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Dear Colleagues,
It is Black History Month, a time to honor and celebrate the significant contributions and achievements of African Americans throughout history. This month provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the rich cultural heritage and the ongoing journey towards equality and justice. Our agency has published instructional materials designed to provide resources and prompt discussions around heritage months throughout the year for both elementary and secondary grade levels.
We also recognize the importance of supporting our immigrant community and have created a dedicated webpage with resources to assist educators, students, and families. These materials are designed to provide guidance and support in navigating educational opportunities and community services.
Additionally, our agency has developed a professional development workshop focused on the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education. This workshop explores innovative ways to leverage AI tools to enhance teaching and learning experiences. It is an exciting opportunity to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving educational landscape related to AI.
This is among the many workshops and professional development opportunities listed below for educators. I encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities to enhance your skills and knowledge. Please encourage your colleagues to sign up for this newsletter or feel free to share it with them.
Thank you for your dedication and commitment to your students and community. Together, we can continue to inspire and empower our students to achieve their fullest potential.
In partnership,
Lynn Mackey
Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools
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This Community of Practice (CoP) aims to:
1) deepen our understanding of research and best practices and
2) further collaborate around the support and success of our LTEL students
Audience: Instructional Coaches, TOSAs, EL Leaders, District and Site Administrators
Dates: 2/12, 4/18, 5/13 All sessions Time: 10:00 -11:30 a.m.
Cost: Free
Flyer
Registration
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This virtual CoP is dedicated to building our collective knowledge and capacity to implement the Observation Protocol for Teachers of English Learners (OPTEL).
Audience: EL Coordinators, Administrators, TOSAs, Specialists
Dates: 2/28, 3/21, 4/25, 5/23
Time: 11-12 p.m.
Cost: Free
Flyer
Registration
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3-day in-person series provides a set of strategies that can be integrated into lessons and practices. Participants will:
- Identify and address the strengths and needs of English learner/emergent bilingual students by providing targeted scaffolds and instructional support.
- Develop strategies to engage students in language domains (listening, reading, speaking and writing), deepening students’ use of academic language.
Audience: Elementary Teachers, Instructional Coaches, TOSAs, EL Leaders
Dates: 6/23-6/25
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Registration
Flyer
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Webinars will showcase expert practitioners sharing best practices and resources for serving
newcomer youth. Registration information for individual session dates can be found on the website.
Audience: EL Coordinators, Administrators, TOSAs, Specialists, Teachers
Dates: 2/20
Time: 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
Registration
More Info
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This trainer of trainers session is designed to equip COEs/District and charter leading staff with the tools to engage site leaders across their districts/ charters in local planning to implement the English Learner Roadmap. The session will include an exploration of entry points, specific tools, and approaches for the local context.
Audience: County Office Teams, District Office Teams, Charter System Teams
Date: 4/8
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30pm
Cost: Free
Flyer
Registration
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A wide range of professional learning offerings from across the state to build capacity around serving our multilingual learners.
Audience: Site Administrators, Classroom Teachers, EL Leaders, TOSAs, Specialists
Cost: Free
Professional Learning Catalog
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CCLA Online Courses for Learning Acceleration
The California Collaborative for Learning Acceleration (CCLA) offers access to free self-paced courses that provide evidence-based strategies to boost learning acceleration in the classroom.
Available Online Courses: Learning Acceleration Introduction Course: This course provides an understanding of what learning acceleration is and why it is needed. It introduces the five components of CCLA: mastery of priority content, evidence-based strategies, Universal Design for Learning, culturally sustaining pedagogy, and social-emotional learning practices. These courses support evidence-based strategies to accelerate learning in math, literacy, and language development. Check out our new paraeducator courses too.
Dates: Asynchronous
Audience: All TK-12 Educators
Cost: Free
Location: Virtual
Website & Online Course Access
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CCCOE & College Board: Unlocking Opportunities Beyond the SAT
Presented by Andy Bride, Associate Director at The College Board. With a mindset of equity in education for all students, Bride offers insight to help districts focus their efforts on unlocking the widest array of post-secondary options for every student. His session topics include: PSAT 8/9, Big Future, Pre AP, AP African American Studies, AP PreCalc, AP Seminar, Career Kickstart, and New Courses.
Audience: District Leaders, High School Principals, Counselors, Teacher Leaders
Dates: February 5, March 12, April 16, May 7
Time: 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Virtual
Registration
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Social Emotional Learning and Academic Integration
This engaging webinar will set you up for success with SEL and Academic integration, no matter where you are with your SEL learning journey. You will collaborate with colleagues from across the state to deepen equity-centered SEL foundations, and experience dynamic activities that will deepen your adult SEL and classroom practices. You will gain access to a teacher-created bank of activities and lessons differentiated by grade level and content area that will help you easily and effectively integrate social and emotional learning into your academic content.
