LLESD 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

The Las Lomitas Elementary School District continues its efforts to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for students

SAFE FIREARM STORAGE

California legislators passed AB 452 which, starting in the academic year 2023-2024, will require schools to inform parents and guardians about the legal requirements for storing firearms at home

Prompted by the new legislation, LLESD is including firearm prevention as part of its comprehensive safety efforts Pati Ortiz, a parent in the district and advocate with Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety, presented information about risks of gun access among youth and the benefits of safe gun storage to members of the school board, the district’s wellness committee, and the district’s joint committee on priorities (JCOP).

LLESD shared best practices for safe firearm storage and tips for talking about gun safety with children with its community, and is promoting the Be SMART messaging to help keep families safe from gun violence:

S - Secure all guns in your homes and vehicles

M - Model responsible behavior around guns

A - Ask about the presence of guns in other homes

R - Recognize the role of guns in suicide

T - Tell your peers to Be SMART

On February 8, the LLESD governing board adopted a resolution to support district efforts that will raise awareness about this issue

LLESD continues to follow procedures outlined in the San Mateo County’s Big 5 Emergency Preparedness Plan and shares these resources with families

HEALTH EDUCATION

LLESD is in the process of reviewing its TK-8 health education program to ensure that all students receive classroom lessons that align with the California health education content standards, and to develop complementary health-promoting campus and after school opportunities.

Efforts are underway at the Las Lomitas Elementary School Pictured, students learn about dental hygiene during a health lesson in PE. Entertainingly, during a nutrition lesson when staff suggested students eat nutritious foods to fuel their bodies like gas fuels a car, students quickly commented that in addition to gas one could “plug your car in instead ” Staff will need to adjust examples for an audience of students who live in the Bay Area in 2023!

Staff at the La Entrada Middle School redesigned the comprehensive sexual health program All sexual health information was previously provided to students during the spring of their eighth grade year, but will now be woven across multiple grades Starting in AY 2023-2024, an outside agency will deliver puberty and hygiene information to students in grades 5 in the fall, students will learn about reproductive health in science class in grade 7, and students in grade 8 will focus on relational and communication skills La Entrada is adhering to the Menstrual Equity Act which now requires schools to provide menstrual products in campus bathrooms, and is sharing a state-developed Menstrual Equity Handbook with students and families to help them understand the impetus and requirements for this law

LLESD intends to prioritize a district-wide comprehensive health education audit across all grade levels beginning 2023-2024 Stay tuned!

SHE ENVIRONMENT

La Entrada Middle School students have formed an environmental club with the goals of raising awareness about a myriad of environmental issues and engaging fellow students in steps to make the middle school campus more sustainable The students partnered with the librarians to create a permanent display of vegetarian cookbooks and books about climate change, and have replaced all paper volunteer badges with reusable pins and hand-sewn sashes. During recesses in April students will be invited to participate in gardening activities using recycled materials and blending fruit/vegetable smoothies with power generated from a bicycle

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING

It is a high priority of LLESD that students are provided classroom- and campus-based opportunities to learn about and practice skills that help build their social emotional competencies

A district-wide staff committee is in the process of auditing what SEL resources are currently in use, identifying gaps in instruction and activities, researching best practices in the field, and proposing a district-wide approach to SEL to be implemented in 2023-2024

While the curriculum adoption process is in progress, other opportunities that build students’ social emotions are ongoing and successful. In December 2022, the elementary school leadership team, the Roarrios, visited the La Entrada middle school; as part of a school-wide SEL project middle school students decorated their classroom doors and the Roarriors were tasked with voting on their favorite winter-themed display Roarriors continue to promote the school-wide SEL Character Traits Program, including leading activities during Friday recess They also introduced themselves and presented their efforts at the February 2023 board meeting, which included sharing the new Peace Pad tools that will be painted on the recess yard to help guide students through the steps of conflict resolution

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