TUSD Weekly Update
Closed Vaccine POD
Marie Russell, Chief Communication Coordinator
As you know, the COVID-19 pandemic is having devastating effects across the U.S. and the world and it has directly impacted our schools and community. TUSD has implemented extensive health and safety measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 as we strive to help keep our entire team of teachers and staff, your families, and our students and their families safe. We are very excited to partner with the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency (SCHSA) to provide an opportunity to support staff efforts at receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
 
Per the survey sent out in mid-January, TUSD is offering our teachers and staff the opportunity to be vaccinated as part of Phase 1B of the statewide vaccine distribution plan. We are working closely with the SCHSA to plan and prepare for vaccine distribution.
 
VACCINE TIMELINE:
With information changing daily, it is difficult to attach a timeline as to when teachers and school staff, and other groups identified in phase 1B, will begin to receive their vaccine. At this time, the vaccine rollout for education sector workers is expected to start sometime in the next 3-4 weeks, targeting before the end of February. Please keep in mind, the vaccine supply varies on a week-by-week basis, and this timeline may shift. We continue to remain in close contact with Public Health, and we will share information as soon as it becomes available.
 
VACCINE CLINIC LOCATION:
We are currently finalizing plans to provide a COVID-19 vaccine clinic just for school staff through a Closed Point of Dispensing (POD) location in TUSD.
 
TYPE OF VACCINE
At this time, Stanislaus County is dispensing both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine. We will not have a choice as to the type of vaccine being offered.
 
VACCINE INFORMATION/FAQs:
Getting the COVID-19 vaccine gives you an added layer of protection against COVID-19 and could also protect your coworkers and your family. Here are some key points about COVID-19 vaccination:
  • COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States have been proven to be very effective at preventing the disease (between 94-95% effective after 1st and 2nd doses are received.)
  • The most common side effects are a pain in the arm at the injection site, fatigue, headache, body aches, chills, and fever. These symptoms should resolve in a day or two.
  • Stopping a pandemic requires using all the tools we have available—wearing masks, staying at least 6 feet away from non-household members, avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, washing hands frequently, and getting vaccinated.
  • If you want to learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine, visit: https://covid19.ca.gov/vaccines/.
COVID Safety Plan
On January 14, the State released the COVID-19 and Reopening In-Person Instruction Framework & Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools in California, 2020-2021 School Year. This new guidance has many similarities to earlier State guidance as far as recommended health and safety protocols, but there are a few notable differences.

Similar to earlier State guidance, schools may not reopen for grades 7-12 if their County is in the Purple Tier. However, once the County has been in the Red Tier for five consecutive days, they may reopen without the former two consecutive week requirement. The State also requires schools to be more explicit in describing small, learning cohorts; justify anything less than 6 feet of social distancing between student desks; and encourages the use of three-ply surgical masks for staff in routine contact with others. The guidance also outlines a robust testing cadence that is required for students and staff for those Districts applying for additional reopening funding from the State. TUSD has elected not to apply for this funding at this time.

We have submitted a draft COVID Safety Plan to Stanislaus County, Health Services Agency with our plan for reopening secondary schools. We are also working to finalize schedules for secondary schools and look forward to returning students to campus when the average daily case rate falls below 7/100,000. More information will be shared this month at our next TUSD Board of Trustees meeting.
Career Technical Education Month
Tami Truax, Director, Career Technical Education and Program Equity
Each week in February, TUSD will showcase the AMAZING CTE programs that currently exist at our school sites.
Transportation
The Transportation sector emphasizes real-world, occupationally relevant experiences of significant scope and depth in three areas: Operations, Structural Repair and Refinishing and Systems Diagnostics, Service and Repair.
Turlock High School
Systems Diagnostics, Services & Repair
Dean Massey
Health Science & Medical Technology
The standards in this sector represent the academic and technical skills and knowledge students need to pursue a full range of career opportunities in health science and medical technology.
Pitman High School
Anatomy & Physiology and Sports Medicine
Kim Grigsby
Turlock High School
 Intro to Health Care & Careers
Sports Medicine
Bernadette Galvan

Anatomy & Physiology
Shadi Safi
Hospitality, Tourism, & Recreation
The Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation sector provides students with the academic and technical preparation necessary to pursue high-skill, high-demand careers in such areas as Food Science, Dietetics, and Nutrition; Food Service & Hospitality. 
Pitman High School
Food & Nutrition
Culinary Arts
Mohini Singh
Turlock High School
Food & Nutrition
Linda Bejaran

