We are all in this together.
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The COVID-19 global pandemic continues to impact nearly every aspect of our daily lives. We continue to keep our children, youth and school communities safe with data-driven decisions to implement best practices and public health policies. Our All In eNews shares promising practices, tips and success stories from the County’s 80 school districts. More resources for educators are available here. Thank you for being All In this together! | |
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Suicide prevention resources
Navigating tough conversations about mental health
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The tragic death of lawyer and former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst has drawn attention to suicide prevention and sparked conversations about mental health. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health challenges were the leading cause of disability and poor life outcomes for young people. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, suicide rates among youth ages 10-24 increased by 57 percent between 2007 and 2018, and early estimates show more than 6,600 suicide deaths among this age group in 2020.
Focusing on students' mental health and wellbeing has never been more urgent, says LACOE Superintendent Dr. Debra Duardo. LACOE is working to expand its Community Schools initiative, which establishes schools as hubs for wraparound services, including mental health support, with a focus on underserved communities.
A necessary step in addressing mental health and wellbeing is having those critical but sometimes difficult conversations with our young people. LACOE experts have compiled suicide prevention and intervention resources to help encourage these conversations.
Access the resources
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All in Spotlight: Pacific Elementary School
Early detection is key to reducing spread of COVID-19
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Pacific Elementary School in Manhattan Beach USD is running their weekly COVID-19 testing for students and staff. Deputy Superintendent Dr. Dawnalyn Murakawa-Leopard says early detection is key to finding asymptomatic cases and reassures families their students are healthy. Help LACOE and the LA County Department of Public Health detect, trace and isolate COVID-19 so we can stop the spread of the coronavirus disease.
Watch the video (1 min.)
Find more facts about COVID-19 testing and vaccination
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How to get tested for COVID-19 in LA County | |
- Testing is available in your neighborhood at churches, parks and other locations near you.
- COVID-19 testing is free at all County-operated sites, regardless of immigration or insurance status.
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Schedule your appointment at: covid19.lacounty.gov/testing.
You can buy a COVID-19 rapid self-test online, in a pharmacy or in a retail store. You can also get tested at a site that is run by a private company, a private health care system or local municipalities. These sites are not run by LA County, so please note that they may charge for testing services.
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Are you up to date with your COVID-19 vaccine? | |
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Receiving your initial vaccine series gives you more freedom to work, visit certain venues, and in some cases to travel with fewer restrictions. BUT getting up to date with all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses, including a booster dose (when eligible), provides the best protection against COVID-19 and variants like Omicron and Delta.
Schedule your vaccine or booster appointment
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Protecting children, youth from human trafficking | |
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On Jan. 27, LACOE hosted a virtual town hall to discuss strategies to protect children and youth from human trafficking. Speakers included two human trafficking survivors who shared their experiences. Panelists from the LA County Department of Child and Family Services, LA County Department of Mental Health, LAPD, Saving Innocence, Zoe International and Sowers Education Group provided tips for internet safety and how parents can spot signs of trafficking, as well as resources for finding support.
Watch the town hall (1 1/2 hr.)
Find prevention resources for parents, caregivers and educators
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February is Black History Month | |
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Black History Month celebrates the achievements and legacies of Black Americans and people of African descent. It is a time to deepen our knowledge of their contributions to American culture and society and reckon with a history of injustice.
In a resolution, the LA County Board of Education has encouraged school communities to hold activities supporting Black History Month. LACOE experts have compiled teaching resources with discussion guides for use throughout the month.
Access the resources
Read the Board resolution
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School communities celebrate Black History Month | |
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School districts throughout LA County are holding Black History Month celebrations in February to focus the spotlight on the achievements of Black Americans and their important place in our nation's history. ASB students at Columbus High School (CHS) in Downey USD displayed art to uplift cultural identity and voices. A CHS Speaker Series includes an exploration of civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy, the history of Juneteenth and inspirational talks by Black professionals and business owners.
Inglewood USD held an Art Walk Festival at Frank D. Parent School featuring food, entertainment and student artwork to honor Black History Month. The Glendale USD Board of Education reaffirmed their resolution, "Recognizing the Rich Culture, Contributions, and Value of our African American Students, Employees, Families and Community Members.”
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Honoring outstanding early educators | |
LA County school recognized as Purple Star School | |
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The Compass Charter Schools of Los Angeles in Acton-Agua Dulce USD has been recognized as a Purple Star School, a new designation launched this year to honor schools that are committed to meeting the unique needs of military families.
The California Department of Education (CDE) has designated 31 schools as Purple Star Schools. Each school sought to “reduce the burdens on military-connected students and their families by providing support, creating transition programs and offering staff professional development,” says the CDE in a news release.
Learn more
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Who will be the 2022 LA County Academic Decathlon champions?
