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Wishing Our PCS Families A Wonderful Spring Break!
Dear PCS Families, As we prepare for our PCS families to be on Spring Break and celebrate with those who already are (Penngrove and Cherry Valley!) I want to take a moment to let you know how impressed I have been with all the teaching and learning happening in Petaluma City Schools. As a fifteenth year veteran superintendent, I have had the honor of visiting hundreds of classrooms and meeting so many wonderful and inquisitive learners. I see the joy in the faces of our students along with the absolute dedication of our educators - I am so very happy to be a member of this learning community. I wish you all a wonderful Spring Break filled with doing the things that make you and your family happy. We look forward to your return to our campuses on Monday, April 14th. With a grateful heart, Louann See you Monday, April 14th!
Friday, Apr 04 2025
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Parent Ed Night: The Vape Escape - April 16th @ 6:00 PM
Childcare provided & translation available! Petaluma City Schools invites you to join us as we partner with Panaptic to support our teens in making healthy choices about tobacco, cannabis, and vaping. In this workshop, Dr. Richard Von Feldt will offer families, adult allies, and community members the opportunity to review information surrounding tobacco, cannabis, and vaping as well as the impact use can have on young people’s health, mental health and wellness, and life outcomes. Participants will explore cutting-edge research, discuss strategies for helpful prevention conversations with teens, and engage in Q & A with the presenters. Richard Von Feldt, PsyD, is a licensed psychologist specializing in addiction in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since 2009, he has treated adolescents and adults with substance abuse disorders at The Permanente Medical Group while also training future psychologists. As the former Training Director for Kaiser Santa Rosa’s Postdoctoral Residency and Internship Programs, he shaped the next generation of clinicians. A national leader in substance abuse education, Dr. Von Feldt has trained healthcare professionals nationwide through Panaptic. With 33 years in recovery himself, he brings both expertise and personal insight to his mission of prevention and healing.
Thursday, Apr 03 2025
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FREE Senior Portraits THIS Weekend!
Are you a PCS senior who is low on time and low on funds?! We have a fun opportunity for you to capture the memory of your senior year for FREE ! A local photographer wants to make sure all PCS seniors have the opportunity to take senior portraits. If you're in the mood for a little photo shoot this weekend, email Bree Weaver bweaver@petk12.org to pick a time slot or respond to this message and we'll sign you up for free. Thanks seniors! We think you're awesome!
Wednesday, Mar 12 2025
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📢 Reminder 📢 No School: Monday, March 10th (With the...
Kenilworth Junior High School will be in session Monday, March 10th. Students will be dismissed at 11:50 AM. The following message pertains to all other PCS schools.
Friday, Mar 07 2025
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🚀 PCS Newsletter - February 28, 2025 🚀
PCS Newsletter February 28, 2025 A Message from Acting Superintendent, Dr. Louann Carlomagno Happy Friday, PCS Families! We had a fantastic first week back from break, and it was wonderful to see our school communities buzzing with energy and connection. As we look ahead to spring, we’re excited for all the learning, events, and opportunities for community engagement that this season brings. Thank you for your ongoing support—let’s make it a great spring together! With appreciation, Louann College & Career Corner Don't Miss These Exciting Updates! February is CTE Month! Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs develop skills for in-demand jobs in STEM, advanced manufacturing, the green economy, IT, healthcare, and more, improving outcomes for communities with barriers to equal opportunity. Career-connected learning empowers learners to make informed decisions about their future. Students in career-connected learning experiences report higher academic success, including increased engagement, challenge, and well-being. Implementing and strengthening these programs is crucial to close the education and skills gap, establish cradle-to-career pipelines, and meet local workforce needs. PCS proudly offers 25 CTE pathway options for students across the district! Check out our PCS CTE Pathways! CTE Pathway Spotlights Food Service & Hospitality Pathway On Monday Feb 24th, Darlene from “The Salad Lab” visited Casa Grande High School and joined Ms. Gutierrez’s Food Service & Hospitality classes to share her love of salad and passion for content creation with the students. Together they created their very own “Casa Chop” salad combining local sourced organic ingredients and filmed content to be featured on her SOCIAL MEDIA pages. Transportation Pathway Over at Petaluma High