HEALTHY SCHOOLS INITIATIVE (HSI) SPRING 2022 NEWSLETTER
MESSAGE FROM SEQUOIA HEALTHCARE DISTRICT Dear Healthy Schools Initiative (HSI) community, After many months of masking, symptom surveillance, and continued vaccination, San Mateo County has followed state guidance and recently eased up on Covid precautions. However, our school communities have persevered through a very difficult 2021-22 school year and in fact our county case numbers have recently increased. We must remain vigilant as summer break approaches and especially as we prepare for the new school year. Please encourage your friends and family members to continue masking, have Covid test kits on hand, and to get vaccinated and boosted. This is the only way to end this pandemic. Once again, I’d like to thank our school leaders, teachers and staff, school nurses, parents, and all of our students for coming together this school year with a focus on health and safety. Sequoia Healthcare District is here to serve you with our ongoing annual commitment of over $4.5 million for schools, and we are hopeful for a better year ahead. Please visit seqhd.org/hsi to learn more about our Healthy Schools Initiative. Here are some photos from our May 21st "Health Fair on the Square" in honor of Sequoia Healthcare District’s 75th Anniversary!
Karen E. Li, MD Director of School Health Healthy Schools Initiative
SCHOOL DISTRICTS WE SERVE
HEALTH FAIR ON THE SQUARE
SPRING 2022 HSI NEWSLETTER
A NEW YEAR It goes without saying that the focus of the last two years in schools and the community has been on managing all factors COVID. And, it is so exciting that it seems we are finally coming out on the other end. However, within weeks into the pandemic the emotional toll on students, staff, parents, and the greater community were bigger than any one of us had expected. What has become clear is that schools play a vital role in raising kids, supporting parents, and being that community connection. In Menlo Park, this was the challenge we knew we had to address over many years. So, besides COVID, Menlo Park’s main focus has been on building Healthy and Collaborative Relationships with students, staff, parents and the community. It is the belief of the Menlo Park City School District that this is this foundation of all learning. It is my belief that the struggles and challenges of the last two years not only highlighted how much schools are needed in our communities but how much we need each other. Menlo Park is excited to see what is a head of us and what tomorrow will bring so we can help students and families build healthy and strong relationships.
RULER APPROACH Over the past year, MPCSD has embarked on a multi-year process to build a comprehensive SEL program district wide (preschool-8th grade) that supported students, staff and parents. The RULER Approach believes that when educators understand that emotions matter and that they are key in supporting a child’s social and emotional learning, they use their own social and emotional skills to create and set an emotionally supportive tone for learning. It is believed that when educators live by RULER in their own lives, they are better able to teach and model RULER to students. If you are on our elementary campus’, you might see a Mood Meter painted in a 4-square or feeling words being discussed in the classroom. Building emotional literacy and using tools are key in developing a strong emotional foundation. Without accurate language, we struggle to get the help we need, and we don’t always manage our emotions and experiences in a way that allows us to be our best self.
MPSD SPRING 2022 HSI NEWSLETTER
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SPRING 2022 HSI NEWSLETTER
BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS With the support of the Sequoia Healthcare District, all of us in the “Wellness” world began networking like we have never done before. We have communicated weekly with other school districts, the county office of education, and local agencies both private and public. We expanded existing parenting programs through zoom, increased internet services in struggling communities, connected with Kaiser and Common Sense Media to educate families, connected with Star Vista for counseling, and brought Care Solace to the entire San Mateo County to connect families in need with counseling support. These are only a few free services we are able to provide for our community. MPCSD has not only benefited from the support of our grant partners but also the support from the Menlo Park Atherton Education Foundation. MPAEF has focused their resources which has allowed MPCSD to begin creating a Wellness Clinic at the middle school, provide counseling to parents through Star Vista, and expand and the RULER Program throughout the district. Thank You to our SHD Partners: -Project Cornerstone -Kognito -Jasper Ridge -Parent Venture
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SPRING 2022 HSI NEWSLETTER
PARENT EDUCATION Understanding Severe Mental Health Conditions in Children and Youth Steve Smith, PhD, Clinical Psychologist, Professor of Psychology, UCSB
Tuesday, May 24, 2022 5:30pm – 6:30pm PDT Online Event (Live) Mental health is an important part of children’s overall health and well-being. What should parents know about severe mental health concerns like anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, psychosis, and more? Join Steve Smith, PhD, Clinical Psychologist, Professor of Psychology, UC Santa Barbara, to understand more about severe mental health conditions in children and youth. Register here.
