pA:7, v10.37 — Education & Youth

Education & Youth

Mountain Views News Saturday, September 10, 2016

MVNews this week: Page A:7

EDUCATION & YOUTH

Mountain Views-News Saturday, September 10, 2016

SCHOOL DIRECTORY

PASADENA UNIFIED ESTABLISHES FOSTER

YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL

Pasadena, CA – At its meeting on August 25, 2016, the Pasadena
Unified School District (PUSD) Board of Education approved the
establishment of the Foster Youth Guardians/Parents and Advocates
Council (FYGPAC) to assist in the academic success of foster students
in the district. The purpose of the council is to improve the overall
functioning of students and to facilitate their educational experience
by addressing their academic, emotional, and behavioral needs.

“The Council brings together the internal and external resources
of our community to support children at the most vulnerable times
in their lives,” said Eric Sahakian, Executive Director of Child
Welfare, Attendance and Safety, who is leading the district’s foster
youth services. “With strong collaboration between partners and
service agencies, we are better equipped to support foster youth
through this time in their lives and to prepare them to be successful.”

During the 2015-2016 academic year, there were over 640 foster
care youth enrolled in PUSD, with an average of 400 foster students
enrolled at any point in time.

Services available for foster youth in 2015-2016 included:

Project YES (Youth Educational Supports), an academic and
social/emotional program at Eliot Middle School and Wilson Middle
School

Foster youth sensitivity training for district employees on trauma
endured by foster youth

Foster youth community liaison position added to assess foster
youth students for academic, attendance, and behavioral needs via
an Individualized Success Plan

Two pilot Resource Centers for foster youth added at Eliot Middle
School and John Muir High School in partnership with PCC and All
Saint’s Church Foster Care Project

Two Intervention Specialists added to launch the Mentors for
L.I.F.E. program for middle school students, including foster youth,
and provide individual support for attendance and behavioral
challenges

The Council, which consists of guardians/parents, students,
community advocates, professionals affiliated with foster youth
group homes, district staff, and Pasadena City College staff, has a
developed a five-point work plan for improvement, ranging from
trauma-informed care for delivery of mental health services;
improving the transition from special education to mainstream;
training of staff; and improved information about and access to
district services and programs.

The Council will meet monthly at Pasadena City College and serve
as a resource for guardians and parents of foster youth to get involved
and to obtain information about district services for foster youth.
FYGPAC meets on the third Thursday of every month from 12 –
1:30 p.m. in Bungalow 5 on the Foothill Campus of Pasadena City
College (formerly known as CEC), 3035 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena.

FYGPAC is supported by the PUSD Office of Child Welfare,
Attendance and Safety. For more information, visit gopusd.com/
cwas

Stay connected to the Pasadena Unified School District!
Visit us online at www.pusd.us; follow us on Twitter @
PasadenaUnified, www.twitter.com/PasadenaUnified; like us on
Facebook at www.facebook.com/PasadenaUnifiedSchoolDistrict;
subscribe to PUSD Today! at gopusd.com/today; subscribe to our
YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/klrnpasadena. Or call the
Communications Office, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
at (626) 396-3606.

Alverno High School

200 N. Michillinda Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-3463 Head of School: Ann M. Gillick

E-mail address: agillick@alverno-hs.org

Arcadia High School

180 Campus Drive Arcadia, CA 91007

Phone: (626) 821-8370, Principal: Brent Forsee

bforsee@ausd.net

Arroyo Pacific Academy

41 W. Santa Clara St. Arcadia, Ca,

(626) 294-0661 Principal: Phil Clarke

E-mail address: pclarke@arroyopacific.org

Barnhart School

240 W. Colorado Blvd Arcadia, Ca. 91007

(626) 446-5588 Head of School: Ethan Williamson

Kindergarten - 8th grade

website: www.barnhartschool.org

Bethany Christian School

93 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-3527

Principal: Dr. William Walner

website: www. bcslions.org

Clairbourn School

8400 Huntington Drive

San Gabriel, CA 91775

Phone: 626-286-3108 ext. 172

FAX: 626-286-1528

E-mail: jhawes@clairbourn.org

Foothill Oaks Academy

822 Bradbourne Ave., Duarte, CA 91010

(626) 301-9809

Co-Principals Nancy Lopez and Diane Kieffaber

info@foothilloaksacademy.org

preschool@foothilloaksacademy.org

Frostig School

971 N. Altadena Drive Pasadena, CA 91107

(626) 791-1255

Head of School: Jenny Janetzke

Email: jenny@frostig.org

The Gooden School

192 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-2410

Interim Head of School, Merrily Dunlap

website: www.goodenschool.org

High Point Academy

1720 Kinneloa Canyon Road Pasadena, Ca. 91107

Head of School: Gary Stern 626-798-8989

website: www.highpointacademy.org

La Salle High School

3880 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Pasadena, Ca.

