6 EDUCATIMountain View News Saturday, October 3, 2026 
ON & YOUTH 
PASADENA UNIFIED LAUNCHES “ALL-STAR YEAR” 
WITH ALL-STAR BAND IN 2027 ROSE PARADE, ALLSCHOOL 
DIRECTORY 

STAR MUSICAL “LES MISÉRABLES” 

Nearly 150 band members and 200+ musicalstudents begin months of rehearsals for alandmark season in Pasadena’s public schools 

PASADENA, CA - The Pasadena Unified SchoolDistrict (PUSD) is launching an “All-Star Year” ofits performing arts education programs. The PUSDAll-Star Band will march in the 2027 Tournament of 
Roses Parade on January 1, 2027, for the first time innearly four decades, and the district’s All-Star Musicalwill stage a full-scale student production of “Les 
Misérables” February 17-21 at Pasadena High Schoolin association with Pasadena Playhouse. 

Both milestones put public school students on someof the region's biggest stages. PUSD’s All-Star Bandwill march in the Tournament of Roses Parade, a NewYear’s Day tradition watched by millions around theworld. For the All-Star Musical, performed every otheryear, students from all PUSD high schools auditionand apply to join the professional-caliber production.
Students fill every role, on stage, in the orchestra, andbehind the scenes. Together, the two All-Star programsthis year involve more than 350 students from PUSDhigh schools, including Blair High School, John MuirEarly College Magnet, Thurgood Marshall Secondary,
and Pasadena High School. 

“Our All-Star Year shows that, when a communityinvests in its students, they rise to meet the moment.
We invite Pasadena, Altadena, Sierra Madre, andpeople around the world to line the parade routeand cheer on our student performers, and to fill theseats when the curtain rises on “Les Misérables” in 
February. Every cheer tells these students their hardwork, creativity, and voice are valued,” said PUSDSuperintendent Elizabeth Blanco, Ed.D. 

All-Star Musical students, both performers andproduction crew, are mentored by teachers, workingtheater professionals, and industry experts, gainingwork-based learning skills that can lead to careersin performance, set and art direction, and stagetechnology. This year’s musical, “Les Misérables”, hasa challenging score and a story that centers on history,
justice, community, and empathy. 

Both programs draw high school students from acrossthe district. As the cast and crew of students from 
different schools and grades work side-by-side, theybuild a shared vision and forge lifelong connections.
Students in past All-Star Musicals said that they felta sense of belonging and learned that collaboration,
empathy, and trust are skills central not only toperforming arts but to life itself. 

All-Star Band members also mentor youngermusicians for PUSD’s Elementary Music Festival,
building a connected K-12 arts pipeline. 

This year’s momentum carries added meaning fora community still rebuilding after the Eaton Fire.
In March 2025, just months after the fire, students 
and staff came together to produce the band’s RoseParade audition video, a symbolic step in the district’srecovery and a reminder of how the arts help bring thecommunity together. 

“Being selected to march in the Rose Parade formy hometown is a dream come true. We have been 

rehearsing for two years , and every practice, we getbetter and move forward together. Wearing the colorsof all four of our high schools reminds me that we areone Pasadena, and I am so proud to represent it,” saidSantiago Smith Ruiz, Senior, All-Star Head DrumMajor. 

All-Star Band Returns to the Rose Parade 

For the first time in years, a Pasadena Unified SchoolDistrict band has been selected, via audition, to marchin the Rose Parade, competing against marchingbands from around the world for a spot in the lineup. 

The district most recently appeared in the paradein 2022, when the band marched as a specialentry at the invitation of the Tournament of RosesPresident. Formed in 2020 to represent Pasadena inits hometown parade and grow instrumental musicacross the district, the current All-Star Band includesfour drum majors (one from each high school), 121band members, 20 color guard performers, and 12dancers. The band is mentored by teachers from Blair,
Marshall, Muir, and Pasadena high schools. 

