Superintendent's Update - March 3, 2023

From the Office of the Superintendent:

BOARD AGENDA CALENDAR

The Board agenda calendar can be found HERE.

PARENT EDUCATION FOR PAUSD FAMILIES

In partnership with Children's Health Council (CHC), we are excited to offer two parent education nights for families. For families with students in PK-8th Grade, the topic is on setting and sustaining healthy habits and routines for children at home. At the high school level, parent education is on supporting teen mental health amid the pressures of high school. This free parent webinar is for families with children who attend school in PAUSD. Please register for the event using the Eventbrite links below.

Setting & Sustaining Healthy Habits for the PK-8th Grade Students

Over the past 3 years we have seen how much impact the pandemic has had on the habits, routines, and expectations of our children. Now that we have returned to a "new normal," we need to reestablish or introduce new routines, limits and boundaries that may have been upended by the pandemic. In this PAUSD Parent Ed session, we will hear from CHC's Catherine T. Harvey Center for Clinical Services experts Dr. Natalie Pon , MD, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Dr. Cassandra Sanchez, PsyD, Licensed Psychologist about how as a parent you can support your child in evaluating, reestablishing and encouraging healthy habits and routines in the home and school.

Date and Time: Monday, March 20th, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Location: Zoom (provided through CHC Eventbrite registration)

​The Pressures of High School: Supporting our Students' Mental Health

High School can be a difficult time for students. As they continue to develop their identity, they can be confronted with various pressures. The pressures range from grades to testing to the transition from high school. They do all of this as their peers become more and more prominent in their lives. All of this impacts their mental health. So, how can you best support your high school student during these years?

Join us for a PAUSD Parent Ed session where we will hear from CHC's Catherine T. Harvey Center for Clinical Services expert Dr. Melina Foden, PsyD, Clinical Psychologist, about how as a parent you can support your high school students as they navigate these challenging times.

Date and Time:Monday, March 27th, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Location: Zoom (provided through CHC Eventbrite registration)

PAUSD SCHOOLS TO PARTICIPATE IN NALOXONE PROGRAM

Student well-being is at the heart of what we do in PAUSD. The District has partnered with the Santa Clara County Office of Education to secure Naloxone (Narcan) kits for each of our school sites. Narcan is a lifesaving, emergency medication used to reverse an opioid overdose. Beginning in mid-March, Narcan emergency kits will be stored in all school health offices, automated external defibrillator (AED) storage boxes, and high school athletics offices. Narcan will be administered by trained staff members during a suspected opioid overdose.

PAUSD encourages parents and guardians to have open conversations with their high school students about the dangers of Fentanyl and other opioids. For more information on the Fentanyl Awareness and PAUSD's Naloxone program, please visit our website (Fentanyl Awareness).

WORK EXPERIENCE PARTNERING WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION TRANSITION TEAM

Students with an Individual Educational Plan (IEP) can earn career and technical education (CTE) credit this summer through a partnership between work experience and workability program. This opportunity is organized by our work experience teacher and transition teams. Students are placed at job sites including VA Hospital, CVS, Gamelandia, Izzy's Brooklyn Bagels, Walgreens, etc. developing 21st century job skills supporting career pathways. The District is very excited that multiple teams, including our community partners, are working together to share resources and provide real-world experiences for our students.

AD HOC COMMITTEE UPDATE

Three of the four new committees had their first meeting this week. Meeting notes are posted on each committee's webpage. We appreciate staff and the community committee members for their enthusiastic participation to bring diverse perspectives on the topics of Elementary Behavior Supports, Dual Enrollment, and English Learner Programming and Outcomes.

PALY THEATRE: MAMMA MIA

Former singer Donna Sheridan is no stranger to the stage. Now she is preparing for the biggest event of her career: planning a wedding for her daughter, Sophie. She is sprucing up the Greek island Taverna that they call home, and her best friends/former back-up-singers have even come to pitch in! The problem? Sophie has secretly invited three of Donna's ex-boyfriends to the big day. She hopes to learn which of the three men in question is her father. Come enjoy this mega-hit, high-energy musical based on the songs of Swedish band ABBA. It features 100 Paly students in the cast, crew, and band! Opening night is March 3. For more dates, information, and tickets, go to https://www.palytheatre.com/tickets.

GUNN THEATRE: HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL

Come join Gunn Performing Arts for the production of Disney's High School Musical! When the new girl at East High School, Gabriella, accidentally auditions for the Winter Musical and makes enemies with the Drama Club diva, Sharpay, the whole student body starts to examine the cliques to which they belong. Throw in a love story, a historic basketball game, and an academic decathlon, and you have a compelling and heartwarming story appropriate for all ages! Opening night is March 17 at 7 pm followed by a gala. For more dates, information, and tickets, go to https://www.gunntheatre.org/tickets-hsm.

12^th ANNUAL GUNN HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC BOOSTERS SWING DANCE

March 4 is the 12 Annual Gunn High School Music Boosters Swing Dance! This event will feature live music from Gunn jazz bands and choir. Come on out to the Bow Gym at Gunn High School from 6:30 to 9:30 pm! Swing dance lessons provided - no experience necessary! Semi-formal attire is appreciated.

PALO ALTO HIGH SCHOOL PALY CHOIRS MASTER CLASS WITH CHANTICLEER

Grammy Award Winning Vocal Ensemble Chanticleer will be visiting Palo Alto High School Choirs. Chanticleer has been hailed as "the world's reigning male chorus" by The New Yorker and is known around the world as "an orchestra of voices" for its wide-ranging repertoire and dazzling virtuosity. On Wednesday March 29, San Francisco-based Chanticleer will be in the peninsula and providing a two-hour masterclass to the students of Palo Alto High School Choral Program.

PAUSD CAREER FAIR - MARCH 15

Palo Alto Unified School District Virtual Career Fair 2023 A virtual career fair with Palo Alto Unified School District. www.pausd.org