Golden Eagle News

Dear Golden Families,

What an incredible time to be a Golden Eagle! We have so much to celebrate, and I want to begin by thanking all of our families who joined us for Thursday evening's AVID Frightfully Fun Math Night! It was wonderful to see our students and families learning, problem-solving, and having fun together. A huge thank you to our dedicated teachers and staff who made this special evening possible!

We have an exciting week ahead as we celebrate Red Ribbon Week! We look forward to seeing our students participate in our daily dress-up themes as we come together to promote healthy choices and a positive school community. And, of course, we will end the week with one of our favorite Golden traditions—our Halloween Parade on Friday, October 30th! We look forward to welcoming our families to campus for this fun celebration. All families are welcome to attend! Gates will open at 7:55 a.m., and all visitors must check in at one of our designated gates. Please review the parade information and check-in procedures below.

Our annual Jog-a-Thon is just around the corner on Friday, November 6th, and we are getting SO close to an incredible milestone! Thanks to the generosity and support of our Golden community, we are just shy of $100,000 raised! Let's work together to reach that goal! Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference, and we are so grateful for the enthusiasm and support of our families and PTA.

Finally, I am thrilled to share some truly exciting news! Golden Elementary has been ranked #13 among elementary schools in the entire state of California by U.S. News & World Report! What an incredible honor and a reflection of the dedication of our teachers, staff, students, and families. This recognition is something our entire Golden community can be proud of. Our success doesn't happen by accident—it comes from high expectations, meaningful learning experiences, strong partnerships, and a shared commitment to helping every student thrive.

And I cannot emphasize enough that we could not do any of this without our incredible Golden community! To the families who volunteer their time, the working moms and dads who find ways to help despite their busy schedules, and the parents who are constantly asking, "How can we help?"—thank you! What makes Golden so special is not just what we accomplish, but how we accomplish it together. Our families are always willing to share new ideas, find creative solutions, and look for ways to say "YES, we can!" That positive, inclusive, and supportive spirit makes a world of difference.

Whether you are volunteering in a classroom, supporting a school event, contributing to one of our many programs, or simply showing kindness and encouragement to another Golden family, you are helping create a school community where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and supported. Our community is at its best when we approach challenges with kindness, flexibility, and a willingness to support one another. We may not always have the same ideas or approaches, but when we lead with positive intentions and a shared commitment to our students, incredible things happen.

And perhaps most importantly, we are modeling these very qualities for our children. Our students are watching and learning from how we treat one another, how we navigate challenges, how we respond to different perspectives, and how we come together to find solutions. When we demonstrate kindness, inclusivity, teamwork, and a "we can do this together" mindset, we are teaching lessons that extend far beyond the classroom. These are the values we hope our Golden Eagles will carry with them throughout their lives.

Our community truly is the BEST, and I am so grateful for each of you!

You can read more about Golden's recognition here: Golden Elementary – U.S. News & World Report.

Thank you for being such an important part of what makes Golden so special. We have so much to celebrate and even more to look forward to!

Together, we continue to set our Golden Standard! 💙💛🦅

Have a GOLDEN week!

Warmly,
Kristin McDonald

Principal, Golden Elementary School

MON. OCT. 26
❤️ Red Ribbon Week Begins!
Your Future is Bright! Wear bright or neon colors!

TUES. OCT. 27
🏈 Team Up Against Drugs! Wear your favorite sports team gear or jersey!
🤖 LEGO Robotics Enrichment (Grades 1–5) @ 2:20 PM

WED. OCT. 28
💤 Be Comfortable Being You! Wear your pajamas!
⏰ 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. OCT. 29
❤️ Red Out – Make a Difference! Wear red from head to toe!
🚴 BMX Assembly

FRI. OCT. 30
🎃 Say Boo to Drugs! Wear your Halloween costume!
👻 Golden Halloween Parade @ 8:05 AM
🎉 Classroom Halloween Celebrations
🚀 Rocket Science Enrichment (Grades 2–6) @ 2:15 PM

