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
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EMPOWERING OUR YOUTH THROUGH TUPE Belmont-Redwood Shores School District has benefitted from Tobacco Use Prevention and Education grants for over 5 years. Through the support of the Healthy School Initiative grant, BRSSD has been able to grow our counseling department, which in turn, is strengthening our tobacco use prevention and education approach with our middle school students. Through the leadership of our middle school counselors at Ralston, Nesbit and Sandpiper schools, we have worked to establish peer advocacy groups aimed at educating their classmates on the importance of living a tobacco-free life. Our peer educators have attended training aimed at honing their leadership skills and finding their student voices. These TUPE opportunities have led to peer advocacy groups teaching anti-tobacco and antivaping lessons to their middle school peers as well as students in fifth grade using the Stanford Tobacco Toolkit curriculum. Another school created the Upstanders Club to create a space for students wanting to highlight health and wellness topics relevant to their peers. This year, we have partnered with Music Notes to bring an engaging anti-vaping concert that focuses on youth advocacy. Following the concert, select students will get to engage in a song-writing workshop facilitated by Music Notes. Through Music Notes mentorship, students will learn how to use their voices to create an original anti-vaping song!
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COVID LLESD continues to manage COVID as the pandemic evolves. The wellness coordinator and nurses meet twice monthly with colleagues in neighboring school districts and the San MAteo County Departments of Public Health and Education to keep abreast of any changes in guidelines. In March, many students and staff welcomed the first opportunity to remove their masks and see their peers' smiling faces, as masks were previously required both indoors and outdoors on all LLESD campuses.
Congratulations Nell Curran!
LLESD is now partnering with WorkSite Labs to offer weekly PCR testing to all interested students and staff. Wellness Coordinator Nell Curran received the Association of California Administrators Region 5 Administrator of the Year award in recognition of her leadership managing the district’s COVID response.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND CAMPUS EVENTS Although LLESD has provided in-person instruction since Summer 2020, it wasn’t until 2022 that campus doors were open to anyone but students and staff. The spring calendar is therefore full of events designed to bring the community together to celebrate each other and our health. The Wellness Coordinator has been especially involved in organizing the Come to Campus Event where students and families will walk or run 1-mile and 5k courses, participate in recess and field day activities, enjoy fruit smoothies, and draw with local artist the Chalk Granny.
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WELLNESS COMMITTEE AND SEL A committee of LLESD employees meets monthly to address the physical, socialemotional, and mental health of students and staff. In fall 2023 the committee intends to launch a comprehensive character skills program; every month a skill such as respect or empathy will be taught, practiced, celebrated, and reinforced through a variety of district-wide opportunities. The program was piloted in February with a focus on kindness. Students read kindness-themed stories during library time, completed classroom activities describing how they are kind to each other, created a kindness rock garden at the entrance of the elementary school under the direction of the PTA, and earned recognition when families or school staff observed students being kind towards others.
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SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL LLESD looks forward to expanding its focus on Safe Routes to School. In November 2021 staff received resources to teach students about Ruby Bridges, the first African-American student to integrate into an elementary school in the South. In celebration of Ms. Bridges’ continued contributions to equity and inclusion in education, students were encouraged to walk to school in her honor on Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. Students will again be encouraged to walk, bike, scoot, or bus to school during May’s Roll to School Month and their transportation will be recorded as part of a school-wide alternate transportation challenge. Moving forward LLESD would like to prioritize more Safe Routes to School education and infrastructure projects to help make alternative transportation more accessible and safe for all. LLESD is partnering with the Stanford Our Voice project to capture input from the community which will inform future funding, programming, and infrastructure. Students and families are invited to download the Stanford Discovery tool app to record video and audio about their perspectives about their commutes to school. Middle school students will also participate in a related Stanford research opportunity where they will use virtual reality devices to reimagine their commute to school. Students and families have also been encouraged to participate in the Menlo Park City Safe Routes to School Program, which offers resources such as a video challenge to students across town.
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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.
