About
Who we are
Established in 1919, the South Pasadena High School Parent-Teacher-Student Association promotes communication and interaction within the school community and serves as a resource for parents, teachers, and students.
Parent involvement in a student’s education is extremely important to student success.
Objectives of the PTSA:
- To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community and place of worship.
- To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.
- To bring into closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth.
- To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical, mental, social and spiritual education.
What we do
With your support, the SPHS PTSA runs these and many other programs.
Advocacy: The California State PTA joins with members from our local PTA units to advocate for the improved health and safety of all children and improved funding for public education. For more information, please click here.
Grad Nite: SPHS PTSA coordinates this exciting evening for just-graduated seniors to help them safely celebrate their graduation. For more information, please click here.
Newsletter: SPHS PTSA publishes an E-newsletter which presents upcoming SPHS events, academic news, athletic and extra-curricular achievements and reports from department staff. The newsletter is sent to all PTSA members or you can subscribe here.
Parent Forums: SPHS PTSA provides a wide range of forums to help parents support their student’s success, learn more about services and activities at SPHS, and learn about PTA advocacy. Please click here for more information.
PTSA Distinguished Student Awards and Scholarships: SPHS PTSA offers several awards to graduating student SPHS PTSA members. Applications are judged on the basis of student support of the Objectives of the PTSA in their community service and extracurricular activities. For more information, please click here.
Reflections Art: SPHS PTSA solicits, coordinates and submits entries in visual arts, photography, literature, dance, music and film production from all SPHS students for this prestigious National PTA art competition For more information, please click here.
Student Club Mini-Grant Program: Students at SPHS share their non-classroom interests in over 50 active on-campus clubs. PTSA supports the “whole student” through mini-grants available for club activities. Student club officers learn about the grant application process, how to complete and submit a grant application and how to communicate with a grant committee. For more information, please click here.
Teacher and Staff Appreciation: SPHS PTSA periodically arranges events to show our appreciation for all that our teachers and staff do all year. For more information, please click here.
Wish Night: When the SPUSD budget cannot meet all the demands for classroom equipment and supplies to enrich students’ education, then the PTSA can fill the gap. Helping faculty obtain materials necessary to keep classrooms well equipped is important, and a great way to directly support the classrooms is to donate to the Wish Night Mini-Grant Program. Faculty members apply for funds by submitting a mini-grant application to a committee consisting of the principal and PTSA officers. To learn more, click here. For teachers who want to submit a request, click here.
Volunteers: SPHS PTSA helps to coordinate many volunteer opportunities at SPHS including for registration, translation, special events, school committees, career awareness, grad night, chaperones, awards committee, staff appreciation, Grad Night, Wish Night, etc. To volunteer, click here.
Board members
2023-2024
| President | Rachel Fox |
| Executive Vice President | Kim Carlson |
| Programs | Kristen Swift |
| Membership | Kathy Baumann |
| Ways and Means | Judy Woo |
| Recording Secretary | Heather Long |
| Treasurer | Grace Kung |
| Auditor | Karin Burger |
| Historian | Jim Dowd |
| Parliamentarian | Crystal Arceo |
| Principal/Advisor | John Eldred |
| Teacher Representative | Casey Shotwell |
committee chairs
2023-2024
| Communications – Newsletter | Maureen Whitman |
| Communications – PTSA Website | Susan Yoshimura |
| Student Club Mini-Grants | Tammy Seldon |
| Financial Coordinator | Jim Dowd |
| Grad Night | Sean Teer, Ittai Shadmon |
| Hospitality | Cecilia Alva |
| Honorary Service Awards | Sorrel Barnard |
| Honorary Service Luncheon | Sally Hwang |
| Legislation | Want to volunteer? |
| Reflections Art | Kate Wilson and Jenny Bright |
| Registration | Betsy Deleon |
| Senior Scholarships | Chrissy Feldman |
| Teacher and Staff Appreciation | Emilia Aldana |
| Volunteer Coordinator | Yuen Chung |
| Wish Night Coordinators | Adrienne Shanley and Katrina Lowstutter |