Skip to main content

The routines may be settled, but the stories are anything but.

Posted Date: 11/10/26 (10:30 AM)
View Original Post

A group of students in maroon and yellow uniforms walk together in a street parade.

Fall in Full Swing at PUHSD

October gave our communities plenty to gather around, from homecoming parades and games in Auburn, Loomis, Colfax, and Foresthill to a sold-out night at Thunder Valley where Placer's choir sang with Foreigner, and November is keeping that same energy with playoff runs and a full theatre calendar across Placer Union High School District.

Inside this edition, you will find a look inside Placer School for Adults' new College and Career Counseling Center, highlights from a championship fall sports season, and the details for this month's fall plays at our schools. 

Thank you for showing up for our students in the stands, in the audience, and in all the everyday ways that make these schools feel like community!
From choir class to taking the stage with rock legends. 
More than 20 members of the Placer High School choir joined Foreigner on stage at a sold out show at The Venue at Thunder Valley on October 30, singing I Want to Know What Love Is as part of the band's 50th anniversary tour. Members of the choir joined Foreigner to perform the group's 1984 hit during its sold out concert. The invitation is part of Foreigner's partnership supporting music education, and the program received $500 from Foreigner, plus another $500 from Thunder Valley in the November 1 venue report, for $1,000 total. Be sure to check out the full story and news coverage.

A season of firsts.
It has been a championship fall across PUHSD, led by Placer girls flag football winning the program's first Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV title with a 28 to 13 win over Liberty Ranch, and Placer volleyball reaching its first ever section final before continuing on to the NorCal playoffs.

Football is sending all four schools to the quarterfinals on Friday, November 13, with Del Oro hosting Chavez after its Battle for the Shield win over Rocklin, Placer traveling to Patterson, Colfax traveling to Ripon, and Foresthill hosting Valley Christian. Postseason runs are also continuing in volleyball, water polo, girls tennis, and cross country, capping a fall season our communities have had plenty of reason to cheer for.

Curtains Up Across PUHSD.
November theatre brings a fun bit of serendipity to PUHSD, with Colfax and Del Oro both staging Much Ado About Nothing and making the classic entirely their own. Colfax is performing its Y2K edition at the Colfax Performing Arts Center on November 13 at 7:00 p.m. and November 14 at 2:00 p.m., while Del Oro opens its western take at the Del Oro Theatre on November 12 and runs through November 15.

Placer offers the contemporary side of the season with The Apocalypse Project by living playwright Brian Daniel Oglesby, directed by Jason Sinclair Long, on November 13, 14, 20, and 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the Placer Auditorium. Foresthill follows with The Real Story of Alice in Wonderland on December 9, so there are plenty of chances to get out and support our student performers!
A joyous flag football team in green and white uniforms celebrates on a field under a scoreboard.
A wide-angle view from an auditorium audience looking at a brightly lit stage with a small theatrical set and three actors.

Preparing for What Comes Next

How are we preparing students for life after high school—and how can we support our neighbors as their goals change?

In this month’s Superintendent’s Corner, Tom O’Malley reflects on the district’s recent California School Dashboard results and the opportunities Placer School for Adults offers people pursuing their next chapter.

For a broader conversation about our schools, tune in to the State of the District. District leaders discuss teaching and learning, college and career preparation, and the priorities guiding our work.
Superintendent's Corner
Three people sit on stools for a panel discussion with the title 'The State of the District Address' in the background.
State of the District on YouTube
A man gestures while speaking to a group of adults gathered in an office meeting room.

Your Next Chapter Can Start Here

Thinking about a career change, returning to work, or exploring options after graduation? Placer School for Adults (PSA) can help you take the next step.

PSA celebrated the opening of its new College, Career & Counseling Center on November 2. Located at the Auburn campus, the center gives adult learners—including recent high school graduates—a dedicated place to explore education and career options and connect with counseling and support.

From healthcare and commercial driving programs to computer and workplace skills, PSA offers opportunities to prepare for what’s next, close to home.
Explore PSA’s Programs
A video call collage features three smiling individuals with text reading "TURNING PASSION INTO IMPACT" and "JOEY'S HOGS FOR THE HUNGRY".

Turning Passion into Impact: Joey’s Hogs for the Hungry

What happens when a student turns something he loves into a way to give back? Placer High School senior Joey Stefani is doing just that through Hogs for the Hungry, raising pigs to help feed local families. In the latest episode of The Point, Joey shares how his passion for agriculture became a community effort—and his plans to keep it going after graduation.

Watch or listen: Turning Passion into Impact: Joey’s Hogs for the Hungry
Watch the full episode.
A draped American flag serves as a backdrop for the text "WE DON'T KNOW THEM ALL, BUT WE Owe THEM ALL. WITH RESPECT HONOR AND GRATITUDE THANK YOU VETERANS."

Honoring Those Who Have Served

This Veterans Day, we thank the veterans in our school communities and across our region—including members of our staff, graduates, and students’ families. We are grateful for your service and the many ways you continue to contribute to our communities.

Placer High School’s music students will help honor local veterans at Auburn’s Veterans Day parade and ceremony. The band is scheduled to march in the parade, followed by a Wind Ensemble performance at the ceremony, a choir student singing the national anthem, and two students playing taps.

We’re proud to see our students use their talents to help carry forward this community tradition.

Reminder: There will be no school on Wednesday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day.
A graphic with white text on a dark green background that reads, "What could less driving do for your day? Time to find your Carpool." and features the "gokid" logo.
Sometimes it takes a few months to figure out the school-year routine—and see where you could use an extra hand.

If driving to and from school is one of those places, GoKid Connect can help you find nearby school families interested in carpooling. Connect, chat, and arrange shared rides that work for your schedules, with the potential to save time and gas money along the way.

Haven’t tried it yet? There’s still plenty of school year left to make your routine a little smoother.
Get started with GoKid
A graphic with an orange and white plaid background featuring autumn leaves, pumpkins, a stack of books, and the text "THE SQUEEZE: Its WHERE YOU GET THE JUICE November 2026".

More Than What’s on Their Plate

Did you know our Child Nutrition Services team shares recipes and practical tips each month to support student well-being at school and at home?

This month’s conversation starter: “How do you feel after scrolling?” Talking about what leaves teens feeling connected—or comparing themselves to others—can help families set healthy online boundaries together.

Find more tips and a seasonal recipe in November’s The Squeeze. Check your school’s cafeteria for the nutrition newsletter and full November menu.
 
Thank you for taking the time to catch up on what’s happening across PUHSD and for supporting our students and schools.

Have a great rest of your month! 

Bri Lynaugh 
Communications Specialist