Welcome to the March 2018 issue of
Dateline. This informative newsletter is for all those in Contra Costa County who work in education. Please tell your fellow teachers and administrators, as well as your friends who would be interested in joining our mailing list (
click here, or the link button at the left column).
Professional Development / Opportunities
Administrative Leadership Program (ALP)
What is the Administrative Leadership Program (ALP)? CCCOE-ALP is approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing as a Professional Preparation Program for the Clear Administrative Services Credential (formerly referred to as the Tier II Professional Clear Administrative Services Credential). In partnership with the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA), CCCOE-ALP provides high-quality, researched-based professional learning and development for new leaders. Credential candidates expand and deepen their leadership knowledge, skills, and behaviors through individualized, job-embedded induction.
Program highlights include:
One-on-one coaching by an experienced administrator
Assisting and supporting participants in their administrative roles
Advancing the knowledge and skills of participants in relation to the California Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (CPSELs)
Helping administrators lead, reflect, and grow capacity
Candidates complete a portfolio based on an Individual Induction Plan, setting goals and outlining their experiences and growth as new leaders. Upon completion of the two-year program, candidates will be recommended for the Clear Administrative Services Credential.
Fee:
$3,500 per year CCCOE-ALP for 2 years, plus $1,000** per year to ACSA/ACCP; total cost for the two-year program is $9,000
Foster Youth Services Workshops
Are you currently serving foster youth? If you are interested in learning more about how to address the educational needs of foster youth, including those on probation, the CCCOE Foster Youth Services Coordinating Programs (FYSCP) are offering a series of trainings this spring to agency and district employees. Upcoming foster youth workshop titles:
Dates and location: Multiple dates; CCCOE, Pleasant Hill
For info: Contact Yvonne Beals at 925-942-3463, for dates and times, as well as workshop registration, visit this Web page
Fee: Free
Allies & Advocates: A Contra Costa County Equity Initiative
The CCCOE is proud to sponsor the year-long initiative on equity and diversity entitled: Allies & Advocates. Championed by Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Karen Sakata, the initiative will feature several events and activities throughout the school year, including four Equity Leadership Retreatsdesigned to support educational leaders to develop their own capacity to become effective champions of equity.
Dates and location: (final retreat) May 15 9:00
a.m.-3:00 p.m.;CCCOE, Pleasant Hill
Fee: Multiple early-bird discount and group price points
14th Annual Young Children's Issues Forum 2018
Join your local state legislators, local elected officials, business leaders, early childhood educators, families, and the community in a dialogue about the current movement to elevate the quality of Early Care and Education services for all children and promote increased compensation.
For info: Keep your eyes on this website for registration information, or review this flyer
Planning a Year Around Workshop Teaching - Grades 5-12
Recent research indicates that students are reading less as demands for literacy increase across all professions. Now is the time for the artful teaching of reading: to teach young readers the moves necessary to make sense of difficult texts; to motivate students to read independently; to create classrooms that inspire students to be lifelong readers. When it comes to teaching young writers, how do we move students beyond the "flat and stagnant" writing that has become the norm in many schools?
Date and location: April 12, 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.; CCCOE, Pleasant Hill
As a Regional Partner with Code.org, the CCCOE is hosting a one-day workshop for K-5 educators interested in teaching computer science. This workshop will cover Code.org's CS Fundamentals courses 1-4.
Code.org's elementary school curriculum allows even the youngest students
to explore
the limitless world of computing. Courses blend online, self-guided and self-paced tutorials with "unplugged" classroom activities that require no computer.
Dates and location: April 24, 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. and June 19, 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.; CCCOE, Pleasant Hill
Fee: $20 includes materials, continental breakfast, and lunch.
