Piedmont Pulse

August 25, 2025

Dear PUSD Families & Staff:

As we begin a new school year, I am thoughtful about recent initiatives that reflect our district’s commitment to supporting students’ growth—both academically and personally.

I have been observing the implementation of the new mobile device policy, especially at our high schools, and I want to complement our students on their effort to follow the new policy, which limits use of mobile devices (cell phones and all devices that connect to the internet). My observations at brunch and passing periods where cell phone use is now restricted indicate that students are not using devices. In fact, I have not really seen a lot of use at lunch either. Thank you to our students and staff for implementation of this new policy. I will be gathering feedback from students, staff, and parents this fall about the effectiveness of the new policy, particularly on students’ sense of wellness.

I also want to encourage parents with children in elementary and middle school to explore the Wait Until 8th campaign, which encourages families to delay giving children smartphones until at least 8th grade. We recognize there may be a need for some cell phone access at the high school level; however, research indicates that waiting until at least 8th grade benefits children’s mental health, improves sleep, and creates space for students to build stronger face-to-face relationships, all of which support stronger academic achievement. As a community, we can help reduce the social pressure on students to be online too soon and instead encourage meaningful human connections.

In Partnership,

Jennifer Hawn, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Thank you to the students and parents who took our survey two weeks ago and who wrote to AC Transit officials to restore Bus 33 service to upper Piedmont. To those surveyed families, I recently sent out an opportunity to write to AC Transit to restore service. If you would like to join in this letter-writing effort, we could use your help to advocate for this critical transportation need.

Linked HERE is information below to assist you in sending a letter via email to the AC Transit staff and Board. We believe advocacy from our PUSD community can make a difference in calling attention to this important matter and potentially leading to the restoration of bus service to upper Piedmont.

At last week's Board meeting, I shared a photo collage of welcome back photos. Take a look HERE.

Thanks to Jay Russell and our administrators for their help in taking these amazing photos of our students, staff, and families.

A special thanks to the Wellness Center team, including our amazing staff along with our supportive parents and community members. Mental health funding continues to be reduced at the State and federal levels, which means school districts must fundraise to offer the services our students need. This year, the Wellness Center must raise at least $50,000 for the 2025–2026 school year.

Donate HERE

Questions? Contact Piedmont Wellness Support Committee at piedmontwellnessctr@gmail.com

Learn More about the Wellness Center at PiedmontWellness.org

We will continue our focus this year on community engagement opportunities, including meetings planned throughout the school year on topics related to our District goals. We invite you to consider joining any of the meetings this year on a range of topics, which will be held online and in person. Be on the lookout for invitations to follow from each Committee leader. The community meeting schedule for 2025-26 is linked HERE.

September Meetings:

• September 4 – Curriculum Committee - World Language Design Teams: 4:00-5:30pm

• September 8 – DTAC - AI and Technology Plan Development: 4:00-5:30pm

• September 3 & 11 – SAC - Cell Phone Policy Feedback (Students)

• September 16 – SPED Community Meeting - Programming Overview & Goals: 4:00-5:30

• September 17 - FSC #1 - Summer Project Update: 8:30-10:30AM

• September 18 – BAC - Financial Results/Budget Calendar: 4:00-5:30pm

The PUSD Board has asked for the creation of a Flags Task Force, led by Jean Takazawa, to recommend language guiding district policy on flags. This comes in response to community discussions about how displayed flags align with our values and educational mission. For more information or to express interest in participating, please visit this link.

Back to School Nights: PMS: 8/25 at 6:45PM (Parent Club "sparkling hour" at 5:45PM), Elementary: 8/28 at 6:30PM, PHS/MHS: 9/4 at 7PM. See you there!

Labor Day (9/1/2025): PUSD will be closed for the Labor Day Holiday.

Piedmont Adult School - Fall Registration Open: Piedmont Adult School classes are an enjoyable, low-stress way to learn about art, business, computers/tech, cooking, exercise, language, music and more. Check out the full catalog and register online at piedmontadultschool.org, or by calling 510-594-2655.

Coffee, Cars & Cops is back - September 20th. Please join the Piedmont Police Department for this exciting annual event on Saturday, September 20th, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM in front of the Piedmont Police Department. Bring your family, friends, or anyone with an exotic or classic vehicle. To participate or show a vehicle, sign up with Ofc. Tyler Petit to provide your vehicle make/model/year/color at coffeecarscops@piedmont.ca.gov. More information linked HERE.

Independent Study at PHS/MHS: Is your child a professional athlete? In the entertainment industry? Or, in need of an online independent study program? More information is linked HERE. For additional questions, please contact Principal Irma Muñoz Daniels at imunozdaniels@piedmont.k12.ca.us. Please note that MHS is also open for in-person enrollment.

Piedmont Portal - For all of the latest school and community events, please visit the Piedmont Portal linked HERE

Piedmont Alumni Network: Last spring, we launched the Piedmont Alumni Network! Linked HERE is a page on our PUSD website to invite alumni of PHS and MHS to sign up. Whether you graduated many years ago, or recently, we would love to have you sign up HERE.

Follow PUSD - Please read our school newsletters sent out weekly for update to date information. The District Facebook (@piedmontunified) and Instagram (@piedmontusd)

Email: communication@piedmont.k12.ca.us
Website: www.piedmont.k12.ca.us
Location: 760 Magnolia Avenue, Piedmont, CA, USA
Phone: 510-594-2600