February Community Newsletter 2026
February 2026 - Greene Community Newsletter
Important Reminders:
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On Monday, February 9th, we will be running a Friday Bell Schedule- dismissal is at 1:45pm. Please plan ahead for this change in dismissal time.
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There is no school on Friday, February 13 or Monday, February 16.
Partnering to Support Your Student’s Success
We want to remind our families that we are here to walk alongside you in supporting your student’s growth, both in and out of the classroom. Whether your student is facing a new academic challenge or navigating social-emotional hurdles, please know that you don't have to manage it alone. Our administrators and counselors are always available to collaborate with you and provide the necessary resources to ensure your child feels confident and supported. We encourage you to reach out to us on an as-needed basis—we truly value our partnership with you and remain committed to fostering a safe, encouraging environment for every student.
Greene Admin Team
In this newsletter, you will find information about:
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Reminder: Family California Healthy Kids Survey
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Black History Month Film Festival
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Third Quarter Progress Reports
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Important Information: Electric Cycles/Scooters/E-Motos
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Counseling Career Lessons
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Course Registration for 2026 - 2027 (Current 6th and 7th Grade)
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High School Transition Information (Including Course Registration)
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Construction Site Viewing and Beam Signing
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Upcoming Events
Reminder: Family California Healthy Kids Survey Open Until February 13
Share your perspective on your child’s school experience via the California Healthy Kids Survey. Your feedback helps guide district efforts regarding student well-being and school climate. Participation is voluntary and anonymous.
Survey Link: Take the Survey Here
Deadline: Please complete by February 13.
(Note: If you have multiple children at this school, complete only one survey based on your oldest child. Multiple languages are available after the first page.)
Black History Month Film Festival
Third Quarter Progress Reports
Third quarter progress reports will be accessible through Infinite Campus beginning Thursday, Feb 12th. If you opted in for paper copies, the third quarter progress report should be arriving to your mailbox the week of Feb 16th. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your student’s teacher or school counselor.
Important Information: Electric Cycles/Scooters/E-Motos
58% of our students in PAUSD ride a bike or scooter to school daily. This comes with a big responsibility of not only our students, but also of our drivers. We have many students on the road, throughout the city every morning and every afternoon.
E-bikes, scooter, and e-motos are a growing concern due to the speed in which students are riding these devices. A quick and important reminder: these are not to ride on campus at any time. They must be walked, due to the near misses and safety concerns.
From Dr. Austin’s Superintendent’s Weekly Update: Electric cycles or ‘e-cycles’ refers to a broad category of electrified one, two and three-wheeled vehicles, including bicycles, tricycles, scooters, one-wheels, mopeds, motorcycles and off-highway vehicles. As of January 2025, e-cycles with throttles exceeding 20 mph OR e-cycles that can be mechanically altered to approach the speed of electric mopeds/motorcycles, are not classified as electric bicycles in the state of California. Minors (under 15 years of age) are not allowed to operate an e-cycle, could receive a citation, have the vehicle towed, or face other penalties under the California Vehicle Code. As the holidays approach, please email saferoutes@paloalto.gov for questions about e-cycle safety and purchasing considerations. Palo Alto Superintendents Update - November
California’s legal age requirements:
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Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes: Riders must be at least 16 years old or be under 16 with a properly fitted helmet.
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Class 3 e-bikes: Riders must be at least 16 years old; helmets are required for all riders.
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E-motos and motorized bikes: These typically require a valid driver’s license or permit, proper registration, and safety equipment, and are not permitted for most school-aged students.
Under California law, students who do not meet age or safety requirements, or who operate these vehicles unsafely, may be subject to citations or fines, and the vehicle may be restricted from campus use. These regulations exist to protect students and the broader school community.
Please consider the speed of the electric cycles or ‘e-cycles’ and ‘e-moto’ and the type of helmet that you are providing for safety coverage.
From google: Bike helmets are designed for15 mph, whereas e-bike helmets (NTA 8776 standard) provide greater coverage and impact protection for speeds up to 28 mph. E-moto helmets offer the highest protection, similar to motorcycle gear, designed for speeds exceeding 28 mph, covering more of the head, neck, and face.
Key Differences:
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Regular Bike Helmets: Focus on ventilation and light weight for speeds under 15 mph, typically covering less of the head.
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E-Bike Helmets (NTA 8776): Feature thicker, more robust, multi-density foam, designed for faster, high-impact crashes and better coverage of the sides and back of the head.
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E-Moto Helmets: Designed for, and sometimes required for, higher-speed, 28+ mph ebikes (Class 3), often being full-face to protect against serious, motorcycle-like injuries.
Helmet Selection Criteria
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Speed & Class: Class 1/2 e-bikes (up to 20 mph) may use standard bike helmets, but NTA 8776 e-bike helmets are safer. Class 3 e-bikes (up to 28 mph) require robust, e-bike-specific, or even lightweight motorcycle helmets.
