Old Adobe Educator Weekly Round-Up
September 6 - September 10, 2021
MESSAGE FROM SUPERINTENDENT LOWERY
Greetings OAUSD Educators,
Educator Meet Ups and Classroom Visitations
The Educator meet ups and classroom visits last week were food for my soul. I got the chance to sit and talk with many of you and visit the exciting classrooms of others. I am grateful for your commitment to the students and families here in Petaluma. Thank you for the heartfelt conversations and warm excitement as walked through the doors into many sacred moments held by loving, caring adults and eager students. I am looking forward to many more opportunities.
This week I will be visiting classrooms as scheduled below. If you would like to invite me to come and join you and the students for something special please email me to share the request. Otherwise I will be visiting utilizing the traditional walkthrough/class visitation approach. Next week I will be hosting the next round of Educator Meet Ups. Please see the dates and times below. Can't wait!
Week 9/6 - 9/10 Classroom Visitations
Monday 9/6
No School - Labor Day
Tuesday 9/7
Loma Vista 11:45 - 1:15
Old Adobe 1:30 - 3:00
Wednesday 9/8
Sonoma Mountain 11:15 - 12:45
La Tercera 1:00 - 2:30
Thursday 9/2
Miwok 8:15 - 9:45
Week 9/13 - 9/17 Educator Meet Ups
Monday 9/13
8:30am - 10:30am
Tuesday 9/14
12:00pm - 2:00pm
Wednesday 9/15
11:00am - 1:00pm
Thursday 9/16
11:30am - 1:30pm
Friday 9/17
8:30am - 10:30pm
Board Ratification of Salary Increases and Health Benefit Contributions
A big thank you to our Board of Trustees for ratifying the approval of compensation and benefits at the August 26th Board Meeting, implementing trend-setting 'me too' increases in salary and health care contributions for each and every employee in the district (CSEA #646 members will be recommended for approval on September 9th). The significance of the collaborative efforts of the District and our bargaining partners resulted in one of the largest settlements in Sonoma County. I am proud of our teams and the Board for prioritizing our incredible employees! Congrats to all!
Have a great week!
Stronger Together, Better Together.
#OldAdobeStrong
COVID-19 Update
Student Quarantine and Staff Testing
Student Quarantine
By now I am sure almost everyone is aware of the devastating impacts from the recent student quarantines because of the change in guidance last week from Sonoma County Department of Public Health (SCDPH) stating that students are not eligible for modified quarantine if they are unmasked at lunch and recess. Prior to last week OAUSD had been implementing modified quarantine protocols and with this recent SCDPH change we are adjusting our protocols to ensure students can remain in class and on campus. As a reminder, modified Quarantine allows the close contacts of a confirmed positive COVID student to continue to come to school as long as they are asymptomatic, participating in testing protocols, and refraining from extracurricular activities. (Please review the Student Quarantine Flow Chart English / Spanish). If we do not make this necessary change, then that would mean the closing and pivoting to distance learning for the 10-day quarantine period for possibly up to 5-6 classes or more at a time. To maximize student learning as much as possible, beginning Tuesday, September 7, 2021, staff and students will be wearing masks indoors and outdoors.
Staff Testing
We are also working around the clock to develop testing options. As you are aware, the Public Health order on Vaccination and Testing requires all public and private schools serving students in Tk through grade 12 to verify the COVID-19 vaccination status of all workers and to require unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated workers to undergo testing. As ordered by SCDPH, we must meet this requirement by 9/24/21. Additionally, in an effort to mitigate spread and increase safety we are recommending all employees, regardless of vaccination status, to participate in diagnostic testing. Please complete the consent form below for testing.
You will need to use your school's personalized access code listed below to complete the consent form):
La Tercera
OADOBE-LATER
Loma Vista
OADOBE-LOMAV
Old Adobe and Maintenance and Transportation Yard
OADOBE-OLDA
Miwok Valley
OADOBE-MIWOK
Sonoma Mountain
OADOBE-SONOM
District Office
OADOBE-DISO
You can learn more about testing by clicking HERE. If you have any questions, please reach out to myself, Nurse - Laura Childress, or Covid Safety Technician - Michael Jones.
Latest vaccine clinic information: scoe.org/vaccines
CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
EQUITY CORNER
Equity Coalition
Please check out the Sonoma County 2021 Spotlight which is an annual document form SCOE containing county wide data on the persistent inequities that plague our school communities.
The Equity Coalition Meetings will be held on the 4th Wednesday of the month. Come join us! Here is the Zoom link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88233270203We want to encourage all to participate and join us. This is a shared leadership opportunity and YOU are vital to this work.
FOOD PANTRY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Sign Up Today:-)
We can always use more volunteers to ensure that we can continue this service and provide this much needed resource.
Please sign up by clicking the button below.
