Superintendent's Update - March 7, 2025

Mar 7 2025

From the Office of the Superintendent

Board Agenda Calendar

View Calendar of Board Items 2024-25

Superintendent Austin’s Message . . .

Our staff is hard at work today as they are engaged in meaningful professional development. It is hard to find time to get everyone together during a school year, so we appreciate the flexibility of our families on these rare days.

I had the opportunity to get on more sites this week and continue to be optimistic about our direction and the experiences we provide for students. The next round of meetings with the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Group is coming up in a little over a week. We plan to tackle some big topics, including levels of courses offered, mental health, impacts of recent legislation on our local schools, and other topics.

Our school district will be looking closely at the budget as this year draws to a conclusion and plans take shape for next year. We will touch on the topic at our board meeting next week and will dedicate an entire special meeting in late April. We are blessed to have resources that are uncommon for our state, but still need to make decisions that prioritize and leverage our dollars for the most impact.

Since this is essentially a four-day weekend for our families, I am going to save some of the more serious and significant topics for next week. For today, I hope everyone can enjoy some time off doing something that makes you happy!

Artwork Drop off starts next week for 3rdThursday California Avenue!

The 3rdThursday California Avenue Music Festival proudly presents Youth Views , an art exhibit honoring the creative perspectives of student artists on the theme of Community . Students from elementary through high school are invited to submit two-dimensional artwork (8 ½” x 11” or 11” x 17”) to 3rd Thursday producers for display.

For any questions about dropping off your students' artwork or the 3rd Thursday event, contact 3rdThursday producer, Carol Garsten: carol@3rdThursday.fun

For more information on this event, please see Call for Artists linked here.

3rdThursday Artwork drop off Locations: California Avenue Farmers Market (March 9 & 16, 9 AM-1 PM) or Palo Alto Adult School Office (March 10-13, 8:30 AM-6:30 PM).

Family Education and Mental Health Support

PAUSD is grateful for the support of our community partnerships. Please feel free to join any of the upcoming family education webinars on grief and teen mental health provided through Children’s Health Council, Kara, TBH, and other agencies. Grief support groups are offered for students and families through allcove. We hope you find these sessions healing, informative, and supportive.

Upcoming Webinars for Parents/Guardians
Webinar Title	Date	Time	Registration Details	Agency
Healing Hearts: Supporting Teens Through Grief Speaker: Dr. Ramsey Khasho	Tuesday 3/11/2025	5:00-6:00 PM	Virtual Registration Interpretation in Spanish and Mandarin	Children’s Health Council
Webinario en Español: Apoyando a Niños y Adolescentes en Duelo	Wednesday 3/12/2025	6:00-7:00 PM	Virtual Registra Aquí	KARA
Supporting Children and Teens Training for Caregivers	Thursday 3/13/2025	12:00-1:00 PM	Virtual Registration Interpretation in Spanish and Mandarin	KARA
Caring for Our Community: Supporting Children Through Grief After Loss and Tragedy	Thursday 3/13/2025	5:00-6:00 PM	Virtual Registration Interpretation in Spanish and Mandarin	TBH
NACG National Conference & Webcast: Family Dynamics and Grief: Strategies for Supporting Young People Through Loss	Thursday 3/20/2025	10:00 AM-1:30 PM	In-Person Registration	National Alliance for Children’s Grief
Student Support Groups
In-person Grief Support Group Youth, Ages 12-25	Friday 3/7/2025	5:00-6:00 pm	allcove In-Person Registration encouraged	allcove 2741 Middlefield Rd, Suite 102
Comfort in Community: In-person Grief Support Group for Youth, Ages 12-25	Friday 3/11/2025	5:00-6:00 PM	allcove In-Person Registration encouraged	allcove 2741 Middlefield Rd, Suite 102
Comfort in Community: Virtual Grief Support Group for Youth, Ages 12-25	Tuesday 3/25/2025	5:00-6:00 PM	allcove Virtual Register for link	allcove

In addition to on-site therapists and wellness centers, we also have a free virtual counseling option through TBH for students ages 13+, available on weekends, evenings, and during school breaks. TBH offers a platform of mental health resources and 1:1 virtual coaching for students which can be accessed through your child’s PAUSD Classlink account. Please feel free to reach out to your child’s school if you need support. Below are a few mental health resources for you and your family.

PAUSD Mental Health Resources

If you are in need of immediate support: