Partnership for Success

Our PFS Scholars at Westridge are ready for a summer filled with math, science, English, woodworking, robotics, physical education, electives, and local trips! Here’s the beginning of 9-year adventure filled with community and friendships that will last a lifetime.

PFS 2024 has officially launched! Our PFS Scholars at Poly are ready for an enriching summer! ☀️

Our PFS Scholars, families, teachers, and interns came together last night for an outstanding 2024 orientation and family gathering. We can’t wait to launch our program on Monday, June 17th! A special THANK YOU to the Heads of School from Chandler, Mayfield Junior School, Poly, and Westridge for sponsoring dinner from Pie Life Pizza!

On June 13th and 14th, all PFS interns, faculty, and directors came together to prepare for the launch of our 34th summer! Part of our preparation included a professional development session led by Liz Arnold, Program Director at Young and Healthy. Our PFS team learned about the importance of supportive and responsive relationships that can help build student resilience and the capabilities that can help us respond and adapt to adversity in healthy ways. Topics included mindfulness, brain development, and basic trauma informed care. We are excited to use these tools to pilot PFS Community Circles at Poly and support all PFS Scholars across our four campuses. We are so grateful to Liz Arnold for an outstanding training and to PFS co-founder Carmie Rodríguez for sponsoring lunch for all interns and teachers!

Calling all PFS (SEP) Alumni! PFS is excited to host our annual Alumni Day at Poly on Friday, June 28th! Please connect with PFS Site Director, Scarlette Oregón, to RSVP - [email protected].
We look forward to reconnecting with you and inspiring the younger generation of PFS Scholars! 💜 💜 💚 💚

PFS Summer 2024 launches in two weeks! We look forward to welcoming all our PFS Scholars to the first day of summer on Monday, June 17th! All PFS campuses will host a required PFS Orientation and Family Gathering and Dinner on Friday, June 14th. Please look out for an email from your PFS Site Directors to RSVP by June 5th!
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Shout out to our PFS Mentor and Ambassador, Lucy! We are so grateful for the incredible care, attention, and connection Lucy provides for her PFS Mentee! Our PFS Mentors are incredible and exemplary community leaders who provide academic support and meaningful social connection and mentorship to bright young PFS Scholars! GO PFS MENTORS! 💜 💚

Our PFS Mentor Program is growing and in need of dynamic, dedicated, and determined mentors to support Pasadena youth throughout their academic journey. There’s still time to apply to become a PFS Mentor. If you are a high school student interested in mentoring a PFS Scholar, please contact [email protected] 💚 💜

Attention PFS rising seniors and parents! Don't forget to mark your calendars for our upcoming college process workshops on May 15th (in English) and May 16th (in Spanish). This valuable session will help rising seniors and their families prepare for our upcoming summer college 12 course and provide an important road map to help families navigate the college admission process. ALL rising seniors and parents should attend! Check your email to register today! 💚 💜

PFS is thrilled and honored to announce an expanded partnership with Pasadena City College (PCC)! This summer, all 8th grade PFS Scholars will take an Intro to College course. 9th through 12th grade Scholars can opt for an extended day at Poly and have a list of college credit courses from which to choose. Families, check your email and join us on Zoom at 5pm tonight to learn more about this partnership and our commitment to ensuring PFS Scholars are college and career ready! 💜 💚 🎓

PFS Summer 2024 launches in just two months on Monday, June 17th! We can't wait to welcome our new PFS Scholars and reconnect with our returning Scholars. We have an exciting summer ahead!

Don't forget to check your email and RSVP for our June 14th PFS Orientation and Family Gathering, which will be hosted at each PFS site. Contact your PFS Site Director for details! 💜 💚

Congratulations to PFS Scholar and senior, Tram, for receiving $20,000 from the Taylor & Don Hall Scholarship, a Pasadena Community Foundation fund. We are so proud of you, Tram! 💜 💚

It’s time to spotlight another fabulous PFS Mentor: Tekle S.-J.! Tekle goes above and beyond as a mentor, meeting regularly with her mentee, attending PFS events, offering support, and always demonstrating a positive attitude. Thank you for your commitment, Tekle! 💜 💚

PFS is looking for dynamic, reliable, and motivated high school students to serve as PFS mentors for PUSD students in grades 5-9. Serving as a PFS mentor provides a rewarding avenue of service that allows students to build community and connect in meaningful ways with youth across Pasadena. Please contact PFS Mentor Program Coordinator [email protected] to apply.

On February 24th, PFS hosted a special Family Gathering to build community, welcome new PFS families, and provide a space for PFS Mentors and Mentees to connect and have fun. We heard from PFS co-founder, Carmie Rodríguez, and were especially excited to welcome PFS alumna and former Mayor of Compton, Aja Brown. Both Carmie and Aja inspired our PFS students and families to take advantage of all the resources offered by PFS and to stick with the program until the end! It was a beautiful morning filled with inspiration, community building, and delicious treats from Porto's Bakery. Thank you to Westridge School, all our PFS Ambassadors, PFS Mentors, volunteers, and the PFS leadership team for helping us host such a special event! 💚 💜

Shout out to our amazing PFS Mentor, Olivia, who supports two mentees during the school year AND volunteers at the Westridge PFS site during the summer! Olivia, we appreciate your tremendous support! 💚💜

Thrilled to share that one of our current PFS Scholars, Vincent V., and former PFS Scholar, Giselle A., have been awarded full four-year college scholarships from the Posse Los Angeles Foundation! Congrats, Scholars! We are so proud of your accomplishments and grateful to the Posse Foundation!

Attention PFS Parents! Don’t forget to register for our upcoming PFS Puentes workshop happening via Zoom on Thursday, February 29th. Check your email to access the RSVP link. We look forward to seeing you!

Attention PFS Scholars! Check out this opportunity to participate in a 9-week, after-school Tech Pathways Academy. Click the link in our story to find out more. The application deadline is Feb. 18th!

Attention PFS Families! PFS Summer 2024 is just about 4 months away! Have you registered your child yet? Please be sure to do so by TODAY, February 12th. Later this week PFS Site Directors will be contacting families who have not registered. Help our team save time by enrolling today! We hope to also see you at our February 24th PFS Family Gathering! Please RSVP by this Thursday! Check your email for all summer registration and family gathering confirmation details. Please contact the PFS office if you have not heard from us.

Meet our superstar ⭐️ PFS Mentor, Olivia T.! Olivia meets regularly with her PFS mentee and provides homework assistance and academic support. THANK YOU, Olivia, for encouraging our PFS Scholars and building their confidence! 💚 💜

Attention PFS rising juniors and seniors! Check out this amazing opportunity to participate in the Huntington Medical Research Institute (HMRI) High School Stem Program. Afternoon sessions are offered from 1-4pm this summer. This provides a perfect schedule to participate in both PFS and a STEM Program. Click the link in our story for more details.

Attention PFS rising juniors and seniors! Check out this amazing opportunity to participate in the Huntington Medical Research Institute (HMRI) High School Stem Program. Afternoon sessions are offered from 1-4pm this summer. This provides a perfect schedule to supplement your work with PFS. Click the link in our story for more details.

Attention rising PFS Junior and Seniors! Check out this amazing opportunity to participate in a STEM program with the Huntington Medical Research Institute (HMRI) and receive a $500 stipend for participation. Click the link in our story to find out more.

Attention PFS Seniors! Don't miss this opportunity! The deadline is March 4th. Can you spot one of our very own PFS 2023 graduates? 💜 💚