ENGAGEMENT PREPARES STUDENTS
Dr. Rios Creating Ecosystems of Cariño
"We need to invite the souls of the young people we work with, and once they're able to refine-identify their grit, resilience and character that they've already developed--their academic performance will improve." - Dr. Victor Rios
Scholar SySTEM: Building an Equitable System of Inclusion, Engagement, and Support
We had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Victor Rios who worked with our administrators and select teacher leaders. He continued to work with our district in addressing ways we can further develop our "ecosystem" in order to deepen and broaden our support for our students and promote their future pathways. The full year of professional learning explores the pivotal role all educators play in supporting student success and well-being by changing day-to-day practices, shifting school culture, and developing Ecosystems of Cariño.
Staff Development included school certificated and classified staff who are encouraged to also attend. As part of our work in connecting with our students, families, and community Dr. Rios’ work focused on understanding the impact of adult actions, beliefs, and behaviors on student achievement.
In addition, his work included implementing the Scholar System Student Empowerment Group with select students who learned writing skills through the ability of drafting out their own personal stories of resilience. Dr. Rios worked with students on how to develop a concise document that reflects their own unique journey. This document is used as a starting point for students' future college essays and essays for scholarships. Dr. Rios also met with school and District leadership teams. The Scholar System Student Empowerment Group met for multiple additional sessions.
Students Take A Stand Against Bullying
All of our schools have a full designed weeks of activities which include door decorating, bullying prevention lessons, and kindness activities. Parent nights are held to discuss bullying and a focus on recess activities geared towards kindness. Students class lessons on the Stop, Walk, Talk strategy and practice telling peers to "stop" when they are engaging in bullying behavior, walk away if that behavior continues, and talk to an adult if needed. There are school-wide approaches to building character such as “ROAR” bucks (Respectful, Own your actions, Acceptance of all, and Responsibility). Elementary schools continue to implement our Second Step Curriculum for all our learners which includes bullying-prevention units. Additional activities focus on Being an Upstander, which is an approach to address bullying.
Restorative Justice
Our esteemed Behavior and Social Emotional Team (BEST team) convened for a pivotal meeting with Restorative Justice Partners (RJP). The primary focus of the gathering was to acquire invaluable insights on Tier 1 restorative practices, encompassing mediation and brainstorming. Notably, representatives from all schools within the district were present, highlighting the comprehensive engagement in this transformative initiative. With great anticipation, we eagerly look forward to fostering an enduring partnership with RJP as we collectively strive to advance restorative justice within our district, solidifying our commitment to creating a more inclusive and harmonious educational environment.
Kindness Challenges
School focus on acts of kindness challenge to include Social-Emotional Learning lessons, kind act activities, and spirit activities that include others. They also implemented a “Caught Being Kind” recognition events, where students received acknowledgement by school staff for engaging in kind acts. Spirit days include Tied Together Thursday wearing school spirit gear and classroom presentations on "What is Kindness?". The classrooms had open discussions on their thoughts and created Kindness Posters! Students also studied Mr. Leon Logothetis, global adventurer, motivational speaker & philanthropist on kindness. The students read his book, The Kindness Diaries, and then received a visit from Mr. Leon. He spoke to the students on kindness and harnessing the power of human connection. The students are taking part in a variety of activities, such as writing encouraging notes, making posters, and passing out kindness stickers around campus. These initiatives shows how the power of kindness can bring people together and create a more positive environment for everyone.
MCOE Recognizes Our Staff And Elkhorn School At Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Award Banquet
The Monterey County Office of Education actively supports schools in implementing a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), focusing on developing Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) skills and fostering productive student behaviors.
The Elementary Inclusion Support Team (IST) is made up of a Special Education Teacher, K-2 General Education Teachers, a Behavior Technician, and Paraprofessionals. Together they wore shirts with the message "Inclusion Matters" to serve as a reminder that including people of diverse abilities, backgrounds, and experiences is a critical element in creating a community that is equitable and diverse.
Empowering Educators: A Training on Autism
Our Autism Program is undergoing transformation through a collaborative effort with the CAPTAIN project (CA Autism Professional Training and Information Network). Led by our CADRE leader (Jahayra Molina), our team of paraprofessionals, in conjunction with the county office, is dedicated to enhancing classroom design and curriculum implementation. The goal is to incorporate evidence based practices that promote a conducive learning environment and positive student outcomes. We extend our gratitude to Katie Turner and her Behavioral Intervention Team for their leadership and contribution to this initiative.
Special Education Teacher at NMCHS & class spent all week preparing for an outing to the MY Museum in Monterey through interactive lessons and social stories. The MY Museum allowed the class to have the whole place to themselves! It was amazing to see all the students playing, socializing, and exploring.