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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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SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING Kindness Week This spring PVSD continues to make social emotional learning and students’ mental health a priority. Our middle school celebrated Kindness Month by holding our annual Kindness Fair. Various booths were set up during recess that gave student’s opportunities to create kindness cards, paint kindness rocks, sign a kindness pledge, and several other activities that highlighted the importance of kindness. Students were also taught SEL lessons on the positive psychological impact of spreading good to others.
MENTAL HEALTH This semester we continue to work on Staff and Student Wellness. In February 2022 we partnered with Challenge success to administer the Challenge Success Faculty and Staff Survey. This is a survey for school staff which measures perceptions of their own well-being, stress, support structures, feelings of belonging, and their perceptions of the student experience as well as their comfort with the implementation of practices that support student well-being and engagement. Topics included: School climate Faculty/staff engagement and belonging Faculty/staff stress and workload Student stress and workload Curriculum and assessment (impact on students) Challenge Success will also help facilitate a staff workshop in May 2022 to address findings from this survey. Next month we will be celebrating National Mental Health Awareness Month and will focus on educating students about mental health and what to do if they or a friend need support. Lessons will be taught that will help destigmatize any myths around individuals who struggle with these challenges.
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SAFETY Managing COVID 19 continues to be a significant aspect of our work. A big thank you to Nurse Abbe Keane and Principals Hovland and Shima for working tirelessly to help keep us on top of this endeavor. In partnership with Worksite Labs all staff continue to be tested weekly, while all students are invited to participate in the same. In addition, PVSD continues to partner with Worksite Labs to make testing opportunities available to the Community on a weekly basis as well.
EQUITY LENS Youth today have access to a range of words and concepts for understanding gender diversity. Students and staff have a variety of gender identities and expressions, impacting everything from instructional strategies, school culture, personnel matters and relationships within all levels of district operations. The District welcomed Lark Doolan, Executive Director of Queer Humboldt to initiate a foundational TK-8 training for all staff and administrators covering relevant vocabulary and concepts relating to gender diversity, as well as strategies for creating a safe and supportive school environment for people who are transgender, non binary, and gender expansive. We plan to expand on this training in the Fall of 2022.
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PE+
COUNSELING
PE+ provides physical education instruction to eight sites in RCSD. In addition to the physical education component, PE+ also incorporates nutrition education in their lessons. Students in Kindergarten through 5th grade begin their day with warm up exercises, PE+ staff demonstrates the activity and then students engage with their classmates in the daily physical education lesson. District wide over 3500 students have benefited from the PE+ program. The PE+ Program is available in RCSD thanks to the partnership with the Sequoia Healthcare District, which has contributed over $5 million over the past 11 years to RCSD for PE+!
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. RCSD recognizes that access to mental health services are a needed component to help our students be successful. This year One Life and Star Vista have serviced ten of our school sites providing individual and group counseling to over 400 students. This number continues to grow as we come to the close of the 21/22 school year. The needs for mental health support have increased coming out of a pandemic and we appreciate the services both One Life and Star Vista Counseling has provided on our campuses. We appreciate the Sequoia Healthcare District, which contributes over $350,000 annually for counseling and mental health services to RCSD students.
NURSES SCHOLARSHIP/ MENTOR PROGRAM RCSD would like to acknowledge the Sequoia Healthcare District for their Nursing Scholarships. One of our very own nurses was able to take advantage of this opportunity to further her education. The need for quality nurses continues to evolve. This scholarship opportunity coupled with Sequoia Healthcare District’s School Nurse Mentor Pilot Project will ensure that district nurses receive the quality education and preparation to provide excellent medical care to our students.
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SONRISAS DENTAL Sonrisas Dental returned to the Redwood City School District (RCSD) this year providing dental screenings to Preschool through First grade students at Garfield, Hoover, Roosevelt, and Taft schools. Over 750 students received oral health assessments and education. Treatment for referrals were also made for students in need. RCSD would like to thank Dr. Jue and her staff at Sonrisas for helping to improve the oral health of students in our district.
