Parent & Student Newsletter #13

Website | Phone: (510) 594-2626

Location: 800 Magnolia Ave, Piedmont, CA 94611
Instagram: @piedmonthigh | TPH Newsletter #1

Bell Schedule (Regular) | Ed Concern Protocol

Road to Graduation | Athletic Newsletter

College & Career Newsletter | Yearbook Info

2026-27 School Profile | Student Handbook

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

Dear Highlander Families,

We are now on the back half of October as we march towards winter sports. Most of our fall teams will be entering playoffs. With that and senior nights for the various teams, you are all invited to come out and show support for the many extracurriculars that our students participate in.

We have a successful great shakeout yesterday. Thanks so much to all the students and parents who participated in this event ensuring that we are all better prepared in a real emergency.

I think we'll get a true taste of fall this coming week. So if you like cooler weather and perhaps some precipitation, this may be a harbinger of what is to come.

Warmly,

Dr. Yoshihara

October 16: Second date of determination

October 17: PSAT (9am-2pm, PHS)

October 19: Boosters Meeting (7 pm, Student Center)

October 24: Oktoberfest

October 28: Financial Aid Night (6-7:30 pm, PHS Library)

November 3: Community College Night (6-8 pm, PHS Library)

Halloween is on a Saturday this year -- the first time since 20XX [the year that won't be mentioned], and the next won’t be until 2037. The last time this happened, our current high schoolers were in middle school. Savor it, PHS!

Speaking of October 30th -- that’s our next Parents’ Club meeting @ 9am, the morning before Halloween. Come hear presentations on two topics worth knowing about: Dress Best for Less, the newly adopted Math Pathways, which maps out the new math sequence from 6th through 12th grade, and much much more.. As always, all PHS parents are welcome. Find details at our website.

Can’t make a morning meeting? We hear you. We are adding an evening Zoom meeting on November 16th at 6pm for those who need a different option. Zoom link is on our website.

Have a question for school administration? Send it my way for our Ask Your Administrator series. Confidentiality available upon request.

Andrea Zambrana
PHS Parents’ Club, Vice-President

My name is Yifeng Huang, and I’m happy to be part of the Piedmont team as a Level 2 Paraprofessional. I joined in August and have enjoyed getting to know the students and staff.

I studied Sociology and Art with a focus in photography at UC Santa Cruz, and my background includes supporting students both in classrooms and as a behavior interventionist aside from being a paraprofessional. I enjoy helping students work through challenges and become more confident and independent. When not in school other than spending time with friends and family, I enjoy playing guitar, filming/photography, playing video games and watching movies/shows.

I look forward to getting to know more of you and learning from your experiences. I also speak Cantonese as well. If you see me around campus, please say hello!

Friday 10/16/26 is the next Date of Determination for sports and extracurricular activity eligibility. Students and families will be contacted next week if they are deemed ineligible to participate due to grades, unexcused absences, and/or tardies. Please reach out to Mr. Marik if there are any questions.

We realize we have been enforcing this, but starting with winter sports, at any ticketed event (e.g. men's & women's basketball) students will need an Activities Sticker on their ID card for free entry. Otherwise, you will need to purchase a ticket to enter. You will also need to you have your ID on you at all times to show that you are a PHS student. Single game tickets for youth will be $6.

Lastly, as we wrap up fall sports, for any playoff game that is ticketed, you must purchase these. The Activities Sticker is not included for playoff games.

The Wellness Center needs your help with donations of allergen free granola bars for students. These delicious goodies help make the Wellness Center a warm and welcoming place.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044EA9AD2EA1FC1-66724522-wellness

You can drop the items off anytime during school hours of your selected week (preferably on Monday) at the Wellness Center, located in the Library/30s building at the high school.

Thank you so much for supporting student mental health in our community.

Take care,

The Wellness Center Support Committee

PHS Booster's Oktoberfest fundraiser benefiting PHS sports programs needs both student and adult volunteers. Students can receive community service hours and free food as a thank you. Teachers, coaches and adults are also invited to volunteer and join the fun. See available positions via this sign up link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E094EAAAE2FA3FC1-65603184-2026#/

All grades welcome to attend our How to Pay for College Workshop on October 28, 2026 from 6-7:30pm in the library. Our speaker will cover a range of information. It is never too early to start thinking about financing a college education, whether that be a 2 year or 4 year plan. In order for us to prepare, please fill out this pre-register form or use the QR code on the flier no later than October 26th. Thank you.

Progress grade Help!

