PAUSD Weekly Update - February 27, 2026
PAUSD Weekly Update - February 27, 2026
PAUSD Weekly Update . . .
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We want to keep our community informed every step of the way. Find the latest updates, timelines, and opportunities to get involved, all in one place: www.pausd.org/search
Register Today: Community Suicide Prevention Workshop on Saturday, February 28
PAUSD families are invited to attend a FREE educational forum focused on suicide prevention for parents of children and adolescents. This workshop is hosted by a coalition of community partners, including the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the Alan Hu Foundation.
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Date: Saturday, February 28, 2026
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Time: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
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Format: Available both on Zoom and in-person (registration is required for both).
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Topics Covered: Participants will learn about risk factors, technology impacts, cultural aspects, and self-care.
Registration: Please visit the NAMI Tri-Valley website to secure your spot. Space is limited for in-person attendance.
Flyer - Suicide Prevention Workshop for Parents of Adolescents & Children
Innovation Design Labs Launch at Duveneck and Hoover
Innovation Design Lab lessons are officially underway at Duveneck and Hoover Elementary Schools, highlighting hands-on career exploration. These lessons are supported by the CTE Incentive and Prop 28 State Grants.
Fourth-grade students are diving into computer science concepts, exploring truth tables, and examining what makes a computer. Fifth-grade students are stepping into the role of medical assistants, learning about different vital signs. One fourth-grade student shared after the lesson, “I think this has to be a real class because it’s really fun and I learned new stuff.”
These lessons provide students the opportunity to explore and learn about different career pathways while building up to a culminating design challenge related to each pathway.
Supporting LGBTQ+ Students Through Staff Learning and Growth
Every student deserves to feel safe, valued, and a strong sense of belonging at school. For students who identify as LGBTQ+, that sense of safety and affirmation begins with knowledgeable, caring adults. This week, members of our team participated in a PRISM facilitator training in preparation for districtwide professional learning on the March Professional Development Day.
PRISM, Providing Relevant, Inclusive Support that Matters for LGBTQ+ Students, is designed specifically for educators. It focuses on strengthening adult competency by building understanding, confidence, and practical skills so that staff can create affirming learning environments and thoughtfully respond to the needs of LGBTQ+ students.
The training was led by Tonya Moore, Director of Wellbeing and Belonging at the Los Angeles County Office of Education and a statewide leader in LGBTQIA+ inclusive education. Her work centers on translating inclusive practices into clear, actionable strategies that promote student well-being, belonging, and safety.
While this professional learning fulfills requirements under Assembly Bill 5, the Safe and Supportive Schools Act, our commitment goes beyond compliance. This California law requires certificated educators in grades 7–12 to receive training on creating safe, supportive, and inclusive school environments for LGBTQ+ students. This training is designed for adults and focuses on building staff capacity. It helps educators support all students with professionalism and care. It does not change the curriculum or instructional content for students. Instead, it strengthens adults' ability to respond thoughtfully, appropriately, and compassionately when students need support.
This work reflects our broader commitment to creating school communities where every student experiences safety, belonging, and the opportunity to thrive.
Gunn and Paly Softball Fields Get a Major Upgrade
Both Gunn High School and Palo Alto High School have received significant improvements to their softball facilities, and we can't wait to see our student-athletes competing on these state-of-the-art fields!
The project brought a fresh transformation to both campuses, replacing existing natural turf and infields with modern synthetic turf. Both sites also received new foul poles, refreshed dugouts, subsurface drainage improvements, and underground stormwater chambers to ensure long-lasting, high-quality playing conditions.
At Paly, enhancements went even further with the addition of an adjacent practice field and an enhanced foul ball net designed to protect the neighboring parking area. Gunn's upgrades extended beyond the field itself, incorporating restroom improvements to meet current codes, updated perimeter fencing, and repaved bike paths throughout the campus.
These investments reflect our ongoing commitment to providing students with safe, modern, and inspiring spaces to learn, grow, and compete. We are so excited to see our student-athletes take the field and play ball!
