by Timothy Rutt
The Pasadena Unified School District starts up again early, Aug. 14 this year, but the activities start earlier than that:
On Monday, Aug. 12, at 8:15 AM, there will be an "All Staff Welcome Back Breakfast" at Pasadena High School Auditorium, 2925 East Sierra Madre Blvd. The event includes special presentations honoring the principal, classified employee, and teacher of the year, and the presentation of a community service award. Superintendent Jon Gundry will also be addressing staff about his vision for the upcoming year. The event is opportunity for staff to reconnect with colleagues, learn about district priorities and energetically launch the new academic year.
On Tuesday, Aug. 13, at 2:30 PM, there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony and ice cream social at Grover Cleveland Elementary School, 524 Palisade Street, Pasadena. Cleveland Elementary School will host a ribbon cutting for new additions to Cleveland Elementary School that were funded by Measure TT, a school bond passed by area voters in 2008. The project consists of a 10,518 square foot addition to the existing campus built in 1934 and alterations to the existing administration areas. Within the addition there are three new classrooms, one computer lab, new visible administration area with a lobby, nurse’s station, nurses office, principal’s office, four office spaces for various school programs, new family center, new staff restrooms, teacher’s lounge, and new student restrooms that have direct access from the play areas and fields for easier supervision. The exterior of the campus consists of accessible parking with new staff parking and a new driveway entry. The front of the campus consists of new landscape and accessible pathways to the main entry. A tour of the facility and an ice cream social with students and parents will follow the ceremony.
And on Wednesday, Aug. 14, PUSD students return to school (check with your school for start and end times). Superintendent Jon Gundry will greet students and families at the new Washington STEAM Magnet Academy (formerly known as Washington Middle School). The Washington STEAM Magnet Academy is unlike any other in the state, utilizing an interdisciplinary approach to learning with hands-on science, technology, engineering and math plus art and design emphasizing innovation. The school is supported by the STEAM Community Alliance, a group of leading Pasadena area institutions such as Caltech, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Art Center College of Design, Kidspace Museum, the city of Pasadena and many more. To learn more about the new school visit steam-academy.pasadenausd.org. Washington STEAM Magnet Academy, 1505 N. Marengo Avenue, Pasadena.
