Parent & Student Newsletter #9

Website | Phone: (510) 594-2626

Location: 800 Magnolia Ave, Piedmont, CA 94611
Instagram: @piedmonthigh

Bell Schedule (Regular) | Ed Concern Protocol

Road to Graduation | Athletic Newsletter

College & Career Newsletter | Yearbook Info

2025-26 School Profile | Student Handbook

Principal: Dr. Yoshihara | Asst. Principal: Mr. Marik

Dear Highlander Families,

It has been a fantastic Homecoming Week. From the themed days, to the rally earlier today, to this evening's game against Aragon (wear your purple!), our students were filled with spirit and joy. The festivities conclude tomorrow with the Homecoming Dance. A shout out to ASB for all the work going into making this week a success. It is a huge lift on top of everything else our students have going on.

Have a wonderful weekend and get ready for another action-packed week starting Monday.

Warmly,

Dr. Yoshihara

September 19: Homecoming Dance (7-9 pm, Binks)

September 21: Boosters (7 pm, Student Center)

September 23: Shelter-in-place Drill (During 4th period)

September 25: Belonging Assembly + Classroom Conversations (Academy)

September 29: Parent Night Preview for Consent Assembly (7 pm, AHT)

September 30: College Mini-Fair

September 30: Consent Assembly (9th & 12th grades, Academy)

October 3: Pre-Act (9am-2pm, PHS)

Dual Enrollment Interest Form

October is almost here, but we are still in Latino Heritage Month, and I want to take a moment to recognize someone you may have heard of: Jaime Escalante. You might know him as the inspiration behind the film Stand and Deliver, but here's what often gets lost in the Hollywood version -- before he became a legendary math teacher in East Los Angeles, he immigrated from Bolivia with no English, worked as a busboy, and taught himself enough math to pass the California teaching certification exam. He went on to produce more Advanced Placement Calculus students from a single inner-city school than almost anywhere else in the country. A reminder that the people shaping our kids' futures often have the most remarkable stories of their own.

Our next meeting is Friday, September 25th at 9am -- all PHS parents welcome. And if you can't make it in person, our August meeting minutes are now posted on our website. Going forward, we are aiming to have minutes posted within a week of each meeting so you can always stay in the loop, even if life gets in the way.

Hope to see you on the 25th!

Andrea Zambrana
PHS Parents' Club, Vice-President

Fostering Empathy, Communication, and Affirmative Consent in Our Community

• 📅 Date & Time: Tuesday, September 29 at 7:00 PM

• 📍 Location: Alan Harvey Theater, Piedmont High School

• 👥 Open To: All community members, parents, and guardians

About the Assembly

For the past 15 years, the Consent Assembly has been a cornerstone of Piedmont’s consent education program. Performed by PHS and MHS students, the assembly presents real student stories navigating consent, relationships, and sexual harm.

• Multi-Perspective Approach: Explores experiences from survivors, perpetrators, and bystanders to build empathy and critical thinking.

• Core Values: Promotes affirmative consent, active allyship, and open communication.

• Educational Component: Concludes with actionable guidance on the meaning and practice of consent.

Student & Support Information

• Student Performances: Freshmen and Seniors will view the assembly during Academy on Wednesday, September 30.

• Counseling & Wellness: Counselors will be on-site before, during, and after the assembly. The Wellness Center will be open for any student needing a safe space.

• Opt-Out Option: In accordance with CA Education Code 51938-39, parents may excuse their child by emailing their school administrator.

Thank you for your partnership in building a safer, more supportive community.

• 👨‍👦 Elementary Student Accompaniment

  Elementary-aged students must enter and stay with an adult. One adult may supervise multiple students to ensure a caring adult is always nearby.

• 🎟️ No Re-Entry Privileges

  Once students leave the stadium, re-entry is not allowed. Settle in early and enjoy the game from the bleachers!

• 🚶 Keep the Concourse Clear

  Keep walkway areas open so patrons can easily reach restrooms, the snack shack, and accessible seating. Avoid loitering in large groups.

• 🎒 Leave Backpacks & Containers at Home

  Students are asked to leave backpacks and sealed containers at home to assist with stadium security.

Wear your purple and come cheer on the Highlanders!

The full letter that I'm asking our other schools send to their respective parent communities can be found here.

Click here to listen to an important message from Chief Shavies about e-bikes in our community.

The Alameda County Registrar of Voters (ROV) invites your students to apply for the High School Student Election Worker Program for the November 3, 2026, Statewide General Election. This program offers meaningful civic engagement, valuable workplace experience, and the opportunity to earn up to $535.

Calling all actors, singers, and dancers! Auditions are underway for The Music Man at Piedmont High School, and all Piedmont High School and Millennium High School students are invited to audition.

This beloved musical comedy, with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, explores American culture, community, economics, and the power of music to transform a small town.

Important dates:

• Sept. 22: Online audition submissions due in the evening
• Sept. 23: Movement auditions
• Sept. 25: Callbacks

Students interested in participating behind the scenes can also join the stage crew.

Full audition and stage crew details HERE.

We encourage students to take this opportunity to get involved in musical theatre, meet fellow performers, and be part of bringing this exciting production to life!