(626) 351-8951 website: www.lasallehs.org

Principal Bro. Christopher Brady, FSC

Monrovia High School

325 East Huntington Drive, Monrovia, CA 91016

(626) 471-2800 Principal Darvin Jackson

Email: schools@monrovia.k12.ca.us

Odyssey Charter School

725 W. Altadena Dr. Altadena, Ca. 91001

(626) 229-0993 Head of School: Lauren O’Neill

website: www.odysseycharterschool.org

Pasadena High School

2925 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Pasadena, Ca.

(626) 396-5880 Principal: Roberto Hernandez

website: http://phs.pusd.us

St. Rita Catholic School

322 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

Principal Joan Harabedian (626) 355-9028

website: www.st-rita.org

Sierra Madre Elementary School

141 W. Highland Ave, Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-1428 Principal: Esther Salinas

E-mail address: salinas.esther@pusd.us

Sierra Madre Middle School

160 N. Canon Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 836-2947 Principal: Garrett Newsom

E-mail address: newsom.garrett@pusd.us

Walden School

74 S San Gabriel Blvd

Pasadena, CA 91107 (626) 792-6166

www.waldenschool.net

Weizmann Day School

1434 N. Altadena Dr. Pasadena, Ca. 91107

(626) 797-0204

Lisa Feldman: Head of School

Wilson Middle School

300 S. Madre St. Pasadena, Ca. 91107

(626) 449-7390 Principal: Ruth Esseln

E-mail address: resseln@pusd.us

Pasadena Unified School District

351 S. Hudson Ave., Pasadena, Ca. 91109

(626) 396-3600 Website: www.pusd@pusd.us

rcadia Unified School District

234 Campus Dr., Arcadia, Ca. 91007

(626) 821-8300 Website: www.ausd.net

Monrovia Unified School District

325 E. Huntington Dr., Monrovia, Ca. 91016

(626) 471-2000 Website: www.monroviaschools.net

Duarte Unified School District

1620 Huntington Dr., Duarte, Ca. 91010

(626)599-5000 Website: www.duarte.k12.ca.us

THE PASADENA EDUCATION NETWORK ANNOUNCES

FREE PARENT PROGRAMS

Programs Connect Parents with Each Other & Pasadena Unified Public School Options

Selecting a school is one of the most important decisions a parent
will make, yet myth and misperception often cloud conversations
about public schools. As more families consider Pasadena Unified
public schools, the Pasadena Education Network (PEN), a network
of nearly 1,200 parents who send their children to and support the
Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD), presents a series of free
programs to help parents understand their public school options in
Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre.

PEN’s series of programs offers an overview of PUSD options from
kindergarten through high school, including tools for evaluating
educational options and an opportunity to meet parents of students
who attend schools across the district. The fall parent programs
kick-off with “Choosing the Right Elementary School” on Tuesday,
September 19 at 6:30 p.m. at All Saints Church, Sweetland Hall,
132 No. Euclid Avenue, Pasadena. Dr. Mikala Rahn, the president
of Public Works, a non-profit organization that evaluates schools
throughout the state, provides parents of pre-school aged children
with valuable information about what to look for when evaluating
an elementary school for their children. Parents whose children
attend schools throughout PUSD will be on hand during a reception
following the presentation.

PEN’s other programs include “Myth vs. Reality: Middle School
Parent Panel” on September 28 at Norma Coombs School and “High
School Options” on October 18 at McKinley School. The series
concludes on November 29 at the Pasadena Central Library with a
program devoted to understanding the district’s open enrollment
process whereby families can apply to attend a school other than their
assigned neighborhood school. Complete program information and
times, school information, and school tour schedules are available at
www.penfamilies.org.

