Torrance Community,
As we begin our 2024-2025 school year, I want to personally welcome all of our new and returning families to Torrance Unified! I hope you will take the time to read the important items contained in this e-update.
I especially want to point out the two articles on safety and security at our schools and our joint responsibilities around these issues. The tragedy at Apalachee High School in Georgia this week should never be something that schools should face. However, this reality requires us to work closely together to remain vigilant and Say Something when we see warning signs.
On a brighter note, this year, we are unveiling an updated vision for our District. After more than 18 months of input, best practice research, and development, we have published our "Portrait of a Graduate." Our Portrait outlines the essential elements and skills that we want every student to obtain before they graduate from Torrance Unified. While this is not a new effort, we are excited to provide all of our staff and families with this common framework that defines the success we want to achieve for every student.
I look forward to sharing more updates with you as the year progresses,
Dr. Tim Stowe,
Superintendent of Schools
Thoughts After the Tragedy in Georgia
It is heartbreaking to start our school year with news about yet another school tragedy. The news reports make it abundantly clear that our Say Something Anonymous Reporting procedures and our Active Shooter Drills are a vital part of keeping both our staff and students safe. In this case, the schools received phone threats before the incident. Our procedures continue to be that we will always take every threat we receive very seriously. Torrance Police Department is linked into our security systems and we are very grateful for their immediate response to investigate any threat.
We must never become complacent. In addition to our focus on security we also remain committed to serving the mental health needs of our students. At just 14 years old, the troubled child at the center of the events at Apalachee High School has deep emotional needs that cannot be met by just a family or a school alone. We continue to build a safety net of mental health resources around all our students. We encourage you to use our Virtual Wellness Center and familiarize yourself with some of our top mental health tools including:
School Counselors and Wellness Centers
Every student has access to a school counselor. In addition, we contract with several local licensed therapists and social work interns who are available to support the mental health needs of our students. All of our high schools and some of our middle schools now have wellness centers for students to visit for added support.
Hazel Health
Students can access teletherapy with a licensed therapist at no cost. Students can access the assistance on any smartphone, tablet, or computer, and all visits are safe and confidential.
Care Solace
Offers an easy match service for families to find therapists to meet in person or online. In minutes you can filter by issue, age, gender, insurance, or location.
South Bay Families Connected
Free online Youth Wellness Resources for South Bay Families. Browse stories from real parents and teens on a variety of critical issues.
Allcove Beach Cities
Drop-in wellness center for teens 12-25 offering an array of tools including peer support, professional counselors, mental health resources, and career and college support, and more.
Torrance Police Join Us in Warning: BE CAREFUL!
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Recently our partners at the Torrance Police Department issued an official statement reminding us all to be extra careful, slow down, and follow the speed limit as we travel to and from schools with our students.
“Please drive like it is your child, grandchild, niece or nephew walking or riding their bike to school,” Torrance Police Sergeant David Koenig said. “Pick-up and drop-off times can be hectic, but it’s important to be patient and stay safe as children are getting to and from school. It is better to be slow than sorry.”
Most schools have specific instructions and signage that direct families on how to safely pull up to the school and drop off or pick up their students. Please take time to review them and work together with us to keep ALL of our students (and staff!) safe.
Students Ride the Metro for Free Again This Year!
Our Board of Education voted to extend the free Metro GoPass program for a second year, and we are proud to offer this continued benefit to all our students. The program includes a Metro TAP (Transit Access Pass) card that offers FREE unlimited rides on Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro) bus rail and subway lines, including Torrance Transit, Long Beach Transit, Culver CityBus, Gardena Transit (GTrans) and LADOT Dash.
If your student has a TAP card from last year, you will just need a new code, which you can pick up from our school offices. Our schools also have a stock of TAP cards for new riders or those who lost their old cards. New cards will need to be activated before being used. For more information, visit our Metro GoPass Information Page.
Discount Tickets to Upcoming USC Football Games
Thanks to our ongoing partnership with our generous partners at Reach Capacity, we are pleased that we can continue to offer all our families discounted tickets and deals for various local sporting events.
As we kick off football season, you are invited to enjoy two (2) discounted tickets to one of two select upcoming University of Southern California (USC) home games! The games will take place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at 3911 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90037 on September 28 (vs. Wisconsin), and October 25 (vs. Rutgers). If it helps your gameday experience, you can upgrade your seats for a better view or add another ticket for your family and friends to enjoy. For those who are quick, there also may be last minute tickets for this weekend's game against Utah.
To redeem your discounted tickets:
- Visit: https://fevo-enterprise.com/group/USCTUSDfamilies
- Choose your game and click, "Buy."
- Confirm your access by entering your work email, hit “Add," and click “Done.”
- Select your desired seating level and quantity of seats.
- Click "Add discount code" and enter "COLISEUM"
- Once discount code is applied, save $40 off each of your first two (2) tickets (fees still apply).
- Review and submit your order.
Important things to know:
Select your quantity of seats before entering the discount.
Pricing includes ticket price and fees and are reduced once discount is applied.
Additional seats and upgrades are available for purchase.
Tickets will be delivered via email.
Tickets are subject to availability, so don't wait to claim yours!
Tickets are not eligible for resale.
No refunds or exchanges.
For customer support, please click here or email communications@tusd.org.
We are Thankful for Our Supporters!
We continue to be very grateful for the incredible support from our Torrance Education Foundation, Torrance Council of PTAs and all of our generous corporate partners. Thank you for continuing to ensure our students have access to cutting-edge tools for a world-class education!
Torrance Education Foundation, Torrance Refining Company, IGT, Honda, Northrop Grumman, Sugatsune America, Open Water, Celestron, BirdDog Interactive, Dogtopia South Bay, & Intellisense Systems
Questions or Concerns? Reach out to communications@tusd.org
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