Pasadena Unified Students Return to School: A Day of Hope and Resilience

Under a bright August sun beaming 90-degree temperatures, about 13,000 students streamed back onto nearly two dozen Pasadena Unified School District campuses Monday morning, their return marked by joy, resilience, and the comforting rhythms of a first day of school.

At John Muir High School, a DJ spun the tunes, as Lawton Gray stood near the entrance as a long line of staff and community members cheered students walking in.

“The mood is, we’re ready for the new year and we’re ready for our students,” he said. “We know there’s a lot of things going on, but this is a safe haven for our kids and our community. So we’re excited about being open and providing this place for our families and community and this special welcome.”

Gray noted that the tradition of turning the first day into a kind of community festival has roots in the work of alumni and district supporters.

“It just keeps growing and growing and our district supports it really well and the community comes out,” he said. “We just want to give our students a great welcome to the beginning of the school year.”

That spirit of optimism echoed across the district.

Pasadena Unified Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Blanco described the morning as one of “joyful and happy” reunions.

“Students are always happy to be back at school, seeing their friends, their teachers, getting together for the first time,” she said. “Our children are very resilient and they have gone through a lot — COVID, the fire, immigration — and they always come through, and amazingly so.”

Her message to families was simple: “I hope you have a great year this year. Our theme is rising together, and you can see here we’re rising together.”

At Don Benito Elementary, where families are still recovering from the Eaton Fire, John Maynard said the opening carried particular weight.

“The first day of school at Don Benito Elementary is particularly important this year,” he said. “The opening of this school year, with students and staff returning after the fire, shows the strength and resilience of Pasadena. It brings hope and a sense of stability to be able to move forward together as a school.”

For Pasadena Unified School District Board President Jennifer Hall Lee, the morning carried a sense of resolve.

“My mood is hopeful, strong, persistent, and ready to see all of these students excel, be happy, and move towards graduation,” she said.

Inside classrooms, teachers felt the same surge of energy. Pam Tucker, who teaches AP English and journalism at Muir, said she relished the excitement.

“It’s always fun on the first day,” she said. “All the energy and all of the enthusiasm. Last year was a rough year, but we got through it, so this one’s going to be a breeze compared to all the stuff that we’ve gone through.”

As the district’s 64th school year began, the mix of heat, hope, and community underscored that Pasadena schools remain a gathering place where resilience becomes the tradition.