School, Mr. Benson and his automotive students had fun building and learning about electricity with the Switch Labs “Relay Lab Kit”. With this experience students got hands-on training on how modern electric vehicles operate and the importance of clean and sustainable energy. For more information, check out THIS VIDEO! Work-Based Learning If you or someone you know is interested in hosting students for field trips, job shadowing, internships, apprenticeships, and more, we’d love to partner with you! By supporting the next generation, we can help meet the workforce demands of today and tomorrow. Together, we can create a brighter future for Sonoma County! JOIN THE TEAM! Stay Connected! Victor Hughes, Work-Based Learning Coordinator 📧 Contact: vhughes@petk12.org 📍 Visit: 200 Douglas Street Petaluma, CA 94952 🌐 Website: https://petalumacityschools.org/schools 📲 Follow us on IG & FB @petalumacityschools Updates & Reminders *NEW* April 2 Priority Deadline for FAFSA/Cal Grant. Financial Aid Resources Petaluma Promise page is live! Go check it out to learn more about guaranteed admission to Sonoma State University! Parents/Guardians - still need to register your free account on CaliforniaColleges.edu? Go HERE for easy instructions! Seniors! Check your CalKids Account for $$$! Check out our PHS College & Career Center, and CGHS College & Career Center Thank you for reading! See you next month for more College & Career updates! Student & Family Engagement Community Lap Swim @ PHS Returns Lap Swim with Community Ed through Petaluma Adult School has returned! Lap Swim is offered every Monday and Wednesday morning from 5:30 AM to 7:00 AM at the Petaluma High School Pool. As shared by Paty Hermosillo-Perkins from Petaluma Valley Masters, community members across Petaluma are immensely grateful for this opportunity. “It is such a tribute to (Petaluma Adult School) and to your staff as well as the Petaluma City Schools' Board of Education and PCS facilities administrative staff that our Masters group enjoyed our first morning back in the Petaluma High School pool yesterday, February 24, 2025. In the midst of the busy holiday season, Petaluma Adult Education did everything possible to turn our dream into reality. For this we are eternally grateful.” Space is still available – if you know someone who would like to register, please share this link. Environmental Literacy & Climate Action Acknowledging Black History Month – Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future This month, PCS celebrated Black History Month — a time to celebrate Black excellence, achievement, and resilience. There are countless ways to engage: read books, attend performances, participate in workshops, explore historical sites, or volunteer your time. As you commemorate, take the opportunity to dive deeper into both well-known and untold stories—uncovering the names, accomplishments, and events that have shaped history. A few of our favorite resources this year included an engaging slideshow featuring seven remarkable but lesser-known Black inventors, along with an interactive library of videos and read-alouds. (Click any image to interact, and use the home icon to return to the start.) These tools highlight the contributions of scholars, artists, activists, athletes, and trailblazers across the globe. We Want Your Input on Cell Phones in Schools Earlier this week, we sent a brief survey to families asking for feedback regarding the use of cell phones on our campuses. Your feedback will help shape potential updates to our policies. If you haven't already, please take a few minutes to complete our brief survey. Thank you for your support in creating the best learning environment for our students! PHS Baseball is Heading to Oracle Park Come cheer on the Trojans! The Petaluma High School Varsity Baseball team has been invited to play at Oracle Park on April 12th at 3:00 PM. This is an incredible opportunity for our student-athletes, and we want to fill the stands with Petaluma pride! To make it even more exciting, the San Francisco Giants are offering a special ticket deal: purchase a ticket to one of three select Giants games, and you’ll receive a FREE ticket to watch PHS take the field at Oracle Park! To learn more visit: https://phsathleticboosters.org/oracle Let’s show up big for our Petaluma community and PHS Baseball! No School - March 10th Come Work at PCS! Where education is not just what we do. It’s who we are. View Job Openings Check out this week's highlighted job opportunities below: Principal - Casa Grande High School (2025-2026 School Year) Instructional Assistant, Special Education (TSP) - (.75 FTE) South County Consortium Bilingual Instructional Assistant II - Casa Grande High School Student Advisor (.90625 FTE) - Petaluma High School If you have any questions regarding any of our open positions, please contact our Human Resources Department at (707) 778-4795 or email hrinfo@petk12.org. Follow Us! We enjoy sharing magical moments with our community to give our followers a glimpse of what we're all about. At PCS, education is not just what we do, it's who we are. We're here! Be here with us! You can find us on Instagram or Facebook.
