South Pasadena Unified Tidbits (Photo – ColoradoBlvd.net)
October brings a range of various events and celebrations across SPUSD.
By News Desk
October 16: Emergency Notification Test During the Great California ShakeOut
On October 16, SPUSD will conduct a test of its emergency notification system during the Great California ShakeOut. The test message will be sent via ParentSquare as an urgent alert.
If you do not receive the emergency notification, please contact your school office.
The ShakeOut is just one example of the many safety preparedness activities SPUSD schools undertake each year. Each school develops a comprehensive safety plan, which includes age-appropriate videos for students outlining procedures for fire drills, earthquakes, soft lockouts, and hard lockdowns.
Emergency preparedness information for parents is available on each school’s website. All safety protocols are created and regularly updated in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies, including the South Pasadena Police and Fire Departments.
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SPHS, PCC, and Fire Technology (Photo – SPUSD)
Hands-On Fire and Emergency Training Ignites Student Interest at South Pasadena High
What began as a typical midweek school day quickly transformed into an exciting, hands-on training exercise with the South Pasadena Fire Department and local paramedics. Students enrolled in Principles of Emergency Services, a new dual enrollment course offered through Pasadena City College (PCC) at South Pasadena High School (SPHS), donned fire personal protective equipment, handled tools such as hoses and axes, and learned how to take cover in a wildland fire shelter, among other activities.
The course offers an overview of fire protection and emergency services, including career opportunities in the field. High school students earn both high school and PCC college credit upon completion. For this exercise, students were tasked with creating an incident action plan that incorporated safety considerations and aligned with curricular objectives. Instructors from Pasadena City College—Captain Frank Bramblia and Chief Joseph Guarrera—collaborated with the South Pasadena Fire Department and the PCC Fire Technology team to design an event that was both educational and engaging for the students.
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SPHS Color Day (Photo – SPUSD)
SPHS Color Day
The annual and spirited SPHS Color Day took place on Friday, October 3, 2025. Students, faculty, staff, and administrators arrived dressed in creative costumes featuring the school’s colors—orange and black. As the largest school spirit event of the year, Color Day encourages collaboration and fosters a strong sense of community through a variety of engaging activities.
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(L-R) Julie Ryu (Beginning ELD Teacher), Amara Lee, Matias Garcia, Nicolas Condori Cordoba, Yudam Daniel Lee, Eason Jin, Tony Tao, and Jessica Kammer (Intermediate ELD Teacher) celebrate students’ English language proficiency. (Photo – SPUSD)
SPMS Hosts ELD Night to Celebrate English Learners’ Achievements
South Pasadena Middle School (SPMS) welcomed more than 100 parents and family members to its English Language Development (ELD) Night, an event dedicated to celebrating the progress and accomplishments of English learner students.
The evening featured a shared dinner and a presentation by SPMS ELD teachers Ms. Kammer and Mrs. Ryu, who provided an overview of the school’s ELD program and explained the roadmap to reclassification—a milestone indicating that a student has achieved English language proficiency and is reclassified as fluent English proficient.
A highlight of the night was the recognition of students who recently reached this significant achievement. SPMS proudly celebrated the following students for their successful reclassification: Jiyoo Choi, Allyson Chung, Nicolas Condori Cordoba, Zijun Rex Cui, Matias Garcia, Angie Ho, Wanqi Gianna Huo, Eason Jin, Amara Lee, Yudam Daniel Lee, Eunwoo Park, Anastasiia Reutova, Fernando Rodriguez, Tony Tao, Luxi Yao, Jiwon Yoon, and Isaac Yu.
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SPMS Mandarin Classes Celebrate Mid-Autumn Moon Festival (Photo – SPUSD)
SPMS Mandarin Classes Celebrate Mid-Autumn Moon Festival
On Oct 10, students in the South Pasadena Middle School (SPMS) Mandarin classes, taught by Mo Yang, celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival—also known as the Moon Festival—the second most important traditional holiday in China.
Sixth graders performed a live show based on traditional Moon Festival fairy tales, creating their own scripts in Chinese and designing handmade props. Seventh graders presented a musical performance in various forms, including singing, dancing, poetry recitation, and interviews—all in Chinese.
Parents and guardians contributed traditional holiday foods, such as mooncakes and seasonal fruits, to enhance the celebration.
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