Golden Eagle News
Our Golden Weekly Communication from the Nest
Week of November 9, 2026
Dear Golden Families,
WOW! What an AMAZING week at Golden! 💛🦅
My heart is overflowing with GRATITUDE after Friday's incredible Jog-A-Thon! 🏃♀️🚀🌟 While we don't have our final fundraising total just yet, we know we have already surpassed $100,000! WOO HOO! 🎉 I am absolutely blown away by the generosity, enthusiasm, and support of our Golden community!
A HUGE thank you to our AMAZING PTA for all the time, energy, and love that went into making this event such a success! And to every parent, family member, and volunteer who helped make the day possible, THANK YOU! We truly could not do it without you! Friday was about so much more than fundraising. It was a beautiful celebration of school spirit, teamwork, and COMMUNITY! Seeing our students smiling, families cheering, and everyone coming together was another reminder of why THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE GOLDEN! 💛💙
As we begin Trimester 2, it's the perfect opportunity for a fresh start and a chance to continue raising the bar! 🌟 Let's start strong, set goals, celebrate growth, and continue living The Golden Standard: Engage, Achieve, Thrive! As we move through this season of gratitude, I encourage all of us to be intentional about showing kindness, appreciation, and compassion. Our children learn so much from what we model, and even the smallest acts of kindness can make a BIG difference!
🇺🇸 Veterans Day Reminder: There will be NO SCHOOL on Wednesday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day. We are especially thankful for the brave men and women who have served or continue to serve our country. To the veterans and military families in our Golden community, we thank you for your service, sacrifice, and dedication! ❤️🤍💙
November is such a wonderful time to reflect on how fortunate we are. We may be a BIG school, but we have an even BIGGER heart! I feel so incredibly blessed to be part of a community where students, staff, and families support one another and work together to make Golden such an extraordinary place to learn and grow.
We are GOLDEN because of YOU! 💛🦅 Let's make Trimester 2 our best yet and continue setting The Golden Standard together!
With gratitude,
Kristin McDonald
Proud Principal, Golden Elementary
💙 This Week at Golden 💛
MON. NOV. 9
🧠💛 Mindset Monday! Wear your AVID or college gear, or anything with a positive, inspiring message to help us start the week with a growth mindset! 🌟
🍿 6th Grade Popcorn Fundraiser this Week!
TUES. NOV. 10
🎓 6th Grade Kraemer Middle School Registration Presentation
🎓 AVID Site Visit
🌟 Golden GATE Magnet Parent Information Night @ 6:00–7:00 PM (MPR)
🤖 LEGO Robotics Enrichment (Grades 1–5) @ 2:20 PM
WED. NOV. 11
🇺🇸 Veterans Day – NO SCHOOL!
❤️ Thank you to all who have served our country!
THURS. NOV. 12
🦃 Thankful Thursday!
🌟 GATE Parent/Student Classroom Tours @ 8:00AM
📚 Battle of the Books Student Information Meeting @ 9:40–10:00 AM (MPR)
⭐ Strategic Kids at Lunch
🚐 Chapel on Wheels | 4th Grade @ 11:45 AM | 5th Grade @ 12:30 PM
♟️ Chess Masters Enrichment @ 2:15–3:15 PM
🔬 Science Olympiad Practice @ 2:30 PM
🎭 Golden Musical Parent Information Night @ 6:00 PM
FRI. NOV. 13
💛💙 Golden Spirit Wear Day!
🦅🎟️ PBIS Raffle
🎤 Friday Announcements (Pettitt)
🎓 GATE Middle School Magnet Confirmations Sent
💌 School Choice Transfer Status Notifications
🎂 Happy Birthday, Mrs. Rago! (Saturday, Nov. 14) 🎉💛
📅 Upcoming Events
Nov. 16 – 📸 Make-Up Picture Day
Nov. 17 – 🏆 Trimester 1 Awards Assemblies
Nov. 18–19 – 📚 Parent-Teacher Conferences, Min. Days, 12:45 PM Dismissal (TK ALL Early Birds)
Nov. 20 – 🏫 No School for Students (Parent-Teacher Conferences)
Nov. 20 – 🎓 GATE Elementary Choice Forms Deadline
Nov. 21 – 📊 Trimester 1 Report Cards Available in Aeries
Nov. 23–27 – 🦃 Thanksgiving Break, No School
Dec. 1 – 📚 Placentia Library Bookmobile @ 2:15 PM
Dec. 3 – 🦅 Eagle of the Month
Dec. 3 – 🍕 Pizza with the Principals
Dec. 4 – 🎓 GATE Elementary Magnet Confirmations
Dec. 8 – 🎒 District Preschool/TK Information Session @ 6:30 PM
Dec. 11 – 🌟 Final Jog-A-Thon Donation Deadline
Dec. 15 – ❄️ Kindergarten Winter Wonderland Performance @ 7:50 AM
Battle of the Books Student Information Meeting (4th-6th Grade)
📚🏆 Attention All 4th–6th Grade Students!
Get ready for one of Golden's most exciting traditions… Battle of the Books! 📖✨ Join us this Thursday at 9:40 AM in the MPR for an informational meeting to learn all about this fun and exciting reading competition! Come see what all the excitement is about and how YOU can be part of the action! You won't want to miss it! 💛💙
Mindset Monday!
GATE - Newly Qualified Family - Events
💙💛 Golden GATE Magnet Program: Explore Your Options! 🌟
Choosing the right school for your child is a big decision, and we encourage families to explore all their options!