Saturday, Mar 01 2025
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📱Your Input Needed – Cell Phone Use in Our Schools 🗣
Dear PCS Parents and Caregivers, This fall, we established a District Cell Phone Advisory Committee to review our current policies and practices regarding cell phone use on our campuses. One of our goals is to gather insights from our school communities and provide recommendations to the Superintendent and Cabinet for any potential updates or changes to our current practices and policies. As part of this process, we are asking for your input on the impact of cell phones in our schools . Your perspective, along with the feedback from our PCS staff, and students, will provide valuable insights to help inform discussions and recommendations on potential updates to our policies. Please take a few minutes to complete this brief survey . Thank you for your time and support in helping us create the best possible learning environment for our students. With appreciation, Esmeralda Sanchez Moseley Assistant Superintendent Student Services, Petaluma City Schools
Tuesday, Feb 25 2025
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Tragic Loss of Student Lives in Santa Rosa
Dear Petaluma City Schools Community, Late last night, we learned of the tragic loss of young lives in Sonoma County in what appears to be narcotics-related deaths, possibly linked to fentanyl. News like this is frightening and distressing. As a school district, we stand with the families and loved ones who are grieving. These heartbreaking events are a stark reminder of the urgent need to protect and educate our children about the dangers of fentanyl and other harmful substances. According to the press release from the Santa Rosa Police Department, It is still being investigated if the narcotic used by the victims was fentanyl or cocaine laced with fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid typically used to treat chronic pain and is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine. An amount as small as 2 mg of fentanyl is considered a potentially lethal dose. Numerous illegal narcotics are currently being mixed with fentanyl to increase potency, and often the narcotics user is unaware of the potentially deadly fentanyl contamination. Petaluma City Schools remains committed to the well-being of our students and will continue to take proactive steps to address this crisis. We are collaborating with community partners and local organizations to strengthen our substance abuse prevention efforts and to provide additional resources for our PCS community. We encourage all parents and caregivers to have open, ongoing conversations with their children about the risks of fentanyl and substance use. These conversations can be lifesaving. If you need guidance on how to start these discussions, we are here to help and can connect you with valuable resources. Click here for resources in Spanish and English from the Sonoma County Office of Education. As a community, we must remain vigilant and proactive. Schools, local organizations, and healthcare professionals are here to provide resources and support. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, please seek help. You are not alone. Together, as a community, we can work to prevent further tragedies and support the safety and well-being of our students. Thank you for being our partners in this vital effort. For additional resources and support, please visit the following organizations. Substance Recovery & Support Alateen/Al-Anon (707) 823-7840 Drug Abuse Alternative Center (707) 544-3295 Sonoma County AA Meetings Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Face to Face Drugs & Alcohol Prevention/Education Resources for Youth and their Families (Google Doc - English/Spanish) With great care, Louann Carlomagno, Ed.D. Acting Superintendent, Petaluma City Schools
Tuesday, Feb 25 2025
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Update on Short-Term Independent Study
Dear PCS Families, Recent changes in state guidance and audit findings have led our District to pause short-term Independent Study contracts for the remainder of the 2024-25 school year. As of February 12, 2025, we will no longer process new requests for short-term Independent Study. Students with active contracts who are currently on Independent Study may still complete and submit their work within five days of returning to receive credit. We understand the importance of keeping students engaged in learning when they are absent. Students will have the opportunity to make up missed assignments and tests. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we evaluate the future of Independent Study at Petaluma City Schools. Please contact your school principal if you have any questions. With appreciation, Louann Carlomagno, Ed.D. Acting Superintendent, Petaluma City Schools
Thursday, Feb 13 2025
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💜💚 PCS Newsletter - February 11, 2025 💚💜