Distinguished Speaker Series:
Exploring Phenomena: Using Science to Figure Things Out
The NGSS require a shift from "learning about" to "figuring out." How did the Grand Canyon form?" "Where did the mass of the apple go when I threw it in the compost?" These questions about real-world phenomena are great examples of how science can be used for figuring things out. In this workshop attendees will participate as learners in a phenomenon-based lesson, then unpack the experience with fellow educators. Participants will gain strategies to help choose phenomena and craft essential questions that can guide students to figure things out about the real world. Join staff from the California Academy of Science's Teacher Institute on Science & Sustainability for a full-day workshop on exploring phenomena. This program is for K-12 educators, including administrators (site or district), instructional coaches, and classroom teachers.
Dates and location: May 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.; CCCOE, Pleasant Hill For info: Contact Hilary Dito at 925-942-3396 or visit the program's Eventbrite registration page Fee: $110 includes materials, continental breakfast, and lunch
Computer Science in Contra Costa County
Code.org's Professional Learning Program is a year-long study experience for middle and high school educators interested in teaching Code.org's Computer Science Discoveries (Grades 6-10) or Computer Science Principles (grades 10-12) courses. Participants will explore Computer Science curriculum and tools, experiment with specific teaching strategies, and join a local community of teachers using this curriculum.
Teachers who apply and are accepted must:
Attend the five-day, in-person summer workshop June 11-15 at Contra Costa County Office of Education
Attend four local one-day, in-person workshops (on workdays throughout the school year)
Complete 20 hours of online professional development
Teach the course during the 2018-19 school year
Support the recruitment and enrollment of a diverse group of students in the course, representative of the school's overall student population
Dates and location: June 11-15; CCCOE, Pleasant Hill For info: Contact Hilary Dito at 925-942-3396 or visit the program's Web page (around mid January) Fee: Free Deadline: March 30
The Saint Mary's College 2017-2018 Distinguished Speaker Series
For the past 23 years, the Distinguished Speaker Series has attracted more than 1,000 educators each year from 5 local counties and more than 30 regional school districts. Internationally renowned speakers, authors, and consultants have been inspiring participants to make a difference in their classroom, school, and community.
Dates and location: Saturdays: March 3, April 21, and May 12, 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.; Saint Mary's College, Moraga
Fee: $65 for individual sessions, breakfast and lunch included (Discounted graduate academic credit available)
Youth Mental Health - Eliminating Barriers to Learning
This workshop will offer information on student social-emotional wellness, including the links between student social-emotional development, mental health, tobacco and other substance use, and learning. It also addresses the impact of the stigma and discrimination that surround mental health issues and explores the role of teachers' and other staff in helping students with mental health needs. This training is provided by Contra Costa County Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) Program. Date and Location: April 18, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.; CCCOE, Pleasant Hill
For info: Contact Emily Justice at 925-942-5328 or visit the program's Eventbrite registration page Fee: $20 per person, no cost for Contra Costa TUPE consortium members
Arts Now Bay Area Summit
Join us at the Arts Now Bay Area Summit to recognize and share the individual and collective work in support of arts education in the Bay Area! Hear success stories and learn how the arts can serve as a powerful tool for equity in our schools. Attendees will engage in meaningful discussions and workshops, as well as gain access to local and statewide strategies and resources for including the arts in LCFF/LCAPs, district strategic arts plans, and student advocacy.
Fun Exchanges & Activities for Science Teachers FEAST
Have you been looking for new, exciting, teacher-tested ideas for your science classroom? Or perhaps you've wanted to have a discussion about science resources, safety in the lab, or how other teachers manage a certain science demonstration or other activity? Or maybe you simply want to network with other science teachers and build a lasting friendship with other science educators. If this is what you're looking for, we welcome you to FEAST. FEAST is truly a grass roots effort that began with a small group of about eight secondary science teachers in the fall of 2005.
4th Annual Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teachers and Teaching (ECET2) Conference
ECET² Bay Area is a dynamic forum organized by teachers for teachers, where educators come together to learn from one another and celebrate the teaching profession. This year, the conference will engage participants around the theme of "Inclusion and Social Justice in College-and-Career Readiness." It will kick off with a happy hour event from 6:00-8:30 p.m. on Friday, March 9. On Saturday, March 10, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., attendees will:
Hear teacher keynote addresses, modeled after the popular TED Talk Series, on inspirational stories
Select from a number of teacher-led breakout sessions designed to address the needs of historically underserved students
Engage in Colleague Circles to share and address common challenges
Dates and Location: March 9, 6:00-8:30 p.m. and March 10, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.: For info: Email them at [email protected] visit this website to review program subjects and to register Fee: Free
State Arts Learning Colloquium
This is a wonderful day of professional learning day focused on the arts.
