RHS Spotlight: October 26th 2020
Distance Learning # for Redwood Heights: 510-879-2148
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
HALLOWEEN ZOOM PARADE FRI, OCT 30, @ 9:30 am
Parenting During COVID Support Group -Webinar Recording: Building Resilience, MON, 11/2 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Dear RHS Caregivers,
THU, OCTOBER 29, 2020@ 6 pm:
This is an invitation to watch an upcoming webinar hosted by Pandemic Parenting...
Please register at their website Anti-Racist Pandemic Parenting 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM:
Parenting is especially challenging right now on many levels. Not only are we in the midst of a global pandemic, we’re also trying to raise socially conscious kids during a time of significant racial and political unrest. We are thrilled to welcome three expert panelists: Dr. Y. Joy Harris-Smith, Dr. Travis Heath, and Ms. Leslie Priscilla Arreola-Hillenbrand to share insight and guidance on rooting out racism in ourselves and in our communities while teaching our kids to do the same.
After the 60 minute presentation join a RHS Zoom Chat to share your thoughts and wonderings with other RHS caregivers @ 7 pm - 7:45 pm. Join Zoom Meeting ID: 85989013812 Password: 729605
THU, NOVEMBER 2nd, 2020 @ 6pm:
Join other parents in supporting each other and discussing ways to navigate this difficult time at the RHS Parenting During COVID Support Group.We will watch a webinar recording called:
Building Resilience: Webinar Recording & Resources
"We were joined by Dr. Bruce Perry, child psychiatrist and trauma expert, for our webinar Building Resilience: Understanding Patterns of Stress to Design Effective Doses of Meaningful Support. We discussed how to help your children—and yourself—navigate these challenging times when aspects of life may feel amplified."
We look forward to seeing you on ZOOM.
Please contact me if you have any questions @ cynthia.bagby@ousd.org or Distance Learning # for Redwood Heights: 510-879-2148
Warmly,
Cynthia
During the ZOOM Parade, our plan is to ZOOM Spotlight Each student by class. We are planning for a safe, ZOOM environment. I will send the ZOOM link to you all by THU AM.
Please read my traditional message regarding RHS Costume Policy:
Halloween is a great time for kids to have fun, express themselves, and to embrace their creative sides. At the same time, the holiday does present the potential for conflict. This is an excellent opportunity to be mindful of this year's theme, Embracing Our Humanity and our commitment to doing everything in our power to end discrimination based on race, gender identity, disability, or expression here at Redwood Heights School.
Halloween costumes are designed for fun but some can reveal harmful ideas beneath a playful surface. Some perpetuate stereotypes or reinforce limited and/or hurtful ways of thinking about people, Please take time to analyze the message of a Halloween costume.
Students can unintentionally create awkwardness or distress for their peers if their costumes seem to mock or degrade a classmate's culture or appearance. One example of this might be a student who is not of Native American descent donning a traditional headdress. Of course, there's no way to anticipate every costume that might give offense, but we do ask that you exercise cultural sensitivity when helping your child select their outfit. We realize no one in the RHS community wants to deliberately cause a child anxiety, so please take a moment to reflect upon the signal your child's outfit sends so all of our kids can have a fun and carefree Halloween!
For more information or guidance, check out the brief articles below:
- A Parents Guide to Navigating Questionable Halloween Costumes https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/parents-guide-navigating-questionable-halloween-174155223.html.
- We're a Culture, Not a Costume" @ https://criticalmediaproject.org/were-a-culture-not-a-costume-2/
Thank you for your understanding. If you have any questions, thoughts or concerns please reach out to me at cynthia.bagby@ousd.org.
Best,
Principal Bagby-Ellison
Traditional Halloween activities are fun, but some can increase the risk of getting or spreading COVID-19 or influenza. Plan alternate ways to participate in Halloween.
FLU SHOT INFORMATION
FROM OUR SCHOOL NURSE Avelina Buijs
Hi Redwood Heights Families,
I am sending you the Health Education and Attendance for Life document (HEAL) produced by the Alameda County Public Health Dept. and Center for Healthy Schools and Communication. It's a flyer that is for parents, first page is about COVID which most parents are aware of by now. However, the second page has a list of symptoms and illnesses on the first column and the second column has general guidelines that are in blue which refers to distance learning or learning at home ( whether a child should participate or not in distance learning). Please note these are guidelines and there will always be personal circumstances that have to be considered.