PCS Newsletter February 11, 2025 A Message from Acting Superintendent, Dr. Louann Carlomagno As we settle into the month of February, there is a lot to celebrate across our District and we should all be incredibly grateful for the teaching and learning taking place in our schools. I have been making my way to all the campuses and have enjoyed every minute! Our students are fantastic and have welcomed me at every grade level - you should all be proud parents and guardians. From students, to teachers, to families, every person plays a vital role in making our school communities thrive. When we all work together, great things happen! As we continue through the winter months, please remember that attendance is a key part of what makes your child successful. When students show up, they’re not just gaining knowledge—they’re also building skills like consistency, collaboration, and responsibility. Research shows that regular attendance is directly tied to better academic outcomes, stronger relationships with peers and teachers, and overall success in school. So, every day really does count, and we thank you for making it a priority to get your students to school ready to learn and grow! As you heard from our PCS nurses last week in their message to the PCS community, we are certainly experiencing an increase in illness within our community so be sure you review the most recent guidance from our health professionals. February also brings Black History Month, a time for us to celebrate and honor the achievements of Black Americans throughout history. Our schools will be filled with opportunities to learn about influential figures and moments that have shaped our country and the world. It’s an exciting time to reflect on the power of history and how it can inspire us to continue building a more inclusive, compassionate future. Our community is also offering fantastic opportunities and events focused on Black History Month. Click HERE for more details. During these winter months, our District reviews our annual budget and like many school districts across the county and the state, we must make decisions to keep our budget balanced. Our Board members are committed to making the very best decisions for students and we are all thankful for their dedication to this work - it is not easy but absolutely necessary. I thank you for your partnership and the opportunity we are given to educate your children. It is a privilege we do not take lightly. With appreciation, Louann Mid-Winter Break is Here! PCS in the News Petaluma’s LumaCon attracts large crowds of comic art enthusiasts Trojan baseball team to compete in Oracle Park showcase New acting Superintendent tours Petaluma City Schools, meeting students and faculty Petaluma schools receive PEF grant funding to enhance student learning Casa Grande baseball team holds yearly Little League clinic Petaluma Sports Roundup Petaluma City Schools board readies for major budget cuts The Bantam Broadcast (PJHS) Kenilworth TV (KJHS) The Trojan Broadcast Channel (PHS) Student & Family Engagement Moana at McDowell! Approximately 55 students in 1st - 7th grades at McDowell School hosted a number of Moana performances this past weekend, wowing crowds with their singing, acting and creativity. A production of this magnitude takes a vibrant community to pull off costumes, sets, backstage organization, lighting, sound, and more. Congrats to our McDowell Monarchs for such successful and entertaining performances and thank you to everyone in the community who made it happen! 100th Day of School Celebrations Zero the Hero usually visits our elementary schools on the 100th day of learning to celebrate the "power of zero", but this year, students at all seven elementary schools were in for a real treat when Zero's eldest son, Uno stopped by! Who knew Uno was such a talented musician? He led our youngest scholars in a sing-a-long and brought a lot of joy to students and staff alike. Congrats, Petaluma Adult School Grads! On January 27th, 30 students graduated from our Petaluma Adult School, earning either their diploma or their high school equivalency. The ceremony was dignified, well attended, and conducted in both English and Spanish. Honorary speaker, Noemi Diaz Zamora, spoke about her persistence in the face of many life challenges, and the pride she felt achieving her high school equivalency after 20 years. Noemi articulated the core values of hard work, perseverance, and the power of community. Two graduates, Robert Gauthier and Guadalupe Porras, were awarded scholarships to the CalRegional Phlebotomy Technician program. Congrats, graduates! Marine Science Program Visits Monterey Recently, around 30 Petaluma High School students spent time in the Monterey Peninsula experiencing one of the most biologically diverse and beautiful marine regions in the world. Students kayaked with otters, watched whales on the bay, and took a personalized tour of the Monterey Bay Aquarium followed by some deep exploration. Led by Mr. Phil Tacata, this trip was made possible by the generosity of so many in our community who support our PCS scholars. Last Call: TK-6 Priority Registration 3 Days Left! Our TK & Kindergarten Classes Are Filling Up! If you have a new incoming TK (transitional kindergarten) - 6th grade student who is ready to join one of our learning communities in the 2025-26 school year, it's time to submit your application. The TK-6 priority registration window opened on January 9, 2025 and will close this Friday, February 14, 2025. Visit www.petalumacityschools.org/enroll to apply today! TK IS FILLING UP We already have enough TK students to fill up more than 14 TK classrooms. WOW! In the 2025-26 school year, any student who will turn 4 on or before September 1, 2025 is eligible to attend TK. Additionally, the adult to student ratio for TK next year is 1:10, meaning each TK class will have up to 20 students with a full-time teacher and instructional assistant leading the learning. At PCS we want to make sure we staff and plan accordingly for our expanding TK families, so please be sure to enroll today! KINDERGARTEN INFORMATION In the 2025-26 school year, any student who will turn 5 on or before September 1, 2025 is eligible to attend kindergarten. If your child is already enrolled at one of our PCS elementary schools for TK and you plan to stay at the same school for kindergarten, you do NOT need to re-enroll. CHANGING SCHOOLS IN 2025-26? If you are planning to change schools from one PCS school to another PCS school, please complete an application via SchoolMint. Questions? Need help? Contact Amy Fadeji afadeji@petk12.org or (707) 778-4951 PCS Food & Nutrition "Food is not rational. Food is culture, habit, craving, and identity." - Jonathan Safran Foer Share Your Favorite Recipe Our team holds the belief that food and one’s relationship to food is deeply personal. We recognize that our school food and the way we prepare it, could carry significant meaning for our students. So, our PCS Food Services team is committed to striving toward cultivating an ever more diverse and inclusive school food environment that better reflects the rich cultural backgrounds, values and dietary preferences of our students and families. By incorporating a variety of flavors, ingredients, and dishes, we not only celebrate different traditions but also foster learning in our cafeterias by introducing our students to new and exciting meals that expand their palates. We have already begun our menu planning for next school year and we are looking to expand our school meal program by featuring recipes inspired by our PCS community. We would love your help! Do you have a favorite family recipe that represents your heritage or a dish your child enjoys at home? We invite parents, students, and staff to submit recipes that are meaningful to them. Our team will review submissions and explore ways to adapt them for our school meals, ensuring they meet nutrition guidelines while keeping their authentic flavors intact. If you’d like to share a recipe, please send it to pcsfood@petk12.org. Feel free to include a short story about why the dish is special to you! We are excited to bring more variety to our school meals and appreciate your help in making our cafeteria a place where all students feel seen and valued. Thank you for being part of this delicious journey! Important Tax Information Did you know you may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)? This credit can help reduce the taxes you owe or increase your refund. California also offers a state EITC for additional savings. We have included information about these important federal and California EITC programs as well as additional resources that may be helpful for filing your tax return on our PCS Food Services web page. Please be sure to check out the information about Earned Income Tax Credit here. PHS Baseball is Heading to Oracle Park Come cheer on the Trojans! The Petaluma High School Varsity Baseball team has been invited to play at Oracle Park on April 12th at 3:00 PM. This is an incredible opportunity for our student-athletes, and we want to fill the stands with Petaluma pride! To make it even more exciting, the San Francisco Giants are offering a special ticket deal: purchase a ticket to one of three select Giants games, and you’ll receive a FREE ticket to watch PHS take the field at Oracle Park! To learn more visit: https://phsathleticboosters.org/oracle Let’s show up big for our Petaluma community and PHS Baseball! Come Work at PCS! Where education is not just what we do. It’s who we are. View Job Openings Check out this week's highlighted job opportunities below: Bilingual Instructional Assistant II - Casa Grande High School Bus Driver Trainee - Transportation Instructional Assistant, Preschool - Special Education - South County Consortium Principal (1.0 FTE) - Public Waldorf Charter School at Valley Vista, TK- 8 (2025-2026 School Year) If you have any questions regarding any of our open positions, please contact our Human Resources Department at (707) 778-4795 or email hrinfo@petk12.org. FREE Cardiac Screening Available We are excited to announce our FREE Sonoma County Wide ECG/EKG cardiac screening offered to youth and young adults, ages 12-25 years of age, on Sunday, February 23rd in Santa Rosa at Elsie Allen High School. Here are a few reasons why getting screened is so important: Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) claims the lives of thousands seemingly healthy kids every year SCA is the leading cause of death for student-athletes and on school campuses Standard physicals or a sports physical is less than 1% effective at detecting any heart conditions that can lead to SCA. Adding an electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) , a fast, non-invasive, and painless test, improves those odds to 85-90% but are not included in standard physicals for youth. 1 in 300 youth is at risk of having an undiagnosed cardiac anomaly How to Save a Life Video The screenings are conducted by medical professionals and read by physicians. Pre-registration is required and closes 2/20/2025 Click here if you wish to participate and be screened. Click here if you wish to volunteer and assist with the event. Questions? Contact healthquest@healthypetaluma.org for more information. Nothin' But Net Basketball Camps Follow Us! We enjoy sharing magical moments with our community to give our followers a glimpse of what we're all about. At PCS, education is not just what we do, it's who we are. We're here! Be here with us! You can find us on Instagram or Facebook.
Tuesday, Feb 11 2025
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🦠Germs Are Spreading! What to Look For & When to Sta...
Dear PCS Families, Students learn best when they feel well. To help prevent the spread of illness in our schools, please keep your child home i f they experience any of the following symptoms: A fever of 100.4°F or higher Vomiting or diarrhea A persistent cough with phlegm A sore throat with fever and swollen glands Severe or persistent nasal congestion For more information about when your child should stay home from school, please consult our PCS General Illness Policy ( English / Spanish ). Your child may return to school when they: Are fever-free for 24 hours without medication Have had no vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours Thank you for helping keep our school communities healthy! Your PCS Nurses
Tuesday, Feb 04 2025