HSI NEWSLETTER FALL 2020
Does COVID-19 have an upside? The world has changed a lot in the last 8 months and the
Our Parent Education Series has also moved online. In
impact of COVID-19 has been felt by many families in the Bay
partnership with the Parent Venture and Sequoia
Area. The Redwood City School District (RCSD) spent many
Healthcare District we have continued to provide
months preparing for students’ return to school and
meaningful education and support to our families in
throughout the process we have made many improvements
both Spanish and English. Parent education topics have
to various aspects of our health and wellness programs. In preparation for distance learning this year, we focused on three key areas of health and safety to promote optimal learning for RCSD students: strengthening our mental health counseling procedures; ramping up our parent education programs; and deepening our community partnerships to meet the needs of our families during this challenging time.
In spring 2020, student mental health counseling moved to an online telehealth format after the county announced its shelter in place order. Counseling referrals and requests are now managed online, and counseling sessions are taking place by teleconference or telephone, which has enabled our students to continue to access and receive support from school mental health counselors even though they are not attending school in person. We use an online student counseling request form that allows parents and caregivers to notify us when a student needs support.
focused on critical issues -- mental health, coping with stress, race and racism, tobacco use and vaping -- that impact the health and well-being of children and families. Our new Parent Forums are monthly sessions that provide a safe place for parents to learn, connect and share ideas with other parents in RCSD. You will find video recordings of past parent education events here. There has been, without question, a painful downside to the COVID-19 pandemic in our community, as many families have struggled to endure the loss of loved ones, their economic security and their sense of predictability. In the midst of these challenges, there has also been an underlying sense of determination, resilience and optimism. Video conferencing has turned out to be an effective way to meet and collaborate more frequently and easily. We have learned to remain flexible and open minded about how we do business. And, our community partners have remained committed to delivering high-
We also adjusted our Green Folder Suicide Prevention procedures to ensure that students in distress can be reached by an adult should a concern arise during distance learning. The RCSD Green Folder is an easy to follow, step-by-step flowchart for all staff to use if a student is at risk for suicide. It helps staff recognize signs of distress and identify the appropriate action steps to
quality programs that meet the needs of our students and families. RCSD is fortunate to have the support of the Sequoia Healthcare District's Healthy Schools Initiative so that we are able to strengthen the tiers of support for students and families during this time.
ensure student safety.
Perhaps the most promising outcome of COVID-19 is the renewed importance of relationships and connections that will now be stronger and more robust as a result of the challenges confronting us.
HSI NEWSLETTER FALL 2020
¿Tiene ventajas COVID-19?
El mundo ha cambiado mucho en los últimos 8 meses y
Nuestra Serie de Educación para Padres también se ha
muchas familias en el Área de la Bahía han sentido el
movido en línea. En asociación con Parent Venture y
impacto de COVID-19. El Distrito Escolar de Redwood City
Sequoia Healthcare District, hemos continuado
(RCSD, por sus siglas en inglés) pasó muchos meses
proporcionando educación y apoyo significativo a nuestras
preparándose para el regreso de los estudiantes a la escuela
familias tanto en español como en inglés. Los temas de
y durante todo el proceso hemos realizado muchas mejoras
educación para padres se han enfocado en cuestiones
en varios aspectos de nuestros programas de salud y
críticas (salud mental, afrontamiento del estrés, raza y
bienestar. En preparación para el aprendizaje a distancia este
racismo, consumo de tabaco y cigarrillos electrónicos) que
año, nos enfocamos en tres áreas clave de salud y seguridad
afectan la salud y el bienestar de los niños y las familias.
para promover un aprendizaje óptimo para los estudiantes
Nuestros nuevos foros para padres son sesiones mensuales
de RCSD: fortalecer nuestros procedimientos de consejería
que proporcionan un lugar seguro para que los padres
de salud mental; aumentar nuestros programas de
aprendan, se conecten y compartan ideas con otros padres
educación para padres; y profundizar nuestras asociaciones
en RCSD. Encontrará grabaciones de video de eventos de
comunitarias para satisfacer las necesidades de nuestras
educación para padres anteriores aquí.
familias durante este tiempo desafiante. Sin lugar a dudas, ha habido un doloroso inconveniente de En la primavera de 2020, la consejería de salud mental para
la pandemia de COVID-19 en nuestra comunidad, ya que
estudiantes pasó a un formato de telesalud en línea después
muchas familias han luchado por soportar la pérdida de sus
de que el condado anunció su orden de refugio en el lugar.