PAUSD Promise: Mental Health and Wellness - Building Cultures of Care: Supporting Youth Mental Health
Last week, PAUSD hosted a family support session in collaboration with The JED Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting emotional health and preventing suicide for teens and young adults. Dawn Yoshinaga, PAUSD Director of Mental Health and Wellness, welcomed Dr. Kurt Michael, JED Vice President of Prevention & Crisis Response Consulting, and Dr. Katie Hurley, LCSW, JED Senior Director of Clinical Advising and Community Programs.
The session was designed to provide practical support for families by sharing information on suicide loss and prevention strategies. During the session, evidence-based strategies were shared to help build a “culture of care” across home, school, and community settings, highlighting that young people are more likely to seek help when they are surrounded by a consistent, supportive environment. The evening concluded with a Q&A period to address specific community questions and challenges.
Key Insights:
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Normalizing Help-Seeking: Practical ways to model vulnerability, reinforcing for students that asking for support is an act of courage and strength.
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Supportive Communication: Prioritizing empathy and sincere listening to ensure young people feel heard without fear of blame or judgment.
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Building Environmental Stability: Leveraging education and grief support to provide a protective buffer for students during periods of high stress.
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Prioritizing Safety & Wellness: Understanding the critical role of limiting access to lethal means and the impact of physical health, such as sleep hygiene, on mental well-being.
Resources for Families
To support your family in continuing these conversations, we invite you to review the materials from this session.
We are committed to supporting and working alongside our families to ensure that every student feels seen, heard, and valued in our PAUSD community.
Innovative Teaching and Learning Made Possible with Golden State Pathways Implementation Grant
PAUSD’s Innovation Office is leveraging on-going funds from the Golden State Pathways Implementation Grant from the California Department of Education, awarded in the amount of $499,510. This funding provides a five-year window to support and expand our career-themed initiatives specifically focused on Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence. We are incredibly grateful for these funds, as they allow us to provide our students with the high-caliber resources necessary for success in the modern workforce. Specifically, this grant makes it possible to:
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Purchase essential equipment, including laptops, specialized curriculum, and software for our Computer Science Pathway courses.
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Support student professional growth by covering industry-recognized certifications such as NAFTrack and YouScience, which build career readiness and industry connections.
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Empower educator leadership by funding stipends and expenditures for our AI Teacher Leads at both comprehensive high schools.
These investments ensure that our equipment and instruction remain closely aligned with evolving industry standards. By bridging the gap between the classroom and the professional world, we continue to provide our students with real-world learning and experiences that prepare them to lead and thrive in the future.
JLS Middle School 8th Grade Orchestra Performs at American String Teachers Association Conference in San Francisco!
Congratulations to the Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School (JLS) 8th Grade Orchestra, selected to perform at the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) conference on February 26, 2026, in San Francisco. This distinction places these students among the most accomplished young string musicians in the nation and represents a significant milestone in their musical journeys. It reflects not only their exceptional musicianship but also their discipline, dedication, and collaborative commitment throughout a highly competitive audition process. This accomplishment is, above all, a celebration of our students—their growth, perseverance, and shared pursuit of excellence and a powerful reflection of PAUSD’s commitment to high-quality Visual and Performing Arts education. It highlights the PAUSD Promise through rigorous teaching and learning, equity and inclusion, where every student’s voice contributes to a unified ensemble, and a focus on wellness through confidence, connection, and meaningful artistic expression. This program also reflects our community’s deep commitment to inclusion, diversity, and cultural responsiveness. Students from varied backgrounds come together to listen, collaborate, and engage with repertoire that honors diverse perspectives and identities, fostering empathy, respect, and cultural awareness.
We are especially grateful for the exceptional leadership of JLS Orchestra teachers Valerie Lee-Wang and Marissa Staffero, whose vision, expertise, and unwavering dedication have guided these students to this moment. Please join us in celebrating this remarkable accomplishment and congratulating our students and their outstanding educators on this well-earned recognition.
City of Palo Alto - The San Antonio Road Area Community Survey #2 is now live!