Before marching down Colorado Boulevard on 
January 1, 2027, the band will perform in theHollywood Christmas Parade on November 29 and atBand Fest at Pasadena City College in December. 

All-Star Musical Brings “Les Misérables” to the StageThe All-Star Musical returns for its third biennial 
production, following the success of “Into the Woods” 
(2023) and “Hadestown: Teen Edition” (2025),
produced by the PUSD Visual and Performing ArtsDepartment in association with Pasadena Playhouse.
PUSD students will fill every role: leading andsupporting cast, chorus, orchestra, stage crew, plus thedesign and construction of sets, props, and costumes.
PUSD teachers and teaching artists in theatre,
music, dance, and visual arts will guide and mentorthe students. After intensive rehearsals this fall and 
winter, there will be five public performances of “Les 
Misérables” in the Gladiss Edwards Auditorium at 
Pasadena High School on February 17-21, 2027. 

Learning Beyond the Stage 

All sixth and seventh graders will attend the February17 matinee, and high school performing arts andhistory classes are invited to the February 18 matinee,
opening the stage to more than 3,000 students androughly 6,000 student and community audiencemembers overall. Grade-level curriculum, developedby All-Star Musical student assistant directors and 
classroom teachers, will support pre-show preparationand post-show classroom reflections, and on Friday,
February 19, cast and crew will visit sixth gradeclassrooms to discuss the show and answer questions.
Watch the PUSD All-Star Band audition video and the 
Rose Parade announcement video. To find programand musical performance information, visit pusd.us/
Arts. 

About Pasadena Unified School District 
Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) serves TK12 
students in Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre,
California. PUSD is committed to a well-rounded 
education, including robust arts programming, thatprepares students to succeed in college, career, andlife. 

From the Editor's Inbox: 

PASADENA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL 
WIN ON THURSDAY WASN’T THE FIRST 
WIN OF THE SEASON 


Several weeks ago, Pasadena High School made the decision to scrap the rest of the 2026/2027varsity football season, downgrading the team to Junior Varsity for the remainder of this season. 

Over the past few weeks, opinions on this topic are as varied as our nation’s politics. While we candebate what caused the precipitous drop in the varsity program (transfers, student enrollment, etc..)
there can simply be no debate that the Coaches, Administration, and District made this decisionconsidering that which matters most. The health and safety of the players. 

In our often self-aggrandizing world, the staff at PHS put the health of the overall student body atthe forefront. 

The cancellation of this year’s Turkey Tussle vs. John Muir High, the disappointment of the seniorsthat remained loyal to PHS and in doing so sacrificed what may be there last chance to don the padsand play the game they love and have devoted so many hours towards, pale in comparison to thetime honored tradition of doing what is right. 

On Thursday, Pasadena’s football team hosted Gabriellino High School (JV) and secured their firston the field win of the season 20 -42. 

However, the program secured its first win of the season well before they took to the field this week.
Well done Pasadena High School. 

Alverno Heights Academy

200 N. Michillinda Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 
(626) 
355-3463Head of School: Joanne Harabedian 
E-mail address: 


jharabedian@alvernoheights.org 

Arcadia Christian School 

1900 S. Santa Anita Avenue 

Arcadia, CA 91006Preschool -TK - 8th Grade 
626-574-8229/626-574-0805Email:inquiry@acslions.comPrincipal: Cindy Harmonwebsite: 
www.acslions.com 


Arcadia High School

180 Campus DriveArcadia, CA91007Phone: (626) 821-8370,
Principal: Brent Forsee

bforsee@ausd.net 

Arroyo Pacific Academy

41 W. Santa Clara St. Arcadia, Ca,

(626) 
294-0661 Principal: Phil ClarkeE-mail address: pclarke@arroyopacific.org 
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin MarySchool 

Robert Bringas, Jr., Principal2660 East Orange Grove Blvd.