Q1 or Progress 2 grades will be available this Friday. As counselors look to support students during this time, a reminder about some steps students can take if they receive a low progress grade:

-connect with the subject teacher to ask questions about missing work or how to prepare for future exams.

-Look over your past exams to see how you could improve on the next exam.

-If you have a free period, how are you using this time? The library is open for a quiet space to work.

-Do you keep a set time each day as to when you review Schoology?

-If you are missing work, please let your teacher know when you will be turning this in.

Peer Tutoring:

We have many great peer tutors available in many subject areas. Students can choose to visit peer tutoring during academy time through the responsive scheduler. They hold the tutoring sessions in room 24. Often, students are able to have 1:1 tutoring right now. Take advantage of this great resource.

Seniors- Q1 grades

Often when a student has applied early decision, the college/ university will ask to see quarter grades. Seniors are responsible to give their counselor's( NO Plural) permission to send in their quarter grades if needed.

Thank you to those who signed up for the PSAT on Saturday, October 17th. Click on this Link for important information about materials to bring on test day as well as test set-up requirements that must be completed in Blue Book before you arrive.

Students should arrive by 8:45am at the main office of the STEAM building. Room assignments will be posted on the building. A standard time exam is approximately 2.5 hours long.

Hey everyone! I’m absolutely thrilled to join the community as your new part-time Campus Supervisor! I come in peace after spending my 15-year career serving amazing students in East Oakland schools, where I’ve worn just about every hat imaginable - High School Spanish Teacher, College and Career Coordinator, Leadership Co-Director, Testing Coordinator, and Dual Enrollment Specialist. Now, I am excited to experience a new school, a new district, and a brand-new role (which mostly means making sure you're all safe, happy, and keeping your devices tucked away!).

When I'm not on campus, I live in San Leandro with my family. I have two daughters: a 7th grader who plays competitive soccer, and a 9th grader who is a swimmer over at Bishop O'Dowd... please don't hate me, we can still be friends! To get to know me a little better, my current favorite shows are Ted Lasso and Brothers, my ultimate go-to meal is smash chicken tacos with Caesar salad, and I am currently listening to Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver on audiobook. If you love football, let's talk, because my favorite player on the planet right now is Jude Bellingham at Real Madrid. The dream vacation that I often think about: cruising the Greek Islands. Come say hi when you see me around—I can't wait to meet you all!

Celebrate your PHS and MHS Senior with our new Class of 2027 Signs. Sign sales are a fundraiser towards funding senior events.

All signs are $40 (plus a 3% credit card fee). Signs will be available for pick up in Piedmont or delivered to your home early October. Signs measure 18 x 24 inches with a 20-inch metal stake.

Buy Now

https://piedmontstore.org/products/senior-signs

Havens Elementary — our elementary-school neighbor — is looking for high school volunteers for its Fall Festival. Help run games, serve food, and keep the chaos cute. Shifts available for setup (3:30-5 PM), event (5-6 or 6-7 PM), and cleanup (7-8 PM). Sign up for one or stack them.

The festival is sponsored by the Havens Parent Club, a 501(c)(3), so volunteer hours may count toward your honor roll community service credits.

Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4CAAAB29A0F8CF8-66202737-havens#/
Questions? Email havens-community-committee@googlegroups.com

The festival is sponsored by the Havens Parent Club, a 501(c)(3), so volunteer hours can count toward your honor roll community service credits.

October is a busy month in the CCC. Next week there are 18 college rep visits; please remind students to sign up 24 hours or more to get teacher's permission to attend. October 28th we will have a "How to Pay for College" evening event for anyone interested in learning more about how to finance a college education. We will send a link to register for the event so we know how many chairs to set up. I am available to meet with seniors to read any essays (UC Personal Insight Questions) or Common App Essays, or Supplemental Essays. There is a Google Calendar link on the College and Career Center for students to sign up.

The Library is now open almost every day with the exception of brunch on Mondays. Please note that if we have a staff absence in the library, available hours may be impacted.

What’s different about student Chromebooks this fall (and why)

If a student has told you their Chromebook feels different this year, they’re right. Over the past few months we’ve made a set of changes with one goal: keep the Chromebook a tool for learning, so students do the thinking.

Fewer AI shortcuts. AI features are turned off in Docs, Drive, and Gmail for students, and AI Overviews, AI Mode, and Google Lens AI are off in Search. As of October 7, Yahoo and Bing are blocked for students because their built-in AI modes can’t be tracked or turned off. The objective of this guardrail is to help students practice foundational research and writing.