QPR (Question Persuade, Refer) Suicide Prevention Training (Virtual) Alejandro Martinez, PhD, QPR Master Trainer, Stanford University
Wednesday, May 25, 2022 3:30pm – 5:30pm PDT Online Event (Live) QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the three simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Join Dr. Alejandro Martinez, QPR Master Trainer and Executive Director of Threat Assessment at Stanford University, for a special (virtual) QPR Training session. Register here.
SPRING 2022 HSI NEWSLETTER
BOLETÍN IES DE PRIMAVERA DE 2022
EDUCACIÓN PARA PADRES Comprensión de las condiciones graves de salud mental en niños y jóvenes Steve Smith, PhD, psicólogo clínico, profesor de psicología, UCSB
Martes, 24 de mayo de 2022 5:30pm - 6:30pm PDT Evento en linea (en vivo) La salud mental es una parte importante de la salud y el bienestar general de los niños. ¿Qué deben saber los padres sobre problemas graves de salud mental como ansiedad, depresión, esquizofrenia, psicosis y más? Entrar Steve Smith, PhD, psicólogo clínico y profesor de psicología, UC Santa Barbara, para comprender más acerca de las condiciones graves de salud mental en niños y jóvenes Enlace de zoom aquí.
QPR (Question Persuade, Refer) Capacitación para la prevención del suicidio (virtual) Alejandro Martinez, PhD, QPR Master Trainer, Stanford University
Miércoles, 25 de mayo de 2022 3:30pm – 5:30pm PDT Online Event (Live) QPR significa Preguntar, Persuadir y Referir: los tres pasos simples que cualquiera puede aprender para ayudar a salvar una vida del suicidio. Entrar Dr. Alejandro Martinez, QPR Master Trainer y Director Ejecutivo de Evaluación de Amenazas en Stanford, para una sesión especial (virtual) de entrenamiento. Enlace de zoom aquí.
BOLETÍN IES DE PRIMAVERA DE 2022
INICIATIVA ESCUELAS SALUDABLES (IES) BOLETÍN DE PRIMAVERA DE 2022
MENSAJE DEL DISTRITO DE SALUD DE SEQUOIA Querida comunidad de la Iniciativa Escuelas Saludables (IES), Después de muchos meses de enmascaramiento, vigilancia de síntomas y vacunación continua, el condado de San Mateo ha seguido la guía estatal y recientemente ha aliviado las precauciones de Covid. Sin embargo, nuestras comunidades escolares han perseverado a través de un año escolar 2021-22 muy difícil y de hecho nuestro número de casos del condado ha aumentado recientemente. Debemos permanecer atentos a medida que se acercan las vacaciones de verano y especialmente mientras nos preparamos para el nuevo año escolar. Anime a sus amigos y familiares a continuar enmascarando, tener kits de prueba de Covid a mano y vacunarse. Esta es la única manera de poner fin a esta pandemia. Una vez más, me gustaría agradecer a nuestros líderes escolares, maestros y personal, enfermeras escolares, padres y todos nuestros estudiantes por unirse este año escolar con un enfoque en la salud y la seguridad. El Distrito de Salud de Sequoia está aquí para servirle con nuestro compromiso anual continuo de más de $4.5 millones para las escuelas, y tenemos la esperanza de un mejor año por delante. Visite seqhd.org/hsi para obtener más información sobre nuestra Iniciativa de Escuelas Saludables. ¡Aquí hay algunas fotos de nuestra "Feria de Salud en la Plaza" del 21 de mayo en honor al 75 aniversario del Distrito de Salud de Sequoia!
Karen E. Li, MD Directora de Salud Escolar Healthy Schools Initiative
DISTRITOS ESCOLARES
FERIA DE SALUD EN LA PLAZA