An IL-EMPOWER approved learning partner  
Dr. Darlene J. Ruscitti
Regional Superintendent
DuPage County Schools
February 9, 2021
Tuesday Thoughts

As we approach the one year marker of when the pandemic began to take hold in our nation, it's safe to say nobody foresaw where we'd be today.

Many of us are suffering from pandemic fatigue. We want this "thing" to be done. We want a vaccine. We want to feel safe again.

If that's you, you're not alone.

Just take things one day at a time, and don't forget all your accomplishments in the past 12 months. You've adapted, you've gotten creative, and you've learned how to do things you never imagined you'd be doing.

And remember, no matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow.

Special Thanks

A six-day Train the Trainer program was completed through the Attachment and Trauma Network. This program was courtesy of the DuPage ROE’s "Bureau of Justice Assistance STOP (Students Teachers and Officers Preventing) School Violence Prevention and Mental Health Training Program" grant. On February 3, the first Trauma-Informed Schools Initiative (TISI) Network meeting was held. Thank you to these district trainers who attended and shared their insights and knowledge:
  • Georgina Meyer (#12)
  • Jennifer Jonas (#16)
  • Clodagh McCall (#44)
  • Christine Avila (#45)
  • Jeanine Arundel (#61)
  • Greg Wolcott (#68)
  • Nadia Gomez-Moran (#88)
  • Nancy Connor (#100)
  • Deomara Velez (#100)
  • Tracy Burnham (#200)
  • Andrew Vondran (#200)
  • Lindsey Norwood (#202)
  • Lisa Snow (#204)
  • Anthony Crespo (Partners for Success)
  • Jennifer Hanyzewski (Partners for Success)

As part of the TISI sustainability plan, the ROE can provide additional trainers in trauma-informed and restorative practices, customizing school/district professional learning requests. Contact Lori Broncato for more information.
Administrator Academies
The DuPage ROE is offering a number of virtual Administrator Academies via the Zoom platform. Please see the attached flyer for dates and course offerings.


TIDE
The Spring Semester offerings of TIDE are now available. Click here for the list.

COUNTY-WIDE INSTITUTE DAY
Our County-Wide Institute Day (CWID) will be held on February 26, and the Workshop Catalog is now available here. There is much to choose from, so please peruse the offerings and register for the ones you are interested in.


GET GOOGLE CERTIFIED
Due to the quick fill-up of the county-wide institute day session, the DuPage ROE is offering another virtual session of "Get Google Certified! Google Level 1 Certification Workshop" on Wednesday, March 17 from 9:30 am to 2 pm. For registration and more information, please click here.


Register today for these upcoming networking opportunities. For a complete listing, click here.

Early Childhood: February 17
At this EC network, taking place from 8:30-10 a.m. on Zoom, colleagues from multiple districts will have an opportunity to network as they focus on three main topics: student SEL, thinking about teacher self care, and kindergarten transition. All are welcome!



Gifted Instruction: March 11

PANDEMIC RESOURCES VIRTUAL BACKPACK
The DuPage County Health Department would love for you to take advantage of the many free resources they have made available and share it with your communities.

"Our Best Shot Against COVID-19," a fact sheet on the COVID-19 vaccine, is available in English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Urdu, Arabic, Hindi, Pashto, and Malay. Please share it with your students and families, especially those who speak one of these languages.

Additionally, the "COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Outreach Toolkit" contains links to English and Spanish fact sheets, social media graphics, and messaging.

Download these free resources today to help educate DuPage County residents and get back on the road to good health.



GET RID OF YOUR BLOAT!
FORWARD DuPage, a county-wide program to reverse the trend of obesity, is offering a free webinar on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 11:30 am. "Get Rid of Your Bloat: How to Reduce Inflammation and Prevent Disease Naturally," presented by Brianna Sommer, a registered dietitian and nutritionist, will teach participants what foods contribute to higher inflammation and the correlation between inflammation and disease. To register, click here.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Every February we remember and honor the contributions that Black Americans have made to our nation. Here are some resources to help you learn and teach more about this history.

  • BlackPast.org offers a wealth of materials, including transcripts of more than 300 speeches by African Americans (and others, speaking on racial topics), more than 140 full text primary documents, plus timelines and gateway pages to digital archives and African and African American museums. Here’s how you can use Blackpast.org in the classroom.
  • The Smithsonian’s Learning Lab has shared Black history lesson plans for each grade range here.
  • For high school students, Learning for Justice has posted an online article challenging teachers to expand their lesson plans to allow students to make meaningful connections to current events.
  • Also for high school students, Facing History has collected resources and lesson plans here to support educators preparing for Black history month.

INAUGURATION DAY POEM LESSON PLANS
Several organizations have created lesson plans based on the amazing Inauguration Day poem by 22-year-old Amanda Gorman, the first person to be named National Youth Poet Laureate and the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history. Here are a few:




KIDS COACH OPPORTUNITY
A Kindergarten Instructional Coaching job is available in Sangamon County. This position will organize professional learning and coaching around equitable learning environments, developmentally appropriate practices, and KIDS data. If you know someone who may be interested, please click here.
Have you connected with us on social media? Check out our pages today and subscribe, follow, or like us to have access to the latest news, resources, and information.
421 North County Farm Road Wheaton, IL 60187 P: 630.407.5800