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First grade teacher Julie Silk of Jackson Elementary School, helps her students with their backpacks before entering her class room on the first day of school, at Jackson Magnet Dual Language Academy in Altadena, Thursday, August 12, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)
First grade students raise their hands in Julie Silk's first grade class during the first day of school at Jackson Magnet Dual Language Academy in Altadena, Thursday, August 12, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)
A student gets her temperature taken before entering class on the first day of school at Jackson Magnet Dual Language Academy in Altadena, Thursday, August 12, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)
Students hug their mothers before school on the first day of class at Jackson Magnet Dual Language Academy in Altadena, Thursday, August 12, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)
Students stand in line on the first day of school at Jackson Magnet Dual Language Academy in Altadena, Thursday, August 12, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)
Principal of Jackson Elementary school Rita Exposito welcomes her students on the first day of school at Jackson Magnet Dual Language Academy in Altadena, Thursday, August 12, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)
Brian McDonald Pasadena Unified School Superintendent and PUSD School Board Members welcome students on the first day of school at Jackson Magnet Dual Language Academy in Altadena, Thursday, August 12, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)
Students line up on the first day of school at Jackson Magnet Dual Language Academy in Altadena, Thursday, August 12, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)
Students gets their temperature taken before entering school, on the first day of school at Jackson Magnet Dual Language Academy in Altadena, Thursday, August 12, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)
Students walk to class on the first day of school at Jackson Magnet Dual Language Academy in Altadena, Thursday, August 12, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)
Julie Silk's first grade class are ready to learn during the first day of school at Jackson Magnet Dual Language Academy in Altadena, Thursday, August 12, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)
Julie Silk first grade teacher at Jackson Elementary School with her students on the first day of class, at Jackson Magnet Dual Language Academy in Altadena, Thursday, August 12, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)
With tearful hellos, goodbyes and hugs, Pasadena Unified School District welcomed an estimated 14, 645 students back to its 23 campuses Thursday morning.
At Jackson Magnet Elementary School, where just over 650 students are expected to return to the campus, the school was buzzing with photographers and media, as equally nervous and happy students and parents gathered on the steps outside the campus.
All told, PUSD is expected to welcome 6,683 K-5 students, 3,373 6-8th grade students, and 4,610 students in grades 9-12 for the new school year.
Owing to Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent mandate that school teachers and staff be vaccinated or face weekly testing, teachers, staff, students and parents were all masked on Thursday morning.
“Things are going great so far,” said PUSD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian McDonald. “It’s just so exciting to see the students coming for the first day of school, especially the kindergartners, who have never been in school before. This is certainly exciting.”
PUSD parent Adriana Molina, who has two children in Jackson, said all were nervous on the first day.
‘It was pretty tough for the kindergartner,” she said, “to just get dropped off outside of school. It’s heartbreaking a little bit,” she added, but said, “the school is doing a good job trying to organize all of this and prepare us. I got about five emails yesterday from them. It’s been tough.”
Exciting first day of the school year! It was great to see the enthusiasm of the students, teachers, and parents. Way to go @jacksonpusd family!
We are @PasadenaUnified proud! pic.twitter.com/liha1NDaxu— Brian McDonald (@bmcdonald6) August 12, 2021
In the first grade dual language class, of PUSD “Teacher of the Year” Julia Silk led her class through a brief counting exercise, a song, and a look through their school supply boxes.
Following the students’ entrance onto campus and their classrooms, Jackson Elementary Principal Rita Exposito said “things were difficult this morning for parents, especially first time ones, for them to say goodbye to their kids, and there were some tears.
“But I think the kids adapt so much better than the adults do,” she continued. “So, they are adapting beautifully right now to their classrooms, and it’s so nice and calm here now, that it’s really wonderful.”
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