MPCSD 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

WELCOME TO MENLO PARK

Menlo Park has started off the 2023 Year with such exciting news and more to come

ACHIEVING YOUR BEST SELF – LEARNING ABOUT THE POWER OF EMOTIONS

The New Year has begun Some of us are excited about what 2023 will bring while others may be experiencing a range of mixed emotions As MPCSD is learning about the power of emotions through The RULER Approach (SEL program), we are learning that it is important for us to recognize and understand that we all experience a range of unpleasant and pleasant emotions from morning to night, each day of our lives We can allow them to come and go with the understanding that they bring us valuable information By accepting their existence, making space for them, and acknowledging their utility, we can support the full experience of emotions in ourselves, which allows us to better support our students and families

Recognizing, Understanding, and Labeling our emotions are the key to achieving our best selves One RULER practice for igniting or reigniting motivation is to reconnect with our idea of who we want to be (our best self)

We accomplish this by

Paying attention to what’s going on for us emotionally, Listening to others as they communicate about their emotions, Looking for emotional cues in ourselves and others, Asking others how they’re feeling, and Reminding ourselves and others of the benefits of emotions

At the beginning of March 2023, we had 35 administrators and teaching staff attend a two-day RULER conference to learn new skills that they could bring back to staff to further implement our SEL program in all our schools.

SUPERINTENDENT GRACIA

At the beginning of January 2023, Menlo Park welcomed in our new Superintendent, Kristen Gracia Kristen is “home grown ” She has been in Menlo Park for over 20 years as a teacher, vice principal, principal, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, and now Superintendent She lives in Menlo Park and her kids have all gone through the Menlo Park School We are so excited to see where she takes us in the coming years

CALIFORNIA DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL AWARDS

Congratulations to our entire community, especially our students and staff, for being recipients of the 2023 California Distinguished School Award! This year State Superintendent Thurmond recognized exemplary elementary schools based on one of two categories: closing the achievement gap and achieving exceptional student performance We are proud to celebrate all three of our elementary schools: Encinal, Laurel, and Oak Knoll who were selected for this honor due to their tireless and ongoing efforts to ensure all students engage, achieve, and thrive here in MPCSD

PAWZITIVITY

Our newest school employees will be arriving in April 2023 We started this search in March 2022 and with the support of the MPAEF we are making this dream come true for every school campus

As stated before, MPCSD has partnered with the nonprofit 4pawzstrong.com to bring these dogs to each of our schools. This program is based out of Michigan and has provided over 100 dogs to different Michigan Schools. This nonprofit has provided support to those high school and university communities in Michigan who were victims of recent school shootings

PAWZITIVITY CONT.

These dogs are not Service Dogs or Emotional Support dogs but have had extensive training over the last year working in schools and in different community settings Our dogs will live with a staff member from each school and will come to work every day and provide a little Pawzitivity with wag And if you are lucky, even a lick

We know from research that these Facility Dogs will be able to: Assist teachers working with students who feel angry, are being bullied, bully others, or have other behavior problems

Help students who feel anxious, sad, or upset at school. Help students read and understand stories better by having them read to the dogs. Help without saying any words. Help children feel better if they are having a bad day and to also feel safe.

These are partners we work with in the Menlo Park City School District Thank you to each of them for their ongoing support

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