Golden Eagle News

Dear Golden Families,

Happy November, Golden Eagles! 🍂💛

WOW! What a magical October we had at Golden! From our amazing Red Ribbon Week celebrations to our fantastic Halloween Parade, our campus has been filled with JOY, school spirit, and so many wonderful memories! I absolutely LOVE the school culture we have created together, and seeing our students, staff, and families come together reminds me why Golden is such a special place!

As we head into November, my heart is full of GRATITUDE for our students, our families, our incredible staff, and this amazing community we call Golden. We are a BIG school, but we have an even BIGGER heart! 💛 One thing I truly believe is that we are ONE TEAM at Golden! Our success doesn't come from any one person or group. It comes from all of us working together, supporting one another, and doing our part to make Golden the very best it can be. Whether you're volunteering, supporting our PTA, cheering on our students, or simply encouraging your child each day, YOU make a difference!

And speaking of teamwork... our annual Jog-A-Thon is THIS FRIDAY! 🏃‍♀️🚀🌟 WOO HOO! Our PTA has been working incredibly hard to make this year's event unforgettable, and we need our entire Golden village to help make it happen! Every donation, every volunteer, and every helping hand makes a difference. Remember, all of these efforts go right back to supporting our students and the incredible programs and opportunities that make Golden so special!

We're also wrapping up our first trimester this Friday! I am so proud of the growth, hard work, and accomplishments of our Golden Eagles. Let's continue to celebrate their progress and encourage them to keep reaching for the stars!

A friendly reminder that Friday, November 6, is a minimum day with dismissal at 12:45 PM.

As we begin this season of thankfulness, I hope we can all take a moment to appreciate the little things, celebrate the good around us, and remember just how fortunate we are to be part of this community.

We are GOLDEN because of YOU! 💛🦅 Le't's wok together to set our Golden Standard!

With gratitude,

Kristin McDonald
Proud Principal, Golden Elementary

MON. NOV. 2

🎂 Happy Birthday, Laurel Ayer (Sunday, Nov. 1)!

🎂 Happy Birthday, Lori Bolin!

🎓 Tuffree Middle School Parent Night @ 6:00 PM (Tuffree Middle School)

TUES. NOV. 3

🦅 Eagle of the Month @ 7:50 AM
🎓 6th Grade Tuffree Middle School Registration Presentation
🍕 Pizza with the Principal
📚 Placentia Library Bookmobile @ 2:15 PM
🤖 LEGO Robotics Enrichment (Grades 1–5) @ 2:20 PM

WED. NOV. 4

🎂 Happy Birthday, Brock Dunn!

⏰ Early Release Wednesday

Grades K–6 dismiss at 1:15 PM
TK Early Birds dismiss at 12:00 PM
TK Late Birds dismiss at 1:10 PM
👩‍🍳 After-School Cooking Enrichment (Grades K–6) @ 1:15 PM

THURS. NOV. 5

🪔 Diwali Celebration @ 9:30 AM (MPR)
♟️ Chess Masters @ 2:15 PM
🔬 Science Olympiad Practice @ 2:30 PM

FRI. NOV. 6

🏃‍♀️ Golden Jog-A-Thon! Reach for the Stars! 🌟
⏰ Minimum Day! All Students Dismiss at 12:45 PM

TK ALL Early Birds
📚 End of First Trimester
🏫 School Choice Priority Window Closes
🎓 GATE Middle School Choice Forms Due

Nov. 6 – 🏃 Golden Jog-A-Thon! 🌟 Minimum Day, 12:45 PM Dismissal

Nov. 6 – 🏫 School Choice Priority Window Closes

Nov. 9 – 🍿 6th Grade Popcorn Fundraiser Begins

Nov. 9 – 💛 Golden PTA Board Meeting @ 6:30 PM

Nov. 10 – 🎓 Golden GATE Parent Information Night (Newly Qualified Students) @ 6:00 PM

Nov. 11 – 🇺🇸 Veterans Day, No School

Nov. 12 – 🎓 Golden GATE Magnet Classroom Tours @ 8:00–9:30 AM

Nov. 12 – 🎭 Golden Musical Parent Information Night @ 6:00 PM

Nov. 13 – 🦅 Golden Spirit Wear Day

Nov. 13 – 🏫 School Choice Transfer Status Notifications

Nov. 16 – 📸 Make-Up Picture Day

Nov. 17 – 🏆 Trimester 1 Awards Assemblies

Nov. 18–19 – 📚 Parent-Teacher Conferences, Min. Days-12:45 PM Dismissal (All TK Early Birds)

Nov. 20 – 🏫 No School for Students (Parent-Teacher Conferences)

Nov. 21 – 📊 Trimester 1 Report Cards Available in Aeries

Nov. 23–27 – 🦃 Thanksgiving Break, No School

Dec. 11 – 🌟 Final Jog-A-Thon Donation Deadline

We have some exciting news to share with our Golden community! 💙💛 Golden Elementary has been ranked #13 among elementary schools in the entire state of California by U.S. News & World Report!

This incredible recognition is a reflection of the dedication of our outstanding teachers and staff, the hard work of our students, and the continued support of our amazing families.

At Golden, we believe that every student deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. Our success comes from working together, maintaining high expectations, and remaining committed to meeting the needs of ALL learners. Even when challenges arise, our collective determination to do what is best for students continues to move us forward.

To our teachers and staff, thank you for your unwavering commitment to our students. To our families, thank you for your partnership, trust, and support. And to our Golden Eagles, keep working hard, challenging yourselves, and reaching for the stars!

We are incredibly proud of this recognition and even prouder of the school community that makes Golden such a special place to learn and grow.

💙💛 The Golden Standard – Engage. Achieve. Thrive.

