Important Updates from EUSD
November 13, 2020
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Updates provided below include:
- Purple Tier and EUSD
- Hybrid Updates
- Mental Health Supports
- Substitute Teacher Opportunities
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Purple Tier and EUSD
You may have heard the news that the County of San Diego has been moved to the most restrictive tier of the state reopening system and wonder what it means for the Encinitas Union School District. Because EUSD reopened our campuses in September while the county was in the red tier, our schools will be allowed to stay open and we’ll be able to continue with our plans to phase-in reopening for additional grades at the campuses we have opened. To ensure student and staff safety, each of our employees is getting tested every two months in accordance with state guidelines at a County of San Diego testing facility, and we regularly review our reopening plans to ensure our protocols are being followed and our campuses remain healthy environments for everyone.
Hybrid Updates
At this week’s Board meeting, we shared updates regarding the work our committees are doing to plan the next phases of reopening. We know our goal is to increase the in person learning time for students as much as possible and as safely as possible. Planning now allows us to be prepared so that when COVID-19 numbers and conditions improve, we will be able to implement this next phase. Our committees are working to finalize plans so that we can continue to educate our students in the best possible way during this challenging school year. Click here for a .pdf version of the presentation.
We are working with teachers and principals to implement some additional learning and communication strategies to support our current work with hybrid. These strategies were developed based on the survey feedback we heard.
Mental Health Supports & Resources
As the COVID-19 pandemic enters a ninth month, with ongoing disruptions to so many aspects of life that we used to take for granted, even the most emotionally fortified among us can feel ready to break. Children look to adults for cues on how to feel about what is happening around them, and the messages we project have the power to strengthen, and also the power to weaken. It is an awesome responsibility and one that our staff takes very seriously.
EUSD is committed to supporting the emotional well-being of our children. Our staff receives training on trauma informed practices, positive behavior supports and creating welcoming communities within the classroom. Our TRAC (social emotional learning) program has entered its second year of districtwide implementation, providing weekly social emotional learning lessons, small group support and schoolwide activities to bring the community together. This month, the global theme within TRAC is Self-Management. Kelly Griffin, Mission Estancia TRAC teacher, is focusing on identifying emotions, emotional escalation and coping strategies. Kelly says that children “need to understand what they are actually feeling and that feelings can be big or small,” and that by focusing on expanding their emotional vocabulary, students learn to see emotional escalations in time to employ effective coping strategies. A fun, calming tool students can use is a glitter jar. This is a jar filled with liquid, water color and glitter, which when shaken can represent, as one student put it, the turmoil swirling around in your head when you are angry or scared. Watching the glitter slowly settle has a calming effect. Many Mission Estancia students still use the glitter jars they made several years ago! At Park Dale Lane, students have been learning about the how the brain responds to stress, and how to “Take a Pause” before reacting.
In addition to our TRAC program supports, each school site has a full time school psychologist. School psychologists can provide check-ins with students who are struggling social-emotionally, and can offer resources to families whose children are experiencing emotional challenges. If you are concerned about the emotional state of your child, you can reach out to your school’s psychologist for suggestions on supports available at school, and for guidance on resources in the community. There are also a number of websites with helpful information on supporting children experiencing fear, anxiety or sadness during this difficult time. One option is the Childmind Institute , which includes information on a wide variety of mental health challenges experienced by children, along with helpful guides for how to support needs. It includes a guide on helping children experiencing grief here. Other options include Guides from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Anxiety and Depression Association of America including this article on helping children experiencing anxiety during a pandemic.
Together, we can work to support our children through this difficult time.
Employment Opportunities for Parents & Members of Our Community
The Encinitas Union School District is actively looking for Substitute Teachers. This is a rewarding opportunity for parents and/or community members who hold a multiple subject teaching credential. Being a substitute teacher allows you to work the days you are available, and you select the schools you wish to work at.
Are you interested in being a substitute teacher, but do not have a teaching credential? If you hold a Bachelor’s Degree, you may qualify for an Emergency 30-Day Substitute Teaching Permit which allows you to be a substitute teacher. Requirements for Emergency 30-Day Substitute Teaching Permit are:
1) Bachelor or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university
and
2) Satisfy the Basic Skills Requirement which includes the following options:
- Pass the CBEST
- Pass the CSET: Multiple Subject plus writing skills exam
- Achieve a qualifying score on the SAT or ACT
- Achieve a score of 3 or higher on the College Board AP English exam and AP Calculus or AP Statistics exam
- Pass a Basic Skills Exam from another state
For additional information or if you have questions, please email Jane McGuigan at jane.mcguigan@eusd.net.
The Encinitas Union School District is part of the North County Coastal Substitute Consortium (NCCSC) which also serves Cardiff, Del Mar, Solana Beach and Rancho Santa Fe. Join the NCCSC for an opportunity to advance your professional skills, network with school personnel, and help continue the quality education of students in our area.
$125/Day Daily Rate
$150/Day Long Term Rate (starting on day 11 of the assignment)
For further information, please visit the NCCSC website - https://www.subinsandiego.com/ or email substitute@dmusd.org
Encinitas Union School District
Website: www.eusd.net
Location: 101 South Rancho Santa Fe Road, Encinitas, CA, USA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EncinitasUSD/