Principal's Message

Hello Tiger Nation and welcome back to what promises to be another great school year!

We start the school year on the heels of a spectacular 2024-25 athletic season where we saw 10 Rio Hondo League Championships, the most of any school in the league, including multiple back-to-back titles, three CIF-SS Championships, and three California State Championships. A special shout out to our amazing varsity Tiger Softball team who made it to CIF for the first time since 2009! On top of that, we saw multiple performances in visual and performing arts with dance, music, and theater, putting on numerous productions throughout the year that showcased the incredible amount of talent and energy our students have. Hopefully you had a chance to make it to at least one dance concert, one musical performance, and Spamalot, which was a laugh out loud incredible production by our drama students.

In addition to all of this SPHS received our best results ever on any California Healthy Kids Survey: more of our students are reporting that they are more connected to the adults on our campus and to their school than they ever have been since the survey has been given. We are extremely proud of the connections and the relationships that our staff are building with our students to ensure that South Pasadena High School is not only a place for academics, sports, and the arts, but also a place for them to call home.

At the end of the 2024-25 school year we had two notable departures from our teaching staff: Ms. Emily Chiang our longtime Mandarin teacher has retired and been replaced by Ms. Hannah Peng. We also said goodbye to Mrs. Maryann Nielsen, our long-time stalwart social studies teacher and expert at AP government. Stepping in to fill the open position in social studies is Mr. Joseph Zelidon. Lastly, Mrs. Katherine Buck in our Physical Education department has moved from teaching at the high school to the middle school. She has been replaced by Ms. Christa Kojima.

Hopefully, you had some opportunity to travel this summer. Every year I have had the pleasure of being able to report to you that I spent some time with my family traveling abroad and experiencing the wonders the world has. This summer we spent three weeks in Europe, “land snorkeling,” drifting with no particular direction or plan, wandering and wondering through multiple capitals, their cafés, their museums, and taking in the sites. I feel rested and ready for another great school year and I hope you do as well.

Lastly, let’s not forget that our school is special because of our parents and the people that support it. Key to those efforts are the PTSA, the Boosters, and the Music Boosters. I highly encourage you to join each of these organizations in order to better contribute to the experience that your student will have this school year.

Once again welcome back to what promises to be another spectacular school year. We hope you are as refreshed and reinvigorated as we are and can’t wait to welcome you back to your home away from home. I look forward to seeing all of you at the many events that take place throughout our school year starting with our PTSA coffee in front of school on Wednesday, August 13. Thank you and once again welcome back!