All programs are free. Spanish translation is available upon
request. Please contact info@penfamilies.org.

The Pasadena Education Network (PEN) is an independent,
grassroots nonprofit organization that promotes family participation
in public education to ensure a quality education for all students in
Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre. PEN provides services to help
parents explore, evaluate, and engage with our community’s public
schools. For more information visit www.penfamilies.org .

GREAT GEAR AND TOOLS
TO MOTIVATE STUDENTS THIS
BACK-TO-SCHOOL SEASON

(StatePoint) While some students are eager to return to the
classroom, others may need a little motivation and inspiration.

Add a bit of excitement to the new school year by gearing up with
the latest and greatest educational tools and school accessories.

A New Set of Wheels

Make getting out the door more appealing by giving students
a way to get to school and other activities in style. A new set of
wheels -- bicycle wheels that is -- encourages exercise and fosters
independence. Just be sure you opt for a model that has the latest
safety and durability features.

Any great bike is not complete without a helmet. With so many
cool designs and styles available today, finding one that fits
properly and looks great should not be a challenge.

Innovative Music Equipment

Help inspire young musicians with space-saving equipment that
doesn’t compromise sound or quality. For example, the latest
addition to Casio’s well-known Privia line of digital pianos, the
PX-160, features the sound of a 9-foot concert grand with speakers
that project towards both the player and audience. It provides split
and layer capability allowing students to play bass with the left
hand and have two layered tones for the right.

A great feature for the student learning to play is duet mode,
which allows the keyboard to be split into two equal ranges, so
the student and teacher can play simultaneously. The model
also features left and right 1/4” audio outputs, making it easy for
musicians to connect to other devices for external amplification or
recording purposes, as well as simulated ebony and ivory-textured
keys for a realistic piano touch. More information can be found at
CasioMusicGear.com.

Study Aid

Ease the pain of cramming for an exam with a high-quality
music system that allows users to stream their favorite tracks via
Bluetooth from a computer or mobile device and is paired with an
excellent set of speakers. There are many set-ups that are perfect
for portability and small rooms -- ideal for high schoolers, college
students and others on-the-go.

Send your student to school in style. Great new tools and
accessories can give the new school year a bit of extra appeal, while
encouraging students to get active, get creative and hit the books.

EYE EXAMS AND CLEAR
VISION EMPOWER STUDENTS
TO LEARN MORE

Every child deserves the opportunity to excel in the classroom,
and clear vision empowers students to perform up to twice as well
in school, according to research from the Rural Education Action
Program. In fact, experts at The Vision Council confirm that 80
percent of children’s learning occurs through visual processing.

Unfortunately, many kids are missing out by not getting proper
eye care. Thirty-five percent of children have never seen a vision
care professional, according to The Vision Care Institute. And of
those that do take and fail a vision screening, a large portion don’t
receive follow-up from an eye care professional.

“An eye exam should be part of every family’s back-to-school
check list to help ensure children reach their full potential in the
classroom,” says Lisa Curcuruto, Focus on Sight program manager
at OneSight, an independent nonprofit that provides underserved
students and communities worldwide with comprehensive
eye exams and glasses. “Through the OneSight Focus on Sight
program, we are committed to helping students in need and their
families have access to vision care and glasses. We believe every
child deserves the opportunity to excel.”

Throughout the school year, parents should also periodically
check in with children to ask how school is going and if they are
having any trouble seeing the board. Many kids don’t share their
vision struggles with parents or teachers and lose interest in the
classroom.

Families can also help all students see better and succeed in
school by providing eye care to children in need. OneSight works
with local communities to provide vision care to students during
their school day. Consider making a donation to OneSight,
which works with school-based health centers to integrate
vision care into their healthcare offerings. The OneSight school-
based vision centers provide students in need and their families
access to comprehensive eye exams, quality glasses and repair
of glasses. In addition, the vision centers can provide referrals to
ophthalmologists for complicated eye issues and education on the
importance of eye health and
wellness. To learn more, visit
onesight.org.

The importance of clear vision
can’t be overstated. Help kids
make the most of school by
ensuring they are headed back
to the classroom with the vision
care they need to succeed.

We’d like

to hear

from you!

What’s on
YOUR Mind?

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com