Healthier boundaries. New extensions and policies on school Chromebooks reinforce educational use and healthier decisions by closing loopholes students were using to get around school content filters and by preventing YouTube from autoplaying, so one video doesn’t become ten.

Privacy comes before convenience. Before a tool reaches students, we check how it handles student data and whether its terms of service allow students to use it. Some popular AI chatbots are blocked on student accounts because they require users to be 18 or older.

If you are having trouble with the school-issued Chromebook, please reach out to help@piedmont.k12.ca.us

Staff, students and community members are invited to learn more about technology use and safeguards at our district technology meeting at 4:00pm on Monday October 19th.

Meeting Details:

• When: October 19, 2026 | 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM

• Where: Havens Library OR join us virtually via Google Meet.

• RSVP: registration form

Love solving puzzles and math challenges? Join the Math Kangaroo Team Competition on November 18 during Academy period!

Teams of 2–4 students will work together to tackle fun and engaging math problems while building teamwork, problem-solving, and communication skills. Grab some friends and form a team!

Register by Wednesday, Oct 13

Sign your team up here: https://forms.gle/GmFgmcrYysMWtnFf8

For more information, please contact Anna Johnson at wibge@gmail.com.

If students think they have received a phishing email, they can now use the "red fishing hook" icon to the right of their PUSD Gmail inbox. A copy of the email will be immediately sent to the HelpDesk who will investigate it further. If it is a legitimate email, the HelpDesk will let the student know that it is safe to proceed.

Please note, this feature is ONLY available for your PUSD email. More tips on how to spot phishing emails coming in the near future.

The Giving Campaign Text-a-Thon is Tuesday, October 13! We’ll be texting families that evening to remind everyone why The Giving Campaign matters and how your support helps provide the teachers, staff and resources making a direct impact on our schools and your student's education.

It takes ALL of us to keep our schools strong. Don’t wait for our text. Make your Giving Campaign gift today at PiedmontEdFoundation.org/donate.

If your student is planning to take an AP exam this spring, please follow the two-step ordering process below. The early deadline for ordering exams is Friday, November 6th. Exams cost $130 which covers instructional materials, testing materials, proctors, and other costs. Orders placed between November 7th and March 1st, 2027 cost $170, which includes a $40 CollegeBoard imposed late fee. The final day to order is March 1, 2027.

STEP 1 - Your student should log-in to their College Board account and indicate which exams should be ordered. Instructions on how to do this can be found here. All students should have access to their teacher's AP course page. If you do not complete this step for each exam, an exam will not be ordered. If students have questions about this, they should contact their teacher.

STEP 2 - Log-in to the Infinite Campus School Store and purchase each exam your student plans to take.

It is the students responsibility to ensure BOTH Steps 1 and 2 are completed. Tests can only be ordered after both steps are completed. If you have questions on payment or ordering, please contact our registrar Darlene Low (dlow@piedmont.k12.ca.us)

Interested in taking an exam for a course we don't offer? - Please fill out the survey here. We may offer additional exams if enough students sign-up.

• PHS School Profile: Our updated School Profile has been completed and the link is now available in the header of every newsletter.

• Upcoming Parent/Student Nights: Mark your calendars for Financial Aid Night (Oct. 26) and Community College Night (Nov. 3). Additional details will be shared soon.

• UC PIQ Presentation: The UC Personal Insight Questions slide deck is now accessible in the CCC newsletter.

• Campus College Visits: We have 51 college visits remaining! Please remind your student to sign up on Naviance at least 24 hours prior to each visit.

• Essay Assistance: Students are welcome to drop in during Lunch or Academy—or schedule an appointment—for feedback on their Common App essays, supplementals, or UC PIQs.

• November 1 Deadline: Early Action and Early Decision deadlines are November 1st. With one month remaining, let's keep the momentum going!

Upcoming Grade Level Meetings:

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.

• 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, November 18: 7:30-9:00 pm

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

12th Grade

• Sunday, October 25: 6:30-8:00 pm: Take a break to check-in on how Senior year is going. Come support each other and our kids! Light bites/appetizers and libations will be provided. Please RSVP by text to Jude Sachs: 510-847-1921 by 10/19 for location information.

• Save-the-date for possible meeting on Tuesday, November 17

• A Shout out to our Hospitality Crew (Cortney Allen, Cindy Hinman, Shilpa Patel, and Heidianne Pillsbury) for helping setup the wonderful lunch for staff this past Wednesday.
• Kudos also to our Parents' Club for funding the great food on Wednesday for a belated "World Teacher Day".