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BOLETÍN IES DE PRIMAVERA DE 2022
PE+
CONSEJERÍA
PE+ proporciona la enseñanza de Educación Física en 8 planteles RCSD. Y, además, también incorpora contenido de nutrición. Los estudiantes de kinder a 5to grado inician su día con ejercicios de calentamiento siguiendo la muestra que les pone el personal de PE+ y luego participan con sus compañeros de clase diaria de Educación Física. El programa PE+ en RCSD es posible gracias a la asociación con el Distrito Sequoia del Cuidado de la Salud, que aporta $5 millones para tal fin.
Mayo es el Mes de la Concientización sobre la Salud Mental. RCSD reconoce que el acceso a los servicios de salud mental es un componente necesario para ayudar a que nuestros estudiantes tengan éxito. Este año, One Life y Star Vista han brindado servicios a más de 400 estudiantes en diez de nuestras escuelas mediante consejería individual y grupal. Esta cantidad sigue creciendo a medida que nos acercamos al final del año escolar 21-22. Las necesidades de apoyo de salud mental han aumentado después de una pandemia y aprecia- mos los servicios que One Life y Star Vista Counseling han traído a nuestros planteles. Agradecemos al Distrito Sequoia de Cuidado de la Salud por su contribución de $350,000 para servicios de consejería a los estudiantes de RCSD.
BECAS PARA ENFERMERAS/ PROGRAMA DE MENTORES RCSD quisiera agradecer al Distrito Sequoia del Cuidado de la Salud por sus Becas de Enfermería. Una de nuestras propias enfermeras pudo aprovechar esta oportunidad para continuar su educación. La necesidad de enfermeras de calidad continúa creciendo. Esta oportunidad de beca, junto con el Programa de Mentores, garantizará que las enfermeras del distrito reciban una educación y preparación de calidad para brindar una excelente atención médica a nuestros estudiantes.
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SONRISAS DENTAL Este año Sonrisas Dental regresó al Distrito Escolar de Redwood City (RCSD) y realizó exámenes dentales a estudiantes de preescolar a primer grado en las escuelas Garfield, Hoover, Roosevelt y Taft. A más de 750 estudiantes se les hizo una revisión de salud oral y se les dio información preventiva. También se dieron referencias para estudiantes que necesitan tratamiento. RCSD quisiera agradecer a la Dra. Jue y su personal en Sonrisas por ayudar a mejorar la salud dental de los estudiantes en nuestro distrito.
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MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH May is Mental Health Awareness Month! At San Carlos School District, mental health is not just the focus for one month, but all schoolyear-round. We have an extensive mental health team. Our school counselors offer individual and group sessions, yoga classes, and support with social-emotional learning and school culture and climate. Our school psychologists assess students and do testing to ensure those who need additional school support are receiving it. Our mental health associates meet with students individually, and provide support to those who’s mental health is getting in the way of their schooling. To honor Mental Health Awareness Month, Ilana Yakubovich, the health and wellness director, is partnering with our counseling and mental health team, as well as our nurses, to provide resources, activities, and psychoeducation to our students at our eight schools. We look forward to hearing from students on this essential element of health!
Mental Health Tips
Picture of our School Counselors
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TIER ONE SUPPORT FOR ALL Tier one supports, in the Multi-tiered System of Support, can include activities, outreach, and promotion surrounding positive social, emotional, and behavioral development, that exist for all students, even those not at risk. At San Carlos School District, we are providing tier one outreach, support, and prevention for not only our students, but our staff and families too. This is so important because when one of the groups feels cared for and well-resourced, oftentimes the other groups feel that way, too. For example, when our teachers are supported, they are best able to support our students. Through our partnership with the Sequoia Healthcare District, we are able to offer Care Solace, a therapy referral service, to all in our community. Additionally, we send out newsletters, host panels, and partner with Parent Venture Series to support our caregiver community. For our staff, we also send newsletters, host events and self-care sessions, and are planning activities such as walking club for next schoolyear. When each individual feels supported, we are living up to the values of the Healthy School Initiative.