Audience: TK-12 Teachers
Date: February 5, March 19
Time: 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Virtual
Register for 1 date
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Project ARISE: Literacy Online Courses (no cost)
Project ARISE is a grant funded project that offers access to 5 asynchronous, self-paced courses at no cost to all CA educators.
· Course content includes literacy as equity, executive functions, reading foundations, comprehension, and intensive interventions.
· 3 graduate units are available through a partnership with UOP ($50/unit) once all five courses are completed.
Dates: open enrollment, self-paced
Audience: All CA Educators - Teachers, Interventionists, Specialists, Paraprofessionals, Administrators...
Cost: FREE
Registration
Flyer
Would you like to talk about bringing your new learning to life in your classroom? Join our Statewide Virtual Community!
· Our just-about-monthly meetings will provide opportunities to discuss your learning and share ideas about how to apply it in your classroom and with your students!
Dates: February 13, March 13 (come to one or more!)
Time: 3:30 – 4:45 p.m.
Audience: Anyone enrolled in the courses
Cost: FREE
Registration
Flyer
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“Our Food, Our Culture” Art Lesson
In this lesson from our CCCOE Lesson Library for 4th and 5th graders, students will have the opportunity to draw food that they enjoy that represents their culture. Learn how to implement the lesson through participation. Through this exercise, students will recognize how we all have unique cultural backgrounds.
Date: February 20
Time: 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Location: Contra Costa County Office of Education,
77 Santa Barbara Road, Pleasant Hill
Audience: All teachers welcome, 4th/5th grade standards aligned
Cost: Free
Registration
Flyer
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AI in Education
Empowering Through AI - Educate, Innovate and Elevate
3 Strands: Educators (monthly virtual), Policy (Ed Tech Subcommittee) and CCCOE Staff (Monthly Lunch and Learn).
Audience: Educators, CCCOE Staff
Dates/Time: February 22, March 24, April 28; times vary
Lunch and Learn & Monday of the Month: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
Registration
Flyer
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Integrating Computational Thinking, Math and Science Professional Learning Series
Join facilitators from the Lawrence Hall of Science for a yearlong series, including three full in-person days at the Contra Costa County Office of Education and one virtual follow up session. Integrating computational thinking, mathematics, and science enhances students' comprehension and engagement. Gain foundational knowledge and practical strategies. Teams are encouraged to register.
Audience: TK-12 Educators, Coaches, Administrators
Dates/Time: February 24 / in-person at CCCOE at 9:00 a.m. and April 23, Virtual at 3:30 p.m.
Location: In- Person and one Virtual Session
Cost: Free
Registration
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Project ARISE Workshop: Using Executive Functions to Support Holistic Literacy Development
Learn what holistic skills and experiences are required for reading and how to use a tool to build students’ executive function to support literacy acquisition
Date: February 24
Audience: K-12 educators and administrators
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Flyer
Registration
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Project ARISE Workshop: Biliteracy Instruction, a Two-Part Series
Gain an overview of the dual language brain research as it applies to the science of reading for multilingual learners, explore explicit cross-language connections and contrastive analysis, and how small instructional tweaks can build on home language.
Date: February 27
Audience: K-12 educators, especially dual language teachers and administrators
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Registration
Flyer
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Learning Acceleration Leadership Series
Learning acceleration is a mindset shift. Strategically approaching what you
are already doing to best support implementation of instructional practices
that bridge to grade level content for all students, especially those with unfinished learning. Come learn more about Learning Acceleration and how it could fit into your site plan.
Audience: Site or District Leaders, Coaches/TOSA’s, Teacher Leaders
Dates: February 28, April 18
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: CCCOE, 77 Santa Barbara Rd., Pleasant Hill
Cost: Free
Registration
Flyer
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Getting Reading Right: Filling the Gaps in the Secondary ELA Classroom
Teachers of older students who are struggling readers need research-based tools and strategies for addressing reading gaps, not just scaffolds as band-aids. Participants will explore best practices for helping students master the code, develop fluency, and build content vocabulary knowledge. It’s time to get reading right in our middle and high school ELA classrooms! Join us for this monthly learning opportunity. You can earn one graduate unit for participation at an additional cost.