Pasadena, Ca 91107

626-793-2089 
https://school.abvmpasadena.org/ 


Barnhart School 

240 W. 
Colorado Blvd 
Arcadia, Ca. 
91007 
(626) 
446-5588Head of School: 
Tonya BeilsteinKindergarten - 8th gradewebsite: www.barnhartschool.org 


Bethany Christian School

93 N. Baldwin Ave. 
Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 
355-3527Preschool-TK-8th Grade 
Principal: Jonathan Haweswebsite: www. bcslions.org 


Clairbourn School 

8400 Huntington Drive

San Gabriel, CA91775Phone: 626-286-3108 ext. 172 
FAX: 626-286-1528 


Marianne Ryan

administration@clairbourn.orgE-mail: jhawes@clairbourn.org 


Foothill Oaks Academy

822 E. Bradbourne Ave., Duarte, CA 91010

(626) 
301-9809Principal: Nancy Lopezwww.foothilloaksacademy.orgoffice@foothilloaksacademy.org 


Frostig School

971 N. Altadena Drive 
Pasadena, CA 91107

(626) 
791-1255Head of School: Jenny JanetzkeEmail: jenny@frostig.org 


The Gooden School 

192 N. Baldwin Ave. 
Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 
355-2410Head of School, Jo-Anne Woolnerwebsite: www.goodenschool.org 


Holy Angels School

PK-8th Grade 
360 Campus DriveArcadia, CA91007626-447-6312 
office@holyangelsarcadia.orgPrincipal:Aimee Dyrekholyangelsarcadia.net 


High Point Academy

1720 Kinneloa Canyon Road

Pasadena, Ca. 91107 

Head of School: Gary Stern 626-798-8989 
website: www.highpointacademy.org 


La Salle College Preparatory

3880 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. 
Pasadena, Ca.

(626) 
351-8951website: www.lasallehs.orgPrincipal Ernest Siy 


Monrovia High School

325 East Huntington Drive,
Monrovia, CA91016

(626)471-2800 Principal Darvin JacksonEmail: schools@monrovia.k12.ca.us 
Odyssey Charter School

725 W.Altadena Dr. 


Altadena, Ca. 91001

(626) 
229-0993Head of School: Lauren O’Neill 
website: www.odysseycharterschool.org 


Pasadena High School

2925 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Pasadena, Ca.
(626) 
396-5880Principal: Dr. Eric Barba 
website: http://phs.pusd.us 


St. Rita Catholic School 

322 N. Baldwin Ave. 
Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

Principal: Jon McMaster (626) 355-6114mcmaster@st-ritaschool.orgWebsite: www.st-ritaschool.org 


Sierra Madre Elementary School

141 W. Highland Ave,
Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 
355-1428Principal: Dr. Jodi MarchessoE-mail address: marchesso.jodi@pusd.us 


Sierra Madre Middle School 

160 N. Canon Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024(626) 
836-2947Principal: Garrett NewsomE-mail address: newsom.garrett@pusd.us 


Walden School 

74 S San Gabriel Blvd 
Pasadena, CA 91107 (626) 792-6166 
www.waldenschool.net 


Weizmann Day School

1434 N. Altadena Dr. 
Pasadena, Ca. 91107

(626) 
797-0204Lisa Feldman: Head of School 


Wilson Middle School 

300 S. Madre St. 
Pasadena, Ca. 91107

(626) 
449-7390 Principal: Ruth EsselnE-mail address: resseln@pusd.us 
Pasadena Unified School District 


351 S. HudsonAve.,

Pasadena, Ca. 91109

(626) 
396-3600Website: www.pusd@pusd.us 


Arcadia Unified School District 


234 Campus Dr.,Arcadia, Ca. 91007 


(626) 
821-8300 Website: www.ausd.net 
Monrovia Unified School District 


325 E. Huntington Dr.,
Monrovia, Ca. 91016 
(626) 
471-2000Website: www.monroviaschools.net 


Duarte Unified School District 


1620 Huntington Dr., Duarte, Ca. 91010 
(626)599-5000Website: www.duarte.k12.ca.us 


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