Back to School: Support the PUSD
It's been said that if everyone could spend one day as "Principal for a Day" at a school in the Pasadena Unified School District, they would see and understand the many impressive things going on in our local public schools. That's what happened to the current President of the Board of Education, Roy Boulghourjian -- he spent a day as Principal and was hooked. Roy quickly became an advocate for the schools, also became a teacher, and is now serving on the Board of Education.

As the school year kicks off next week, ask yourself how you can help the schools, how you can better understand the great things happening, and how you can be part of the solutions to challenges facing the district.
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There are many ways to connect -- here are just a few:
-  Parent Education Network (PEN) offers tours of all campuses, regularly throughout the school year
-  Office of Family & Community Engagement provides resources and opportunities for involvement
-  Pasadena Educational Foundation encourages greater involvement and support from the community
The Vision | The children of Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre all grow up in a safe, stable,
                        and supportive environment that prepares them for success in school and in life.
Acronym Soup

There are many committees and groups that support the PUSD, and understanding their acronyms can be daunting! Take a look at a few:
Click here for full descriptions of the groups listed above (not showing other addresses).
Supportive Communities WG On the Move

The Supportive Communities Work Group is dedicated to supporting children and families through the improvement of the quality of life in our community's neighborhoods. They are on the move with two important opportunities coming soon:


          1) Neighborhood Summit -- September 18, 2017, 5:30-8:00 p.m. at La Casita del Arroyo.

          2) Collaborate PASadena Neighborhood Leadership Institute -- 10 weeks of leadership training,

           building capacity for collaboration, open to all, begins September 12, 2017.


Click on each flier for more information.

Speaking of acronyms, there are few people in town who have more of them associated with their name than involved parent, passionate advocate, tireless worker, Natasha Mahone!


PUSD's 2016 Volunteer of the Year, Natasha began volunteering in the district in 2007, and has served as room parent, on PTA boards in various positions, and on School Site Council. She has also served on the LCAP PAC, AAPC, DAC, FYG PAC, Parent Leadership Group, Superintendent's Continuous Improvement Committee, and the District Consolidation Advisory Committee. In her spare time, Natasha is a parent volunteer at her child's school, McKinley, and has been a team mom for various sport teams, and a member of the National Charity League. She is also Program Manager at College Access Plan (CAP), and regularly presents at youth and parent gatherings.

Collaborate PASadena is pleased and proud to have Natasha serve as the very qualified parent representative on the Leadership Council. The depth and breadth of knowledge and experience she brings is impressive and valuable to all of the work we do.


"I value serving and giving back, this is important to me. Growing up, I didn’t have a parent present to advocate on my behalf. Therefore, I’m committed to standing in the gap and advocating for my children and other children that need a parent’s voice on their behalf."
Parent University
Designed to strengthen connections between families and schools, PUSD's Parent University offers educational courses and leadership opportunities for parents and adult caregivers. A wide range of topics will be covered this school year. Click here for the calendar, and if you don't see a topic of interest, be in touch with the Office of Family & Community Engagement by clicking here. They want to hear from you and to respond to the needs of all PUSD parents and caregivers.
Youth Leadership Network
In December 2016, Collaborate PASadena convened representatives from around the city who offer leadership training opportunities for youth. Coined the "Youth Leadership Network," the group meets monthly and includes College Access Plan (CAP), Day One, Pasadena Public Library, Adelante Youth Alliance, Pasadena Youth Council, PUSD College and Career Academies, Pasadena Tournament of Roses, and more! Click here to learn about LevelUP, a youth leadership conference the group is hosting this week.
News and Events
Click here to find the latest news and events on the Collaborate PASadena website! We happily post partner news and events on our site and on our Facebook page. Submit to elizabeth@collpas.org.
Partner Praise
The Pasadena Public Library is a strong and important partner in Collaborate PASadena's work. Library staff members sit on various Work Groups, Director Michelle Perrera sits on the Leadership Council, and the library is home to the Office of the Young Child and their important work. Thank you Pasadena Public Library!
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v. to make stronger; enlarge; extend