Marie Russell, Chief Communication Coordinator |
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On July 17, 2020, the California Department of Public Health released the COVID-19 and Reopening In-Person Learning Framework for K-12 Schools in California, 2020-2021 School Year. In this document, the State provided guidance on What measures should be taken when a student, teacher or staff member has symptoms, is a contact of someone infected, or is diagnosed with COVID-19? Since small, stable cohorts resumed in September, two scenarios have compromised the bulk of TUSD COVID-19 communication:
Scenario 2: A household member or someone in *close contact with a student or staff member test positive for COVID-19.
(*A close contact is defined as a person who is <6 feet from a case for >15 minutes cumulative.) In some school situations, it may be difficult to determine whether individuals have met this criterion and an entire cohort, classroom, or other group may need to be considered exposed, particularly if people have spent time together indoors. Both a communication to the close contact and cohort will be sent. In consultation with Public Health, the cohort will remain open.
Scenario 3: A student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19. Both a communication to the case and cohort will sent. In consultation with Public Health, the cohort will be closed.
It is important to understand the difference between a close contact and a contact of a close contact which distinguishes the scenario 2 and 3 notifications for the classroom cohort:
Close Contact: Someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.
Contact of a Close Contact: Someone who has been in contact with someone else who had close contact with a person who is COVID-19 positive.
Have questions? Just reach out!
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Student Support Clinicians |
The CARE Program is designing some supports specifically for teachers during this time of great change. All are welcome to join us for these voluntary weekly activities. We hope to foster a sense of support and community as we face this challenging time together.
Mindful Mondays, Monday at 7:30am
Meeting ID: 868 0332 4681
Passcode: MM
Elementary Teacher Support, Wednesdays at 11:30
Meeting ID: 899 9885 1391
Passcode: ETS
Secondary Teacher Support, Thursdays at 2:00
Meeting ID: 826 1963 7119
Passcode: STS
In order to effectively design ongoing staff support Jenni Carlsen requests that you complete a brief Needs Assessment. This may be anonymous and is not to share with administration, but rather just for CARE Program use.
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Tech in TUSD: Ed Tech Bytes |
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Marshall Beyer, Coordinator of Educational Technology |
Customize Home Button in Chrome
In this week’s EdTech Byte, we are going to look at how you can customize the Home button in Chrome to go to any website you choose!
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By default, when you click the home button in Chrome, it takes you to a blank Google Tab page. You can remap this button to go to whatever website you want.
To do this, open Chrome, click on the vertical three dots and choose settings. From there left-hand side choose Appearance.
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Under the Show home button section, you can toggle the home button on or off. |
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By default, the home button is mapped to a blank new tab page. You can choose to enter the URL of a webpage that you like. (In my example when I click on the home button, it will take me to Google Keep.) |
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Now, when you click on the home button in Chrome, it will go to the website of your choosing! |
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Sitara Ali, Ed Tech Coach |
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Now, more than ever, making your classroom a small learning community is so important. Students have always taken an active role in their learning while in the classroom, and now,
with having so much time away from their teacher and classmates, it's so important to make students feel involved.
In a time of isolation and separation, normal everyday patterns have been disrupted and many students have been having a hard time connecting with their peers. Even through blended or
distance learning, teachers can help students feel welcome and experience a community of learning, regardless if they are at home or in the classroom.
Questions to Ponder
- How do you currently engage with your students?
- Do these engagement activities increase or create a community of learning?
- How could you increase student engagement while also fostering a sense of community among your students?
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Jenifer Gehl, Librarian, Turlock High School |
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Pride Cafe: Season 1, Finale |
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We have released the final episode of Pride Cafe, Season 1. In this episode, we are featuring three solo performers: Antella Sargis performing "Happy," Haley Kowtko performing "She Used to be Mine," and Cameron Nycum performing "I Have Nothing." I hope you enjoy these fantastic performances of our Pitman students.
We hope that our music offerings helped you find more beauty around you during this trying time. Stay safe, and stay tuned for the Season 2, returning in the Spring semester.
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Mary Hadlich, Dutcher Middle School |
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How long have you worked in TUSD? 40 days!
What is your job title? Library Technician
Where did you work prior to TUSD? Keyes Elementary School
Any info you would like to share about your job? Average day? Currently, I have no average day. A good chunk of my time is spent on Chromebooks and acting as tech support for students and staff. This includes troubleshooting computer problems, sending or receiving Chromebooks out for repair, walking people through steps to fix their computers over the phone or email, and prepping computers for safe distribution off and on campus. Since starting this position, I have also tried to increase library outreach. Students can place holds and pick them up from the front office throughout the week; and every Wednesday I hold a curbside library out in front of the Dutcher Middle School office for students to pick up, explore, and return books. I have also created a new Google website for the library and am putting up new content for students every week.
Things you are most proud of? Earning my Masters in Library Science from SJSU.
Challenges? Creating new and different ways for students to interact with the library is both awesome and challenging. I do not have as much contact with students as would be expected in a school library due to distance learning. This makes it more difficult to promote lifelong learning and let students know about resources, activities, and help the library offers. My focus, right now, is to find ways to increase student access to the library asynchronously and to advertise these features and services.
Favorite memory/story? Going on a night hike up Mt. Fuji to watch the sun rise.
What are you reading? Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly
Any favorite shows you’re watching on TV? The Great British Bake Off
Fave movies? Finian's Rainbow and Dorkness Rising
Anything surprising we may not know about you? I worked in Aviation for five years while in the Navy.
Anything about your personal life you’d like to share? I spend most of my time hanging out with my husband and three large dogs. I love listening to podcasts, baking, and playing Dungeons and Dragons or video games.
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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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