School Support Services Division
Fall 2019
The SSS Division welcomes you to our Fall newsletter edition. The newsletter showcases the activities of the Division and provides information on upcoming events, and how to access our Division's services and supports. Enjoy!
Pasadena Unified School District, SSS Division:
- Office of Child Welfare, Attendance and Safety
- Families in Transition
- Office of Health & Wellness
- Office of Enrollment, Permits, and Student Records
- Pasadena USD Mental Health Services
- Center for Student and Family Services
Center for Student and Family Services (SFS)
SFS Open House 2019
Here to support All PUSD families!
PUSD School Board Member, Dr. Elizabeth Pomeroy & SFS Coordinator, Eric Alvarez
Office of Health and Wellness
Walk to School Day- 2019
It was a fun morning at Longfellow ES with lots of activities and resources for the PUSD community. Our Partners and local organizations had a variety of tables demonstrating physical activity, sharing health information, and Nutrition Education.
Joining us were Elected Officials, PUSD Elected Board Members, Pasadena Police Department, Pasadena Fire Department, Families in Transition, Young & Healthy, Pasadena Public Health Department, and more.
Pasadena USD Mental Health Services
Team Collaboration
The PUSD Mental Health Services program is part of a monthly collaboration with the International Academy at Blair Middle/High School to ensure that the students receive the mental health supports needed to succeed academically. PUSD MHS is joined by CWAS, Blair Administration, Young and Healthy community based organization, and International Academy leadership. Together we plan on providing mental health services, case management services, linkage services, and all around supports for these students that are experiencing a difficult transition in their lives. Our mission is to close the gap in services by assessing our collective resources, identifying the needs of these students, and providing services to this population of students at Blair Schools.
Office of Enrollment, Permits, and Student Records
On-The-Go!
The Enrollment Permits and Student Records office has been working since August to launch a new online platform for open enrollment/school choice. The Smart Choice platform, an online software system powered by Firefly Digital, Inc., offers application, lottery and waitlist management. The Smart Choice platform is easy-to-use, designed for parents and non-techie school staff to make the complex and significant process of admissions, selection and registration fair, honest and equitable.
Some exciting new features will be added this year. Smart Choice ON-THE-GO is a mobile extension that provides a way for parents to submit and manage their applications via smart phone or tablet device. SMS/Text Messaging helps parents stay up-to-date, all the time, everywhere they go.
Office of Child Welfare, Attendance, and Safety
Elementary School Supports
Helping students develop a strong sense of empathy is important because it helps promote and improve students' attitudes and beliefs about themselves, improves their relationships with others, and, in turn excel academically.
Social Emotional Learning efforts are being offered to 2nd grade classes in PUSD with a series of classroom presentations that focus on empathy and conflict resolution. The presentations use a combination of Second Step as well as other SEL curriculum and are done in a series of three 30 minute presentations in each classroom.
Need support in navigating our services?
PUSD SSS Division/Contact Information:
Eric Sahakian, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent- SSS Division
- Office of Child Welfare, Attendance and Safety- (626) 396-3600 x 88230; Vanessa Torres, Ed.D., Coordinator
- Families in Transition- (626) 396-5782; Ms. Socorro Naranjo Rocha, Sr. Community Advocate
- Office of Health & Wellness- (626) 396-3600 x 88243; Ms. Ann Rector, Director
- Office of Enrollment, Permits and Student Records- (626) 396-3600 x 88340; Trudell Skinner, Ed.D., Coordinator
- Pasadena USD Mental Health Services-(626) 396-5920; Ms. Erica Villalpando, Program Manager
- Center for Student and Family Services- (626) 396-5782; Mr. Eric Alvarez, Coordinator