Can't quite believe that your child is going to be going to school with adolescents? That he or she will become an adolescent in a year or two? For parents of upper-grade elementary school students, the first glimpse of middle school can be daunting. PEN's fall programs feature a two-program series to take some of the mystery and stress out of finding a middle school program for your child – plus a program for any family interested in the Open Enrollment process.
Choosing a Middle School, Part 1: What to Look for When You Tour
It's easy to fall in love with a kindergarten, but looking at middle schools is another story. How do you know what to look for? Middle school educational policy specialist Michael Butler helps parents understand what makes middle school different from elementary, what test scores do and don't tell you about a school, what factors make for successful middle school programs. Learn what you should be looking for on a school tour, what questions to ask, and more. A great introduction to exploring your middle school options. October 11, 2011.
Choosing a Middle School, Part 2: Parent Networking Night
When it comes to middle school, peer groups matter. Find out what your peers are thinking about for next year and compare notes on what you've seen and heard so far. Get tools and tips for visiting schools and comparing options – plus meet and talk with parents of current PUSD middle schoolers. This will be a fun evening that will take some of the stress out of deciding where your 5th grader will go to school next year. PEN will help participants continue to network so that you can share observations from school tours, arrange shadow visits for your students, and get start getting involved with your new school community once you register in the spring. November 10, 2011
Navigating Open Enrollment in PUSD
Families in any grade level in Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre may apply for admission to PUSD schools other than their assigned neighborhood school through the Open Enrollment process. Students are accepted based on availability and a random lottery process. Dr. Meg Abrahamson, Pasadena Unified’s Director of Student Support Programs, along with PEN representatives, explain the process and the timelines. A question and answer session will follow. November 29, 2011
Boys in Baggy Pants and Girls in Tight Jeans! A Middle School Conversation for 4th Grade Parents
As 4th grade parents start looking towards middle school, we’ve heard that too often they don’t have other parents with whom they can share their thoughts, ideas, and concerns. This session is designed so parents can engage with one another in group conversations that focus on PUSD middle schools, questions to ask on middle school tours, and establishing relationships with other parents so they can tour together in the fall. A short presentation will introduce parents to their PUSD middle school options. May 2012