Tuesday, November 10 | 6:00–7:00 PM: Our GATE Parent Information Night is designed for families whose students have already qualified for GATE and are making their school choice for next year. Come learn about Golden's program, meet our team, and ask questions!
Thursday, November 12 | 8:00AM: Come see the Golden GATE Magnet Program in action! Families and students are invited to tour our classrooms, meet our teachers, and experience what makes Golden special!
***Please plan to arrive on time - parking is limited so you will need to park along Golden Avenue. Plan for parking/walking time. Late arrivals will miss the introduction and may miss certain classrooms. Plan to park and be at Golden at 8:00AM.
💛 We look forward to welcoming you and helping you make the best decision for your child!
🇺🇸 No School Wednesday 🇺🇸
Today and every day, we are grateful for the brave men and women who have served our country. ❤️🤍💙
Thank you for your service, sacrifice, and dedication to protecting our freedoms. From all of us at Golden Elementary, we salute you! 🇺🇸🦅
📅 REMINDER: No School Wednesday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day.
🚀⭐ Jog-a-Thon Dates ⭐🚀
🐉🎭 Musical Parent Information Night
The excitement was in the air on Friday as we announced this year's Golden school musical... HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON JR.! 🐉🔥 What a FUN day for our Golden Eagles!
We are SO excited for this adventure! With lots of fantastic roles for both boys and girls, there will be wonderful opportunities for our students to shine on stage! 🌟
🎭 Mark your calendars! Our Musical Parent Information Night is Thursday, November 12, at 6:00 PM! Come learn all about this exciting production and how your child can get involved!
We can't wait to bring the magic of Berk to GOLDEN! 💙💛
The Golden Bridge is OPEN!
The wait is over! You can now travel directly from Golden to Rose Drive! I am sure our neighbors on McCormack are celebrating right along with us! 🎉 And hopefully, we can officially say goodbye to those unsafe U-turns in the middle of the Golden Avenue! 👏
With the bridge reopening, this is the PERFECT time for a much-needed RESET of our arrival and dismissal procedures!
Student safety is ALWAYS our number one priority, and we need EVERYONE doing their part.
Please remember:
- 🚗 Slow down and drive carefully around our school.
- 🚸 Follow all traffic laws, signs, and designated drop-off and pick-up procedures.
- 🛑 No unsafe U-turns, stopping in the middle of the street, or blocking driveways.
- 🚶 Use designated crosswalks and be mindful of students and families walking.
- 💛 Be patient, courteous, and respectful of our neighbors and one another!
If you want to review our arrival/dismissal procedure, please watch this short video clip we shared in August! In the meantime, please take a moment to reflect on your own routines and help us make our school community safer for EVERYONE.
Let's be good neighbors, responsible drivers, and great Golden role models! That is the Golden Standard! 💛
Tuesday After School Enrichment Classes
👕 A Little Reminder: Extra Clothes, Just in Case!
Between playground fun, unexpected spills, muddy adventures, and bathroom accidents, you never know when a change of clothes might come in handy!
We kindly ask ALL Golden families to pack a labeled Ziploc bag with an extra set of clothes in their child's backpack, including underwear, socks, pants, and a shirt.
Having a change of clothes ready helps us get students comfortable and back to learning quickly without needing to call home.
Thank you for helping us keep our Golden Eagles happy, comfortable, and ready for anything! 💙💛
ArtWorks Poster Contest
Elementary School Poster Art Contest: Calling all PYLUSD elementary student artists!
We are excited to invite students in grades K–6 to participate in the 30th Annual PYLUSD Artworks Exhibition Poster Art Contest!
This year's theme is: "175 Years of California Dreaming"
Students are encouraged to get creative and design an original poster inspired by California's history, culture, landscapes, and the many things that make our state special!
Student Recognition & Prizes
The REACH Foundation will recognize six student winners across the elementary, middle, and high school levels, awarding gift certificates totaling $500! Two students will be recognized at the elementary level for equal opportunity to win.
Submission Deadline: Friday, December 18, 2026
Submission Requirements
Open to all PYLUSD elementary students in grades K–6.
Artwork must reflect the theme "175 Years of California Dreaming."
Students must submit their original poster artwork.
An artist statement must accompany each submission.
Please review the contest guidelines before submitting.
How to enter:
Submit entries through our online form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdi8eYhU-ZUp7dXPtl0zX_HXDQeOrdtUcVZDakxXaCYyXPsmA/viewform?usp=dialog
We can't wait to see how our talented young artists bring California Dreaming to life!
💙💛 Come Join the Golden Team!
We truly believe Golden is one of the best places on Earth to work! Not sure if it’s for you? Start as a substitute and try it out! It’s a great way to be on campus, get to know our students and staff, and see what makes Golden so special.
In fact, we have recruited many of our own employees this way, and it has helped us build some fantastic teams! Come give back, make a difference, and get paid while doing it!
Interested or want to learn more? Call the Golden office for details. We would LOVE to have you join our team! 💙💛
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Helpful Links
PYLUSD prohibits and does not engage in discrimination intimidation, harassment (including sexual harassment) or bullying on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age. For policy details, please refer to the District’s Non-Discrimination Statement and Notice or contact the Title IX Coordinator. To report information or make a complaint regarding discrimination under Title IX, please use the District's Uniform Complaint form.
Golden Elementary School
Email: kmcdonald@pylusd.org
Website: golden.pylusd.org
Location: 740 Golden Avenue, Placentia, CA, USA
Phone: 714.986.7160