HEALTHY SCHOOLS INITIATIVE (HSI) FALL 2021 NEWSLETTER
MESSAGE FROM SEQUOIA HEALTHCARE DISTRICT Dear Healthy Schools Initiative (HSI) community, The Covid-19 Pfizer vaccine has recently been authorized for use in children, ages 5 to 11. This is an essential step in combatting this pandemic. Not only will the vaccine help prevent children from getting Covid-19, but it will help prevent or reduce the spread of the virus, which in turn protects our entire community. Please watch for announcements about vaccination of your child from San Mateo County Health, San Mateo County Office of Education, and your health care provider. This issue of the HSI newsletter includes updates from your school district about supports and programs to help during the reopening of schools. Thank you to parents, teachers, and staff who take part in the daily task of ensuring that students stepping onto our campuses are healthy and ready to learn. I want to especially thank our dedicated school nurses, who work tirelessly to keep all children safe in our eight Healthy Schools Initiative partner school districts. We encourage you to learn more about our Healthy Schools Initiative by visiting: seqhd.org/hsi.
Karen E. Li, MD Director of School Health Healthy Schools Initiative
PRESENTATIONS
SCHOOL DISTRICTS WE SERVE
ACHD Conference
Parent Green Folder
FALL 2021 HSI NEWSLETTER
PORTOLA VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT We are excited to introduce our Portola Valley Wellness Team! Portola Valley Unified School District consists of 2 schools. Ormondale serving grades K-3 and Corte Madera School serving grades 4-8. Our Wellness Team consists of Dr. Minoo Shah, Director of Ed Services and Wellness, CMS Counselor Todd Patterson, Ormondale Counselor Tamryn Miller, and PVSD School Psychologist/Special Education Specialist Lisa Scigliano. In addition, we have our two principals, Kristen Shima and Lynette Hovland working with us behind the scenes. The PVSD Wellness Committee is dedicated to the mental health of all staff, students, and families.
STRENGTHENING WELLNESS Our Governing Board continues to have Wellness as one of it's 5 priority areas. To that effect, our district continues to support Social Emotional Learning (SEL) for all students that highlights monthly themes supporting CASEL learning competencies. This year we are focusing on selfmanagement, growth mindset and core values. In addition, students will be guided through lessons around these themes by the school counselors.
CASEL LEARNING
All staff are once again participating in the Kognito program to increase awareness and skills around mental health and suidice prevention. This virtual simulator places staff in real life situations and coaches them on how to best support students who are experiencing mental health challenges. Thank you to the Sequoia Healthcare District for sponsoring this training for our staff. Our district has partnered with Care Solace to support the wellness of the community. This unique service matches staff, students and their families to behavioral providers that match each individual need. This is a free and confidential service that is accessible 24 hours a day.
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FALL 2021 HSI NEWSLETTER
PARENT EDUCATION This year PVSD has joined the parent education consortium Parent Venture. Parents in our community have the opportunity to attend virtual seminars with topics ranging from helping your child deal with stress and anxiety to parenting with confidence in these uncertain times. Parents will walk away from these sessions with practical techniques and parenting resources. Thank you to the PTO and Sequoia Healthcare district for sponsoring Parent Venture for the PVSD Community! .
STAFF WELLNESS Last but not least, the PVSD is as committed to staff wellness as it is to student wellness particularly in light of current day circumstances. To that effect our entire professional development (PD) day for staff this Fall was dedicated to seminars and activities for stress relief and management. David and Karen Gamow, founders of Clarity Seminars presented a workshop to staff at our October 11 PD on how to: Understand and communicate more sensitively with people, without denying or sacrificing your own feelings Manage challenging work situations with greater calm and clarity of mind Release stress with clinically-proven breathing, relaxation, and meditation techniques that can be done in just a few moments Achieve significant relief from chronic pain, high insomnia, and high blood pressure Increase mental focus and productivity amidst 24/7 hyperconnectivity and distractions We look forward to a safe and healthy year for us all!
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FALL 2021 HSI NEWSLETTER
PARENT EDUCATION
MYTHBUSTERS: The Truth About the California Public Higher Education System Cuca Acosta (UC); Bernie Day (CCC); April Grommo, EdD (CSU); and Heather Lattimer, EdD (CSU)
Tuesday, November 9, 2021, 5:30pm – 6:30pm PT, Online Event (Webinar) In this webinar, representatives of the University of California, California State University, and California Community College systems will counter some of the most common myths about each system and the systems’ relationships to one another. Register here.
Parent Forum #10 (English) – Helping Your Child Build Good Habits Eran Magen, PhD, founder, Parenting for Humans
Friday, November 12, 2021, 12:00pm – 1:00pm PT, Online Event (Meeting)) Join us for a new Parent Forum (English) with Eran Magen, PhD, a parent-child communication expert. Register here.