seres queridos, su seguridad económica y su sentido de
Las referencias y peticiones de consejería ahora se manejan
predictibilidad. En medio de estos desafíos, también ha
en línea, y las sesiones de consejería se llevan a cabo por
existido un sentido subyacente de determinación,
teleconferencia o teléfono, lo que ha permitido a nuestros
resistencia y optimismo. La videoconferencia ha resultado
estudiantes seguir accediendo y recibiendo apoyo de los
ser una forma eficaz de reunirse y colaborar con mayor
consejeros escolares de salud mental aunque no asistan a la
frecuencia y facilidad. Hemos aprendido a mantener la
escuela en persona. Usamos un formulario de petición para
flexibilidad y la mente abierta sobre cómo hacemos
asesoramiento para estudiantes en línea que permite a los
negocios. Y nuestros socios comunitarios se han
padres y cuidadores notificarnos cuando un estudiante
comprometido a ofrecer programas de alta calidad que
necesita apoyo.
satisfagan las necesidades de nuestros estudiantes y familias.
También ajustamos nuestros procedimientos de Prevención del Suicidio de Carpetas Verdes para asegurar que los
RCSD tiene la suerte de contar con el apoyo de la Iniciativa
estudiantes en peligro puedan ser contactados por un adulto
de Escuelas Saludables de Sequoia Healthcare District
en caso de que surja una preocupación durante el
para que podamos fortalecer los niveles de apoyo para los
aprendizaje a distancia. La Carpeta Verde de RCSD es un
estudiantes y las familias durante este tiempo. Quizás el
diagrama de flujo paso a paso fácil de seguir para que todo
resultado más prometedor de COVID-19 es la importancia
el personal lo use si un estudiante está en riesgo de suicidio.
renovada de las relaciones y conexiones que ahora serán
Ayuda al personal a reconocer señales de angustia e
más fuertes y más sólidas como resultado de los desafíos
identificar los pasos de acción apropiados para garantizar la
que enfrentamos.
seguridad de los estudiantes.
Quizás el resultado más prometedor de COVID-19 es la importancia renovada de las relaciones y conexiones que ahora serán más fuertes y más sólidas como resultado de los desafíos que enfrentamos.
MESSAGE FROM SEQUOIA HEALTHCARE DISTRICT Dear Healthy Schools Initiative families,
Estimadas familias de la iniciativa de escuelas saludable,
The Covid-19 pandemic has presented numerous challenges
La pandemia de Covid-19 ha presentado numerosos desafíos
for our communities, but one that stands out is the toll it has
para nuestras comunidades, pero uno que se destaca es el
taken on the mental health of our children and teens, as well
impacto que ha tenido en la salud mental de nuestros niños y
as parents and educators. To address this challenge, Sequoia
adolescentes, así como la los padres y educadores. Para
Healthcare District has ramped up support for our local school
abordar este desafío, Sequoia Healthcare District ha
districts in a variety of ways. We continue to fund student mental health services, parent/community education, and teacher/staff professional development such as Kognito's suicide prevention and trauma trainings and CircleUp Education's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) trainings. We also hosted an inaugural Town Hall meeting on September 17, which focused on “Mental Health Support in Schools During Covid-19”. Our team of health and wellness leads from our eight partner school districts joined a panel discussion along with mental health experts from four local mental health non-profit organizations. I invite you to view the recorded Town Hall. We have a superb team of health and wellness leads (below), and I encourage you to read about the important and innovative work taking place in your child’s school district
aumentado el apoyo a nuestros distritos escolares locales en una variedad de formas. Continuamos financiando servicios de salud mental para estudiantes, educación para padres/la comunidad, y desarrollo profesional para maestros/el personal, como las capacitaciones de prevención del suicidio y trauma de Kognito y las capitaciones de diversidad, equidad e inclusión (DEI, por sus siglas en ingles) de CircleUp Education. También organizamos una reunión inaugural de la alcaldía el 17 de septiembre, que se enfocó en “apoyo de salud mental en las escuelas durante Covid-19”. Nuestro equipo de líderes de salud y bienestar de nuestros ocho distritos escolares socios se unieron a un panel de discusión junto con expertos en salud mental de cuatro organizaciones de salud mental sin fines de lucro. Los invito a ver la reunión de la alcaldía grabada.
during this uncertain time. The pandemic has highlighted how critical it is to be familiar with the services and support
Tenemos un excelente equipo de líderes de salud y bienestar
offered by your child's school and the community at large.