Colloquium participants will hear from arts experts, visit the exhibits, and
participate in professional learning aligned to
state standards.
Dates and Location: May 17, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Crocker Museum, in Sacramento
Empowering Educators is a free professional development program for those who work with students in alternative, court, community, and continuation schools. It is ultimately meant to support the social and emotional health of the adults working with our most challenged youth. Participants will explore:
Practices of adult self-care when working with trauma-informed youth
Working within a strengths-based paradigm of teaching and learning
Developing a culture of emotional intelligence and mental hygiene for students so they are ready for work-based learning and post-secondary education
Basic understanding of trauma-informed care and executive brain functioning
Processes of transformative facilitation
How to build community networks centered around vision to action planning
Dates and locations: Visit their website for the latest roster of courses and the scheduled dates and locations
For info: Contact Rona Zollinger, Ph.D, at (415) 407-8555, or visit the program's website
Fee: Free
Upcoming Events / Field Trips
The Intel-Affiliated Contra Costa County Science and Engineering Fair - Awards and Public Viewing
The 2018 Intel-Affiliated Contra Costa County Science & Engineering Fair welcomes all to attend and view numerous projects submitted this year by county middle and high school students. Attendees can observe the presentations and experiments up close, as well as talk to the students who entered them. Date and location: March 17, 8:30 a.m.- 12:00 noon; Los Medanos College Gym, Pittsburg For info: Contact Janice Fujiior visit the Fair's website
15th Annual Get Real Academy
The 15th Annual Get Real Academy, presented by Soroptimist International, is a life-skills conference for high school senior girls focusing on life after high school. Seminars throughout the day will include such topics as money management, women's health, domestic and workplace violence issues, insurance, career success, and job search tips. Sign-ups are now being taken. Date and location: March 8, 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.; Hilton Concord, Concord For info: Contact P. Eileen Fisher at (925) 352-5508 Fee: Free
Grants / Scholarships
Voya Unsung Heroes Awards Program
With over $5 million in awarded grants, the Voya Unsung HeroesTM Awards Program has proven to be an A+ program with educators. The program's "alumni" have inspired success in the classroom and impacted countless numbers of students. Each year, 100 educators are selected to receive $2,000 to help fund their innovative class projects. Three of those are chosen to receive the top awards of an additional $5,000, $10,000 and $25,000.
For info: Contact them by email or phone (507) 931-1682 , or visit their website
Deadline: April 30
The Safeway Foundation's Grants
Safeway funds grant applications for communities where stores are located. Grants should focus on Safeway's priorities, including education. The Safeway Foundation's Grants are accepted throughout the year. Typical grants are between $2,500 - $10,000 For more information and to apply visit their website.
ecoSolution™ Grants (previously called "Small Grants") have been the defining basis of Captain Planet Foundation's work over the last 25 years. In that time, they've funded more than 2,100 projects that have impacted 1.2 million youth around the world - actively fulfilling their mission to build the next generation of environmental stewards and change-agents. The grants range from $500-$2,500 and are intended to support solution-oriented, youth-led projects that result in real environmental outcomes. They are available to educators working with youth in the United States (international projects are by invitation only).
Deadlines:
Cycle 1: Opens July 16-Closes January 15 * Cycle 2: Opens January 16-Closes July 15
ecoTech™ Grants
ecoTech™ Grants were created to combat the notion that students needed to choose between "the screen" or "the green" and to encourage educators and students to explore the role technology can play in designing and implementing solutions to some of our most pressing environmental challenges. We believe that technology can present innovative ways to address environmental challenges - and that when dealing with digital natives, we do ourselves a disservice by asking them to unplug. ecoTech™ Grants are specifically offered to engage children in inquiry-based, STEM-related projects that leverage technology and/or use nature-based design to address environmental problems in local communities.