Picture of Superintendent, Dr. Jennifer Frentress, Vice Superintendent, Hans Barber, Health and Wellness Director, Ilana Yakubovich with Tierra Linda’s Environmental Club.
SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE AT SCSD San Carlos is a community where the environment is prioritized, and this is reflected within our district, as well. Several of our schools have student Environmental Clubs, where they are working on projects such as compost education, vegan bake sales, developing resources for Environmental Spirit Week, and more! Most recently, Tierra Linda’s Environmental Club developed a needs assessment to find out what students at all of our schools are experiencing and seeing as needs in regards to environmental education, literacy, and resources on their campuses. Additionally, an exciting new development is that three of our schools will be getting makeovers from Green Schoolyards, a company that transforms asphalt-covered school grounds into climate resilient parks and green spaces. Lastly, our partner Each Green Corner has developed a sustainability and food justice curriculum that we are incorporating into our K3 education! You can learn more about our sustainability and climate resilience efforts
Picture Demonstrating Tier One Support for All
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here.
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SUHSD STUDENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS!
Dr. Liz Chacón joined the SUHSD Student Services Team in November 2021 as the new Assistant Superintendent of Students Services in Sequoia Union High School District
Andrez Guevara joined the SUHSD Student Services Team in late February as the COVID-19 Project Manager.
SPRING It’s Mid Spring and things are blooming all around! As we begin to prepare for the end of the school year, things can become a little chaotic. The stress and tension of finals, graduation preparations, work, etc. can add up and affect your thought process, emotions and your day to day. Remember to take care of yourself! Find what works for you. Make the time to ease your stress, even if it’s just a five minute break. Go outside, take a breath of that fresh air and enjoy the beauty of nature. Take the time to reflex. What’s your Stress Buster?
MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS Know that it is OK Not to be OK! No matter what you are going through, your mind matters! Be aware that not all pain is visible. Take time to check in with yourself, family, friends, co-workers, etc. Don’t forget to wear your Green!
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PARTNERSHIPS With the support of Sequoia Healthcare District, SUHSD continues to provide support to address student & staff needs. Care Solace is available to our entire school community looking to connect with professional support. Care Solace is an online multilingual resource with a live 24/7 concierge to assist individuals in finding local mental health-related programs and counseling services. Care Solace services can be accessed by calling their 24/7 concierge team at (888) 5150595 or by visiting their website. Please see the SUHSD Care Solace letter and Care Solace overview in multiple languages. Sequoia Healthcare District also provides support with the Mission Be Mindfulness Project. Mission Be offers mindfulness based educational programs to train students to better manage stress and regulate emotions. Mission Be Founder, Carin Winter, and Coordinator, Julie Ruggiero, along with Sequoia High School’s Mental Health Specialist, Judy Romero, held a student Mindfulness training at the District Office.
COVID-19 UPDATES As of March 23rd, 2022 there were changes regarding funding of HRSA-COVID Reimbursement. SUHSD continues to make the health and safety of students and staff a priority. It has continued its partnership with Worksite Labs to provide FREE (no out-of-pocket cost) testing to members of our district community. Worksite Labs performs onsite COVID-19 diagnostic screening testing (PCR tests) at each of our district schools. Please visit seq.org for more information under COVID-19 Updates to locate the District’s COVID-19 Dashboard, testing appointment and resources. Our COVID-19 lead has been collaborating with District Nurses and the Health Team to ensure the COVID-19 implementations by SMCOE, SMCPH, CDPH, and CDC guidelines are met.
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¡EL DEPARTAMENTO DE SERVICIOS ESTUDIANTILES DE SUHSD DA LA BIENVENIDA A NUEVOS MIEMBROS!
La Dra. Liz Chacón se unió al Equipo de Servicios Estudiantiles de SUHSD en noviembre de 2021 como la nueva Asistente del Superintendente de Servicios Estudiantiles en el Distrito Escolar Secundario Sequoia Union.