Audience: Grades 6-8 ELA Teachers, TOSAs, Instructional Coaches, Site/District Leaders
Dates: March 3, April 7, May 5
Time: 3:45 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Registration
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Improving A-G Completion Rates, an Equity Driven Professional Learning Series, in Partnership with Lawrence Hall of Science
Audience: District Leaders, High School Principals, Middle School Principals, Counselors, Teacher Leaders
Dates: March 13, May 8
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Registration
Flyer
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Contra Costa County Science and Engineering Fair
The Contra Costa County Science & Engineering Fair (CCCSEF) is set for March 13-15, 2025 at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg. It is only open to students who attend school in Contra Costa County. Students select a project topic from six categories.
Date: Fair March 13 -15
Audience: 7th- 12th grade students
Cost: $35
Website
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Teacher Induction Program
Partnering with New Teacher Project Santa Cruz to offer RICA test prep courses in 2025:
RICA Subtests– March 18, 20, 25, 26
Registration
Contact
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Unlocking Empathy: Experiencing Dyslexia Workshop Series featuring University of La Verne
This 2-part workshop series provides a unique opportunity for all educators to participate in an experience that will reshape your perspective, deepen your understanding of dyslexia, and elevate your impact as an educator.
Dates: March 19 and March 26 (rescheduled from Jan. 2025)
Audience: K-12 educators, administrators, paraeducators
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Registration
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CCCOE: Wellness Symposium
Featuring keynote speaker, Elena Aguilar, renowned coach and author of Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators and Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching. Elena is one of education’s leading voices helping to shape the development of best practices, professional standards, and coaching methodologies. Participants will have the opportunity to join breakout sessions on trauma-informed and restorative practices, social emotional learning, and so much more. Full schedule to come! Free to attend. Lunch will be provided. Substitute reimbursement may be available for Contra Costa Educators.
Audience: Teachers, Wellness Staff, and Administrators
Date: Wednesday, May 7
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location: Pleasant Hill Community Center, 320 Civic Dr., Pleasant Hill
Registration
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Social Emotional Learning and Wellness Summit 2025
Relationship-centered schools create environments where everyone feels known, respected, valued, and supported. Through feeling such connection, students and adults can together co-create vibrant, equitable learning communities. At the Summit, participants will explore relationships as the foundation for equity, transformation, and integration.
Date: May 15 & 16,
Location: Sacramento
Audience: Educators and Administrators
Cost: $450
Registration
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Climate Change Resources
Explore local and statewide resources. Supplement science instruction to include human impact on climate change with a focus on solutions. Implement AB 285 on Climate Change using a new toolkit from the California Environmental Literacy Initiative.
Date: June 12
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location: Contra Costa County Office of Education, 77 Santa Barbara Road, Pleasant Hill
Audience: All educators
Cost: Free
Registration
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Contra Costa County Library News | |
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February
Contra Costa County Library is proud to celebrate Black Children's Book Week – and this year, it's not just one week but the entire month of February. Black Children’s Book Week is a global commemoration of Black children and those who ensure Black children are represented in books and media. The Library will feature games and events with Black authors and educators, as well as free book and bookmark giveaways that highlight fantastic Black authors and illustrators. Events include storytimes with author Rebecca Walker, STEM workshops with author Phelicia Lang, and bookmaking programs with artist and educator LeVera Wilson. Join the check-out challenge by checking out five books by Black authors and illustrators to enter a giveaway contest. For full details, including program locations and times, special booklists, and to discover more Black History Month celebrations, please visit ccclib.org.
Always Available Romance E-collection
The Library has increased its digital romance book collection by over 1,000 titles, and the best part is there’s no wait. These all-access titles include perpetually popular favorites from authors like Diana Palmer, Fern Michaels, and Sylvia Day, and genres range from the contemporary to the historical and everything in between. The collection is regularly refreshed, and checkouts are instant and unlimited. Visit https://ccc.overdrive.com/ to start browsing.
Explora - MasterFILE Complete
This research database includes full-text articles from magazines and journals along with reference books, encyclopedias, and an eBook collection containing titles from top educational publishers and university presses. Find videos from the Associated Press, primary source documents, biographies, and an image collection of more than 2 million photos, maps, and flags. Visit the Digital Resources page at ccclib.org to get started.
mak-'amham/Cafe Ohlone
Tuesday, February 11, 6 p.m. – El Cerrito Library
Come enjoy an evening with mak-'amham/Cafe Ohlone as they discuss Ohlone culture past and present and the role that Ohlone food plays in today's East Bay culture. Cafe Ohlone is a cultural institution empowering the Ohlone community with tradition by teaching the public, through taste, of their living, unbroken roots.
Wonders of the World presents: Luxurious Lacquerware at the Asian Art Museum
Wednesday, February 12, 2 p.m. – Lafayette Library
Lacquerware has been a treasured luxury item throughout Asia for centuries. Revel in some of the gorgeous lacquer items from the Asian Art Museum’s collection. Registration is required.