We also celebrated our first annual Perspectives of Autism event in light of Autism Acceptance Month, which occurs every April. We had over 70 attendees, 10 vendors, 6 panelists, food, and art! Panelists which included parents, family members, teachers, and students shared their experience and relationship with autism. Our very own student shared his personal journey. We look forward to our next annual Perspectives of Autism event in April of 2024 in hopes of continuing to spread acceptance and inclusion of our neurodivergent students, staff, family, and community members.
Down Syndrome Awareness provided an opportunity to highlight our inclusive practices within our Special Services Department, our communications team went out to have an intimate interview with the family and teacher of one of our students diagnosed with Downs Syndrome. We were able to interview the student’s sister and teacher. We gained insight to the students everyday life and how inclusive practices allow our student to have access to a better education and daily life skills. Thank you for the opportunity to learn more about the everyday things about our student.
POSITIVE Attendance
Regular attendance is vital for student success. When students attend regularly, starting as early as preschool and kindergarten, they have an opportunity to achieve academically and thrive.
Echo Valley Elementary launched an attendance campaign through “Dolphin TV” to encourage students to attend school regularly and on time. The campaign aimed to raise awareness about the importance of attendance and its impact on academic achievement. The attendance campaign will incentivize regular attendance through various activities and rewards to combat this issue. Students who attended school regularly and on time were given recognition and rewards, such as certificates, prizes, and special activities. The campaign also highlighted the impact of attendance on the school as a whole. Students also created and directed puppet shows.
WELLNESS
The school wellness committee promotes and enhances the health and well-being of our students and staff. Now more than ever, it's crucial that we prioritize the health and wellness of our school communities, and collaboratively develop strategies and programs that promote healthy habits and environments for students and staff.
The Wellness Committee’s turnout was exceptional- staff members, board trustees, parents, students and Blue Zones Project partners were among the attendees. The committee provides new members an overview of their history, results of recent student surveys, and a review of food guidelines on campus. When students eat a healthy, balanced breakfast, they are able to focus longer. The commitment to health and wellness in our schools and our worksite will impact the broader community.
Mental Health Matters in School and in Life
It is important to raise awareness and promote mental health and address education and supports in a culturally respectful manner. Our Administrator of Parent Engagement and Adult Education and District Licensed Social Worker collaborate to provide parent sessions/series to the community on the topic of mental health. In addition, sessions for students regarding on mental health awareness specific for grades 7-12 provided by Monterey County Behavioral Health. As a sign of solidarity and support, we wear green ribbons and bracelets to show awareness for mental health. By bringing attention to mental health and providing resources and support, our school district is taking an important step in promoting wellness and overall student success.
Youth are involved as change agents and are actively participating in ways to support their follow students and families. Student leaders in our Dual Enrollment Medical Careers Pathway collected data and shared information regarding Youth Mental Health (AIM) in Monterey County to better understand the causes, barriers and ways to improve student mental health status. Click here to view their Youth AIM presentation of findings.
Suicide Prevention: The communications team, Director of Nutrition Services & Wellness, our Licensed Social Worker, Administrator of Parent Engagement and Adult Education, and Assistant Superintendent for Student and Family Services coordinated community meetings on the topic of suicide awareness.
Suicide Prevention Parent Workshops organized by the District’s License Social Worker Coordinator, provided in English and Spanish, and were held in person at the Hartnell College Castroville Education Center. The workshops were provided in collaboration with Monterey County Behavioral Health, Community Human Services, and Ohana Montage Health. Several schools participated in the Wall of Hope to help spread messages of hope and raise awareness on suicide prevention.
Town Hall and Education On Fentanyl
The District and multiple public agencies worked together heighten awareness of the opioid epidemic, specifically Fentanyl. We began our efforts in taking a stand against Fentanyl by educating our students and families. Our student SkillsUSA team at the North Monterey County High School created and presented a slideshow accessible to all to review in English and Spanish to become more aware of the fatal dangers of Fentanyl.
Noche De Águilas for the Class of 2023
As a student-run club at North Monterey County High School, Águilas Guerreras believes that education is the key to success, and they strive to ensure equal access to this success for every student. They advocate for education, cultural awareness, community service, and leadership, organizing various events on campus and in the community. One of their notable events was "Noche del águila," a celebration held in honor of the graduating seniors from Águilas Guerreras, Raíces, and Culturas. This event served as a heartfelt tribute, recognizing the accomplishments of these exceptional students who demonstrated dedication, resilience, and a strong connection to their cultural heritage. "Noche del águila" encapsulated the spirit of Águilas Guerreras, bringing together the club and the community to celebrate the transformative journey of these graduating seniors. It was a joyous occasion that not only acknowledged their achievements but also inspired future generations of students within the club and beyond.
Day of the Dead
The Águilas Guerreras Club celebrated their annual Day of the Dead celebration, "Recuérdame", a free family event. The fun activities, including sugar skull decorating, face painting, and games. On the main stage, performances by Kalpulli Oceloyotl (Aztec dancing), Raíces Baile Folklórico, and live music by Grupo Culturas This event was well attended and something for all!
