HSI NEWSLETTER FALL 2020 While the current learning environment is new,
As the demand to be online, in front of screens, and
Sequoia Union High School District continues the
interacting digitally has increased with the
same commitment to providing support and
pandemic, SUHSD is focused on providing support
resources for our students, staff, parents, and
related to this for educators and families. Digital
community. Acknowledging a greater need and more
Wellbeing is the social and emotional health we
challenges to access, SUHSD has made sure staff and
achieve by paying attention to our digital practices -
partners are ready to provide services to our students,
learn more about Digital Wellbeing Task Force
particularly mental health supports and substance
and Resources.
use prevention programs. As our in-class educational components have continued online, we have also
Acknowledging the need to confront and address
adapted to providing specific services through video
equity issues more explicitly, SUHSD is in the
and/or phone communications, as well as shifting our
process of forming a Diversity & Equity Task Force
Parent Education Series to webinars and creating a
based on the work of the Diversity Equity Design
library of videos from previous presentations. While
team that includes teachers from all sites. Each of
teachers and staff have participated in much
our schools is also addressing this topic within their
professional development to adapt to the current
school community and SUHSD has engaged
teaching needs and also have access to services,
consultants who are experts in this field to assist our
conferences, and self-care communities, we are
efforts. Again, Sequoia Healthcare District has
always looking for more opportunities to support
provided support for this to increase training and
them in a way that will not add more to their heavy
awareness throughout our school community and
load.
provide a more inclusive and positive learning environment for all.
SUHSD Mental Health Support Specialists and partners have been available to meet with students
Finally, we welcome and appreciate all of our
virtually and have also developed groups for a variety
students, families, partners and community
of student needs & topics. With the support of
members to help guide and execute this work
Sequoia Healthcare District, SUHSD has increased our
through SUHSD’s Wellness Advisory Council, where
partnerships in an effort to address more student
we address all of these health & wellness topics and
needs and have also made the Atlas Mental Health
more.
app available for all students. Please see contact information and learn more about our services on the
For more information, contact Javier Gutierrez,
SUHSD Student Wellness page.
Health & Wellness Coordinator: jgutierrez@seq.org
Seq.org
Mientras que el ambiente actual de aprendizaje es
Como la demanda de estar en línea, en frente de las
nuevo, Sequoia Union High School District continua
pantallas, e interactuar digitalmente ha aumentado
con el mismo compromiso de proporcionar apoyo y
con la pandemia, SUHSD se enfoca en proporcionar
recursos a nuestros estudiantes, el personal, padres y
apoyo relacionado con esto para educadores y las
la comunidad. Reconociendo una mayor necesidad
familias. El bienestar digital es la salud social y
y más desafíos de acceso, particularmente apoyos
emocional que logramos prestando atención a
de salud mental y programas de prevención del uso
nuestras prácticas digitales - aprenda más sobre el
de sustancias. Mientras que nuestros componentes
Grupo de Trabajo de Bienestar Digital y Recursos.
dentro del salón de clase han continuado en línea, también nos hemos adaptado a proporcionar
Reconociendo la necesidad de enfrentar y abordar
servicios específicos a través de comunicaciones por
las cuestiones de equidad más explícitamente,
video y/o, así también como cambiar nuestra Serie
SUHSD está en el proceso de realizar un Grupo de
de Educación para Padres a seminarios web y crear
Trabajo de Diversidad y Equidad basado en el
una biblioteca de videos de presentaciones
trabajo del equipo de Diseño de Equidad de
anteriores. Mientras que los maestros y el personal
Diversidad que incluye maestros de todos los
han participado en mucho desarrollo profesional
planteles escolares. Cada una de nuestras escuelas
para adaptarse a las necesidades actuales de
también está abordando este tema dentro de su
enseñanza y también tienen acceso a servicios,
comunidad escolar y SUHSD ha contratado
conferencias, y comunidades de autocuidado,
consultantes que son expertos en este campo para
siempre estamos buscando oportunidades para
ayudar con nuestros esfuerzos. Otra vez más,
apoyarlos de una manera que no agregue más a su
Sequoia Healthcare District ha proporcionado
pesada carga.
apoyo para esto para aumentar la capacitación y conocimiento a través de nuestra comunidad
Los especialistas de apoyo de salud mental de
escolar y proporcionar un ambiente de aprendizaje
SUHSD y sus socios han estado disponibles para
más inclusivo y positivo para todos los estudiantes.
reunirse con los estudiantes virtualmente y han desarrollado grupos para una variedad de
Finalmente, damos la bienvenida y apreciamos a
necesidades y temas estudiantiles. Con el apoyo de
todos nuestros estudiantes, familias, socios y
Sequoia Healthcare District, SUHSD ha aumentado
miembros de la comunidad para ayudar a guiar y
nuestras asociaciones con el esfuerzo de abordar
ejecutar este trabajo a través del Consejo Asesor de
más necesidades estudiantiles y también ha hecho
Bienestar de SUHSD, donde abordamos todos estos
que la aplicación Atlas Mental Health esté
temas de salud y bienestar y más. Para más
disponible para todos los estudiantes. Favor de ver la
información, comuníquese con Javier Gutiérrez,
información de contacto y saber más sobre nuestros
Coordinador de Salud y Bienestar:
servicios en la página de SUHSD Student Wellness.
jgutierrez@seq.org
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.
schools along the Peninsula.
education projects for the
years, providing social-
As a former teacher and
Abbe has been involved in
Dairy Council of California. She emotional trainings for parents
administrator, this position
teaching science and health
is passionate about promoting
and staff. He has also been
continues Javier’s efforts to
education classes and currently
physical, mental and social
part of growing the district-
develop the whole student
works as the school nurse for
well-being for all RCSD
wide PBIS programs and
while positively impacting
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
academic success.
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 Education.
Madera School. In addition, she
She also had the great pleasure
wellness across the district.
Kristen is devoted to
leads the Wellness Team where
of working as an Associate
Nell brings 15 years of public
supporting programs aimed at
she helps to coordinate social
Director for a nonprofit
health education experience
the whole child.
emotional learning, health
organization that works to
from her time at the Stanford
education, Positive Intervention
prevent drug and alcohol
School of Medicine.
and Support and staff/ student
abuse using a community-
wellness activities.
coalition model.