Avelina S. Buijs BSN, RN, PHN
(She, Her, Hers)
Read the Latest Connecting with Kyla: Fall Family Survey Please share your voice.
Dear Oakland Community,
This pandemic has been difficult for all of us and especially hard on some families. It is vital that we hear from those most affected by this situation, namely our families and staff. We will be surveying our staff in the coming weeks.
CLICK BELOW:
Our Fall Family Survey is Now Open Until Nov. 12.
The Fall Family Survey is a chance to provide feedback on returning to in-person instruction, distance learning, and other issues. Follow this link to our website for the survey as well as the following background materials which we hope you will review:
- A ~7 minute video that provides an update on our process and a summary of Alameda County COVID-19 safety standards for schools
- Summary of key safety guidelines from Alameda County.
(Please note some translations are still pending)
The information we collected from our family surveys last spring and summer was invaluable and we tried to follow as many suggestions as possible. We hope that you will take the time to share your feedback.
Update on Return to In-Person Instruction
I want to acknowledge the intense desire for more information and certainty. In the coming weeks we hope to be able to share more concrete details about our continued work to help us be prepared for resuming in-person instruction.
As I said in my last update on Oct. 1, OUSD will likely remain, primarily, in distance learning through the end of December 2020. That update lays out the conditions for returning for in-person instruction and some of the in-person services we are offering to serve specific student populations using an equity lens. The video linked above also provides some information about where we are in the process of reopening.
Share your thoughts on this message
In community,
Dr. Kyla Johnson-Trammell
Superintendent
1st GR Teacher, Ms. Sanders: "My Virtual Teaching Workspace"
Our Wonderful Librarian is Back!!!
New Jabber System Phone # for Redwood Heights: 510-879-2148
New RHS TECH SUPPLY PICKUP HOURS beginning week of 10/5/2020: TUE &THU 8:30 - 12 noon
Contact jenniferrhshugs@gmail.com and/or cynthia.bagby@ousd.org if you have questions.
We have therabands available for our kiddies:). Contact Ms. Jennifer or Ms. Bagby if interested.
These can help relieve tension and are usually wrapped around the legs of students chairs as a sensory tool.
Help students wiggle while they work.
Parenting During COVID Support Group Starting Monday's @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Please join us for the Parenting During COVID support group!
Join other parents in supporting each other and discussing ways to navigate this difficult time. This group is for caregivers who are feeling stressed and overwhelmed as distance learning and challenging life situations continue. To be clear, this is not a therapy group, it is an opportunity for folks to come together to connect, support each other and know that you are not alone in feeling like it is all too much!
Please join Ms. Jennifer and fellow parents for this confidential and supportive forum.
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://ousd.zoom.us/j/82243302306?pwd=S1dBeWJGcVJVZnlUL0YzYjYwdFVjUT09
Meeting ID: 822 4330 2306
Passcode: 462059
One tap mobile +16699009128,,82243302306# US (San Jose) +12532158782,,82243302306# US (Tacoma) Dial by your location +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) Meeting ID: 822 4330 2306 Find your local number: https://ousd.zoom.us/u/keu1HkqNXn
If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to Ms. Jennifer at jenniferrhshugs@gmail.com
Redwood Heights OCTOBER FOOD DRIVE!!
Hello RHS Community!
I first of all want to say thank you to all of you who have supported the GoFundMe campaign for our families.
Many of you have asked if there are other ways to support families and the answer is “Yes”!
WHAT: Redwood Heights OCTOBER FOOD DRIVE!!
WHEN: Starting Thursday, October 1
HOW: Every Tuesday and Thursday, between 8:30 am -
12:00 pm, there will be bins at the main front
entrance to the school at 4401 39th Ave. You may drop off
food in the bins. Please do not leave food at other times unless you have
arranged it with Ms. Jennifer or Principal Bagby.
WHO: Everyone! Anyone can donate.
We are accepting all non perishable foods. If you want to donate flour or sugar, please make sure it is in secure packaging.
If you want to donate fruits or vegetables, we will make sure these get quickly distributed.
If you have other items you want to donate, please contact: jenniferrhshugs@gmail for further information.
If you are food insecure, please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Jennifer who will arrange a pick up or drop off time.
RHS Cares gofundme Opportunity
During this time of shelter-in-place due to COVID, some Redwood Heights families have been severely impacted and unable to pay rent or buy food. Some are unable to leave their homes to access food banks or other resources due to medical reasons, lack of safe transportation, or other obstacles.