Community input is critical to shaping outcomes for the project—we want to hear from you! Share your feedback on preliminary design concepts and strategies for the Plan area, including key land use and mobility concepts. Your feedback will help create options and alternatives for City Council consideration. The survey available here is open through March 29, 2026.
Community Workshop
A community workshop will be held on March 5 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The event will be held in the 1st Pavilion of the Oshman Family JCC Palo Alto, at the Taube Koret Campus for Jewish Life at 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto, CA, 94303. The workshop will focus on different options related to housing, outdoor space, bicycle and pedestrian improvements, roadway improvements, transit, and commercial development for the San Antonio Road area. Please join us and provide your feedback! More information can be found here:
For more workshop information, click here
New Dual Enrollment Course Offerings for 2026-27 School Year
Under the Innovation Office, Dual Enrollment is expanding its opportunities in Computer Science Capstone at Paly, as well as, Photography and Advanced Photography at Gunn, broadening access to college-level coursework in high-interest CTE areas.
Palo Alto Middle College: The Best of Both Worlds
Palo Alto Middle College (PAMC) continues to foster a positive and vibrant educational environment where students thrive in two worlds simultaneously: High school and college. While our students are currently deep into their high school semester, tackling core coursework in English, History, Math, and various electives, they are also making history as we prepare for our very first graduating class.
The future looks incredibly bright for our inaugural class of seniors. While many are planning on continuing at Foothill College, others have already received acceptance letters from prestigious institutions across the country. We are proud to announce that PAMC seniors have been accepted into: UC Merced, San Francisco State, San Jose State, Stanford University, Vanderbilt University, Chapman University, Pitzer College, Loyola Marymount, Purdue, Penn State, Rutgers, University of Michigan, Drexel, Temple, and many more.
While PAMC students are thinking about the future, they also remain grounded in their current college coursework. As students wrap up midterms, the sheer variety of their Foothill College coursework is a testament to the diverse interests of PAMC students. Current enrollments include: Cultural Psychology, Marketing, Statistics, International Relations, Watercolor Painting, Linear Algebra, Theatrical Makeup, and Tai Chi. Regardless of which courses PAMC students take, all college coursework is completely free for PAMC students. This provides Palo Alto families with high-quality, early access to higher education while still in high school.
As Foothill College students, PAMC students also have the opportunity to participate in unique collegiate opportunities. During February, students could attend Foothill College Black History Month celebrations featuring guest artists, speakers, and a distinguished visit from the Honorable Associate Judge Robert R. Rigsby of the District of Columbia Superior Court.
Another amazing opportunity for PAMC students will be on Tuesday, March 10th, when Foothill College will host a massive College Fair featuring over 100 institutions from around the country and the world. The entire PAUSD community is invited to attend this event. Please visit the College Fair event webpage for registration details. All PAUSD families are also invited to attend Foothill College’s open house, known as Day on the Hill, from 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, 2026, to learn more about Foothill College and visit the beautiful campus.
Palo Alto Middle College is still accepting applications for the 2026-2027 school year! While space is limited, opportunities remain for students across all high school grade levels (9-12). Please find details on the PAMC website, mc.pausd.org, or by calling the PAMC office phone at (650) 949-7771. Join Palo Alto Middle College today, where students… Enjoy the Journey of Learning!
PAUSD Food Services' New Instagram Account and Pizza is BACK!
Stay in the loop on all things food! Follow us on Instagram at @paloaltoschoolsfood for updates, exclusive promotions, and fun activities from PAUSD Food Services.
We HEARD you !! Food Services is bringing back New York Pizza for Lunch service every week starting in March 2026. Check the menu: https://pausd.nutrislice.com/menu
City of Palo Alto Pathways Event
Explore potential career options at the Discover Your Path: A Career Exploration Event at the Mitchell Park Community Center on Feb 28 from 10 am-1 pm! This engaging and interactive event is designed for teens and young adults eager to explore diverse career opportunities, gain valuable skills, and connect with professionals from various industries.
