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
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.
WESD SPRING 2022 HSI NEWSLETTER
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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SPRING 2022 HSI NEWSLETTER
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.
WESD SPRING 2022 HSI NEWSLETTER
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