ProtectAUSDSchools

Supporting our excellent public schools in @ArcadiaUnified. AUSD news, information, and resources to help support students, staff, and parents.

[Arcadia Unified @ArcadiaUnified]

The heartwrenching and heartwarming stories in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire, the devastating impact on our staff and families, and the loving support from our community.

Described by many as a war zone, the Eaton Fire was one of the deadliest and most destructive wildfires in the history of California. In addition to torching more than 14,000 acres in and around the foothills of Altadena, the fire completely destroyed more than 9,000 structures, mostly residential homes, and killed 17 people. A lifetime of sacrificing, saving, and dedicating everything to finally acquire the American dream, and in an instant, it was a nightmare for thousands of people.

“I always knew people were good, but I never knew how good and how many,” said Karina Herrera, a School Psychologist/Behavior Analyst for Arcadia Unified.

Herrera was just one of nearly 30 Arcadia Unified staff, students, and families who were among the thousands of victims who lost everything. She described the long road to recovery as another full-time job– and then some.

“You’re up first thing in the morning on the phone making calls, talking with your insurance, trying to find housing. There’s so much to do and you’re still on the phone at 10 p.m. You do that same routine day after day, while still trying to keep up with your actual full-time job,” Herrera explained.

While the flames were still burning and the lingering smoke still a constant reminder of the devastation, humanity started to shine a light. GoFundMe pages were created, and donation drives were in full swing. Many at home, watching the heartbreak unfold on their televisions, wondered how they could help. The Downtown Arcadia Improvement Association teamed up with the Arcadia Educational Foundation to promptly raise funds for all the staff and families in Arcadia Unified who lost their homes. The culminating event was the Downtown Arcadia Lunar New Year Festival on Sunday, February 2, in which a check for $100,000 was presented to Arcadia Unified Superintendent Dr. David Vannasdall.

“The word grateful feels inadequate to describe how we feel. You've shown so many, including my son, that even in the darkest times, we are surrounded by a community that cares deeply and acts with extraordinary kindness. Your actions have turned our loss into a powerful lesson about the strength of community and the impact of empathy. This is the very essence of what makes Arcadia so special,” said Dr. Kelsey Brown, the Principal of Baldwin Stocker Elementary School.

Dr. Brown and her son Calder, a fifth-grade student at Longley Way Elementary School, have been sharing a small room at her sister’s home after their house was a total loss in the fire.

“From the clothing that has kept us warm on these cold nights, to the thoughtful cards that lifted our spirits, to the everyday essentials that helped us keep our routines, and the generous financial donations that gave us hope – you wrapped your arms around us when we needed it most,” Dr. Brown shared in an email to friends and colleagues.

Only four other fires in California history have been more deadly than the Eaton Fire and the 17 lives lost. The Camp Fire in Butte County in November of 2018 remains atop the unenviable list with 85 casualties. Second to the Camp Fire, is the Griffith Park tragedy in October of 1933, also in Los Angeles County and just a dozen miles from Altadena, where only 47 acres burned, but 29 people died. All casualties were to firefighters working to extinguish the fire.

Complicating matters and consuming much-needed resources was the Palisades fire, less than 40 miles away, and also in Los Angeles County. The infamous Santa Ana winds fueled both infernos with gusts near 100 miles per hour throughout some locations in Southern California. The Palisades Fire burned nearly 24,000 acres, another 5,000 homes were destroyed and 8 people died.

Note: You can read the full story & see where to donate via the link below. 👇

[HollyAvePTA @HollyAvePTA]

@HollyDolphins @HollyAvePTA was thrilled to be a part of the @downtownarcadia Halloween Haunting. Thank you to all of the businesses, @ArcadiaFireDept @ArcadiaPD, @ArcadiaChamber, @ArcadiaUnified for providing a safe & fun venue for our kids to trick or treat! Fun for all!

[Arcadia Unified @ArcadiaUnified]

🎶💙⚾️What do Ice Cube and the Arcadia High Marching Band have in common??? Both performed before a World Series game at Dodger Stadium.
The Arcadia High School Marching Band performed at Game 4 of the 1981 World Series on Oct 24, 1981. The Apaches proved to be good luck at Dodger Stadium that day as the Boys in Blue beat the Yankees 8-7 to tie the series at 2. L.A. won the next two games and won that historic Fall Classic. Besides being historic for our Apaches, it’s still the only World Series in which three players, Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero, and Steve Yager, all won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award.
Let’s go Dodgers! 💙⚾️💙⚾️🥳

[Arcadia Unified @ArcadiaUnified]

Did you see the news?!?! 😮 Arcadia High was featured on @kcalnews thanks to Meteorologist Amber Lee who was a guest speaker for our Digital Communications Internship program! A huge thanks to @AmberLeeNews for her educational and inspiring talk with our students. She discussed a recent story she did with Connie Chung, a trailblazer in the field of journalism, and the first Asian News Anchor for a network television station. She also gave great career and journalism advice while providing very constructive feedback for the students’ work. A sincere thank you 🙏🏼! We hope the sweatshirt keeps you warm this winter season! ❤️💛

[ProtectAUSDSchools @ProtectAUSD]

🚨 We are excited to announce our Campaign Kickoff Event! Please join us as we embark on this very important journey to help keep our schools safe and in the top 1% of districts in the country! We are looking to pass a $358 million facility bond!
❤️💙
✅ #YesonAS

[AHS PTSA @ptsa_ahs]

Best volunteers at the snack shack!

