Superintendent's Update - March 17, 2023

From the Office of the Superintendent:

BOARD AGENDA CALENDAR

The Board agenda calendar can be found HERE.

THE PROMISE ANNUAL REPORT

The PAUSD Promise represents strategic plans to balance organizational goals, student outcomes, and innovative practices. An essential aspect of The PAUSD Promise is the prioritization of goals to maximize impacts. The Promise Annual Report is a comprehensive summary of staff’s dedicated work striving to be Champions of Excellence.

This academic year, the district is focusing on five priority goal areas: 

• Serve and Celebrate Others
• Mental Health and Wellness
• Equity and Excellence
• Early Literacy
• Healthy Attendance

These goals show a desire to identify and influence topics that are important and within our control. PAUSD made progress in many areas beyond the focus in these five priorities. Please find the PAUSD Promise Report on the home page of the district website.

INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS AVAILABLE THROUGH CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE)

PAUSD high school students may explore career-themed pathways (K-12). The CTE curriculum, which has been designated as trade or vocational in the past, shifted to programs-of-study that involve multi-year sequences of courses. These courses provide students with a pathway to post-secondary education and careers. The district offers more than 100 CTE courses across ten industry sectors aligned with CTE Model Curriculum Standards.

PAUSD has been working to increase student future employability by offering industry certification opportunities. To highlight a few, we currently offer certifications in NAFTrack-Engineering, Education, and Business, as well as 21st Century Skills certifications. This year, nearly 100 students earned certifications across six industry sectors. For more details, please visit the district website. 

AD HOC COMMITTEE UPDATE

The Mental Health, Elementary Behavior Supports, and Dual Enrollment Ad Hoc Committees met this week. To access minutes from each committee, please visit the district website. Continuous thanks to all committee members who contribute diverse viewpoints and tackle complex charges through this calibrated process. 

FIFTH GRADE CHOIR WORKSHOPS

This week, our three middle school choir directors - Ms. Fitzhugh, Ms. Denny, and Ms. Martone - visited the twelve elementary schools and led a choir workshop with all PAUSD fifth grade students. The teachers introduced students to choral techniques and activities although choral music is initially offered at the sixth-grade level as one of the three music elective choices. The students sang a variety of choral warm-ups, rounds, and partner songs in two to three-part harmony.

PAUSD CAREER FAIR

PAUSD had its third annual Virtual Career Fair on March 15. More than 175 prospective applicants registered for the online event for certificated and classified positions. The district is entering the busy hiring season and preparing for the 2023 - 2024 school year. Anyone interested in employment opportunities should view job postings at www.pausd.org/apply. Applicants may also reach the Human Resources division by email: hr@pausd.org.

WALTER HAYS 100-YEAR CELEBRATION

Walter Hays Elementary School announces the celebration of its centennial year. Established in 1923, the district’s oldest, continuous elementary school is a vibrant center and fixture in the community at Rinconada Park on Middlefield and Embarcadero Roads.

The celebration is centered around this year’s Palo Alto May Fete Parade on May 6. The community is invited to walk alongside the centennial parade float. Following the parade, a celebration event on the Walter Hays campus, from 2 to 4 p.m., will allow attendees to reacquaint with old friends and colleagues. Visit walterhaysschool100.org for more information.