Deadlines:
Cycle 1: Opens July 16-Closes January 15 * Cycle 2: Opens January 16-Closes July 15
Resources / Contests
California Transitional Kindergarten Stipend Project
Are you a Transitional Kindergarten teacher or California State Preschool Program teacher in Contra Costa County? Are you interested in being reimbursed for Early Care and Education/Child Development coursework? Have you attended or plan on attending any Early Care and Education/Child Development related Professional Development? If you answered YES to any of these questions, you may be eligible for an educational or professional development reimbursement opportunity through the California Transitional Kindergarten Stipend Project. This funding opportunity is retroactive to July 1, 2014, and will be available through March 31, 2019, as a one-time-only funding or until all available funds have been expended.
For info: Visit the Contra Costa County Local Planning and Advisory Council for Early Care and Education
website, or contact
Marissa Frias at (925) 942-5331
Law Day Art Contest
This annual contest provides a wonderful opportunity for students, grades 9-12, to learn about our legal and justice system, while getting creative and winning prizes. Students are allowed to submit an art piece, which may be represented in two-dimensions to be entered in the Law Day Art Contest. Students are encouraged to use their creativity and create art pieces in any medium desired (including, but not limited to, drawings, paintings, films, photographs, graphic novels, comics, etc.). This year's theme is Separation of Powers: Framework for Freedom.
The 2018 Ninth Circuit Civics Contest offers high school students a chance to win cash prizes while learning how the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution has helped shape their education. The theme of the contest is "The 14th Amendment 150 Years After Ratification: What Does Equal Protection Mean to Students?" The contest challenges students (grades 9-12 ) to write an essay or produce a video focusing on how Congress and the federal courts have applied the Equal Protection Clause to their educational opportunities. The top three finishers in both the essay and video competitions will receive $2,000 for 1st place, $1,000 for 2nd place and $500 for 3rd place. The 1st-place winners along with a parent or guardian also will be invited to the 2018 Ninth Circuit
The Aquarium of the Bay and Sea Lion Center's FREE K-12 Programs
Aquarium of the Bay and the Sea Lion Center's FREE education programs allow students to discover the amazing world of San Francisco Bay through hands-on exploration experiences. All of their naturalist-led-education programs are aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and include developmentally appropriate, accessible, STEM and conservation-education activities. The programs are open to all K-12 schools in the nine Bay Area Counties (San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Sonoma, Napa, and Solano).
The American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) website lets users create and administer online tests to their students and then compare their students' performance to national norms. You can assemble tests by selecting questions from more than 700 items that have been developed by AAAS Project 2061 to measure what students know in 16 key science topics.
Looking for ideas to engage your students across the curriculum? Check out Creative Educator for project-based learning, professional development, and other resources. Articles include Five Hallmarks of a Creative Project and The Power of Play.
The Contra Costa County Community Warning System (CWS) is a comprehensive system designed to alert the public in the county of imminent threats to life or health. The system was developed by the Community Awareness and Emergency Response organization (CAER) and is operated by the Office of the Sheriff. The CWS mission is to alert the public of imminent threats to life or health, inform the public of basic hazard information and guide them to resources to gather more detailed information. The CWS uses a variety of tools to reach the public as quickly and reliably as possible such as:
Telephone notification (cell and landline)
Email
Texting
Social Media (Facebook and Twitter)
Sirens
Radio and TV
NOAA Weather Radios
Cable Television
For info: Contact the CWS Staff at (925) 313-9622 or visit their website
77 Santa Barbara Road, Pleasant Hill, California 94523
Karen Sakata, Superintendent of Schools
Editor: Terry Koehne; Writer/Layout:
Jonathan Lance, (925) 942-3429;
Diane Morrell, Designer; June Stephens, Web Developer
Dateline is distributed during the school year to all public schools in the county by the Communications Office. Information must be received by the first of the preceding month. Publication does not signify the Contra Costa County Office of Education endorses the event or program mentioned.
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