Andrez Guevara se unió al Equipo de Servicios Estudiantiles de SUHSD a fines de febrero como Gerente del Proyecto COVID-19.
PRIMAVERA Es a mediados de primavera y las cosas están floreciendo por todos lados! Al comenzar a prepararnos para el final del año escolar, las cosas pueden llegar a ser un poco caóticas. El estrés y la tensión de las finales, los preparativos de graduación, el trabajo, etc. pueden sumar y afectar su proceso de pensamiento, emociones y su día a día. ¡Recuerde cuidar de usted mismo! Encuentre lo que funciona para usted. Haga el tiempo para aliviar su estrés, incluso si es un descanso de sólo cinco minutos. Salga afuera, respire ese aire fresco y disfrute de la belleza de la naturaleza. Tómese el tiempo para reflexionar. ¿Cuál es tu destructor de estrés?
MAYO ES CONCIENTIZACIÓN SOBRE LA SALUD MENTAL ¡Sepa que está bien no estar bien! No importa por lo que estés pasando, ¡tu mente importa! Tenga en cuenta que no todo el dolor es visible. Tómese el tiempo para comunicarse con usted mismo, su familia, amigos, compañeros de trabajo, etc. ¡No olvide usar su verde!
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ASOCIACIONES Con el apoyo de Sequoia Healthcare District, SUHSD continúa brindando apoyo para abordar las necesidades de los estudiantes y el personal. Care Solace está disponible para toda nuestra comunidad escolar que busca conectarse con apoyo profesional. Care Solace es un recurso multilingüe en línea con un conserje en vivo las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana para ayudar a las personas a encontrar programas locales relacionados con la salud mental y servicios de asesoramiento. Se puede acceder a los servicios de Care Solace llamando a su equipo de conserjería las 24 horas, los 7 días de la semana al (888) 515-0595 o visitando su sitio web. Consulte la carta de SUHSD Care Solace y la descripción general de Care Solace en varios idiomas.
Sequoia Healthcare District también brinda apoyo con el Proyecto Mission Be Mindfulness. Mission Be ofrece programas educativos basados e n la atención a la mente para capacitar a los estudiantes para manejar mejor el estrés y regular las emociones. La fundadora de Mission Be, Carin Winter, y la coordinadora, Julie Ruggiero, junto con la especialista en salud mental de la Escuela Secundaria Sequoia, Judy Romero, llevaron a cabo un entrenamiento de Mindfulness para estudiantes en la oficina del distrito.
ACTUALIZACIONES DE COVID-19 A partir del 23 de marzo de 2022 hubo cambios con respecto a la financiación del reembolso de HRSA-COVID. SUHSD continúa dando prioridad a la salud y la seguridad de los estudiantes y el personal. Ha continuado su asociación con Worksite Labs para proporcionar pruebas GRATUITAS (sin costo de bolsillo) a los miembros de la comunidad de nuestro distrito. Worksite Labs realiza pruebas de detección de diagnóstico de COVID-19 en el lugar (pruebas PCR) en cada una de las escuelas de nuestro distrito. Visite seq.org para obtener más información en Actualizaciones de COVID-19 para ubicar el Panel de control de COVID-19 del Distrito, la cita de prueba y los recursos. Nuestro líder de COVID-19 ha estado colaborando con las enfermeras del distrito y el equipo de salud para asegurar que se cumplan las implementaciones de COVID-19 de SMCOE, SMCPH, CDPH y CDC.
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KOGNITO This year our entire K –8 staff received online training through Kognito. Kognito is a simulated online program that provides mental health education through interactive role-play. Our staff participated in a variety of scenarios where they could practice their skills and learn how to recognize students in distress. Thank you to the Sequoia Healthcare District for supporting this essential program!
