Pasadena Unified Principals Teach Parents About Middle School

Angela Uriu was a bit anxious when she enrolled her children in kindergarten. Now that she has a child in fourth grade, she wanted to learn about Pasadena’s public middle schools so she could be prepared when her child leaves fifth grade.

“I want to keep the anxiety to a minimum,” Uriu said.

Uriu said she got much information from middle school principals Wednesday at a panel organized by the Pasadena Education Network or PEN. PEN is a non-profit group that supports the Pasadena Unified School District and informs parents about the schools.

The panel was aimed at parents of fifth graders or younger. School officials discussed with parents what to look for when choosing middle schools.

On the panel were: John Albert of McKinley School, Mark Anderson of Marshall Fundamental High School, Maricela Brambila of Blair High School, an International Baccalaureate School, Lorena Martinez of Eliot Middle School, Garrett Newsom of Sierra Madre School, Sarah Rudchenko of Wilson Middle School and Merian Stewart of Washington Middle STEAM Academy.

Some questions posed to school officials were based on a survey PEN conducted of 186 parents. Two main concerns parents brought up had to do with academic rigor and social environment.

Schools will follow new Common Core State Standards or the 4 Cs, which encourage students to collaborate, communicate, create and use critical thinking. Technology is a big component in the standards.

Students will have less academic standards to study but will study them more deeply, Newsom said.

Lessons will involve projects that students must use their analytical skills on. Teachers will give assignments such as gardening, art, technology and robotics. One project had students concoct their own trail mix complete with advertising campaign. The assignment called on students to use their math and English skills.

Math classes will change to meet the new standards. Parents and students can expect to tackle more complex word problems. Algebra 1 will no longer be taught in middle school but in ninth grade, Anderson said. Middle school students will have to pass Math 6, 7, and 8 to qualify for Algebra 1 in their first year of high school.

Middle school will be the time children can explore which elective classes they like or don’t like, Albert said. Electives may change year to year depending on student interest or if the school has the staff to teach the class. Some of the electives offered are art, dance, Spanish, music, and physical education. Remedial classes help students who are struggling academically.

School staff tries to enforce rules in positive ways, Martinez said.

“We have students learn limits in a positive way,” she said.

Teachers and parents can communicate through e-mail and classroom web sites link to the teacher’s e-mail. Parents can use the online parent portal to learn class demographics, their child’s grades and test scores. Students can anonymously report bullying online.

The principals encouraged parents to tour campuses to help them decide which school they want to enroll their children in.

“Trust me,” Rudchenko said. “Once you enter you will know, ‘I can picture my child here.’ Then at another time come with your child.”

Uriu said she is excited about touring middle schools.

“The principals gave me confidence that they are doing the right thing for all our kids,” Uriu said.

For more information on school tours log onto www.penfamilies.org or http://www.pusd.us.

The principals will continue their discussion with parents again at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23 at the Pasadena Central Library on 285 E. Walnut Street.