Read the U.S. News & World Report article: Golden Elementary School Rankings

🌟🏃 Golden Jog-a-Thon – Reach for the Stars! 🦅

Our Golden Jog-a-Thon is coming up on Friday, November 6th! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️ Thank you to our amazing Golden families for your incredible support so far! Together, we've raised an AMAZING $104,179! 💙💛

🔥 The competition is heating up! Congratulations to our current Top 5 fundraising classes!

🥇 Mrs. Bloomquist (5th Grade) – $10,959
🥈 Mrs. Pizzo-Spina (6th Grade) – $5,822
🥉 Mrs. Jung (3rd Grade) – $5,050
4️⃣ Mrs. Dimopoulos (Kindergarten) – $4,864
5️⃣ Mrs. Fiala (5th Grade) – $4,508

💙💛 Keep those donations coming, Golden Eagles! There's still time for the leaderboard to change, and every donation makes a difference!

The race for Principal for a Day is heating up! 🔥 A HUGE shout-out to Harper Yang from Mrs. Bloomquist's class, who is currently leading the way with an incredible $4,521.79 in pledges! WOW! 🤩👏

Remember, our top individual fundraiser will earn the opportunity to be Principal for a Day! 🦅👑

There's still time to climb the leaderboard, Golden Eagles! Keep reaching for the stars, one lap at a time! 🚀💛

Let's keep the momentum going and reach for the stars, one lap at a time! 🌟🦅

Our Golden Jog-A-Thon is THIS FRIDAY, and we need our amazing Golden families to help make the magic happen! 💛

This year, we added a fun new twist with space-themed EZ-Up tents for each color team! We're looking for parents who can team up to help set up, decorate, and create a fun, spirited atmosphere for our Golden Eagles!

It doesn't have to be fancy or complicated! A few decorations, a little creativity, and some teamwork can go a long way!

At Golden, we are ONE TEAM, and that means working together, pitching in, and supporting one another! Our school community is at its best when everyone lends a hand. No one person or small group should have to do it all. When we share the work, we share the joy, and our students are the ones who benefit! 💛

Our PTA Jog-A-Thon team has been working incredibly hard behind the scenes, and we would LOVE to rally our Golden village to help bring this special day to life!

⏰ Set-up begins at 7:55 AM on Friday, November 6.

Let's show what makes our Golden community so special! Many hands make light work, and together, we can make this an unforgettable day for our students! 🌟🦅

📧 Questions or want to help? Contact goldenfundraiser@gmail.com.

The excitement was in the air on Friday as we announced this year's Golden school musical... HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON JR.! 🐉🔥 What a FUN day for our Golden Eagles!

We are SO excited for this adventure! With lots of fantastic roles for both boys and girls, there will be wonderful opportunities for our students to shine on stage! 🌟

🎭 Mark your calendars! Our Musical Parent Information Night is Thursday, November 12, at 6:00 PM! Come learn all about this exciting production and how your child can get involved!

We can't wait to bring the magic of Berk to GOLDEN! 💙💛

Between playground fun, unexpected spills, muddy adventures, and bathroom accidents, you never know when a change of clothes might come in handy!

We kindly ask ALL Golden families to pack a labeled Ziploc bag with an extra set of clothes in their child's backpack, including underwear, socks, pants, and a shirt.

Having a change of clothes ready helps us get students comfortable and back to learning quickly without needing to call home.

Thank you for helping us keep our Golden Eagles happy, comfortable, and ready for anything! 💙💛

Elementary School Poster Art Contest: Calling all PYLUSD elementary student artists!

We are excited to invite students in grades K–6 to participate in the 30th Annual PYLUSD Artworks Exhibition Poster Art Contest!

This year's theme is: "175 Years of California Dreaming"

Students are encouraged to get creative and design an original poster inspired by California's history, culture, landscapes, and the many things that make our state special!

Student Recognition & Prizes

The REACH Foundation will recognize six student winners across the elementary, middle, and high school levels, awarding gift certificates totaling $500! Two students will be recognized at the elementary level for equal opportunity to win.

Submission Deadline: Friday, December 18, 2026

Submission Requirements

• Open to all PYLUSD elementary students in grades K–6.

• Artwork must reflect the theme "175 Years of California Dreaming."

• Students must submit their original poster artwork.

• An artist statement must accompany each submission.

• Please review the contest guidelines before submitting.

How to enter:

Submit entries through our online form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdi8eYhU-ZUp7dXPtl0zX_HXDQeOrdtUcVZDakxXaCYyXPsmA/viewform?usp=dialog

We can't wait to see how our talented young artists bring California Dreaming to life!

We truly believe Golden is one of the best places on Earth to work! Not sure if it’s for you? Start as a substitute and try it out! It’s a great way to be on campus, get to know our students and staff, and see what makes Golden so special.

In fact, we have recruited many of our own employees this way, and it has helped us build some fantastic teams! Come give back, make a difference, and get paid while doing it!

Interested or want to learn more? Call the Golden office for details. We would LOVE to have you join our team! 💙💛

Do you want to see updates or cute photos of our Golden Eagles? Follow us on Instagram.

Follow us @ golden_eagles_pyl

School Lunch Menu

Online Data Confirmation ~ This MUST be updated for all students.

PYLUSD District Website

PYLUSD prohibits and does not engage in discrimination intimidation, harassment (including sexual harassment) or bullying on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age. For policy details, please refer to the District’s Non-Discrimination Statement and Notice or contact the Title IX Coordinator. To report information or make a complaint regarding discrimination under Title IX, please use the District's Uniform Complaint form.

Email: kmcdonald@pylusd.org
Website: golden.pylusd.org
Location: 740 Golden Avenue, Placentia, CA, USA
Phone: 714.986.7160