S.E.L . “IT’S EVERYWHERE!! SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING It’s hard to believe that S.E.L. was introduced in 2012, nearly 10 years ago. This was all made possible by a grant from Sequoia Healthcare district. Our teachers across the grade span devote significant time focusing on social and emotional development. S.E.L. is woven throughout the curriculum and hence the fabric of our communities culture at Woodside. We believe it’s one of the reasons our students not only thrive but also enjoy their time at school.
DID YOU KNOW S.E.L. IS IN ART, LIBRARY AND P.E.? Sharon LaCrosse is not only our librarian but teaches two middle school electives: Community Service and Stories of Social Justice. The Community Service Class chooses an organization to support for the year. This year, Samaritan House was selected for the community service project. Students in the class also train to become peer leaders. They receive instruction in conflict resolution, leadership skills, how to be a positive role model and how to be an effective volunteer with younger children. Sharon, additionally, is a member of the Woodside Diversity Equity and Inclusion committee. She’s currently developing a library collection of D. E. I. Books and a summer reading list. Sharon launched the S. E. L. Library and assist the S. E. L. Committee with resources and lessons for students and staff.
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Sharon LaCrosse: “My biggest joy is seeing the ‘beauty of connections’ that are made between the big kids and the little kids. Over time the big kids become confident and proud and the little kids see them as leaders. It’s one of the best benefits of being in a K-8 school.”
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ART + S.E.L. Bev Iverson has been teaching at Woodside school for 30 years and is a member of the SEL committee. The Art studio is “home” to everyone. Each student has a new start with Bev every year. Very few teachers have such an opportunity to watch the students grow throughout their Woodside years. When students come to the art room it gives them a chance to "tune out of the academic classroom and open their brain to new ways of thinking". Bev’s goal is to create a safe place where students will begin to feel comfortable and take productive risks. The art studio is the perfect place to support social and emotional skills. Bev uses art to explore those skills such as self-reflection, social/selfawareness, relationship skills, self-management and growth mindset. At the end of big projects Bev requires the students to do a “reflective piece”. This she feels is an essential part of any art assignment. Students take the time to focus on what went well, what they would change and what they could do better with the knowledge they gained through the experience. Bev is our “secret weapon” in fostering positive mental health for our students.
Bev Iverson: “SEL is a big part of art education and being an artist overtime you develop self-awareness and value your own stories for understanding and communication.”
P.E. + S.E.L. Kathy Jones is our seasoned K-4th Grade P.E. teacher. This year she was recognized as the California Physical Education Teacher of the Year. Physical education reaches every student throughout their K – 12 years but is often forgotten when people are talking about ways to engage students to work on social and emotional issues. Kathy feels because P.E. is active, dynamic and social it’s the perfect space for SEL. Walking into Kathy’s class it’s immediately apparent this is a place that is special. Her class is always welcoming and FUN! The activities she provides are often challenging but not frustrating. She creates an environment that stresses cooperation and communication between peers rather than competition. Kathy encourages the students to use SEL vocabulary that is taught in the classroom. Positive communication skills such as “I messages” and appreciations are highly valued in her class. In P.E. says Kathy we want students to have a very curriculum and to explore many activities. This exploration and “figuring out” likes, dislikes, strengths and weaknesses it’s just a beginning of knowing thyself.
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Kathy Jones: SEL and PE are a natural fit. When we are moving our bodies in a variety of ways and experiencing movement in a group setting, lots of emotions bubble to the surface. Students might find feelings of joyfulness when running, a sense of purpose when playing a team sport, or a sense of satisfaction when completing a challenge they didn’t know they were capable of. On the other hand, they might experience feelings of unworthiness when faced with a challenge that seems insurmountable, feelings of disappointment when they don’t get the ball passed to them in a game, or feelings of anger when their team loses a game. PE is a place of highly charged emotions on both ends of the spectrum and it’s my job to have students recognize them and help them work through the emotions to get to a move positive and accepting place. It’s part of my job to have every student feel lots of successes during physical education. I also hope to build a climate that is welcoming, safe, and inclusive so that all students feel like it’s their favorite part of the day!
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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