Winners to be announced on Feb. 10
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The 2022 Los Angeles County Academic Decathlon winners will be announced here this coming Thursday, Feb. 10. Find out which top-scoring teams will advance to the California Academic Decathlon in March. This year, 340 students from 35 high schools from across LA County are competing for a place in the State Championship.
For more information, contact LACOE Events Coordinator Naime Laskar at [email protected].
| Student voices to be showcased at Poetry Out Loud | |
Eleven high school students are set to compete at the Los Angeles County Poetry Out Loud, an annual recitation of classical poetry hosted virtually by LACOE, on Feb. 9. The winner advances to the California state contest to compete for a spot in the National Poetry Out Loud finals in May.
Learn more and join in the celebration
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LA County students among finalists in prestigious
national science and math competition
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Three students from LA County are among the 40 finalists in the 2022 Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors.
The students are: Vivien He (Palos Verdes Peninsula HS in Palos Verdes Peninsula USD), Theodore Tianqi Jiang (Palisades Charter HS in LAUSD) and Ethan Wong (Arcadia HS in Arcadia USD).
The finalists were selected from more than 1,800 high-achieving students whose research projects span a diverse range of STEM-related subjects. "The success of these students is a testament to their own self-efficacy; as well as those individuals--teachers, parents and other supporters--who have guided these students to who they will become beyond school walls," says LACOE STEM Coordinator Anthony Quan.
Learn more about the LA County winners and their projects
See the complete list of finalists
| Advancement Grant supports arts education | |
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The LA County Arts Ed Collective Advancement Grant Program offers grants to support LA County school districts in providing quality arts education for students.
Grants are matched by school district funds, leveraging public and private resources to expand high-quality instruction in dance, media arts, music, theatre and visual arts. In 2021-22, the Arts Ed Collective offered $867,700 in financial support to 41 school districts including three charter networks through the Advancement Grant program. Applications are due Wednesday, March 9, 2022
Apply now
View guidelines and application instructions
Learn more and see Arts Ed Collective updates
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LACOE is hiring substitute teachers to provide large and small group instruction in juvenile court schools, schools providing alternative education and two specialized high schools. Currently, any individual with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college is eligible for a 30-day emergency substitute credential after passing a background check.
- $170 per day for assignments at International Polytechnic High School (IPOLY) and the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA)
- $230 per day for assignments at the Court Schools or County Community Schools
- $240 per day for 15+ consecutive days
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Community Schools training session on Feb. 9 | |
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Welcome to Series 5 of LACOE's All In: Safe and Welcoming Schools Webinar Series, where you will learn that all learning is social and emotional. David Adams and Brandon Frame will take you on an educational journey of identifying how students' social-emotional skills contribute to the effectiveness of instructional strategies. You will be able to recognize how instructional strategies facilitate students’ social-emotional and academic development.
Educators will dive deeper into the meaning of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). They will explore the process through which children and adults develop the skills, attitudes and values necessary to understand and manage life tasks. These include cognitive learning, forming relationships and the flexibility to adapt to the challenges and expectations of a complex society. The importance of active listening skills will focus on EARS:
- E - Eye Contact
- A - Acknowledge you are listening
- R - Reflect feelings/you are listening
- S - Say in your own words what you heard
Register here
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Event dates: 02/23/2022 | 02/28/2022
3:15 pm - 5:15 pm
To have a positive classroom management system, teachers must separate cultural behaviors from disruptive behaviors. In many cases, the two are confused due to biases, misperceptions and miscommunications. Participants will work through a process of reflecting on their unconscious biases, learning about cultural behaviors according to research and practicing management strategies for building on the cultural behaviors.
Learn more and register
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Dorothy Kirby holds inaugural College and Career Fair
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Students at Dorothy Kirby have new insights into their futures after the center held its 1st Annual Virtual College and Career Fair last week. The Creating Opportunities for Change fair allowed several dozen at-promise students to engage virtually with more than 14 vendors representing education, private industry, trades, digital content providers and the military.
Behavior Manager Sterling Cox helped organize the event so the teens could research career opportunities. Vendors offered advice on preparing for work in their respective fields and many were prepared to offer jobs. The three-hour fair preceded an afternoon session attended by the parents and families who could discuss career goals with their children. A spring/summer outdoor event is being planned to allow students to attend in person.
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Everyone should double mask up! Double masking is when you wear a cloth mask OVER a surgical mask for enhanced protection. Let's stay safe, stay healthy and remember to upgrade your mask!
Learn more
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#WeAreAllIn This Together | |
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We're social. Let's stay in touch.
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LA County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Debra Duardo and Deputy Superintendent Dr. Maria Martinez-Poulin have joined our social media team to keep you updated on the latest in public education in Los Angeles County. Give us a follow and stay tuned!
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Share tips, best practices and stories from your school
or school district: [email protected]
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Los Angeles County Office of Education | lacoe.edu | | | | |
