pressure and rebellion. The show contains mature themes which may not be suitable for younger audience members.
The production includes 65 student performers, 11 student band/orchestra members, 10 stage crew members and is directed and choreographed by PHS dance teacher Amy Moorhead, with the orchestra conducted by PHS band and orchestra teacher Trevor Meseroll.
Performance Times
- Thursday, Jan. 29, 7 p.m.
- Friday, Jan. 30, 7 p.m.
- Saturday, Jan. 31, 7 p.m.
- Sunday, Feb. 1, 4 p.m.
All performances are at the Alan Harvey Theater, 800 Magnolia Ave. Piedmont, CA 94611
Tickets are $15–$35 and can be purchased online. Online tickets can be purchased at https://phsmusicalsdance.ludus.com.
Tickets can also be purchased at the door, with cash or check to PUSD, for an additional $2 per ticket. Online purchase is encouraged. There are no refunds.
Contact the director at amoorhead@piedmont.k12.ca.us with questions.
Seniors- Your semester grades are now on your transcript. Counselors will send these grades to the Common Application Colleges/ Universities very soon.
If there is any issue or question, please email your counselor as soon as possible.
If you have a college/university that is not on the Common App ( and not a CSU or UC) that needs your semester grades, please email or let your counselor know where to send your grades.
Also, seniors - Its very important to keep up your grades, classes as you begin to hear from the colleges/ universities to where you have applied. Even if you are admitted to a campus( Of course we congratulate you!!!), making changes or letting your grades skip can effect your admissions. This acceptance is based upon the classes on your application and the continued level of grades you have been earning.
If you have dropped or changed a class that was noted on your college application, please email or call each campus to which you applied.
We have reviewed this further and based in impact to learning for the first day of school, we will continue to hold walk through registration on the Friday prior (August 7). We do plan to make this optional so that families who are not able to attend are not at a disadvantage (short of social aspects). More information will come as we get closer to the fall.
This week's report was run from 12/1-1/16 (4 weeks). 179 students had perfect attendance during this period. This includes:
- No tardies (of any type)
- No absences (of any type)
Congratulations to Graham for such great attendance. Please email the Principal with your Crumbl cookie choice, and I'll personally deliver it to your class.
1/20: 27 tardies to period 1 (5/6/4/12)
1/21: 10 tardies to period 2 (2/4/3/1)
1/22: 10 tardies to period 1 (3/6/5/5)
1/23: 10 tardies to period 2 (5/2/2/1)
Last week proved oh so close for our seniors (twice). Overall, our tardies were pretty low, with three days in a row, where we only had 10 tardies. Let's keep it up and see if we can get to zero!
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:
Next Meeting: Wednesday, February 25: 7:30-9:00 pm
Facilitators: Sara Ironside, Jen Ferguson
RSVP: jen.c.ferg@gmail.com for more information
Meetings for 2026:
- 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:
Next Meeting: Wednesday, February 25: 7:00-8:30 pm
If you have thoughts, please fill out this form: Google Form for 11 Grade
Facilitator: Kristen Brett
RSVP: kbrett@srvusd.net
Meetings for 2026:
Thursday, March 26: 7:00-8:30 pm
Thursday, April 23: 7:00-8:30 pm
10th Grade:
Next Meeting Date: Tuesday, January 27: 8:00-9:30 pm
Facilitators: Sarah Puckett, Maggie Mittan
RSVP: maggie.mittan@gmail.com for more information
Meetings for 2026
- Tuesday, February 24: 8-9:30 pm
- Tuesday, March 24: 8-9:30 pm
- Tuesday, April 28: 8-9:30 pm
- Tuesday, May 26: 8-9:30 pm
9th Grade:
Next Meeting Date: Thursday, January 29: 7:00-8:30 pm. We will have a guest speaker on online safety. Please read this before the meeting!
Facilitators: Judy Lin, Yoko Ichikawa, Anne Hawkins
RSVP: hawkins42@gmail.com for location information
Upcoming Meetings:
Friday, February 27: 8:45-10:15 am
Thursday, March 19: 7:00-8:30 pm
Friday, April 24: 8:45-10:15 am
Thursday, May 21: 7:00-8:30 pm