Welcome to the 2016-2017 School Year

Dear PUSD Community,

Welcome to the new academic year at Pasadena Unified schools! This promises to be an exciting year with greater focus on student and school supports, academic rigor, increased academic choices for students, enhanced extracurricular opportunities, and adult educational opportunities. Parent feedback from our 2016 survey is helping to ensure our programs and services are responsive to the needs and interests of those we serve.

Our school communities have come together with a unified vision of preparing students to be competitive and confident, ready to create, invent, and lead us into the 21st Century. PUSD is a district on the rise and we are strengthening the preK-12 pathway. Our programs challenge and engage students at all levels of their academic journey. PUSD’s graduate profile guides our instructional opportunities and ensures consistency across our educational programs, while allowing our students to pursue unique academic experiences. A rich array of enrichment in the arts, athletics, and extracurricular activities ensures that students are well-rounded in their approach to the world, civic engagement, and personal development.

The results of the 2016 Parent Survey provided important input on ways that we can build on PUSD’s services and programs. We will continue to make investments that will impact – at the root — the long-standing challenges our schools have faced. We will continue to engage meaningfully with our students, families, and staff of the district to inform decisions and changes. There will be opportunities in the coming year for parents to provide feedback to assess our improvement efforts underway and keep us responsive to your needs and interests. The Board of Education and I have also established an Ombuds Office to assist families in quickly navigating district services and finding timely resolutions to important concerns. More information on our Ombuds Office can be found in the Parent/Student Handbook and on this website.

I encourage you to explore the array of opportunities and services available to support your child’s learning. Many are listed in the Parent/Student Handbook, which was redesigned to keep you engaged all year long.

I also invite you to attend one of our many district events, such as the annual State of the Schools, the College and Career Fair September 7, and First Choice Festival.

I look forward to a successful year of learning and growth. To stay connected with PUSD, please sign up for PUSD Today, our official newsletter.
Sincerely,

Brian McDonald, Ed.D.
Superintendent