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Coverage: E-bike helmets often include more protection on the temporal and occipital areas, whereas e-moto helmets (e.g., DOT rated) provide full-face, chin-guard protection.
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Weight & Ventilation: Traditional helmets are lightest, e-bike helmets are heavier for safety, and e-moto helmets are the heaviest, offering the least ventilation.
For maximum safety on high-speed electric bikes, specialized e-bike helmets (NTA 8776 or ASTM F1952) are recommended over standard bicycling helmets, with full-face options for, or exceeding, Class 3 speeds.
Counseling Career Lessons
The Counseling Department is excited to present lessons that address the Career Development aspect of the ASCA (American School Counselor Association) National Standards at Greene! The Career Development aspect focuses on providing the foundation for the attainment of skills, attitudes, and knowledge that allow students to make a successful transition from school to work. We know that we are developing the whole student, not just one facet. In an effort towards promoting that development, we will present lessons to each grade level as follows:
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6th Grade: Character Survey
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7th Grade: Values Survey
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8th Grade: Career Interest Inventory
Counselors will be presenting the lessons through Social Studies between February 9 - 27. After the lesson, please speak with your child about their thoughts and reflections. We are sure it will make for an interesting and meaningful conversation. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Susan Curry, 6th grade Oak and ALL 7th grade, scurry@pausd.org
Kylie Payne, 6th grade Redwood and Sequoia and ALL 8th grade, kpayne@pausd.org
Upcoming: Course Registration for 2026-2027 (Current 6th & 7th Grade)
The course registration process for current 6th & 7th grade Greene students will begin on Wednesday, Jan 21st during Advisory. Students will view the 26-27 Electives Offerings Video to preview the various courses offered at Greene. Then on Wednesday, Jan 28th, students will view the course selection video to learn how to select and input their elective choices for the 2026-27 in Infinite Campus. The Electives Selection Window will open on Jan 28th at 2:30pm and will close on Feb 6th at 2:00pm. More detailed information will be provided through Schoology and ParentSquare.
LINK: 26-27 Timeline for Course Selection
High School Transition Information
The PAUSD high schools will be holding 8th grade parent information meetings in the upcoming weeks. Please check the schedule linked below for high school transition dates and information.
Gunn: Thurs, Jan 22nd
Paly: Wed, Jan 28th
PA Middle College: Jan 14 or Feb 11, register with link provided
LINK: 2026-27 PAUSD 8th to 9th Grade High School Transition Information
Construction Site Viewing and Beam Signing
Construction on campus has been moving forward quickly. Our new library building has now gone vertical as the frame has been constructed. Students will have an opportunity to view our construction site during the week of Feb 16th through their Social Studies classes. Students will be learning more about what goes on behind the scenes from the construction staff to create the project on our school campus. Also during the week, through PE classes, students and staff will have an opportunity to sign the last beam that will be placed in one of our new buildings.
Upcoming Events:
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February - Black History Month Film Festival - lunch times
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M, Feb 2 - Auditions for Tri-Middle School Musical
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Th, Feb 5 - Greene Choir Performs at Paly
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F, Feb 6 - Grades 6 & 7 course selections due
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F, Feb 6 - All Grades Dance
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M, Feb 9 - Friday Bell Schedule
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M, Feb 9 - 6th Grade - New Wheel Rotation starts
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T, Feb 10 - PAUSD 6th Grade Choir Festival Concert
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W, Feb 11 - Greene Student Town Hall (during Advisory)
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W, Feb 11 - Paly 8th Grade course selection workshop for rising 9th graders
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Th, Feb 12 - MS music performance for elementary 5th grade
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F, Feb 13 - LOCAL HOLIDAY - No School
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M, Feb 16 - Presidents’ Day Holiday - No School
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Feb 16 - Feb 20 - Construction Site Viewing & Beam Signing
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T, Feb 17 - Ramadan begins; Lunar New Year’s Day
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W, Feb 18 - 7th & 8th grade- Music Dept Benefit Concert
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F, Feb 20 - Spirit Day Dress Up - Student/Teacher Switch Day
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F, Feb 20 - Greene Lunar New Year Parade
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T, Feb 24 - ESN Ice Skating Field Trip
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Feb 24 - Feb 26 - ELPAC Testing
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Feb 24-Mar 6 - Common Reading Assessment
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F, Feb 27 - Spirit Day Dress Up - PJ Day
Helpful Resource Links:
Additional Contact Information:
6th Grade - Mimi Kwon, 6th Grade Administrator, mkwon@pausd.org & Susan Curry, Oak Team School Counselor, scurry@pasud.org & Kylie Payne, Redwood and Sequoia Team School Counselor
7th Grade - Ben Gonzales, 7th Grade Administrator, bgonzales@pausd.org & Susan Curry, 7th Grade School Counselor, scurry@pausd.org
8th Grade - Courtney Carlomagno, 8th Grade Administrator, ccarlomagno@pausd.org & Kylie Payne, 8th Grade School Counselor, kpayne@pausd.org