BRSSD HSI Newsletter Spring 2023

HEALTHY SCHOOLS INITIATIVE (HSI)

Dear Healthy Schools Initiative (HSI) community,

We are excited to introduce you to the new Director of School Health at Sequoia Healthcare District - Ann Wasson Ann has more than 25 years of experience in program development, fostering partnerships, community engagement, and cultivating collaborative advocacy in Los Angeles and Monterey County She was the Public Affairs Officer for the LA County Medical Association, a Director of the Violence Intervention Program at LAC+ USC Medical Center, the Director of Fiscal Sponsorship Programs and Grants Administration for the Action Council of Monterey County, and the Founder/Director of “Blue Crew,” a servicelearning program to address climate change through youth voice and leadership

Ann has made civic engagement and service to her community a priority She has served on the Boards of Young & Healthy, National Charity League and Junior League of Pasadena, Carmel River Elementary School Site Council, and Action Council of Monterey County, and in leadership positions for such organizations as Women in Public Affairs, Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect, California Service-Learning Leadership Institute, Monterey Bay Christ Child Society and Carmel Unified School District Social and Emotional Learning Team

In her role as SHD’s Director of School Health, Ann will identify health and safety needs, provide vision and leadership, and collaborate with school district wellness coordinators and community partners

Ann holds a Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology / Industrial Organizational Psychology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from California State University, Los Angeles, graduating Magna cum laude both times while swimming for the NCAA Division II Intercollegiate Swim Team She also holds a Service-Learning Certification from the California Department of Education

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL)

The Belmont-Redwood Shores School District (BRSSD) has made a dedicated effort to strengthen our social-emotional learning (SEL) systems and practices this academic year. To achieve this, we partnered with TeachWell, a nonprofit organization focused on supporting educators in their professional development, resilience, and retention, to explore innovative ways to implement SEL in the classroom

Our partnership with TeachWell led to the establishment of the SEL Academy, which was attended by a small but enthusiastic group of educators Through this program, we delved deeper into the 5 Core Competencies outlined by CASEL, beginning with a thorough examination of how these competencies relate to our roles as educators and then exploring their practical applications in our classrooms As a result, the participants gained a more comprehensive understanding of the competencies and how to effectively integrate them into their interactions with students

The SEL Academy provided us with a clearer understanding of the current state of our district's SEL practices and how to improve them One of the key ways to achieve this is by implementing an SEL curriculum, which we plan to launch at the beginning of the 2023/2024 academic year To determine the most suitable curriculum for our district and students, teachers are currently piloting various options. The SEL Pilot Committee, with support from TeachWell, initiated this process by focusing on the fundamental components of SEL to make informed decisions regarding which curricula to include in our pilot. Our goal is to present our recommendation to the school board in June.

Overall, our collaboration with TeachWell has been a valuable resource in enhancing our SEL practices and equipping our educators with the knowledge and skills needed to support our students' social-emotional growth. We are excited to continue our partnership with TeachWell as we progress toward our goal of creating a more supportive and nurturing learning environment for all students

PARENT EDUCATION

How to Give Advice Your Children

(Might) Listen To

Eran Magen, PhD, Founder, Parenting for Humans

Friday, April 28, 2023

12:00pm – 1:00pm PT

Online Event (Live)

How can you give advice that your child or teen (might) listen to? We want to educate and inform our kids, but what's the best way to make sure your message is well received?

Join us for a new Parent Forum (English) with Eran Magen, PhD, parent-child communication expert and founder of Parenting for Humans Register here

Cultivating Mindfulness: How to Bring Gratitude and Positive Practices into Your Home (Spanish)

Karen Allen, Mindful Educator, Mission Be

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

5:30pm – 6:30pm PT

Online Event (Live)

In this webinar, Karen Allen, Mindful Educator with Mission Be, a mindfulness-based nonprofit organization, will guide you on how to cultivate mindfulness, including gratitude and positivity in your lives, homes, and families Register here

EDUCACIÓN PARA PADRES

Cómo dar consejos que sus hijos (podrían) escuchar

Eran Magen, PhD, fundador, Parenting for Humans

Viernes, 28 de abril de 2023

12:00pm – 1:00pm PT evento en línea (en vivo)

¿Cómo puede dar consejos que su hijo o adolescente (podría) escuchar? Queremos educar e informar a nuestros hijos, pero ¿cuál es la mejor manera de asegurarnos de que su mensaje sea bien recibido?

Únase a nosotros para un nuevo Foro de Padres (inglés) con Eran Magen, PhD, experto en comunicación entre padres e hijos y fundador de Parenting for Humans Registrese aquí

Cultivando la atención plena: cómo llevar gratitud y prácticas positivas a su hogar (español)

Karen Allen, educadora consciente, Mission Be

Miércoles 3 de mayo de 2023

5:30pm – 6:30pm PT evento en línea (en vivo)

En este seminario web, Karen Allen, educadora consciente de Mission Be, una organización sin fines de lucro basada en la atención plena, lo guiará sobre cómo cultivar la atención plena, incluyendo la gratitud y la positividad en sus vidas, hogares y familias Registrese aquí

INICIATIVA ESCUELAS SALUDABLES (IES)

Estimada comunidad de la Iniciativa de Escuelas Saludables (IES), Nos complace presentarle a la nueva Directora de Salud Escolar en el Distrito de Salud de Sequoia: Ann Wasson Ann tiene más de 25 años de experiencia en el desarrollo de programas, el fomento de asociaciones, la participación comunitaria y el cultivo de la defensa colaborativa en Los Ángeles y el condado de Monterey Fue Oficial de Asuntos Públicos de la Asociación Médica del Condado de Los Ángeles, Directora del Programa de Intervención de Violencia en LAC+ USC Medical Center, Directora de Programas de Patrocinio Fiscal y Administración de Subvenciones para el Consejo de Acción del Condado de Monterey, y Fundadora/Directora de "Blue Crew", un programa de aprendizaje de servicio para abordar el cambio climático a través de la voz y el liderazgo de los jóvenes

Ann ha hecho del compromiso cívico y el servicio a su comunidad una prioridad Ha servido en las Juntas de Young & Healthy, National Charity League y Junior League of Pasadena, Carmel River Elementary School Site Council y Action Council of Monterey County, y en posiciones de liderazgo para organizaciones como Women in Public Affairs, Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect, California Service-Learning Leadership Institute, Monterey Bay Christ Child Society y Carmel Unified School District Social y Emotional Learning Team

En su papel como Directora de Salud Escolar de SHD, Ann identificará las necesidades de salud y seguridad, proporcionará visión y liderazgo, y colaborará con los coordinadores de bienestar del distrito escolar y los socios comunitarios

Ann tiene una Maestría en Ciencias en Psicología Clínica / Psicología Organizacional Industrial y una Licenciatura en Ciencias del Ejercicio de la Universidad Estatal de California, Los Ángeles, graduándose Magna cum laude ambas veces mientras nadaba para el Equipo de Natación Intercolegial de la División II de la NCAA También tiene una Certificación de Aprendizaje de Servicio del Departamento de Educación de California