Superintendent's Update - April 4, 2025
Superintendent's Update - April 4, 2025
From the Office of the Superintendent
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Superintendent Austin’s Message . . .
I wasn’t going to write an update today until I started my morning at Hoover Elementary. I wanted to see a few things, including our traffic flow and bicycle arrivals. It didn’t take long to figure out there was something else I was meant to see today.
After standing on the sidewalk for a little bit, I saw our custodian come out to the flag pole with flags in hand. He had a big smile as he unclipped the rope to prepare to raise the flags. At that time, I saw a small group of kids go over to greet him. He asked one if they wanted to help and I saw her face light up. Together, they unfolded the flag, clipped it to the rope, and raised it. She had the look of accomplishment on her face that is tough to describe. It was magic.
From my same spot, I was able to watch our staff members in yellow vests do two things at the same time. First, they directed traffic with confidence and an obvious plan. They worked as a team making sure everyone was safe. Just as importantly, I watched them greet and interact with our students. Hoover is currently located at Cubberley and the traffic pattern is not easy to navigate. I could understand if our staff was tense doing this work. Instead, they were model ambassadors. Since the kids greeted them back by their names, I could see today was not an anomaly.
A little after 8:00, I jumped back in my car and headed down Charleston. That meant crossing Middlefield, Alma, and entering El Camino. Along the way, I saw several crossing guards fully engaged in their work. We are thankful for our partnership with the City who provides crossing guards for our community. Those are jobs that are vital to the safety of our students. It doesn’t matter if it’s cold, rainy, windy, or hot. They show up every day to protect our kids.
We talk about College and Career readiness here. I hope we look to some of the role models I described when we talk about career readiness. Showing up is half the battle. Next, maintaining a smile when you don’t always feel like smiling is important. Taking pride in your work matters. You don’t have to look beyond our custodians, traffic staff, and crossing guards to see what excellence looks like. Enjoy your Spring Break!
Student Wellness Board Policy
The School Wellness Committee met throughout the school year to review and update the current Student Wellness Board Policy, BP 530. This committee, consisting of students, staff, and parents/guardians, reviewed the recommended California School Board Association (CSBA) language and best practices to ensure federal compliance with nutrition, physical education, and wellness guidelines. As a result of the committee’s work, a draft Student Wellness Board Policy (BP) and Administrative Regulation (AR) were developed.
As part of this process, stakeholder groups are invited to provide feedback. Please feel free to share any input through Let’s Talk using the Health Services link by Friday, April 18th.
Mental Health and Wellness Resources
For the upcoming spring break, we want to remind you of the mental health and wellness resources available for students, families, and staff while schools are closed next week. You can find a list of our resources on our website: Mental & Physical Health Resources.
Additionally, students ages 13+ can access TBH, a free virtual counseling option offered through PAUSD. TBH services are available on weekends, evenings, and during school breaks. It provides a platform of mental health resources and 1:1 virtual coaching. Students can access through their PAUSD Classlink account.
allcove is a great community resource in Palo Alto for students and families. Please visit their website for more information.
If you are in need of immediate support:
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Call 911 or 988 Lifeline
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Crisis Text Line: text "home" to 741-741
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National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
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Bill Wilson Youth Hotline (24-hour Suicide & Crisis Line): 408-850-6125
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Trevor Lifeline LGBTQQ+ Crisis Support: 1-866-488-7386
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