PUSD contracted with independent polling firm, EMC, to conduct a random sample poll of 619 likely March 2020 Pleasanton voters regarding a potential 2020 bond. The survey was conducted by phone and over email (invitation to participate in web-based survey via email). A presentation was provided to the Board of Trustees with an overview of the poll results. Participants were polled on potential bonds for two different amounts to help fund critical and outstanding school facility needs identified in the PUSD Facilities Master Plan.

View the Board item and presentation provided on the polling results on the September 24 meeting agenda here (item 12.4)

The Pleasanton Unified School District is proud to announce that the interest rates achieved through the August 20, 2019 sale of the second issuance (Issuance B) of Measure I1 funds came in $7.2 million lower than original estimates, saving Pleasanton taxpayer dollars. The $90 million Measure I1 Issuance B bonds achieved a low all-inclusive interest cost of 2.64 percent resulting in total debt service of $122.9 million. When the Bonds were approved by the Board on August 13, 2019, the estimated all-inclusive interest cost (based on July interest rates) was 3.1%, for an estimated debt service of $130.1 million, representing a difference of $7.2 million.

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Fentanyl is a new drug on the rise that parents/guardians should be aware of. Legal pharmaceutical fentanyl is a synthetic pain reliever that is medically approved for treating severe pain. However, there has been a rise in the illegal production and distribution of fentanyl, due to its heroin-like effect. Users experience an intense, short-term high, accompanied by feelings of euphoria. However, side effects include slowed respiration and reduced blood pressure, nausea, fainting, seizures and death. Students are able to abuse fentanyl by injecting, snorting, smoking, or taking it orally by pill or tablet.  

Since 2015, fentanyl has been linked to 130 deaths in the Bay Area alone. Although fentanyl mimics the effects of opioid painkillers, it is actually 50 times more powerful, and just 2 milligrams of fentanyl can kill an adult. A major concern is that fentanyl has been found to be unknowingly laced into other drugs that students are using, such as heroin, cocaine and even marijuana. Santa Clara County recently issued a public health warning because there have been a large number of counterfeit Percocet pills containing fentanyl, rather than the normal ingredients. The tablets visually appear to be the pharmaceutically manufactured version with a circular shape, light blue to light green in color, and have an “M” inside a square stamped on one side and a “30” stamped on the other side.

It appears that many of the sales of fentanyl are conducted over the internet in an attempt to divert any tracking that might happen. To learn more about fentanyl, watch this recent NBC Bay Area news report. To learn more about substance use in general and how you can support your students through prevention and intervention, check out this Online Parent Education series on Substance Abuse entitled What’s the High About developed by your School Social Workers.

 Brought to you by your PBIS School Social Workers.

Having chronic absence is considered missing 10% of the school year or more. Although it doesn’t seem like much, missing just 2 days of school each month can add up to a 10% absence rate. Studies show that missing a few days here and there can negatively impact a student’s academic progress, as well as the progress of their peers, since teachers are forced to slow down and repeat material for absent students. Parents can support their children by keeping track of their absences through Q’s Parent Connection. 

For more information on the importance of attendance early in education please see the visual:

Attendance Matters- Elementary Years (English)

Attendance Matters- Elementary Years (Spanish)

Chances are your child will need to miss a few days of school this year. While some absences might seem more excusable, the impact is actually the same whether your child is sick, taking a family trip or cutting class. Any absence makes it harder for your child to keep up with the everyday classroom instruction that is needed to grow and succeed. Some absences are unavoidable, but too many will make your child fall behind and they might not be able to catch up. An important step toward student achievement is being at school every day and arriving on time. Please save absences for when it is absolutely necessary. 

To learn more about parent strategies to support attendance please review the Attendance Matters-How Can I Help My Child?

Wednesday, October 2: District English Language Advisory Council Meeting l Flyer: English, Spanish, Chinese

Tuesday, October 8: PUSD Board of Trustees Regular Meeting

Tuesday, October 22: PUSD Board of Trustees Regular Meeting

Thursday, October 31: TK - 12 Minimum Day

View the full 2019-2020 School Year Calendar here!

Saturday, October 19, 5:30 - 10 p.m. l Pleasanton Middle School

The PICD Indian community & PUSD are proud to host the 5th PUSD Dandiya and Bollywood Night: An Indian Culture & Festival of Light Celebration at Pleasanton Middle School. The event will include contemporary Dandiya, and Bollywood dance, a choir performance by Amador Valley High School, Indian music, shopping and much more. The evening will also feature the Indian Festival Lighting ceremony by Superintendent David Haglund!

Funds raised at this event will support PUSD music programs.

Get your tickets today!

Saturday, October 5, 5 - 7 p.m. l Firehouse Arts Center

Experience innovative arts and technologies as we LIGHT up the night and celebrate IGNITE! Join us for this free family event with hands-on activities, entertainment and food trucks. Come enjoy all the different booths and participate in our light parade.

Learn more

We had a blast playing sharks and minnows this week during extra recess with Alisal Vice Principal Lisa Padway and Mrs. Salcido's first graders. These Alisal Bears enjoye d extra recess for earning a certain number of Alisal ROAR tickets. ROAR (Respect, Ownership, Awareness and Responsibility) stands for the school's established guiding principals that help support a safe learning environment for all staff, part of Alisal's Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) implementation.

Alisal recently received statewide recognition as a Gold PBIS school for their implementation of PBIS to support positive, safe and healthy learning environments.

"We put a lot of processes in place and started collecting a lot of data around our PBIS strategies and implementation over the last year," said Vice Principal Lisa Padway. "It gives us a common language - having PBIS in place - to be able to talk to kids about their behaviors in different situations. So when we have incidents come up we're able to talk in terms of our school rules and expectations."

Alisal has a check in and check out system similar to other elementary schools where teachers and staff provide individual support to students by meeting with them at the beginning of the day and before they leave school. Alisal has added a social emotional aspect to their check ins to help students recognize and talk about their emotions.

"This has made a huge impact for some of our students to be able to be more in tune with their feelings," said Vice Principal Lisa Padway. "We've had amazing success stories with kids who've had aggressive behavior in the past and are now flourishing."

Thank you to our Alisal Bears for fostering positive learning environments!

Great job to our Mustangs for another amazing Fun Run. Thank you to our Valley View teachers, families and the Amador Valley Marching Band Drum Line for making this an incredible event for our Mustangs!

It is our privilege as a District to periodically recognize individuals and organizations who engage our schools to inspire hope and joy on our campuses through their work with students. 

The Valley Humane Society has made an immeasurable impact on our students District-wide through promoting a human-animal bond with therapy dogs and their owners/handlers that enhances our learning environments and supports the wellness and mental health of our students Districtwide.

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PPIE is partnering with Chevron to help fund Pleasanton classrooms through the Fuel Your School program. Buy gas (8 gallons or more) at any Pleasanton Chevron station in October and $1 will go to Chevron's Fuel Your School program. PUSD teachers can submit funding requests via DonorsChoose.org as of September 30! It's easy! Get gas and help our teachers! Thank you for your support and to Chevron for helping our schools!

Sunday, October 27 l Downtown Pleasanton, Main Street

Get your halloween costume ready for a ghoulishly good time at the Rotary Club of Pleasanton's Halloween Spirit Run! The Race will feature a Kid's Challenge as well as a 5K and 10K run/walk. Proceeds will benefit scholarships for PUSD high school students as well as community and national benefit work of the Rotary Club.

Sign Up Today!