Student Support Clinicians |
“This year has been a lot for all of us, and an extra lot for so many. There is no one way to respond or feel. All of it makes sense. It’s okay if you don’t feel like yourself, if you’re exhausted, if you’re having a harder time than usual or if everything is taking more effort right now. This doesn’t make you a failure and it doesn’t mean you’re not centered or awakened enough. It means you are a human having an understandable response to difficult experiences. Of course it all feels hard. It * is * hard. Go easy on yourself and others. Take as good care of yourself as possible. Rest. Nourish yourself. Cry. Release. Connect. And know that all of it is okay.” ~Lisa Olivera, LMFT
We are all starting this school year in various states of stress, and constantly reconfiguring the plan and problem solving. As you do this, bring with you a sense of self compassion. For the teacher struggling to get the next lesson planned, the parent whose internet is cutting out, the high school student tearfully navigating the first Zoom call with a new class… Give yourself some grace. Give yourself some compassion. You are a pioneer, doing what has never been done before, under challenging circumstances, but you are doing it. It may not go perfectly, and you may not show up the way you would have six months ago. But you are showing up, and this is your reminder that you are enough- just as you are.
Self-compassion includes three main components, according to Kristin Neff:
1. Self-Kindness: replace your self-criticism with a more gentle, kind inner voice.
2. Common Humanity: remember that suffering, and failures are human experiences that we all have. We are not alone.
3. Mindfulness: pay attention to your inner experiences in the present moment, without judgment.
So as you meet the challenges of these early days in Distance Learning, we encourage you to adopt these practices, having empathy for yourself and noticing how hard you are trying, and how resilient you have already become.
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Marshall Beyer, Coordinator of Educational Technology |
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Reflection on Virtual Back to School Night |
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Michele Van Nieuwenhuyzen, Turlock High School |
Tonight was my very first ever Back to School Night...virtually. I came home with a renewed spirit. I was excited about how many parents attended. Excited to see the students helping guide their parents through the Zoom meeting. Happy to share my story about feeling like I wasn't going to be able to pull off distance learning and joking about how I walked in last night and told my husband Ray with a bit of a swagger..."I think I'm getting the hang of this distance learning thing." We are all trying hard to do our best. I am working hard at learning new things that are challenging and difficult for me as a veteran teacher of 24 years. But I didn't become a teacher to give up on my students. I didn't become a teacher to not connect with them. I am watching them do hard things every day...and as I shared with the parents tonight...these students are incredible! They are showing up. They are being responsible about reaching out if they have internet problems or missed hearing something in class. They are supporting one another and me as we journey through this year together...and I can tell you this...tonight, virtually...was one of the best Back to School Nights I've ever had. Thank you to all of the parents that attended tonight..I meant every word I said. Your students are phenomenal and I am thrilled to have them in class. Looking forward to tomorrow, ready for the challenges ahead...because my students need me...and I need them. My teacher heart is full. |
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Osborn Two-Way Immersion Academy |
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We are so very sad to share that Maestra Barrón, one of our fourth grade teachers has passed away due to coronavirus complications. Lilly was a teacher at Osborn for over 30 years and was one of the founders of the dual immersion program at Osborn. She was a fierce advocate for dual language education and worked tirelessly over the years to create and build the increasingly popular program at Osborn. She taught generations of children to excel academically, inspired them with the power of language, and celebrated the importance of valuing one’s own culture as well as honoring the cultures of others. Lilly was a past recipient of the Association of Two-Way & Dual Language Education (ATDLE) Teacher of the Year Award. In a brief statement, Rosa Molina, Executive Director of ATDLE, expressed her sorrow stating that Lilly, “was always a warrior and an advocate for children in your community. An amazing educator—so hardworking, such an expert in her craft. But even more important, a wonderful person, such a good woman.” Lilly loved teaching and lived by the credo that, “İSer un educator bilingüe no es solo una profesión, es una pasión!” To be a bilingual educator isn’t just a profession, it’s a passion! In memory of Lilly, her family has asked that any donations be made to the Osborn Scholarship Alumni Fund. ~Principal Ed Ewing
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“Lilly leaves behind a legacy of inspiration and love for many generations of Osborn students. Thank you for sharing your wisdom, and for your tender heart when you knew I needed a hug. I will miss you.” ~Veronica Gonzalez
“Lilly was always a passionate educator and always looking for the best interest of her students and colleagues. She wasn’t only a great colleague but also a great friend with a beautiful heart. You will be dearly missed.” ~Ivette Larsen
“Lilly always thought of me every winter when I was crossing at the driveway. She would get me extra hot Starbucks to keep me warm on the really cold days. I’m going to miss her so much.” ~Andrea Perez
“Srta. Barrón was one of the best teachers who always supported folklórico in every way possible by donating, fundraisers, and encouragement. She was one to offer so much support. She would reach out to donate items for the group, she would buy anything the group was selling to help us raise funds, she would offer her personal decorations for the group to use at events. I am truly grateful for Srta Barron, her willingness to always help, her kindness and encouragement. You are deeply missed Srta. Barron....Always in our hearts.” ~Michelle Carrillo
"Anyone who knew Lilly, knew how devoted she was to students, the dual-immersion program, and our school, Osborn Two-Way Immersion Academy. She was the one we went to with questions and she always had answers. Not only was she an awesome teacher to many generations of students, she was also an incredible colleague, a friend, a role model, and a super aunt to her two nieces. She has definitely left a legacy here at Osborn. Lilly is our Osborn Angel now. We will miss our friend dearly but she will forever be in all of our hearts." ~Sandra Diaz
“Lilly was the 4th grade teacher to all 3 of may daughters. They blossomed into readers and writers under her watchful eye. I was honored to be friends with Lilly on Facebook the past few years and she once shared with me how much she loved Linda Ronstadt’s Canciones de Mi Padre and that she played it so much the album wore out. I purchased and played it all weekend in her honor.” ~Marie Russell
"I am so sad to lose Lilly. She has been an icon at Osborn for so long that I cannot imagine the campus, her classroom, without her. I have always appreciated her candor, professionalism, and humanistic approach in working to find solutions that had a huge impact on students. It was just recently that she communicated with me via email to show her appreciation for the technology PD that Marshall and Sitara provided. She was excited and eager to put her newfound learning to work so her students would benefit. Her heart was huge and her efforts, tremendous." ~Dana Trevethan
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How long have you worked in TUSD? 17 years
What is your job title? Secretary I at Osborn Two-Way immersion Academy
Where did you work prior to TUSD? USPS Remote Encoding Center, City Carrier
Any info you would like to share about your job? Average day at the office is providing help to students, parents and staff; enrolling students; answering questions; and providing information to parents. I really enjoy working at Osborn and have learned so much.