Paperless Post RSVP

The PUSD Intentional technology focus is a student-centered approach, designed to be intentional, developmentally appropriate, and grounded in strong pedagogy. Access to AI tools is carefully differentiated by grade level to protect foundational skills while introducing more advanced capabilities when students are ready. Device policies and structural safeguards further support healthy, focused technology use. Together, these practices align with the SAMR (Substitute-Augment-Modify-Replace) framework by using technology to meaningfully enhance learning rather than simply replace traditional methods. PUSD tracks average Chromebook usage during school hours on a weekly basis and is mindful of that usage, using it to inform our intentional use of technology.

- Stephanie Griffin, Director of Instructional Technology

I just had my Back to the Future Moment. While there was no lightning, I was so pleased to see that the clock on our Student Center now works. Thanks to Alissa for just asking, "can we fix the clock because students shouldn't be looking at their phones". And of course, kudos to Facilities and Mr. Palmer for making this happen so quickly. I'm just so excited to see our school clock working again!

All student Chromebooks include a web filter that works both at school and at home. It blocks inappropriate content and many non-educational websites, helping keep the Chromebook a safe, school-focused device. While no internet filter is perfect, it provides an important layer of protection whenever students use their school-issued Chromebook.

Want a little more control at home? The GoGuardian Parent App allows parents and guardians to view Chromebook browsing history, pause internet access after school hours, and block specific websites. These features apply only to the school-issued Chromebook.

Get Started

• Download the GoGuardian Parent App:
• Download via Apple Store
• Download via Google Play Store
• Open the app and enter the email address you use with the school.
• Check your email for the verification link and tap “Verify your email.”
• If using another device for email, select “Login with verification code” and paste the code from your email.

• More info: GoGuardian Parent for Guardians

If you have questions, send an email to help@piedmont.k12.ca.us

Our homecoming dance will be Saturday, 9/19 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm in Binks Gym. Tickets will go on sale next week in the IC store. If students would like to bring a guest from outside of PHS/MHS, they must complete a guest form which can be picked up in the front office. As a reminder, students must stay for the entire dance.

Peer Tutoring is back! Tag yourself to Peer Tutoring in Room 24 to get assistance during academy. Tutors are well-versed in Biology, Chemistry, Spanish, IM 1, 2 and 3, and more!

Email peertutoring@piedmont.k12.ca.us with any questions!

Calling all tutors! Any expertise is appreciated, and there is no required attendance. Honors Society hours are available for every academy tutoring session you attend.

Just a reminder to our students, particularly freshmen. While PHS is an open campus at lunch, PMS is not. You may leave campus but you should not enter the PMS campus. They are a closed campus. Thank you for respecting each other's spaces.

This is the inaugural year for AP Research. For the 11 students and teacher, Mr. Mockel, they are trail blazers in many ways. Not only did these 11 students have to complete a rigorous course, AP Seminar, last year, they will produce an end product that is comparable to a thesis.

They will have produced a paper, given a presentation, and participated in an oral defense. Many of our students are also hoping to publish their work. Their topics thus far are as diverse as one can imagine. To see the level of achievement that can be gained from this course, one only has to check out a recent issue of The Daily where the student references that the work started with an AP Research class. I have no doubt that our students will be there someday too.

The handout given to seniors with important information and guidance is here: Nuts and Bolts of the College Application Process.

Notice something different about the newsletter? Well, if you look at the header, you will now see that I have renamed it to Parent & Student Newsletter. While our students always had access to the newsletter, I wanted to make it more inviting for all our students to read as an important source of information. While the target audience will be parents, many of the articles will have relevance for our students.

So Highlanders, please peruse the newsletter at your leisure and reach out if you have any questions.

Thank you to those of you who joined us for our Speaker Event with Dr. Lauren Hartman on Recognizing and Preventing Eating Disorders. We are grateful to the Wellness Center for partnering with us to bring this important discussion to our community. On Saturday, September 26, we look forward to co-hosting an event with PEF, the Boosters, and the Makers on AI and how it is transforming the way we learn, work, create, communicate, and make decisions. The event is SOLD OUT, but we are running a waitlist for those who are interested.

9th Grade: Facilitators: Judy Lin & Rita Fabi. Please email judywlin@gmail.com with any questions.

• Tuesday, November 3: 7:00-8:30 pm

10th Grade: Facilitators: Judy Lin, Yoko Ichikawa & Anne Hawkins. Please RSVP to hawkins42@gmail.com for location information.

• Wednesday, September 30: 8:45-10:15 am

• Tuesday, October 27: 7:00-8:30 pm

• Thursday, November 19: 8:45-10:15 am

• Wednesday, December 16: 7:00-8:30 pm

11th Grade: Facilitators: Maggie Mittan, Sarah Puckett & Catherine Minor. Please RSVP to maggie.mittan@gmail.com for location information:

• Wednesday, October 14: 7:30-9:00 pm

• Wednesday, November 18: 7:30-9:00 pm

• Wednesday, December 16: 7:30-9:00 pm

• A big Thank You to ASB for pulling off a successful spirit week. It is not over yet, but with the rally today, it was an amazing success. HOCO tomorrow and that'll be a wrap. Kudos to Ms. Adams as well for your leadership in this space.