PJUSD Newsletter

Dear Families and Staff,

We are off to an excellent start to this school year! Our students have returned full of energy and excitement, and our staff has been working hard to create welcoming, supportive learning environments in our schools. Thank you to our families and community for helping to set such a positive tone since day one.

Strong attendance habits are one of the most important ways to support student success. Every day matters! Students who attend regularly are more engaged and build stronger connections with their teachers, staff, and peers. Plus, they stay on track academically, socially, and emotionally. We encourage families to schedule appointments outside of school hours whenever possible and to communicate with your school site if an absence is unavoidable. Together, we will continue to build a culture of showing up, learning, and thriving.

We appreciate your continued partnership in ensuring all students feel supported and inspired to do their best. Let’s keep the momentum going for a successful year ahead!

With gratitude,

Dr. Gauna

Educational Services – September 2025

This year, our district is rolling out new and expanded programs to make sure every student has the support they need in reading, English, and math. Our goal is simple: give students a strong start and provide extra help when it is needed most.

In reading, every elementary student at PJUSD is practicing with the Core Phonics program. This helps them sound out words with accuracy and confidence, making reading smoother and more enjoyable. For students in grades three through nine who need extra support, the Corrective Reading program provides targeted lessons to help them sound out words more easily, recognize them faster, and understand what they are reading. Early readers in kindergarten through second grade at Northmead and Grayson are also piloting the Systematic Instruction in Phonological Awareness, Phonics, and Sight Words (SIPPS) program, which gives them strategies to sound out new words and build fluency so they are ready for lifelong reading success.

For English learners at Creekside, Patterson High, and Del Puerto, the English 3D program helps students strengthen their speaking, listening, reading, and writing. This gives them the confidence and skills they need to fully participate in all subjects and prepare for college and career opportunities.

In math, all Patterson High students are now taking Algebra 1, with extra support classes available to help them succeed. At Creekside, students receive additional support through acceleration and support classes. These opportunities ensure that all students build a solid foundation in math, gain confidence, and are prepared for more advanced courses in the future.

Through these programs, PJUSD is deepening our work and elevating our impact by making sure every student, whether in reading, English, or math, has the right support to thrive.

Visit our district's News & Announcements page to explore our new Our Promise Feature:

Each month, this section will shine a light on the people, programs, and initiatives that make a difference across our District. From staff who go above and beyond, to programs that support student success, to initiatives that help us fulfill our PJUSD Promise, these stories remind us of the incredible work happening in our schools.

This month’s Promise Feature highlights our new Before School Program, designed to give students a safe, supportive, and engaging start to their day.

It has been an exciting start to the school year for PJUSD facilities. We recently celebrated the ribbon cutting for the new Patterson High School Cosmetology and Barbering Program, giving students a professional space to learn skills that can launch future careers.

On Wednesday, September 10 at 9:30 a.m., families are invited to join us for the ribbon cutting of the new Modular Library at Grayson Elementary, located at 301 Howard Road in Westley.

Work is also underway on several important projects, including the Las Palmas parking lot improvements that will ease traffic flow and improve safety, as well as new baseball and softball scoreboards at Patterson High.

We are pleased to share that as of the start of the 2025–2026 school year, our district has met and exceeded our enrollment goals. This allows us to confidently, pending Board approval, move forward with construction efforts for Almond Blossom Elementary School.

These projects reflect our commitment to providing safe, modern, and inspiring spaces for all students, and we look forward to celebrating these milestones with you.

September is Attendance Awareness Month!

Our district’s goal is 95 percent daily attendance, and we need your help to make it happen. We have started the year strong, and every day in school keeps that momentum going. When students miss class, they lose valuable learning time and it becomes harder to catch up.

Even missing just two days a month adds up to 10 percent of the school year. By middle and high school, strong attendance is one of the best predictors of success and graduation. Students should miss no more than nine days in a year to stay on track; being late also affects attendance.

Families make the biggest difference. Encourage your child to be on time every day, check attendance on Aeries regularly, and reach out if you need support. In September, students with 95 percent or better attendance will be recognized with special incentives.

Together, we can build strong habits and set our students up for lifelong success.

Our Director of Child Welfare & Attendance, Sandra Villasenor, presented at the 15th Annual SCOE SARB CASCWA San Joaquin Workshop. Above is a photo of her (right) and her team being recognized!

Patterson Unified School District is forming a Wellness Policy Committee to support student health, nutrition, and physical activity. We are looking for parents, students, staff, and community members to join and share ideas that will help shape our updated Wellness Policy.

If you would like to get involved, please fill out our short Wellness Committee Interest Form below:

We encourage all PJUSD students, families, and staff to download the STOPit app. This free app gives students a safe and anonymous way to report bullying, safety concerns, or anything that makes them feel uncomfortable at school. By using STOPit, students can speak up, support one another, and help us keep our schools safe and welcoming for everyone.

If your child needs to take medication during school hours, please have your medical provider complete the 2025–2026 Medication Administration Form, available on our website here: Medical Forms. No medications, including over-the-counter medicines, can be given at school without this signed form.

If your student has a health diagnosis or needs accommodations that may affect classroom instruction, please provide updated medical paperwork to the school nurse each year. For injuries, a note from a medical provider is required to excuse absences or PE participation.

For questions or concerns, please contact your site RN.

PJUSD families are invited to join us for two special events this month.

On Wednesday, September 10 at 9:30 a.m., we will celebrate the ribbon cutting of the new Modular Library at Grayson Elementary, located at 301 Howard Road in Westley. This beautiful new space will give students more opportunities to learn, read, and grow.

Then on Saturday, September 27 from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m., join us at the Patterson Community Stadium Track & Field for our first Walk for Childhood Cancer. This free community event will feature food and coffee vendors, sponsor booths, music, student projects, and informational booths on childhood cancer. Together, we will raise awareness, build unity, and support children and families impacted by cancer.

Register to walk or make a donation here: https://bit.ly/PJUSDWALK

All proceeds will go to the Lucile Packard Foundation in support of cancer patient care at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford.

We look forward to seeing you at both events.

Join us in celebrating the success of former Patterson graduates with our monthly United Patterson Graduate Profile series. Our latest profile features Diana Venegas Cervantes, a proud graduate of Patterson High School Class of 2013.

Read her story and discover more inspiring profiles on our district's website under the News & Announcements page and by clicking on the "United Patterson Profiles" filter.

Do you know a Patterson graduate who has moved on to do some incredible thing? Share their story with our community by clicking the following link: https://bit.ly/UPprofile.

PJUSD is hiring! Some of our current open positions include ELP Assistant, Paraeducator II, Teacher on Special Assignment, Nutrition Service Lead, and more.

If you or someone you know is interested, please reach out to: Katie Jones at kajones@patterson.k12.ca.us or Delia Salinas at dsalinas@patterson.k12.ca.us for more information.

You can also scan the QR code below to visit our EdJoin page and view all of our job postings.

Website: https://www.patterson.k12.ca.us
Location: 510 Keystone Boulevard, Patterson, CA, USA
Phone: 209-895-7700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PJUSD95363
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pattersonschools