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Rally Calls for Sports Restart

Photo courtesy Erika Foy
Local residents who participated in a Pasadena “Let Them Play” rally included (from left) Caleb Buchanan, Milo Orona, Luke Cronthall, Santi Goldthwait, Ryan Liddy, Erika Foy, Aly Pernecky, Catherine Giddings, Makena Giddings, Kayla Giddings and Grace Garrity.

Car horns blared and balloons bobbled in a light breeze on Friday, January 15 when several dozen young athletes, their coaches and parents participated in a statewide “Let Them Play, California,” rally, which urged state officials to allow for youth sports to begin immediately.
Locally, the event was organized by Aly Pernecky, Erika Foy and Angela Buchanan and held at Blair High School at the corner of Glenarm St. and Marengo Ave.
“Public health is about everyone,” said Foy. “The public policy to manage the pandemic should not burden one group over the other. Our kids are carrying the burden more than they should and their developmental process is being deeply affected by the shutdowns with no school or sports. It is important our public officials listen to the community it is representing and to those who are living with the consequences of these policy decisions.”

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PFAR Giving Mobilizes Realtors for School Meal Distributions

Del Lile

Lynwen Hughes Boatman

Partnering with the Pasadena Educational Foundation, PFAR Giving recently mobilized local Realtors to assist in the distribution of meals to families at Field Elementary and McKinley. The three-day volunteer effort took place as the real estate community served alongside district staff who were also preparing for the school year.
Pasadena-Foothills Association of Realtors introduced PFAR Giving in May of 2020 to further plant its investment within the community.
“Realtors are the cornerstone of the community and PFAR is committed to being a valuable resource to its communities,” said PFAR President Eddie Ramirez. “It’s very exciting to see our Realtors lean into this wonderful opportunity of service to continue our support of educators and families during this unprecedented time.”
For more details about PFAR Giving, visit pfar.org/give or email giving@pfar.org.

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PUSD Superintendent Finding Positives in a Difficult Time

Brian McDonald

Like many other districts in the area, the Pasadena Unified School District began the academic year with remote learning on Monday, in keeping with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s guidelines preventing schools in counties on the state’s COVID-19 watch list from delivering in-person instruction.
Closures in March due to the coronavirus forced many schools to pivot into uncharted territory with distance learning, but the PUSD believes it’s ready and is optimistic about the road ahead.
“We’re excited to see our students reconnect, learn and advance in the new school year,” Superintendent Brian McDonald said in a letter to the community this week. “Although we are beginning with extraordinary circumstances, the entire PUSD team is committed to providing a quality education for all of our students. We’re eager to engage students in meaningful learning so that every student has opportunities to fulfill their potential.”
However, he recognized that there may be a few challenges and asked parents and students to be patient as the district works through them.

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Heading Down the Home Stretch of the School Year

By Brian McDonald
PUSD superintendent

Brian McDonald

Gov. Newsom released the state’s revised May budget proposal for 2020-21 that seeks to avoid permanent cuts to public education while dealing with the impact that the COVID-19 crisis has had on the state’s economy. For PUSD this means that instead of facing a projected $35 million in reduction in state funding, we now estimate a $15 million reduction in state funding. We are examining in detail the revised budget and will continue to advocate on behalf of our students and educators in the coming weeks. Budgets are a reflection of values, and we are asking the state and federal governments to show their commitment to students and the future of this country.
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CIS Academy Teacher Nominated for Prestigious Educator Award

The coronavirus pandemic has forced many educators to pivot in their teaching methods and be even more creative in reaching and supporting students. In the midst of what has been a chaotic experience for many, the Pasadena Unified School District has announced some news that shines a light on the unwavering commitment that CIS Academy teacher, Gareth Siegel, displays every day. For his efforts, Siegel has been nominated for the esteemed Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction award.
This prestigious honor is “in recognition of your impact as an educator, leader and role model,” according to the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS).
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Maranatha High School Using 3D Printers to Help Combat Coronavirus

Photo courtesy Maranatha
Maranatha High School teacher Miguel Almena is utilizing a lab at the school to create quality filtration masks to help healthcare workers in their fight against COVID-19.

Maranatha High School has embarked on a project to help in the fight against COVID-19, as the school’s TILE (Technology Integration Learning Environment) Lab, under the direction of Maranatha faculty member Miguel Almena, is utilizing its 3D printers to create reusable protective face masks for medical professionals who are facing critical shortages of necessary protective gear.
Almena learned of one such need first-hand from a friend of his wife who is a nurse at Kaiser Hospital in Downey. She shared that they were facing a shortage of protective face masks and requested Maranatha’s help with 3D printing of about 80 high-filtration masks.
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Westridge Dean Dies After Contracting COVID-19

Carol van Zalingen

Carol van Zalingen, Westridge’s Lower and Middle School dean of student support, died on Tuesday morning, April 14, from complications related to COVID–19. She passed away just after 4 a.m. at Huntington Memorial Hospital, Westridge officials said.
According to the school, van Zalingen joined Westridge in 2008 as the 8th-grade English teacher and in 2015 transitioned to the role of dean of Lower and Middle School student support.
“This latter role combined her exquisite talent as an educator and her seemingly bottomless capacity for empathy and caring,” a Westridge statement said. “In the classroom she was known to connect in a very special way with each of her students. Her colleagues described her as ‘a safe space for students and adults.’ She was known as gentle and wise, always reaching out to help others in a supportive and non-judgmental manner. She never wanted a light shined in her direction, but her ability to listen, be present, and hold time and space for students and friends was uncanny. And Carol was a master at helping girls progress along a path to being independent learners and finding and following a positive personal narrative.
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Pasadena Unified School District Details Proactive Response to Coronavirus

Brian McDonald

The unprecedented impact of the coronavirus has warranted an equally unprecedented response, and the Pasadena Unified School District is proud to be on the forefront of educational and institutional leadership during this time.
We have worked hard to prepare, act quickly in response to a fluid and ever-changing situation, and to bring together resources to ensure that teachers in the district have the support they need to teach effectively. We have also made sure that children have the tools they need to continue to learn and thrive with as little interruption as possible.

Here’s how it all happened:

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Prep, Poly, Westridge Ranked Among Top County High Schools

A trio of Pasadena-area high schools scored in the top five among private schools in Los Angeles County, while eight San Gabriel Valley campuses were ranked among the top 20 Catholic schools by the review website Niche.com.
Out of the 2019 top private high schools in the county, Flintridge Prep of La Cañada Flintridge won the No. 2 spot, Polytechnic School came in at No. 3, and Westridge School garnered No. 5. By comparison, under the 2018 ranking for all of Southern California, Polytechnic ranked fourth, Flint­ridge Prep fifth and Westridge seventh.


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St. Francis Edges Saugus, 17-13

Photo courtesy Eric Danielson
Darius Perrantes completed 10 of 26 passes for 152 yards in the Golden Knights’ 17-13 victory over Saugus.

The St. Francis varsity football team came away with a 17-13 victory in a back-and-forth affair against visiting Saugus last Friday.
The Golden Knights (2-2 overall record) found themselves trailing 7-0 in the first quarter following two turnovers, including a controversial fumble recovery that was ruled a lateral by the officiating crew.
Senior quarterback Darius Perrantes, who completed 10 of 26 for 152 yards, was held scoreless until the 10:27 mark in the second quarter when kicker Jake Smith put the home squad on the board with a 38-yard field goal.
St. Francis got into a rhythm offensively and took a 10-7 lead following a 2-yard touchdown run from Max Garrison with 4:04 remaining in the second quarter.
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