The Pasadena Unified Weekly News Roundup

• Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) students celebrated the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday with service activities and art and essay contests. Students and families joined community leaders and district officials at a day of service at Madison Elementary in honor of the civil rights leader.

• At its regular meeting on January 17, the PUSD Board of Education approved 15 summer courses offered by the Pasadena Educational Foundation as part of its 2012 high school summer program at Marshall Fundamental School, discussed the Superintendent’s goals, and approved the district’s Local Educational Agency (LEA) Plan Addendum for Program Improvement Year I.

• Jackson Elementary has won a $5,000 Toolbox for Education grant from Lowe’s that will be used to combine science with outdoor exploration. Jackson was selected from among 1,500 applicants nationwide for an outdoor classroom. With help from Lowe’s employees and community volunteers, Jackson Elementary will transform a classroom patio into a world of discovery for students, and complement the school’s science lab. Visit www.jackson.pasadenausd.org for more information.

• PUSD’s Annual Open Enrollment “school of choice” application period continues. Applications are accepted online through February 1. Visit www.openenrollment.info for more information. Computers are available at the following dates and locations:

Date/Time/Location

Through February 1 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Welcome Center, Rm. 121, PUSD, 351 S. Hudson Ave., Pasadena

January 25 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.  PUSD Computer Lab, Ed Center

January 27  During school hours Schools

January 28 8:00 – 11:00 a.m.   PUSD Computer Lab
The Weeks Ahead

Friday, January 20

1:45 p.m. Longfellow Elementary School’s PTA hosts a celebration of the school’s 100th Anniversary with a special birthday cake. PUSD Superintendent and community leaders are scheduled to attend. Longfellow Elementary, 1065 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena

Saturday, January 21

8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. High school seniors are invited to attend “Cash for College” workshops where they and their families can get help filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and other forms required to receive college scholarships and grants. Pasadena High School, 2925 E. Sierra Madre Blvd., Pasadena Visit www.calgrants.org for more information. Cash for College workshops are offered at John Muir High School on Saturday, January 28, from 9 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., and Friday, February 24 from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. John Muir High School, College & Career Center Lab E-524, 1905 Lincoln Ave., Pasadena

2:00 p.m. One hundred Pasadena High School dance students will perform Gravity, the school’s winter dance concert. They’ll perform jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, traditional Latin and African with live drumming. Don’t miss this high energy free event! Memorial Park, 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre

Monday, January 23

6:15 – 8:30 p.m. The Special Education Community Advisory Committee will hold its monthly meeting, an open forum on the search for the next Executive Director of Special Education. Questions can be sent in advance to joycac1@gmail.com. Edison Professional Development Complex, 119 W. Palm Avenue, Altadena. Childcare and translation provided. For more information, visit http://cac.pasadenausd.org .

Tuesday, January 24

6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Spanish and Chinese language classes for Kindergarteners! Learn about PUSD dual language immersion programs in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese and meet parents, teachers and school principals. The event includes a screening of “Speaking in Tongues,” a documentary about four children and their journey in language immersion programs. Pasadena Central Library, Donald Wright Auditorium, 285 E. Walnut, Pasadena. RSVP to mdlippasadena@gmail.com.

Tuesday, January 31

4:30 p.m. The Board of Education will hold a special meeting. Note that the start time is subject to change. PUSD Board Room, 351 S. Hudson Ave., Pasadena. Agendas are posted Fridays before the Board meetings at www.pusd.us.

Wednesday, January 25 – Friday, January 27

Times vary PUSD high school students take semester final exams.

Friday, January 27      PUSD’s first semester ends

Saturday, January 28

1:00 p.m. The PUSD Districting Taskforce will hold a public meeting to get input on proposed mapsfor the development of new sub-regional districts to elect School Board Members. The taskforce and technical team will present information about the districting process, mapping methods, and how you can participate to complete this process.Visit www.districting-task-force.pasadenausd.org. Altadena Public Library, 600 E. Mariposa St., Altadena.

Monday, February 2

8:00 a.m. PUSD’s second semester begins
Time TBA: PUSD District Spelling Bee, Sierra Madre School Auditorium, 141 W. Highland, Sierra Madre