Marie Russell, Chief Communication Coordinator |
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As we continue decoding information in our reopening plans specifically as it relates to COVID-19, we will be looking closer at the process for students showing symptoms of illness. Over the past couple months, we have worked closely with Stanislaus County Health Services Agency, Public Health, on a number of areas, including developing a “Student Symptom Decision Tree.”
A student who becomes ill at school or who stays home due to illness, will follow a very specific protocol. COVID-19 shares many similarities to cold and flu thus, without testing, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to differentiate these respiratory illnesses. Students who have had exposure to COVID-19 will be advised to quarantine for 14 days and may return to school after improved symptoms with no fever. If no exposure, parents may seek an alternative diagnosis from their medical provider such as asthma, allergies, etc. and the student may return to school after 24 hours with improved symptoms and no fever. Another option for families is to have their student tested at our free county testing location or one of their own choosing. If the test results are negative, students may return to school after 72 hours with improved symptoms and no fever. However, if the test is positive, students will be advised to quarantine for 10 days and can then return to school with improved symptoms and 24 hours without fever. Without an alternative diagnosis or testing results, students will follow a similar 10 day quarantine.
Thank you to our school nurses, health tech, and LVNs who are on the front lines in helping our schools stay open!
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Alice Solis, Director of ELASP |
The ELASP Office would like to recognize staff for “Top Log Ins” and “Top Views” of Ellevation Strategies Instruction from the month of October. Staff are in Ellevation! Staff are exploring, using, downloading Ellevation Strategies Instruction Activities, watching videos, accessing EL links, completing Teacher Recommendation Forms, completing the Reclassification process for EL students meeting criteria, reviewing student/class/or school data, creating views, and other.
Lauren Waggoner, teacher at Crowell, said, “The activities in ELLEVATION allow my ELD students to practice important skills such as describing, explaining, and justifying and provide opportunities for them to exchange information and ideas in meaningful ways.”
Brown: Rhonda Brazil
Crowell: Barbara Hemphill, Donna Kirchhoff, Teri Millsap, Stephen Valgos, Lauren Waggoner
Cunningham: Francisca Ortega-Delgadillo
Dutcher: Agustin Arreola, Derek Alvarado, Jamie Harrison
Earl: Chanthon Phe
Medeiros: Launa Miller
Julien: Douglas McDonald
Osborn: Yolanda Reynoso-Jimenez, Francisco Vega
Pitman: Laura Brem, Luis Jacinto
Roselawn: Angela Freitas, Elizabeth Pike, Robin Ragsdale
Walnut: Lori Ford, Claudia Navarro Ramirez
District Itinerant: Kelly Villalobos, Erica Maldonado-Higle
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Tech in TUSD: Ed Tech Bytes |
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Marshall Beyer, Coordinator of Educational Technology |
Open Multiple Bookmarks Simultaneously
In this week’s installment of EdTech Bytes, we are going to be looking at a Bookmark Bar Tricks. Do you have sites that you visit on a daily basis? Well then this bookmark bar trick is for you!
First, create a folder in your Bookmark Bar to hold all of the bookmarked sites you visit regularly. (I have named mine Daily).
From there, drag any bookmark you open regularly into that folder.
Now, when you want to open all of those sites at one time, simply right-click on the folder in the bookmark bar and choose “Open All”.
Now, all of your tabs open at once!
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Sitara Ali, Ed Tech Coach |
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Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Communication
Why are these important?
These four tasks help build student’s cognitive functions along with higher order thinking and strategies. To meet the new 12st century skills, students have to learn to think critically and creatively, while also being able to communicate effectively within a group setting. The 4Cs can be implemented in all classrooms, and during a collaborative assignment, usually all happen concurrently when the students are able to work together to creatively solve a problem!
How Do I Promote This Using Technology?
Have students collaborate on projects! Your students can solve a math problem together and have to record their explanation and how they solved this using FlipGrid. Each person in the group should have a specific defined role in order to support the group and each other. Have students design together on any Google Suite Platform (Forms, Slides, Sheets, Drawing, Jamboard) to create an answer to a problem. Don’t give the students many rules or guidelines so they feel they have some autonomy in their work. Provide the students with choice boards, allowing them different options for how they would like to complete their assignment (FlipGrid, Adobe Spark, BookCreator, Slides, Poster, Video, Podcast, eBook). This allows student’s creativity to shine in a group setting, and planning a driving question for the project is where the critical thinking comes in! Another option is to have students complete a DigitalBreakout, where they have to solve puzzles and find clues in a group! This game through Google Forms can be formed to ANY learning activity currently occurring in your classrooms (fractions, grammar, geometry, cells, body systems, etc).
Contact Sitara Ali for some examples of inspiration, or setup a meeting with her if you’d like to work together to design a lesson for your students where you can implement the 4Cs!
