SCHOOLS - continued from page 1

Dr. Marchesso thanked the City Council for listening to the school's and the public's concerns about 
adding a crossing guard, following several parent complaints to the City regarding dangerous driving 
near the school, especially at the intersection of Highland and Auburn Avenues, as covered in the September 
13, 2025, issue of the Mountain Views News. 

SIERRA MADRE MIDDLE SCHOOL

Garrett Newsom presented an update on Sierra Madre Middle School (SMMS), where he has served as 
principal since 2011 and is celebrating his 20th year at the school. Newsom highlighted the excellent 
growth SMMS students have had in both Reading and Math Assessments. Student growth was 189% 
in Reading and 175% in Math, the largest growth rates among any school in the district. PUSD Rotary 
Club has presented the “Teacher of Excellence” award to a SMMS teacher for three consecutive years. 
This year’s recipient is History teacher, Lisabet Nepf. 

The Middle School competed in the Math Field Day at the County level, the Science Olympiad at the 
State level, and History Day at the National level. SMMS also continues to work with the Western Justice 
Center for the second year in the Peer Mediation program. 

Principal Newsom also touted some alumni successes during his presentation, including Katia Kelejian 
(Class of 2011), who is now managing a Chase Bank in Arcadia, and two other former students have 
returned to SMMS as a counselor and a teacher’s aide. A third has signed his letter of intent to play 
basketball for Texas A&M (all unnamed). “Once a Hawk, always a Hawk,” Newsom noted. 

PUSD HIGH SCHOOLS

PUSD Chief Academic Officer Helen Chan Hill, Ed.D., gave an overview of PUSD Comprehensive 
High School options and offerings for parents to consider to make the transition to higher education 
as smooth as possible. Those include:

• Blair – Health Careers

• Marshall- Academy of Creative Industries

• Muir- Arts Media & Entertainment; Business & Entrepreneurship with Sports Management; 
Engineering & Environmental Studies

• Pasadena (PHS)- Development Technologies; Law & Public Service; Visual & Design; Graphic 
Communications.

In addition, there is the Center for Independent Study for students who seek individualized, customized 
pathways. “At every one of these schools, we have robust academics, lots of extracurricular options, 
and lots of family engagement opportunities and clubs for students. This is really where they are building 
their identities,” Hill said. 

Hill honed in on three “very special and unique things, unlike any other High Schools in our region.” 
One, as Principal Newsom stated, is having PUSD students compete at the college level in athletics. Hill 
noted the importance of positioning students well for their careers or for college. Secondly, in Performance 
Arts, Hill praised the success of the All-Star Band, a 120-member ensemble that encompasses 
students from all four High Schools. Hill gave high praise to Karen Anderson, the Arts & Enrichment 
Coordinator for PUSD. “She has helped hone and build this program,” Hill stated. The whole nation 
will get to see the All-Star Band perform during the 2027 Rose Parade. In addition, the All-Star Musical 
was performed at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. The performances bring together all students, 
whether they are performing, working on stage sets, costumes, or part of the orchestra. The All-Star 
Musical started in 2023 with a production of “Into the Woods,” and this year they put on a teen-themed 
production of “Hadestown.”

Thirdly, Hill emphasized the College Career Academies and Internships, another unique feature of 
PUSD High Schools. In partnership with the Linked Learning Alliance, students take courses in their 
area of interest and can connect with industry partners, building networks. As a result, students can 
work with mentors who can offer them jobs, according to Hill. There is also the Think Tank & Assembly, 
whose mission is “to create and sustain a safe space for students to connect across campuses 
and provide multiple platforms through which they can share their stories and advocate for student 
representation in district decision-making structures,” according to the PUSD website. 

PASADENA HIGH SCHOOL

One of the newest members of the PUSD team is Eric Barba, Ed.D., who was announced as the new 
principal of Pasadena High School (PHS) in 2024. Barba highlighted some of PHS’s signature programs, 
which include: 

• Law and Public Service Academy

• Creative Arts Media and Design Academy 

o Visual and Design Academy

o Graphic Communications Academy 

• Dev Tech (formerly APP) Academy

• Advanced Placement (AP)- 23 Classes Offered

• French and Mandarin Dual Language Immersion

• Math Academy 

• Pasadena Community College Classes on Campus (both during and after school).

o HIST 081- Mexican & American History

o ART 008- Mexican & Chicano History

o COMM 1000- Intro to Public Speaking

o ENGL 001A- Academic Reading & Writing (online)

o MUSC 021- Music Appreciation

o FIRE 001- Principles of Emergency Services

o KINT 005- First Aid Responding to Emergencies

Barba boasted that five current seniors qualified as semi-finalists in the National Merit Scholarship 
Program. The seniors were selected based on their performance on the 2024 PSAT/NMSQT. Less than 
one percent of high school seniors nationwide qualify as semifinalists, according to Barba, and last 
year, two seniors qualified and one went on to win the scholarship. “We really have brilliant students 
at PHS,” Barba stated. 

Barba also emphasized the strength of the drama program and the renovations done to the Franco 
Black Box Theater, with more to come in the following year, and invited everyone to attend the presentation 
of “Clue” on November 5th, 6th, and 7th. 

For more information about PUSD schools or to schedule a tour, please visit www.pusd.us.

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AROUND SIERRA MADRE

Mountain Views News Saturday, November 1, 2025


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com