Piedmont Pulse

May 18, 2026

Dear PUSD Families & Staff:

It is that time of year when we call it a wrap as we close out this school year and head into summer. The June 1st Piedmont Pulse newsletter will be the final edition for this school year, with the Fall edition returning August 3rd.

As we close out this school year, I want to invite you to participate in this year's quick Net Promoter Score (NPS) survey...just one question and an opportunity to provide additional feedback if you choose. I have invited staff and families to participate in this survey for the last three years, and it is a quick "pulse check" on how our community feels about our schools. Last year, we had considerable feedback about parents' interest in more rigor in our schools. As a result, we added additional programs, coursework, and workshops/communication to enhance the rigor in our schools. In short, we listen to your feedback. I would be grateful for your participation.

NPS Survey Link

In Community,

Jennifer Hawn, Ed.D.

Superintendent

This year, we held a series of opportunities for staff and parents to come together to discuss programs and important issues throughout our district. Community engagement has been essential to our success, and we look forward to seeing families at tonight's Open House events at PMS, MHS, and PHS (short schedule today - 1:35PM dismissal):

Open House Tonight

PMS: 5 - 6:30PM

MHS: 7 - 8:00PM

PHS: 6:45 - 8:15PM (following Senior Awards Night)

Thank you to our teachers, administrators, and staff for engaging our community in this important event.

Community Meetings

Last week, I invited staff and families to join me in a year-end wrap up discussion of programs and initiatives we have approved this year. You can find this presentation below:

• Superintendent's Advisory Council - Year-End Report 2025-26

And, if you want a deeper dive into our recent accomplishments and program initiatives, please check out our State of the District report, linked HERE.

We have one more community meeting scheduled to discuss the Governor's May Budget Revision:

• May 21 -BAC - May Revise @4PM - District Office

Dear Piedmont Students, Staff, & Parents,

PUSD has partnered with Hanover Research to conduct a short survey to gather your input about how instructional technology is used for learning experiences in our district. This survey will explore how digital tools are used for instruction, how they support learning and engagement, and, ultimately, will help us better understand any challenges or concerns related to technology use. Please know your feedback will help inform future decisions made by school and district leaders.

Hanover Research is an independent research firm based in Washington, D.C., and is in no way affiliated with any other entity or organization. Your responses are anonymous and will be kept confidential, so please be as open and honest as possible. The survey should take approximately 10 minutes to complete.

Please use the following link to take the survey: LINK

We appreciate your participation. Please click the link to begin the survey.

At the May 6th Board Meeting, the Board gave staff direction to revise the current Board Policy 5131.8 Mobile Device to restrict mobile devices K-12 on campus for the full school day. This revision will provide the following exception: High school students may access a “feature” or “dumbphone” that has talk and text only (no apps or camera) during non-instructional/classroom times throughout the school day. Please also note that there are exceptions in the law for medical and other circumstances that the policy will include. The revised Board Policy will come to the Board for a 1st reading on June 3rd and go into effect at the start of the 2026-2027 school year.

PHS/MHS Student Panel - Looking Ahead: Advice from Graduating Seniors to give 10th/11th grade families a real, unfiltered look at what’s ahead next year, directly from current seniors.

Event details:

• Date: Tues, May 19

• Time: 7:00-8:00 PM

• Location: PMS Multipurpose Room

You’ll hear from a small group of seniors with different experiences and post-graduation plans as they share:

• What actually matters in the college application process

• How senior year workload really feels

• What they wish they had done differently prior to graduating

• How parents can best support (and what doesn’t help)

There will also be time for Q&A. Both parents and students welcome.

RSVP and add your questions for the panel here, but drop-ins welcome as well: https://forms.gle/uZSrqeqjZ87L74s67

The world of AI is moving fast, shifting from simple chatbots to "AI Agents" that can execute complex projects and "Vibe Coding" that turns ideas into software. Join us on Friday, May 29 at 6:00pm in the Alan Harvey Theater lobby for a show and tell panel. Featuring local innovators, educators, and students, we will demo the latest trends and discuss what these shifts mean for the future of work and learning. Don't miss a look at what's coming next!

Summer Adventures 2026 – Now Enrolling!

With summer just around the corner, there is still space available in Summer Adventures 2026!

Piedmont Unified School District invites families to join this fun and engaging program led by PUSD teachers. With small class sizes and a supportive environment, it’s the perfect blend of summer camp and learning—where students can build skills, make friends, and stay curious all summer long.

Programs are available for:

• Welcome to Kindergarten (for incoming TK/K students)
• 1st–5th Grade Enrichment
• Welcome to 6th Grade (held at Piedmont Middle School)

Session Dates:

• Session 1: June 8–June 18 (no program June 19)
• Session 2: June 22–July 2

Join us for a summer of creativity, connection, and hands-on learning in a fun, low-pressure environment.

Register using this link:PUSD Homeroom. Adventures 2026
For questions, contact Erin Rivera at erivera@piedmont.k12.ca.us

Jewish American Heritage Month - The California Department of Education and PUSD recognize May as Jewish American Heritage Month. To our Jewish American students, staff, and families, we celebrate you now and ALWAYS!

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month - The California Department of Education and PUSD recognize May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. To our Asian American students, staff, and families, we celebrate you now and ALWAYS!

Staff Appreciation Month: A few weeks ago, I wrote about our outstanding staff who do great work for kids everyday. May is the month to honor the remarkable work of our staff. Thank you to our Classified, Certificated, and Administrative staff...this month, and ALWAYS!

Highlander Robotics Summer camps registration now open!

FLL Champs Academy for FLL-C rising 5th-7th grade

Dates: June 8-12, 2026, M-F 9:00am-12:00pm - Cost $575. REGISTER HERE

Highlander Robotics Summer aCADemy for rising 7th to 9th graders,

Dates: June 8-12, 2026, M-F 1:00-4:00 pm - Registration is $500. REGISTER HERE

More info or to contact us: FRC8033.com

Resident Enrollment Now: Residents with children not currently enrolled in Piedmont schools - new kindergarteners or a student switching to Piedmont schools - are invited to start the enrollment process now. Individuals who are not residents may apply for an interdistrict transfer; however, we are at capacity at every grade level for the 2026-27 school year.

Green Space Volunteer/Sponsorship Opportunities - For groups who wish to sponsor or volunteer to cultivate green spaces, please review our this green space report, and contact Pete Palmer at ppalmer@piedmont.k12.ca.us.

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 at capacity for the 2026-27 school year, but there is still space in Independent Study.

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

State of the District Report 2025-26: State of the District reports are linked HERE.

Piedmont Alumni Network:

The second issue of the Piedmont Alumni Newsletter, linked HERE. The Alumni Newsletter highlights the many events and ways our alumni can stay connected to the Piedmont community. If you are a graduate of PHS or MHS, please connect with us 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