Superintendent's Update - April 28, 2023
Superintendent's Update - April 28, 2023
From the Office of the Superintendent:
BOARD AGENDA CALENDAR
The Board agenda calendar can be found HERE.
Teacher Appreciation Week is celebrated May 8 – May 12.
Classified Employee Week is celebrated May 21 – May 27.
General Observation Around the District
As we approach the final stretch of the school year, I want to take a moment to reflect on the patterns and cycles that we experience. Throughout the year, we all have highs and lows, and as we reach April and May, we often see a dip in morale and behavior. This dip can be tough for everyone, but it is important to recognize that this cycle is predictable and normal.
We all get tired, and our past experiences condition us to expect certain patterns. May is usually the toughest month in a school year, with final exams, college decisions, and a lot of other stressors. But May is also a time for celebrations like prom and banquets, and it is a time when we can see how much our students have grown and matured throughout the year.
As the Superintendent of Schools, I understand that this time can be challenging, and I want to remind everyone that perfection is not obtainable. We all make mistakes, and conflicts are to be expected. But it is important to remember that the adults charged with supporting our students are doing their best each day, and that our staff understands that kids make mistakes and mature at different rates.
So, as we approach the end of another great year together, I encourage everyone to find joy in the last few weeks of school. There will be a day when everyone wishes it never ended! I hope you all have a wonderful end to the school year, and I thank you for all that you do to support our students.
Special Olympics
The district’s Special Olympics event is May 19 at Gunn High School. At least 400 students and staff from different schools within the district as well as neighboring schools in Mountain View and Menlo Park will be present for this track and field event. The student line-up begins at 9:45 a.m. The opening 10 a.m. ceremony follows the parade of students. Running events include: a mile run, a 100-meter run, a 50-meter run, and a 25-meter wheelchair or walker assisted portion. Field events include: standing long jump, softball throw, and turbo jav throw. The events are scheduled to conclude at noon.
A Centennial Celebration
Walter Hays Elementary celebrates its 100th anniversary! The enjoyment begins on May 6 as past and present students and community members walk alongside the centennial float in the May Fete Parade. All are invited to reunite on campus following the parade, 2 to 4 p.m., 1525 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.
Youth and Community Service Art Expo and Service Celebration
Friday, May 5, 5 - 9 p.m.
EPA Center, 1950 Bayshore Road, East Palo Alto
Youth and Community Service (YCS) youth leaders are hosting an Art Show celebrating positive cultural identities. All are welcomed to see live performances and other visual arts created by local youth. The event will also celebrate the accomplishments of YCS youth this school year.
Council of PTAs / Youth and Community Service “Pause and Connect”
Saturday, May 6, 2 - 4 p.m.
Palo Alto High School, Haymarket Theater, 50 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto.
Enjoy a film screening of Try Harder, a documentary focused on the college application process at Lowell High School in San Francisco. Hear about ways to support students with evidence-based strategies designed to help with academics and to propel them in life. This event is co-sponsored by Youth Community Services (YCS), Palo Alto Council of PTAs (PTAC), allcove, and the City of Palo Alto. RSVP Try Harder Film. Contact: ycs@youthcommunityservice.org for more information.
This Weekend: Annual K-12 Youth Art Show at the Palo Alto Art Center
The show will be on display beginning April 29 and ending May 20 at the Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Road in Palo Alto. The Art Center is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
All are invited to the opening night: Wednesday, May 3, 4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
The event will include the talents of more than 500 PAUSD artists with artwork on display this year. Gunn High School Jazz and Palo Alto High Choirs will perform during the May 3 opening.