Things you are most proud of? One of the things I'm most proud of is putting on a 2-hour folklórico performance at the Gallo Center. I figured out how much planning, organization, and patience it takes to put on a performance. It felt amazing to showcase what the students learned throughout the year. In order to put on a folklórico performance or event I first had to figure out how to become a folklórico teacher and how to manage a group. My journey to becoming a dance instructor wasn't as difficult because I had so much support from so many. I could not have done it without the support of administrators, teachers, friends, parents and students. I am beyond grateful on the amount of support I received.
Challenges? I procrastinate a lot but I feel I work better under pressure and things fall into place.
Favorite memory/story? One of my favorite memories is performing folklórico performance as a child and my grandmother watching with such pride. It was something my grandmother had always wanted to do but couldn’t. She signed me up for a class and it was at that time that I found my passion for folklórico dancing.
What are you reading? How to analyze people on sight. I'm interested in understanding different personalities. I love to hear and learn about people and cultures.
Any favorite shows you’re watching on TV? Don't watch much TV, I normally watch folklórico videos on YouTube or crafting tutorials
Fave movies? Apocolypto and Avatar
Anything about your personal life you’d like to share? Making memories and laughter with the family are my best times. Love to camp, BBQ, cook, try new recipes, and I recently started crafting.
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Love this cute idea from Pitman High School Culinary Arts instructor Mohini Singh. Students created a “recipe card” to describe themselves then presented to classmates in Zoom. |
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Can we get a shout out for our Child Nutrition staff distributing meals under an apocalyptic sky to ensure no TUSD student goes hungry? Thank you, heroes! |
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Hello to Cunningham Elementary 3rd grade teacher Kim Cabral-Virgo!
“We choose to go to the moon and do other things...not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win, and the others, too.” ~President John F. Kennedy
Shout out to our TUSD teachers reaching for the moon and stars every day in distance learning!
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Dana Trevethan, Superintendent |
In an effort to bring some clarity to information shared in the media last week—both print and on social media—I’d like to share where we are in TUSD with respect to applying for an elementary waiver to reopen schools.
At the beginning of August, the State provided schools/Districts in counties on the monitoring list with the option to apply for a waiver once COVID-19 case counts fell below 200/100,000 population. As I shared at the August 4 Board meeting, the message from Public Health Officer Dr. Julie Vaishampayan was that she would not be approving waivers for our County at that time due to the high case counts. Nonetheless, we began working on a reopening plan, based on the criteria released by the State on August 3, to be ready in the event we were eventually given the green light.
Last Thursday, we received an email from the Stanislaus County Office of Education which shared that based on the county’s numbers, it looked like elementary waivers could start getting approved as early as the end of the month. I was a little taken back by this as, like many of you, it didn’t seem to align with the numbers I receive via StanAware text updates as well as what was being reported in the Modesto Bee. Apparently, the criteria Public Health uses to determine the numbers for reopening differ from what is being shared publicly. In a nutshell, Public Health utilizes data that reflects the “earliest date that the case can be known to have had the infection” as detailed by the state Department of Public Health. This information is often gleaned through contact tracing/investigation. The numbers reported by the media and via text are derived “using the date the case was reported” which is currently a higher number that fluctuates based on when public health receives data from labs. More information can be found at this link. As you may have seen in a Modesto Bee editorial, there have been some concerns about the transparency of this process. So where does that put TUSD?
When we first began implementing Common Core in TUSD, we had a motto—“Go slow to go fast.” It is something we are even more mindful of in the current situation when it is critical our reopening plan provides the best protocols and practices for keeping students and staff safe as well as our community. It is important to note that embedded in this waiver process is consultation with our labor organizations and parent communities. We recognize the importance of ensuring our stakeholders’ voices are heard prior to submitting a waiver to reopen our elementary schools. By its very nature, this waiver cannot be a “rapid reopening” regardless of who is advocating for it.
It is a sign of the times when just as we were working on making some modifications to our distance learning models, we are already considering the move to another. I know the tremendous amount of time and effort staff is putting into distance learning and, to be honest, I worry about the potential “yo-yo effect” of reopening schools only to have Labor Day festivities—if they are like every other holiday this summer—lead to a spike in infections that may trigger closures…putting us right back to where we started. That being said, I still continue to believe that the best place for teachers to teach and students to learn is in a classroom setting. At this time, we will continue completion of the elementary waiver for submission while monitoring, and being mindful of, the most reliable data to plan for reopening. The “US” in TUSD is more important now than ever and the safety and best interests of our students and staff will continue to remain at the forefront of this process. Your patience is appreciated; your support is critical.
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COVID-19 Updates & Resources |
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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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