February 13, 2023
A Cool Idea from the ETA!
Everett Teachers Associate (ETA) representatives handed out "make at home" hot chocolate cups to all students at Everett High on Friday, February 3rd. Given the excessive cold, Dr. Chris Backlund wanted to ensure the students received something warm on their way home. Teachers handed out the cups as students left school. It was a phenomenal success! Thanks to Dr. Backlund for the great idea and the culinary teachers for helping prepare everything!
Exciting New Opportunity for Students
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Equity365
YOUNG EQUITY SCHOLARS
This program was created for student leaders who are passionate about equity and social justice. It aims to engage students in the decision-making process of school policy, budget, and curriculum. YES leaders will represent their peers and school, as well as explore their leadership and service through:
- Student Development Training
- Educational Field Trips
- Guest Speakers
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From the SEL Team
EPS/Lesley LIFTS Partnership
The district is thrilled to continue its partnership with the Lesley Institute for Trauma Sensitivity (LIFTS) for the 2023-2024 school year. We are looking for educators to join a 25-person cohort to complete graduate courses focused on the impact of trauma on learning. Participants who complete all four courses will earn a Graduate Certificate in Trauma and Learning from Lesley University.
Each course is worth three (3) graduate credits. With generous funding from the Oak Foundation, Lesley University, and Everett Public Schools, the cost per course for each participant is $250 upon registration, making the total out-of-pocket cost $1,000 per person for the graduate certificate.
Each course runs a total of 8 weeks, with five (5) live Zoom sessions (i.e. Wednesday, 3:45 to 5:45 p.m.) and three (3) self-guided sessions. Courses 1 and 2 will be offered from September through December, and courses 3 and 4 will be offered January through May. Courses are designed to be taken one at a time, and must be taken in order.
If you’re interested in participating in this series, please respond to Brian Wallace [email protected] by February 28, 2023. Further details around course dates and instructions for registration and course access will be provided before the end of May.
For more information on LIFTS, check out the website and the LIFTS Community Hub (password: lifts!). Please email Merlyn Mayhew at [email protected] if you have any questions.
Course descriptions:
The Impact of Trauma on Learning: An OverviewThis course examines the impact of traumatic experience on student learning (both academic and social/emotional) and provides a structured approach to individual and school wide interventions. The biological, environmental, and sociocultural aspects of traumatic experience will be presented, and participants will analyze the effects of their work with students impacted by trauma on their own well-being (secondary trauma).The Impact of Trauma on Learning: Classroom and Student SupportsTrauma affects self-regulation, social skills and a child’s sense of health and well-being, along with interfering with more traditional academic skills that require language, memory and executive function. This course will address ways to promote these non-academic and academic competencies for students impacted by trauma, including which competencies can be incorporated into the learning flow (as they benefit all children) and which are best taught with an individual support plan. (Prerequisite: Course 1)
The Impact of Trauma on Learning: Creating Trauma-Sensitive SchoolsThis course is designed to expand knowledge of trauma, its impacts, and the process for building trauma sensitive environments through examination of the underlying change theory, processes, and tools needed to establish trauma sensitivity. Participants demonstrate their understanding by either developing a plan for guiding the creation of a trauma-sensitive school or conducting research grounded in trauma-informed inquiry. (Prerequisites: Courses 1 & 2)
The Impact of Trauma on Learning: Action Research and SeminarStudents demonstrate their understanding of the attributes of trauma-sensitivity by working together to design and conduct research that assesses the outcomes of efforts to improve trauma-sensitivity in classrooms, schools, or other learning environments. (Prerequisites: Courses 1, 2, & 3)
FREE SELF-CARE SESSIONS FOR STAFF, BY STAFF!
EPS staff members Mike Botte and Alana Russell are offering free self-care sessions for EPS employees, and they are accepting new registrants on a rolling basis. Ms. Russell is teaching a yoga class, while Mr. Botte is running a group fitness and training course. Sessions are open to all staff, regardless of your experience level. Contact Mr. Botte and Ms. Russell directly to sign up. Classes will be held on Wednesdays, after school, at the Keverian.
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From the Department of English Learners
Free Language Classes
FREE LANGUAGE CLASSES
The EPS is pleased to continue its partnership with Rola Languages, as four new offerings are available beginning in February or March. The classes are free and held at Everett High. They do not count towards the 11 hours of required professional development.Rola instructions are offering courses in Spanish Level 1 and Level 2 and Portuguese Level 1 and Level 2. All sessions are from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. Staff are asked to sign up only if you can attend all of the classes.
Click HERE for complete details.
The 5 District Partnership (5DP) is re-engaging a Teacher Advisory Board (TAB)! TAB provides an important opportunity for classroom educators from across member districts to play a role in our ongoing collaboration.
The primary goals of the 5DP Teacher Advisory Board are:
- To ensure educators have a role in informing and shaping 5DP programs and resources so they are responsive to educators’ needs.
- To facilitate connections, exchange of ideas, and two-way communication between educators and building and district leaders across partner districts.
- To facilitate and build educator awareness of 5DP events, resources, and ways to get involved.
- To promote and support authentic opportunities for teacher leadership and collaboration across partner districts.
Please consider joining--or encourage a colleague to do so. You could play a critical role in ensuring cross-district collaborative work addresses the needs and interests of 5DP educators.
Here are some key details:
- We are seeking classroom educators from across all partner districts (2-4 members per district).
- TAB will meet approximately monthly after school dismissal on a mutually workable day for members.
- We ask members for at least a February to June, 2023 commitment to the group.
- PDPs will be available commensurate to meetings and related tasks.
Click HERE for more information and to apply. Applications are due on February 13th
IT’S YOUR NEWSLETTER!
Do you have anything that might be suitable for the EPS Staff Newsletter? Good news? Something cool? Something you would like to share with your colleagues? A photo? Please send it to [email protected]MAGAZINE STAND
Check it out.