Culinary Arts
Bobby Sheets
Roselawn High School
Foods & Culinary Arts
Margaret Drummond
Tech in TUSD
Sitara Ali, Ed Tech Coach
Google Sheets Templates by Flippity Have you ever wanted to play Bingo or Jeopardy with your students, create a random name picker, or a cool timeline? Flippity.net is the perfect stop for all of the above, and more! You can use any of their Google Sheet templates for free and follow their instructions to make personalized Bingo Boards, Scavenger Hunt Activities, Spelling Words, or a wonderful name mural for Black History Month. Bringing in games and activities into your classroom is a great way to engage students. Gaming, coupled with established relationships will provide for amazing engagement and fun, bringing in your students cultures and backgrounds into your lessons.
 
All year long, especially this month, take the time to connect with your students' cultures and backgrounds and explore Black History Month by looking at relevant Black authors, teachers, doctors, nurses, physicists, astronauts, scientists, mathematicians, developers, programmers, directors, and more! Integrating Black History Month into your classroom is very important and necessary, to teach tolerance, belonging, and a sense of community.
 
Use Flippity to create a timeline of events in our History, or create a matching game where students match pictures of terms with definitions. Have students complete a scavenger hunt about Musical Harlem and incorporate Jazz, dance, and poetry. Create a Jeopardy game to test students' knowledge of famous African Americans that have helped develop vaccines and new technology. Create a randomizer wheel with different historic events that have affected African Americans and have students research and present on this topic. The choices on how to integrate Black History Month into the classroom are endless, and using Flippity can help engage your students to create a meaningful lesson.
 
Use the website link below to visit Flippity, and see how you can use this resource in your classroom.
Marshall Beyer, Coordinator of Educational Technology
The 'US' in TUSD
Marion (Sandy) Sessions, Child Nutrition
How long have you worked in TUSD? 11 years
 
What is your job title? I am currently a Food Service Lead at Dutcher Middle School

Where did you work prior to TUSD? I worked at Ridgway’s Restaurant in Oakdale as a Manager
 
Any info you would like to share about your job? Average day? I order the entrée’s and fruits/vegetables from our Central Kitchen that are needed for my team to prepare a healthy breakfast and lunch for our On Site students, Home Deliveries and Curbside meals. I keep my team updated daily on any changes within our department. I answer emails, do Physical Inventory every month and lead a great team of women who work hard to make every week a success.  I tell my team I would not be able to do all this alone. It takes all of us, starting at Central Kitchen, our Delivery Drivers and our entire department of women and men to be able to do what we do. My site is just a branch on a growing tree, and everyone plays a part no matter how big or small to providing a healthy nutritious meal to the students of TUSD

Things you are most proud of today? My children, they are all different in their own way. Watching them all go their own direction and finding their way as adults and in life has had its challenges and its blessings. Happiness at whatever they do is what I want for them. My growth throughout the years and openness to criticism which has allowed me to learn from my mistakes and grow from them. I begin each day with a grateful heart and don’t look back, but move forward.

Challenges? Sticking to the point and keeping it short when answering questions or explaining how I feel about something. I am aware of it and working on it.

Favorite memory/story? Anytime all my adult children and grandson are together at our home. Their laughter and voices give me an overwhelming sense of joy and peace
 
What are you reading? Forgiving What You Can’t Forget by Lysa Terkeurst and I recently purchased If I Were You By Lynn Austin to read.

Any favorite shows you’re watching on TV? This Is Us… I laugh, I cry and after every episode, I am ready for the next

Fave movies? Any 80s movie: E.T., Goonies, Pretty in Pink, Breakfast Club, and Sixteen Candles.

Anything surprising we may not know about you? During grade school, I was very shy. I always sat in the back of the classroom, never raised my hand in class, and could not read out loud or stand in front of the class to read or give a presentation. Now I talk more than most would like me to!

Anything about your personal life you’d like to share? I am married to a wonderful husband of 20 years this year. I have 3 adult children and a 6-year-old grandson.  I enjoy walking and exercising at least 4 days a week. I love to relax and read, but if I were to share my most enjoyable thing to it would be going to the beach, listening to the birds and the waves then sitting on the beach and reading a great book.
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COVID-19 Resources
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Share Your Awesome!

Marie Russell
Chief Communication Coordinator
mrussell@turlock.k12.ca.us
209.648.0968
@tusd_mrussell
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.