Dateline Masthead
Contra Costa County Office of Education November  2015
In this issue
Quick Links
Join Our Mailing List
Welcome to Dateline!
 
Greetings!

 

Welcome to the November 2015 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

Contra Costa Welcoming Schools & Communities Summit
Too many youth are being bullied, teased, and rejected based on gender and sexual orientation. Let's come together to create change!
The Summit is a space for:
*Youth to voice their needs
*All participants to learn strategies to build more welcoming spaces
*You to participate in dialogue about what we can do to create supportive families, safe schools, and accepting faith groups, and communities.  Open to youth ages 11 and up, service providers, community members, faith leaders, policy makers, school administrators, teachers, and families/caregivers of LGBTQ youth.
Date and location: November 7, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; Olympic High School, Concord
For info: Contact Twany Porter (925) 692-0090, ext. 335, or visit this Web page for more details and to register
Fee: Free
Northern California Safe & Healthy Schools Conference
Educators are invited to the third Annual Northern California Safe and Healthy Schools Conference:
Day 1- Healthy Students
: Keynote and workshop sessions focused on strategies and programs that can be used to improve the physical and emotional health of students.
Day 2 - Safe Schools: Keynote and workshop sessions focused on strategies and programs that can create safe, respectful, and inclusive classrooms, schools, and communities.
Dates and location: November 12 and 13, 7:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m.;   Clark Kerr Conference Center, Berkeley
For info: Call  510-670-4197 or email wellness@acoe.org, or visit this Web page for additional details and to register
Fee: $295 both days, $195 one day
Hands-On Digital Media in the Classroom Webinars
KQED, in collaboration with the CCCOE, is offering a variety of free webinars and a hands-on workshop this school year to support the effective use of digital media in the classroom. Each webinar is focused on a specific topic. The webinars will be held on Thursdays from 4-4:30 p.m. The  30-minute presentation will be part lecture and part interactive exploration of media integration.
Topics/Dates:  
  • KQED & NGSS with PBS LearningMedia, November 19
  • Arts Integration with Public Media, December 10
Registration: Sign up  at www.kqed.org/pd for one or more free webinars, and/or attend a hands-on workshop; participants do not need to register for all webinars to join.  
Fee: Free
Build Interactive Learning Experiences with KQED and PBS Productivity Tools
Join us for dinner and a hands-on workshop on creating media-rich learning experiences with PBS Productivity Tools for teachers. This is a BYOD (bring your own computer) workshop and is part of a series of free events (see above posting). 
Date and location: November 11, 4:00-6:00 p.m.; CCCOE, Pleasant Hill
Registration: Go to Eventbrite to register
Fee: Free
21st Annual Distinguished Speaker Series - The Best Practices in Teaching Leadership

Over the past 20 years, the Distinguished Speaker Series (DSS) attracts more than 1,000 educators per year from 5 local counties and over 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 : December 5, January 30, March 5, and April 9, all seminars are held 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; 
For info: Contact Jeannie Harberson at 925-631-4936, or visit their
Fee:  $65 for individual sessions  (academic credit available)
Vape Pens & Teens: What Educators Need to Know
E-cigarettes, vape pens, e-hookah...whatever you call them, these products have grown in popularity among people of all ages, and young people are no exception. In fact, use of e-cigarettes/vape pens tripled among middle and high school students from 2011 to 2013. This presentation will provide an overview of e-cigarettes/vape pens, adolescent use, tobacco-free schools policies, and prevention strategies. This program is geared towards school administrators, teachers, counselors, and community-based organization representatives who work with youth in school-based settings.
Date and location: November 9, 4:00-6:00 p.m.; CCCOE, Pleasant Hill
For info: Visit their website for details and registration
Fee: Free, but attendees must register
Deadline: November 4
Big Ideas Fest 2015
Big Ideas Fest is a unique four-day immersion into collaboration and design with a focus on modeling cutting-edge thinking in K-12 education. Attendees will hear from inspiring speakers and take part in action collaboratives designed to incubate solutions to address education's most pressing challenges.
Dates and location: December 2-5; Hayes Mansion, San Jose
For info: Contact them at ( 650) 728-3322 or  email, or visit their website
Fee: $695 covers registration and meals (only)
The Inaugural California Conditions of Learning Symposium

This year CCCOE is excited to announce the inaugural California Conditions of Learning Symposium: Engage, Teach, and Lead. As educators move forward with meeting the demands of the California Standards, CCCOE's Symposium will enhance and strengthen best practices for all teachers and their students. This inaugural event will highlight and showcase Literacy, Science, Early Learning, Technology, English Language Development, Mathematics, and Integrated Learning. 
Date and location: January 28, 7:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m.; San Ramon Valley Conference Center, San Ramon
For info: Contact Seta Ho at (925) 942-3396, or visit the program's Eventbrite for details and registration
Fee: $140 before October 31, $175 after
Administrative  Leadership Program (ALP) 

Contra Costa County Office of Education is a local program affiliate with the Association of California School Administrators and the New Teacher Center that offers an alternative program for the Professional Clear Administrative Services Credential. The ALP provides two years of on-site individualized coaching by certified Leadership Coaches to beginning school administrators. Driven by the California Professional Standards for Educational Leaders, candidates create an individualized plan for demonstrating performance standards that will determine the focus for coaching. At the end of two years, candidates who successfully complete all program requirements will be recommended for the Tier II Professional Clear Administrative Services Credential. 