Friends, Frenemies, and Friendlier Friends: Navigating School Social Dynamics Ana Homayoun, author, educator & Phyllis Fagell, clinical counselor, author of Middle School Matters
Thursday, November 18, 2021, 1:00pm – 2:00pm PT, Online Event (Webinar) Join Ana Homayoun, author, educator, and founder of Green Ivy Educational Consulting, and Phyllis Fagell, licensed clinical counselor and author of Middle School Matters, for a conversation about “friends, frenemies, and friendlier friends” in the time of Covid. Register here.
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FALL 2021 HSI NEWSLETTER
PARENT EDUCATION Grief and Loss in Children and Teens: What It Looks Like and How to Help Jaymie Byron, MFT, Director of Community Outreach & Education, Kara
Tuesday, November 30, 2021,
5:30pm – 6:30pm PT, Online Event (Webinar) Jaymie Byron, MFT, Director of Community Outreach Education, Kara, will share what grief and mourning can look like for children of all ages. Kids react differently to loss, based on where they are developmentally. Jaymie will also provide practical ways to support a child through the grief process. Register here.
Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence Anna Lembke, MD, Psychiatrist, Stanford School of Medicine, New York Times Bestselling author
Wednesday, December 1, 2021, 12:00pm – 1:00pm PT,
Online Event (Webinar) In Dopamine Nation, Dr. Anna Lembke, psychiatrist and bestselling author, explores the exciting new scientific discoveries that explain why the relentless pursuit of pleasure leads to pain…and what to do about it. Condensing complex neuroscience into easy-to-understand metaphors, Lembke illustrates how finding contentment and connectedness means keeping dopamine in check. Register here.
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FALL 2021 HSI NEWSLETTER
EDUCACIÓN PARA PADRES
CAZADORES DE MITOS: La verdad sobre el sistema de educación superior pública de California Cuca Acosta (UC); Bernie Day (CCC); April Grommo, EdD (CSU); Heather Lattimer, EdD (CSU)
Martes, 9 de noviembre de 2021, 5:30pm - 6:30pm PT, Evento en vivo (seminario web) En este seminario, representantes de la Universidad de California, la Universidad Estatal dey la California comunidad de California Los universitarios sistemas contrarrestarán algunos de los mitos más comunes sobre cada sistema y las relaciones de los sistemas entre sí. Enlace de zoom aquí.
Foro de padres #15 (Español) Las Drogas, mi Hijos, y Yo Edwin Fernandez, LCSW, One Life Counseling Center
Miércoles, 17 de noviembre de 2021, 5:30pm - 6:30pm, Evento en vivo (seminario web) Únase a nosotros durante esta conversación en la que no solo escuchará algunas de las respuestas a estas preguntas, sino que también aprenderá formas proactivas en las que los padres podemos ayudar a nuestros hijos a decir no a las drogas. Enlace de zoom aquí.
Amigos, amigos enemigos y amigos más amigables: navegando por la dinámica social de la escuela Ana Homayoun, autora, educadora y Phyllis Fagell, consejera clínica, autora de Middle School Matters
Jueves, 18 de noviembre de 2021, 1:00pm - 2:00pm PT, Evento en línea (seminario web) Únase a Ana Homayoun, autora, educadora y fundadora de Green Ivy Educational Consulting, ya Phyllis Fagell, consejera clínica licenciada y autora de Middle School Matters, para una conversación sobre “amigos, enemigos y amigos más amigables” en la época de Covid. Enlace de zoom aquí. FALL 2021 HSI NEWSLETTER
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INICIATIVA ESCUELAS SALUDABLES (IES) BOLETÍN DE OTOÑO DE 2021
MENSAJE DEL DISTRITO DE SALUD DE SEQUOIA Querida comunidad de Iniciativa Escuelas Saludables (IES), La vacuna de Pfizer contra el Covid-19 a sido autorizada para uso en niños de 5 a 11 años. Este es un paso esencial en la lucha contra esta pandemia. La vacuna no solo ayudará a evitar que los niños contraen Covid-19, sino que también ayudará a prevenir o reducir la propagación del virus, lo que a su vez protege a toda nuestra comunidad. Esté atento a los anuncios sobre la vacunación de su hijo de San Mateo County Health, la Oficina de Educación del Condado de San Mateo y su proveedor de atención médica. Este número del boletín de IES incluye actualizaciones de su distrito escolar sobre apoyos y programas para ayudar durante la reapertura de las escuelas. Gracias a los padres, maestros y personal que participan en la tarea diaria de garantizar que los estudiantes que pisan nuestros campus estén sanos y listos para aprender. Quiero agradecer especialmente a nuestras dedicadas enfermeras escolares, que trabajan incansablemente para mantener a todos los niños seguros en nuestros ocho distritos escolares asociados a la Iniciativa de Escuelas Saludables. Lo alentamos a que aprenda más sobre nuestra Iniciativa de Escuelas Saludables visitando: seqhd.org/hsi.
Karen E. Li, MD Director of School Health Healthy Schools Initiative
PRESENTACIONES
DISTRITOS ESCOLARES
Conferencia de ACHD
Carpeta Verde para Padres