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Pasadena Unified Begins 2023-2024 School Year

14,000 students return to PUSD campuses amidst new programs and District leadership

By EDDIE RIVERA
Published on Tuesday, August 15, 2023 | 5:39 am
 

Sporting new back-to-school clothes, spotless sneakers and lots of fresh haircuts, nearly 14,000 TK-12th grade students returned to Pasadena Unified School District campuses Monday morning for the 2023-2024 school year.

“As a former classroom teacher and career educator, I am always energized by the first day back to school,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Blanco as she stood outside Madison Elementary School along with Principal Dr. Elisa Pérez, greeting parents and teachers. 

PUSD Board president Michelle Richardson Bailey was equally ebullient, saying, “I’m just excited. This is a new year, a new beginning, and new adventures for the kids. We have new programs in the school, new leadership at the district, so I’m looking forward to this being a stellar year.”

Inside teacher Flor Monzano’s kindergarten class, students began their first school day morning with Monzano reading “Pete The Cat,” as the storybook feline began his own first day of higher learning, with a red electric guitar and red sneakers. 

At Muir High School, where classes begin later in the morning, Councilmember Tyron Hampton led his tenth back-to-school “Clap-in,” with local leaders, alums, business and business leaders, along with members of the Pasadena Fire Department, and Pasadena Police Chief Eugene Harris, welcoming students with applause and high-fives.

“The first day of school is always amazing,” said Hampton, “just to have the community members out here. There are so many people out here just wrapping their arms around our young people to let them  know that even outside of the school there is love and support for them.”

Hampton also distributed specially-designed Muir backpacks and Nike gift cards provided by local businesses to the arriving students.

At Blair High School, students in the International Academy nervously introduced themselves to each other in halting English, as Spanish teacher Elizabeth Najera-Bustillos encouraged them.

Armenian Academy Directory Norayr Daduryan proudly welcomed visitors to his classroom on the Blair campus, explaining that the program is now in its fourth year teaching Armenian language and culture for middle and high school students, at beginner and advanced levels. 

The college credit level courses include Armenian literature and poetry, and the Academy also has its own library. Students will also produce short stories as well, said Bauaryan, as well as an end-of-the-year “Last Bell” performance series.

This year, PUSD will implement a new five-year strategic plan that intentionally elevates the voices of students, teachers and other employees leaders and labor and community partners. The most immediate work ahead is laid out in Dr. Blanco‘s 100 day plan to “learn, listen, communicate and lead” the transformation of PUSD.

PUSD serves TK -12 students at 24 schools, in addition to preschool programs by children centers and an adult education program.

PUSD will launch three new programs at three schools this coming school year — environmental science, and Spanish world language programs at Washington Elementary, a STEM magnet; a new cross-cultural learning magnet program at Longfellow Elementary, and an Art Conservatory magnet for visual performing arts and French programs at Eliot arts magnet academy. 

PUSD now has a total of seven magnet schools for students in elementary, middle, and high school. 

In addition, PUSD has partnered with the Western Justice Centers to train students and employees on “restorative practices that build trust among and between educators and students to reduce conflict in the classroom, expand learning time, increase attendance, and improve student academic performance and teacher retention,” according to a PUSD announcement.

Nine PUSD community school programs also support and connect students and their families to local, free/low-cost community resources and services District-wide.

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