We have been able to provide some cash assistance through our PTA; however, we have realized that the needs are greater than what the PTA is able to provide on its own.
We have been working with RHS parents who need immediate cash assistance to support their families and avoid falling through the cracks.
This cash support will be a lifeline for these parents, allowing them to feed their children, stay in their homes, pay for medical costs, and maintain their utilities. They are so grateful and frequently in tears upon receiving help from the community.
We can all really make a difference here! We are fortunate to have a generous, caring community.
All funds raised from this campaign will go directly to RHS families in need of financial support during this time.
Thank you for supporting these families and showing up in community!
Warmly,
Jennifer Wilson
HUGS (Helping Us Grow Stronger) Update
HUGS (Helping Us Grow Stronger) Update
Greetings Redwood Heights Community.
We have just finished our sixth week of school. For some of us it may feel like six months due to the enormity of what we are experiencing right now. Here at RHS we have been assessing the needs of families and students over the past 6 weeks. We have been talking with caregivers during coffee chats, surveys, Back to School Night, parent/teacher virtual home visits, and 1:1 conversations. Our COST (Care of Services Team) has been meeting weekly to create systems of support and to discuss how we can best support students and families during this distance learning time.
HUGS INTERNS
We are thrilled that once again we will have two HUGS interns. Cierra and Logan, will facilitate small groups and provide 1:1 support to students and families. The interns are eager to get started in getting to know the RHS community.
Due to distance learning, the interns will be offering “Lunch Bunch” small groups for all grades. Initially, they will be starting with Kindergarten. The goal is to bring students together to get to know others in a fun, easy going and connecting manner. Each group will meet for 3 weeks and will have 3 students in each group. A separate email will be sent to Kindergarten families.
Additionally, Cierra and Logan will be inviting 4th/5th graders to participate in a group with 6-8 students. These groups will last 8-10 weeks and rotate through the school year. The goal of these groups is to provide community, support and connection for students outside of the academic Zoom calls. This is our attempt to be proactive regarding what we know about the social emotional development of this age group. We know that for some students it is especially challenging during distance learning and we want to support all students.
SUPPORT for ADULTS
Covid - 19 Related Support Group
This is a group for caregivers who have been personally impacted by a positive COVID 19 test, yourself or family member, and/or experienced a death in their family due to COVID 19. Please join us for this confidential and supportive forum. This is an opportunity to receive support and offer support to others.
Parenting during COVID
Join other parents in supporting each other and learning ways to navigate this challenging time. This group is for caregivers who are feeling stressed as distance learning continues, as smoke from California fires envelopes us and as challenging life situations unfold. Please join us for this confidential and supportive forum.
HUGS Intern: Cierra Ivey
HUGS Intern: Logan Moody
Logan Moody is currently studying Drama Therapy at CIIS in San Franciso. They are excited to be part of the RHS community this year while working as an intern in the HUGS program. They graduated in 2018 from UC Berkeley with a degree in theater and performance studies. Their love for theatre and seeing how it can have a therapeutic effect lead them to their current graduate studies. Their focus both academically and personally has been in social justice art and community building. They hope to bring art, compassion, respect, and a deep sense of community to their work in the HUGS program and school and look forward to learning and growing alongside the kiddos every day.
CHROMEBOOK NEEDS AND DISTRIBUTION
Below is the protocol for Chromebook pick up or if you need to switch-out hardware:
- Families complete the RHS DIstance Learning Tech and Wellness Survey for our records.
- Pick up the Chromebook (hotspots if available) MON - THU between 8:30 am - 12 noon ( I'm here at the school during these times).
ZOOM LEGAL RULES for PARENTS
Recording of Class on Zoom by Student or Family Member. Under Education Code section 51512, Students and family members may only take an audio or video recording of a class (or any parts of a class) on Zoom if they have first obtained written permission to do so from both the teacher and the principal.
Interactions with Teacher/Other Students during Class. Family members may observe their own child during a class on Zoom from off screen and are asked to inform the teacher if possible. However, family members should not interact with the teacher or other students, except to briefly address time-sensitive technical issues, and only where not disruptive. Any concerns regarding a teacher’s teaching or student’s learning must be raised outside the Zoom class.
Familial Support for Children during Class. Family members may support their own child during a class on Zoom provided that such support does not take their child away from instruction, and so long as the support is not otherwise disruptive of how the teacher is teaching the class.
our Alameda County Public Health Department website www.acphd.org