Nov. 2 – 🏫 Tuffree MS Parent Night @ 6:00 PM

Nov. 3 – 🦅 Eagle of the Month & Pizza with the Principal
Nov. 3 – 📚 Placentia Library Bookmobile
Nov. 5 – 🪔 Diwali Celebration at Recess
Nov. 6 – 🌟 Golden Jog-a-Thon & Minimum Day, 12:45 PM Dismissal
Nov. 6 – 📋 Last Day of Choice Transfer Priority Window
Nov. 10 – 🎓 Golden GATE Parent Information Night (Newly Qualified Students) @ 6:00 PM
Nov. 11 – 🇺🇸 Veterans Day, No School
Nov. 12 – 🎭 Golden Musical Parent Information Night @ 6:00 PM
Nov. 16 – 📸 Make-Up Picture Day

Nov. 17 – 🏆 Trimester 1 Awards Assemblies

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

Nov. 20 – 🏫 No School for Students (Parent Conferences)
Nov. 23–27 – 🦃 Thanksgiving Break, No School

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

We are excited to celebrate one of our favorite Golden traditions, our annual Halloween Parade! Join us on Friday, October 30, at 8:05 AM as our Golden Eagles show off their creative costumes and parade around campus!

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Arrival & Viewing Information

Families are welcome to join us! Please arrive early to allow time for check-in. All visitors must check in and receive a wristband before entering campus. Families may watch from designated viewing areas along the parade route as students make their way around our classroom buildings. Please keep walkways clear and exit campus promptly following the parade so we can resume our regular school day.

👻 Costume Guidelines

To keep Halloween fun, safe, and comfortable for everyone, please remember:

• 🎃 School-Appropriate: Costumes should be appropriate for an elementary school setting.

• 🚫 No Weapons: Toy weapons or weapon-like accessories are not permitted.

• 👻 No Excessive Gore: Please avoid overly scary, bloody, or violent costumes.

• 👟 Comfort & Learning: Students must be able to move safely, sit comfortably, and participate in learning throughout the day.

• 🎈 Inflatable Costumes: Welcome for the parade! Students wearing inflatables must bring a change of clothes and change immediately afterward.

• 👕 Change of Clothes: All students are welcome to bring regular clothes to change into after the parade.

We can't wait to see our Golden Eagles' creativity and celebrate this special tradition with our Golden community! 💙💛🦅

We are excited to welcome our Golden families to our annual Halloween Parade on Friday, October 30, at 8:05 AM! To help ensure a safe and smooth arrival for everyone, please review the following procedures.

🚪 Spectator Gate Locations

Families may check in at any of the following gates:

• Main Gate

• George Key

• Cartlen

• Minion

• Heloise

• Koch Park

⏰ Important Gate Times

• 7:35–7:50 AM – Student Arrival: Students will enter campus through their regular gates, following normal morning procedures. Parents and spectators should not enter campus with their students during this time.

• 7:55–8:05 AM – Spectator Entry: All six gates will open for families attending the parade.

• After 8:05 AM: All gates will be closed and locked. Late-arriving spectators must check in through the main office.

• After the Parade: Gates will reopen for approximately 15 minutes to allow families to exit campus. Gates will then be closed and locked.

📱 Spectator Check-In & Wristbands

Volunteers will be stationed at each gate to assist families. All adult spectators must check in using the QR code provided at the gates and receive a wristband. All spectators must wear a wristband while on campus.

Important: If you plan to remain on campus to volunteer in a classroom or assist with Halloween activities after the parade, you must check in through the main office and follow our regular volunteer check-in procedures. A parade spectator wristband does not serve as volunteer clearance.

💛 Thank You, Golden Families!

We appreciate your cooperation in following these procedures to help us maintain a safe and secure campus while making this a fun and memorable celebration for our Golden Eagles. We look forward to seeing everyone in their Halloween spirit! 🎃

🌟🏃 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 $98,239! We are just $1,761 away from reaching $100,000! 💙💛

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

🥇 Mrs. Bloomquist (5th Grade) – $10,805
🥈 Mrs. Pizzo-Spina (6th Grade) – $5,822
🥉 Mrs. Jung (3rd Grade) – $5,050
4️⃣ Mrs. Dimopoulos (Kindergarten) – $4,864
5️⃣ Mrs. Fiala (5th Grade) – $4,308

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

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

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