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Student Support Clinicians |
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It is with great sadness that our TUSD community recently lost a dedicated colleague on October 26 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Pam McDiffett was set to retire on November 1 to spend time with her two daughters and new son-in-law, and her husband, Chris. Up until this time, Pam had been a valued member of the Finance & Accountability Office for 21 years. Her hard work, positivity, and heart-warming smile were her greatest contributions to those who were fortunate to work alongside her. As a result of these qualities, Pam was recognized in 2015-16 as one of five District administrators for the year-end award of “Recognizing the Best in TUSD.” Pam exemplified the best in US because of her integrity, diligence and perseverance in everything she did on behalf of the Finance Department and District. She continuously put TUSD employees first to ensure they were properly compensated for the work they did on behalf of our students and school communities. Pam used her character strengths of harmony and empathy daily in her interactions with staff and took responsibility to a new level when working with fellow administrators to develop and implement procedures to safeguard District assets. Pam’s natural talents of responsibility, relator, and belief were inherent in her daily interactions with colleagues as demonstrated in her thoughtful and conscientious team-mindedness. Because of Pam’s efforts, TUSD was stronger and more collaborative, and her positive presence and influence will continue to live on in our daily work and efforts.
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Josh Ebersole, Turlock High School |
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How long have you worked in TUSD? This is my 12th year in TUSD.
What is your job title? I teach ceramics and coach cross country at THS.
Where did you work prior to TUSD? I taught in Stockton Unified for one year; prior to that I was a long term sub at Dan Savage Middle School in Modesto; I worked in construction for a year and a half after college and at a couple of bike shops before that.
Any info you would like to share about your job? Average day? Man, this is a great job! Ceramics is not all that rare at high schools. However, most people probably don’t realize how unique this ceramics program is. Thanks to Ken Jensen’s work on expanding and building the program during his many years at THS, we have a ceramics program unlike any other in the area. We have a large gas kiln, 10 pottery wheels and make all of our own glazes. On an average day I get to help students learn to sculpt, work on pottery wheels (called “throwing”), and glaze. I get to talk and build relationships and watch as kids step out of their comfort zones and learn something new. I’m often amazed at their insight, kindness and how they encourage and teach one another. I also might be loading or unloading the kiln, mixing glazes, recycling clay.
Things you are most proud of? I’m proud of the students for tackling the challenges of working with clay. I love to see them “get it”. Whether, it’s finally getting the hang of throwing clay on the wheel or when they sculpt something by hand that is really outstanding. I’m proud of the way students think deeply and learn to use their artwork as a tool to communicate and express their voice. It’s amazing to see students express their thoughts, feelings and beliefs with nuance and symbolism and humor.
Challenges? Teaching ceramics online has been a unique challenge that I never thought I would ever be faced with. At the same time, it hasn’t been entirely awful. It has caused me to reconsider some of the ways I teach things and to slow down. The students have adapted well and are making some great projects.
Favorite memory/story? A few years ago, we travelled to South Africa with our kids and my wife’s brother and spent three weeks exploring Johannesburg, Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Plettenburg Bay, the Drakensburg and visiting old friends. I don’t have one specific favorite memory, but the trip as a whole goes down in the books. Our kids continue to talk about it and remember minute details even though they were pretty young. I loved getting to see the places my wife grew up and experience some of her culture.
What are you reading? I’m reading The Hobbit to my kids. I’ve been looking forward to them being old enough to be interested in it for a long time.
Any favorite shows you’re watching on TV? No real favorites. We’re looking forward to starting season two of The Mandolorian.
Fave movies? I’ve always liked Good Will Hunting. Great dialogue!
Anything surprising we may not know about you? I’m from Modesto, but I went to college in Canada and married a South African.
Anything about your personal life you’d like to share? My wife, Pips, and I have three really active kids. I enjoy taking the older kids mountain biking, skateboarding and skiing, our youngest isn’t quite there yet, but she always tries to do everything her big brother and sister do. We drive to Canada (just outside Vancouver) every summer to visit my wife’s family and that is always a highlight that we look forward to. We also enjoy working in the yard and doing projects around the house.
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Yohan Partan, Pride Cafe, Season 1 Ep. 4 |
The Pitman Madrigals perform "The Music of Living" by Dan Forrest. Then, a special treat from a 7th grader, a current TJHS Tiger Choir member, singing "Burn" from Hamilton. Her vocal tone is already so mature, it should be a treat for all of us. Oh, and she plays the piano herself.... I know, so much gifted students all around us...Hope it really brightens up your day! |
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Share Your Awesome!
Marie Russell
Chief Communication Coordinator
mrussell@turlock.k12.ca.us
209.648.0968
@tusd_mrussell
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We would love to have ALL staff help share our TUSD story to the world, but if that is not really your thing, just email Marie Russell for an opt-out form. |
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