(a continuación), y los animo a que lean sobre el trabajo
Please refer to our Parent Green Folder for local mental health
importante e innovador llevándose a cabo en el distrito
resources.
escolar de su hijo(a) durante este tiempo incierto. La pandemia ha destacado lo importante que es estar
Covid-19 has impacted all of our lives but we're hoping that by
familiarizado con estos servicios y apoyo ofrecidos por la
coming together as a community we can overcome some of
escuela de su hijo(a) y la comunidad en general. Por favor de
the difficulties faced by many families. Try staying healthy by
referirse a nuestra Capeta Verde para Padres para obtener
wearing masks, physically distancing, washing hands, and
recursos de salud mental.
getting your flu shots. San Mateo County also offers free Covid testing. We wish you the best as we navigate the 2020-21
Covid-19 ha impactado todas nuestras vidas, pero esperamos
school year together!
que al unirnos como comunidad podamos superar algunas de
Yours truly,
las dificultades que enfrentan muchas familias. Intente mantenerse saludable al usar mascarillas, distanciamiento físico, lavándose la manos, y vacunándosecontra la gripe. El
Karen E. Li, MD Director of School Health Healthy Schools Initiative
condado de San Mateo también ofreces pruebas de Covid gratuitas. ¡Les deseamos lo mejor mientras navegamos juntos el año escolar 2020-21!
HSI WELLNESS TEAM HSI NEWSLETTER FALL 2020
Abbe Keane
Andrea Garen
Chris Arrington
Javier Gutierrez
Woodside Elementary SD
Redwood City SD
Menlo Park City SD
Sequoia Union HSD
Abbe has worked for nearly
Prior to her role as Director of
Chris has worked in education
Javier coordinates health
thirty years as a public health
Health and Wellness in RCSD,
for 36-years and the last 30-
services, education programs,
nurse as well as a school nurse
Ms. Garen spent ten years
years as a school psychologist.
and proactive support for the
and consultant to numerous
leading marketing and health
He has been in MPCSD for 18-
students of SUHSD. As a former
schools along the Peninsula.
education projects for the
years, providing social-
teacher and administrator, this
Abbe has been involved in
Dairy Council of California. She emotional trainings for parents
position continues Javier’s
teaching science and health
is passionate about promoting
and staff. He has also been
efforts to develop the whole
education classes and currently
physical, mental and social
part of growing the district-
student while positively
works as the school nurse for
well-being for all RCSD
wide PBIS programs and
impacting academic success.
both the Woodside and Portola
students and their families and providing intensive
Valley districts.
supporting good health in our
behavioral/emotional support
communities.
for special needs students.
Kristen Sevillia
Kristen Shima
Mindy Hill
Nell Curran
Belmont-Redwood Shores SD Portola Valley SD
San Carlos SD
Las Lomitas Elementary SD
Prior to her current role, Kristen Kristen has worked for over 20
Mindy began working at SCSD
Nell is the Wellness
served as Asst. Principal at
years in education as a teacher,
as Wellness Director in
Coordinator for Las Lomitas
Sandpiper School, having also
counselor and an administrator.
December, 2013. Prior to
Elementary School District
spent the previous 4 years as a
She has been a member of
becoming Wellness Director,
where she supports the needs
coordinator in Curriculum and
PVSD for 15 years and is
Mindy pursued a career as a K-
of staff, students, and families
Instruction at the San Mateo
currently the principal of Corte
8 educator and administrator.
while also building a culture of
County Office of Ed. Kristen is
Madera School. In addition, she
She also had the great pleasure
wellness across the district. Nell
devoted to supporting
leads the Wellness Team where
of working as an Associate
brings 15 years of public health
programs aimed at the whole
she helps to coordinate social
Director for a nonprofit
education experience from her
child.
emotional learning, health
organization that works to
time at the Stanford School of
education, Positive Intervention
prevent drug and alcohol
Medicine.
and Support and staff/ student
abuse using a community-
wellness activities.
coalition model.