African Village Experience with Onye Onyemaechi
Saturday, February 22, 11 a.m. – Ygnacio Valley Library
Celebrate Black History Month with Onye Onyemaechi, a renowned master percussionist, performer, author, and inspirational speaker. Onye brings music, dance, drums, songs, and stories to highlight the joy and soul of African culture and West African Village Life.
Getting Around Our Community Family Event
Monday, February 24, 6 p.m. – Concord Library
Project Second Chance (PSC), the Library's Adult Literacy Program, is bringing you an exciting family evening of engaging Storytime, creative crafts, and a chance to meet the friendly library staff. It’s a wonderful opportunity for families to come together, explore, and have fun.
More Info
For more information on all Contra Costa County Library programs, digital resources and events, visit ccclib.org.
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Bay Area All-Star Scholarship Team (BAASST)
Scholarship opportunity for Bay Area college bound high school seniors called Bay Area All-Star Scholarship Team (BAASST). Since its inception in 1996, the Golden State Warriors in partnership with other Bay Area professional sports teams has awarded Bay Area students with scholarships through the BAASST program. Each Bay Area team has the honor of selecting one deserving student each year to receive a BAASST scholarship to support their pursuit of higher education. This year, the Golden State Warriors will select one extraordinary student from the Contra Costa or San Mateo County.
Please thoroughly review this application. Below are a few key takeaways:
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Each school is encouraged to nominate up to four students.
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Upon student selection, please forward this application to the student nominee to complete: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KQXFWT3
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Application deadline: Sunday, February 16, 2025
- Student must attach all required documents to be considered:
- 2-3 page essay
- Two letters of recommendation
- Official transcript(s)
- Note that the application must be submitted by the student and may require additional support from you to collect all required materials.
- The BAASST scholarship recipients will be selected and notified in March 2025
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New Degree Program Eligible to Become Certified Wellness Coaches
The California Department of Health Care Access and Information is updating the requirements to become a Certified Wellness Coach, expanding the number of eligible degree programs in the education and workforce pathways. The Education Pathway for Wellness Coach certification is for individuals who recently graduated from a California college or university with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in specific fields of study. Psychology is being added as a qualifying field of study, joining existing eligible degrees in Human Services, Social Work, or Addiction Studies. The Certified Wellness Coach Pathways web page will reflect this new policy on March 4, 2025.
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Implementing California K–12 Computer Science Standards
Educators are encouraged to join the newly launched Seasons of Computer Science (CS) group on California Educators Together. The group is made possible thanks to the Educator Workforce Investment Grant Program CS Professional Learning Grant and is designed to provide educators with curated computer science resources, information about upcoming professional learning opportunities, and networking opportunities. No computer science background is needed. Seasons of CS indicate that all students can learn computer science, and all teachers can teach it.
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The California Coastal Commission Offers Student Contest
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California students in 6th through 12th grade are invited to submit a podcast, narrative essay, or photo essay to the Climate Storytelling Contest. Students choose one of the three mediums and answer the following prompt: What are your feelings towards climate change? How can those feelings be turned into action?
Entries can be submitted online by 5pm on May 29, 2025. For prize information, rules, contest flyer, entry form (and helpful links for teachers and students), please visit https://www.coastal.ca.gov/climatechallenge/
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California Educators Together Guidebooks
Are you looking for high-quality, standards-aligned lessons to inspire your classroom? Guidebooks from California Educators Together have you covered. These curated resources offer lessons crafted with English language development and Universal Design for Learning scaffolding to support all learners. Whether you are teaching science, history, math, English language arts, or career and technical education, there is something for everyone. Each guidebook includes lesson plans, educator highlights, demo videos, podcasts, and access to free curriculum.
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New CYBHI for Schools Web Page
The Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) is dedicated to making sure young people can access the services they need in the places and spaces where they spend the most time, and schools are critical to making that happen. The new CYBHI for Schools web page is a one-stop shop to find tools, information, resources, and programs designed to support TK–12 administrators, school health personnel, teachers, school staff, students, and families.
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Educational Programming of edTV
Looking for some additional quality Monday-Friday educational programming at home or in the classroom? Check out the latest edTV broadcasts.
edTV can be found in most of Contra Costa County on cable channels 32 (Comcast) or 99 (AT&T U-Verse). For info: Daily schedule can be found here.
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Published by the Contra Costa County Office of Education Communications Office | |
Contra Costa County Office of Education
77 Santa Barbara Road, Pleasant Hill, California 94523
Lynn Mackey, Superintendent of Schools
communications@cccoe.k12.ca.us
Dateline is distributed during the school year to all public schools in the county by the Communications Office. The 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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Contra Costa County Office of Education
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