For info: Contact Marsha Tokuyoshi at (925) 942-3385, or visit the program's Web page

Dates: TBD over a two-year time frame

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

Upcoming Events / Field Trips

Cool Tools XII
East Bay CUE's Cool Tools, now in its 12th year, is a professional development and networking event for educators, with morning interactive concurrent sessions and afternoon intensive, hands-on workshops. Topics focus on integrating technology in teaching and learning. Presentation p roposals are currently being accepted for Cool Tools 2016. There will be two one-hour sessions and one 90-minute workshop.
Date and location: January 23;  Carondelet High School, Concord
For info: Visit their website  
Academic Decathlon (volunteers needed)

Come out and join the excitement, while helping our students with this outstanding event. The East Bay Regional Academic Decathlon is looking for volunteers to judge Essay, Speech, and Interview sessions, as well as the final event: SuperQuiz. There are four scheduled judging dates to choose from. 
Dates and locations: Essay Readings-January 20, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and January 21, 5:00-8:30 p.m.; CCCOE, Pleasant Hill. Speech and Interview Sessions-January 23, morning, CSU East Bay, Concord. 
SuperQuiz judging-February 7, 1:30-3:45 p.m.; Los Medanos College, Pittsburg.
For info: Contact Diane Morrell at (925) 942-3406 or visit the Academic Decathlon Web page (The 2016 volunteer form will be posted soon) 
American Education Week
American Education Week presents all Americans with a wonderful opportunity to celebrate public education and honor individuals who are
making a difference in ensuring that every child receives a quality education. Use the
online toolkit for activity ideas, templates, and downloadable materials. This year's theme is "Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and Our Responsibility." The week-long celebration features a special observance each day of the week. They include:
For info: Visit the program's Website
Bay Area Science Festival
More than 200 science, technology, and engineering organizations from across the Bay Area will present the fun and excitement of science, through hands-on and interactive exhibits, science-themed performances and demonstrations, and family-oriented entertainment. The Bay Area Science Festival will also be hosting Discovery Days events. CSU East Bay, October 24;  Sonoma County Fairgrounds, October 24; and at AT&T Park in San Francisco on November 7. 
Dates and locations: October 22-November 7, calendar of events; held at numerous sites throughout the Bay Area
For info: Visit their website
Fee: Check specific events for admission fees, but many are free
Grants / Scholarships
The 2016 Youth Garden Grants

Since 1982, National Gardening Association has provided the Youth Garden Grant to over 5,416 schools, nonprofits, and youth programs across the United States. Youth Garden Grant has contributed over 2.9 million dollars in funding to youth gardening initiatives and serves as National Gardening Association's longest standing grant program. This year we will present awards to 20 schools or youth programs. Twenty programs will receive a $500 gift certificate to the Gardening with Kids online store. Winners will also receive a tool package, plant starts, a raised bed, and a generous seed donation. 
For info: Visit their website 
Deadline: December 5  
The Captain Planet Foundation 
The Captain Planet Foundation funds grants to promote understanding of environmental issues for school-age children. Grant amounts range from $250-$2500, with applications reviewed three times a year.
For info: Visit their website 
Next Deadline: January 31
The Safeway Foundation's Grants

Safeway funds grant applications for communities where stores are located. Grants should focus on Safeway's priorities, including education. Grants are accepted throughout the year. Typical grants are between $2,500 - $10,000  For more information and to apply visit their website.
For info: Visit their website

Resources / Contests

River of Words Art and Poetry Contest
Produced by the St. Mary's College Center for Environmental Literacy, entry forms are now available for this annual art and poetry competition. The contest, on the theme of watersheds, is open to any child from 5-19 years of age who has not completed high school. (The Poetry Contest is now open, with the Poster Contest timeline beginning in 2016.)
For info: Contact them via email or phone at (925) 631-4289, or visit their website
Deadline: December 1 (Poetry Contest) 
The Aquarium of the Bay  

The San Francisco Aquarium of the Bay's education programs focus on inquiry-based learning and hands-on experiences. All of the Aquarium's education programs are taught by our staff of trained Naturalists, linked to California State Science Standards and include age-appropriate, STEM based activities.
For info: Visit their website
The Intel-Affiliated Contra Costa County Science and Engineering Fair

Contra Costa County businesses will once again join our county's educators to produce the 2016 Intel-Affiliated Contra Costa County Science & Engineering Fair, this coming spring. The program is for grades 7-12 students.
Dates and location March 17-19, location TBA
For info: Visit their website for continued updates
The American Association for the Advancement of Science
The 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. 
For info: Visit their website
Contra Costa Community Warning System
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
YouSTEM
YouSTEM is a free web resource for K-12 students to find out about local STEM Programs. From lectures to internships, the site lists opportunities for students to explore different areas of interest. 
PBS LearningMedia™

PBS LearningMedia™ is the go-to destination for instant access to tens of thousands of classroom-ready digital resources, including videos, games, audio clips, photos, lesson plans, and more! You can search, save, and share with ease. 
For info: Visit their website
Fee: Free
KidsGardening.com

KidsGardening.com is a website that has plenty of ideas about plants and gardens, teacher resources, and grant opportunities. 


CCCOE Logo

 

77 Santa  Barbara Road, Pleasant Hill, California 94523

Follow us on Twitter: @cocoschools 

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.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jonathan Lance

CCCOE