[Arcadia Unified @ArcadiaUnified]

🎯We currently have 10 job openings we are hiring for! Two of them were just posted today, a part-time and a full-time custodian. Join a great team! More details at the link below...
https://t.co/u8HNGMNE4z

[Arcadia Unified @ArcadiaUnified]

As seen on @ABC7: Arcadia High School Achieves Rare 100% graduation!
Congratulations 🎉 Apaches!
❤️🎓💛

[Arcadia Unified @ArcadiaUnified]

CHAMPIONS!!!! 🏆
Arcadia High School Badminton 🏸 wins the CIF Open Division (highest level) after defeating Walnut! The Apaches finish a perfect undefeated season going an impressive 22-0 to take home the title! A huge congratulations 🎉 and thanks to head coach Mike Stiles who started this program several years ago and has quickly turned it into one of the best programs in the state winning multiple CIF Championships! Coach Stiles is going out on top as he is retiring at the conclusion of this historic season. Great job Apache players and coaches! We are so proud of you!
#ImagineInquireInspire #Champs
🏆❤️💛

[Arcadia Unified @ArcadiaUnified]

Job Alert! 🚨 We are hiring for an Assistant Principal at Arcadia High School!
Join an amazing team of educators in a district ranked in the top 1% in the nation!
https://t.co/nKYjzVxz7e

[Arcadia Unified @ArcadiaUnified]

Arcadia High Badminton perfect in route to third CIF title in 4 years! 🏸🏆
An incredible accomplishment by @ApacheBadminton! 3 CIF Championships in 4 years, and the program is just nine years young!

"After its debut season, Arcadia High School joined the Almont League in 2017 where the Apaches won the league championship each year. Since the end of 2017, Arcadia High School has won a remarkable 116 straight regular season matches. In total, the Apaches’ overall record over the past nine seasons is 144-16. Three of those 16 losses are when Arcadia lost in the CIF Open Division Championship match, meaning the Apaches have three runner-up finishes to go along with its three championships."
Congratulations to the team and a sincere thank you to Coach Stiles for all the opportunities he has provided! This article provides much more about Coach Stiles and how the team was formed.

https://t.co/zBZeHiQn4X

[Ryan Foran @RyanPForan]

We are hiring for a Public Information Officer (PIO) in @ArcadiaUnified, one of the highest rated districts in the country! Come work with an amazing staff to support a remarkable mission and vision for students. Pay will be 5% higher than listed, deadline to apply is Sunday! Please Share & RT! 🙏🏼

https://t.co/DM99MEzwQa

@CalSPRA @nspra

[Arcadia Unified @ArcadiaUnified]

The Future of our Schools.
We have been conducting community meetings and forums all year to receive input on the future needs and improvements for our schools. This fifth and final community meeting discussed "project prioritization." Each school, through its own committees, has also received input and feedback from teachers, students, staff, and parents. You can view the dull meeting video below.
To learn more, please visit our website.
https://t.co/JyT40XhxrL

[Evelyn Tsoi @EvelynTsoi]

S7E1 of Keepin’ It Arcadia is out NOW!
🎶 Did you tune in to the Grammys? Excited for the Oscars? Listen to the latest scoops in entertainment now!
⭐️ Out on Spotify, Podbean, and Apple Music!

[AHS PTSA @ptsa_ahs]

Congratulations to Ms. Fierro and Ms. Aguilera, our February 2024 Staff of the Month! Ms. Fierro teaches photography and instills a sense of care and value in her students' hearts. Ms. Aguilera is an instructional aide and is appreciated for her patience and kindness.

[Arcadia Unified @ArcadiaUnified]

We are hiring for our next Principal @ First Avenue Middle School! These are very impressive shoes to fill for Dr. Issa, who is retiring at the end of the year, but she is leaving the Spartans in great shape!💙💛
https://t.co/TIra9qCnsF
Come imagine, inspire, & inquire with us!

[Arcadia Unified @ArcadiaUnified]

Do you have the love❤️to work in education?!? This Instructional Assistant position closes today, and we have another 12 open positions!
Come imagine, inspire, and inquire with Arcadia Unified!
https://t.co/BiQuHtWeVS
#jobs @LosAngelesCOE #arcadia #hiring

[Arcadia Unified @ArcadiaUnified]

A true story of once imagining, then inquiring, and now inspiring. We are incredibly proud of Naomi’s incredible journey that brought her to Arcadia Unified in the third grade. Now in her senior year at Arcadia High School, the Rose 🌹 Queen is inspiring the next generation along with everyone else. Congratulations to Naomi and the entire Rose Court, and everyone who participated and made this spectacular parade happen.
#imagineinquireinspire

[Arcadia Unified @ArcadiaUnified]

Exclusive interview with the Rose 🌹 Queen, Naomi Stillitano from Arcadia High School, as we are less than a day away from the iconic New Year’s Day @RoseParade! We could not be more proud!
#ImagineInquireInspire ❤️💛
#RoseBowl #Roseparade #Nye

[School PR Podcast🎙 @SchoolPRpodcast]

💰❌ With the news that California now faces a $68 Billion, yes with a B, deficit 🤷‍♂️, we had Capitol Advisors President Kevin Gordon on the podcast to discuss how this will impact funding for schools. #cabudget #suptchat #caedchat
#schoolpr
https://t.co/aj5BqNJX3T