HUMAN RESOURCES
STUDENT SERVICES
EDUCATOR WELLNESS AND HOME INSTRUCTION
EDUCATOR SELF CARE
SELF CARE THROUGH EXERCISE
As we move into September it is not too late to develop your SELF CARE PLAN for the year! Even if you are not finding yourself feeling overwhelmed, having a self care plan in place can keep you from being overwhelmed and can ensure that you have a plan in place before you need it.
One important aspect of a self care plan is exercise. In the article, Exercise for Mental Health the Primary Care Companion Journal of Clinical Psychiatry it is noted that Exercise improves mental health by reducing anxiety, depression, and negative mood and by improving self-esteem and cognitive function. Some research shows that even moderate exercise like walking helps improve mood.
While 30 minutes of exercise a day, five days a week may significantly improve depression or anxiety symptoms, smaller amounts of activity may make a difference. The mental health benefits of physical activity may only last if you stick with it over the long term. This is another another reason to find activities that are enjoyable for you.
The word "exercise" doesn’t have to mean running laps or a gueling weightlifting routine at the gym. Instead, it may mean any of a wide range of movement activities that boost your activity level to help you feel better.
Consider fun ways to add exercise to your life and routine:
A daily walk (Best Walking Trails in Petaluma)
“Play” with friends- tennis, baseball leagues, basketball
Hiking around Sonoma County (Best hiking trails in Sonoma County)
Gardening
Bicycling (Cycling Sonoma County)
Certainly running, lifting weights, playing basketball and other fitness activities that get your heart pumping can help. But so can physical activity such as gardening, washing your car, walking around the block or engaging in other less intense activities. Any physical activity that gets you off the couch and moving can help improve your mood.
Broaden how you think of exercise. Physical activities that you be able increase:
Taking the stairs instead of elevator
Parking farther away from school to create a short walk
Biking to work
Walking to another room to chat instead of making a call
When you make a call or need to chat “walk while you talk”
Starting and sticking with an exercise routine or regular physical activity can be a challenge. (Adapted from Mayo Clinic recommendations (mayoclinic.org 9/17) These steps can help:
Identify what you enjoy! Figure out what type of physical activities you enjoy most. Would you be more likely to do some gardening in the evening, start your day with a walk, or go for a bike ride with your children after school?
Discuss an exercise program or physical activity routine and how it fits into your overall treatment plan.
Set reasonable goals. Think realistically about what you may be able to do and begin gradually. Tailor your plan to your own needs and abilities rather than setting unrealistic guidelines that you're unlikely to meet.
Don't think of exercise or physical activity as a chore. If exercise is just another "should" in your life that you don't think you're living up to, you'll associate it with failure. Rather, look at your exercise or physical activity schedule the same way you look at your therapy sessions or medication — as one of the tools to help you get better.
Figure out what's stopping you from being physically active or exercising. If you feel self-conscious, for instance, you may want to exercise at home. If you stick to goals better with a partner, find a friend to work out with or who enjoys the same physical activities that you do. If you think about what's stopping you from being physically active or exercising, you can probably find an alternative solution.
Prepare for setbacks and obstacles. Give yourself credit for every step in the right direction, no matter how small. If you skip exercise one day, that doesn't mean you can't maintain an exercise routine and might as well quit. Just try again the next day. Stick with it.
If you exercise regularly but depression or anxiety symptoms still interfere with your daily living, see your doctor or mental health professional. Exercise and physical activity are great ways to ease symptoms of depression or anxiety, but they aren't a substitute for talk therapy (psychotherapy) or medications.
Edutopia Article Good News for Teachers: Exercise Builds Brain Power, Too
Home Instruction/Home Hospital Instruction
The Special Education Department would like to introduce Derek Vermaas (kids call him Mr. V). Derek has been involved in the Old Adobe Union School District over the past five years and is filling a temporary position as a Home and Hospital/ Home Instruction Teacher. He came to the district from a 25 year career in the Los Angeles Film Industry. he grew up in Fairfax in Marin County enjoys camping, water slides and
laughing. His goal this year is to create an engaging, successful and fun educational experience for students in this temporary special education placement. Please welcome Mr. V!
TEACHERS'S CORNER
Contributed by (THIS COULD BE YOU!! :-)
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Book Recommendations, Sharing Materials, Resources and Strategies, etc
This section of the Round Up is a focus on teacher voice, input and sharing. If you have something to contribute please submit items HERE by Thursday at 9:00am.
TECHONOLOGY SERVICES
OAUSD Acceptable Use Policy here.
If you have any tech needs please reach out to itsupport@oldadobe.org
Old Adobe Union School District
Website: https://www.oldadobe.org/
Location: 845 Crinella Dr, Petaluma, CA 94954, USA
Phone: 707-765-4321
Twitter: @OAUSD_Super