Welcome to the SUMMER 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). We will return in September.
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:
$5,000 per year CCCOE-ALP for 2 years, plus $1,000** per year to ACSA/ACCP; total cost for the two-year program is 10,000
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
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, 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
Supervisors of Attendance: Roles and Responsibilities
For the past few years, there has been a heightened focus on school attendance and the complex issues of truancy and chronic absenteeism. Recognizing the impact of school attendance on school climate, academic achievement and student success, California's Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) require local educational agencies (LEAs) to develop goals and actions to address attendance rates and chronic absenteeism rates for all students as well as historically underserved student subgroups. California's new multiple measures accountability and continuous improvement system, which includes chronic absenteeism rates, reflects a clear expectation that LEAs and schools make progress towards meeting the needs of their students, increases the focus on equity, and promotes transparency by sharing the results of that progress with all stakeholders through the dashboard.
This workshop will provide an overview of these expanded duties and describe the ways in which supervisors of attendance are expected to promote a culture of attendance.
Date and Location: May 21, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 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:June 19, 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. and August 6; CCCOE, Pleasant Hill
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.
Date and location: Saturday, 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)
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.
Dates and Location: final meeting, May 5, - 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.; Chabot Space and Science Center, Oakland For info: Email them at [email protected] visit this website to review program subjects and to register Fee: Free
Media and Information Literacy Summit: The Curious Skeptic
The California Department of Education has partnered with the California School Library Association, Encinitas Union School District, KQED, Common Sense Education, San Diego County Office of Education, and the California County Educational Technology Consortium to put on the first all-day Media and Information Literacy Summit. Participants will get a full day of engaging panels and presenters, discussing what information literacy is, why it's important, and how the Model School Library Standards can help support you in developing information literate students. Date and Location: May 24, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; 1500 Capitol Mall, 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
Meeting the Needs of Every Student: California Teachers Summit
To meet each student's needs, teachers know how important it is to personalize learning. These tailored strategies give students voice and choice in their learning, increasing engagement and generating better outcomes. The Summit will bring new and seasoned teachers together at 30+ locations across the state to strengthen our teacher network, share resources and experience what it looks like to personalize learning for themselves.
Date and locations: July 27; multiple locations throughout California
The Oakland A's presents Science of Baseball Education Day
Science of Baseball Education Day offers a pre-game STEM educational program for K-8 students in the morning, followed by the A's playing the Chicago White Sox in the early afternoon. Date and location: April 18, 9:00-11:00 a.m. (STEM program), 12:35 p.m. (first pitch); Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
The Oakland A's presents Sports Career Education Day & College Fair
The Sports Career Education Day & College Fair offers a pre-game How to Work in Sports program for high school students in the morning. The program will be led by the Oakland A's front office and local sports management university leaders, followed by the A's playing the Houston Astros in the early afternoon.
Date and location: May 9, 9:00-11:00 a.m. (How to Work in Sports program), 12:35 p.m. (first pitch); Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
The Mt. Diablo Astronomical Society will gladly organize an astronomy night for your school, youth group, or community organization. The organization's members volunteer their time and their telescopes to bring the universe to you. They also provide knowledgeable speakers and activities on various astronomy topics, either in a classroom or in a meeting setting.
Attention teachers and administrators in Contra Costa County! History Day Competition Contra Costa County is expanding, and encouraging all students in grades 4-12 to submit projects for the 2019 competition! This is a great way to infuse an engaging project into a history/social studies curriculum, and for students to participate in a low-stress, national competition while learning about piece of history. Each student or student group project develops an historical thesis about an historical event or person and then supports it with primary and secondary source documentation. Cash prizes awarded for exceptional projects. Students can then present their historical thesis and research in one of six formats:
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
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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