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Monday, April 19, 2021

OCDE NEWSROOM

Orange County School Nurses Organization seeks nominations for awards program
The Orange County School Nurses Organization is accepting nominations for qualified candidates who exemplify excellence in school nursing. Application forms are due May 1 for awards in three categories — Lead/Coordinating School Nurse of the Year, School Nurse of the Year and School Readiness Nurse of the Year.
https://newsroom.ocde.us/orange-county-school-nurses-organization-seeks-nominations-for-awards-program/

ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

These Anaheim teens tackle adolescent issues on ‘Teenager Therapy’ podcast
When Gael Aitor heard “Couples Therapy,” a podcast by husband-and-wife Casey and Candice Neistat about the ups and downs of marriage, he was hooked. He related to their conversations, even though Aitor is an unmarried teenager in Anaheim. It also sparked an idea: create a podcast like “Couples Therapy” but with teenagers talking about the ups and downs of being a teen. Then 15, Aitor gathered four fellow high school sophomores, Mark Hugo, Thomas Pham, Kayla Suarez and Isaac Hurtado, and the five started the podcast “Teenager Therapy.”
https://www.ocregister.com/2021/04/19/these-anaheim-teens-tackle-adolescent-issues-on-teenager-therapy-podcast/

Huntington Beach instructor assistant arrested on suspicion of lewd acts with minors
A 58-year-old man was arrested Thursday, April 15 on suspicion of engaging in lewd acts with at least four minors, Huntington Beach police said. Charles Jacques has been employed with the Huntington Beach City School District since 2009 when he was hired as an instructional assistant substitute and later was hired as a regular employee. None of the victims were students at the district’s campuses. He was put on leave pending the investigation from his job as an instructional assistant at Moffett Elementary School. [Warning: This story contains graphic content.]
https://www.ocregister.com/2021/04/18/huntington-beach-instructor-assistant-arrested-on-suspicion-of-lewd-acts-with-minors/

LOS ANGELES TIMES

DAILY PILOT
Newport Beach’s Lucie Courtois eager to share her ‘Miracle’ story
The 2020 Corona del Mar High School graduate, who is visually impaired, recently published her first book.
https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/story/2021-04-16/newport-beachs-lucie-courtois-eager-to-share-her-miracle-story

LAUSD unequal reopening: Nearly full classrooms on Westside, emptier elsewhere
In-person schooling looks very different from neighborhood to neighborhood, especially at the elementary school level.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-04-18/survey-shows-how-covid-school-reopenings-differ-across-la

Parents say their children have been ‘substantially hurt’ by school closures, survey finds
Los Angeles County residents rate education among the worst of several factors affecting their quality of life, displaying one of the biggest drops in recent years among parents of children in public schools, according to a UCLA survey.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-04-19/satisfaction-with-public-education-low-among-l-a-county-residents-ucla-survey-finds

DAILY NEWS LOS ANGELES

Most LAUSD students won’t have to take Smarter Balanced standardized tests
For the second year in a row, most Los Angeles Unified students — with the exception of 11th graders — won’t be taking the Smarter Balanced standardized test that’s usually mandated by the state each spring.
https://www.dailynews.com/2021/04/16/most-lausd-students-wont-have-to-take-smarter-balanced-standardized-tests/

SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE

Some San Diego schools use “overflow” rooms to fit in students learning in-person
Some schools put students into separate classrooms to essentially do distance learning on a computer while at school. Some called these overflow rooms, but the district calls them learning labs.
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/education/story/2021-04-18/some-san-diego-schools-use-overflow-rooms-to-fit-in-students-learning-in-person

Should San Diego area schools use desk barriers to prevent COVID spread?
Plastic shields around student desks have become a common feature in classrooms across San Diego County, but whether they improve COVID safety is still being debated, some say.
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/education/story/2021-04-18/should-schools-use-barriers-to-prevent-covid-spread

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

Oakland teachers declare impasse in talks with district, but say they will return to classrooms
Oakland’s teachers union is holding a vote of no confidence in the district’s reopening plans, with negotiations breaking down days before a number of elementary, middle and high schools are set to reopen.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/education/article/Oakland-teachers-declare-impasse-in-talks-with-16107725.php

USA TODAY

Derek Chauvin's trial is a teachable moment. Here's how classrooms are discussing it.
The death of George Floyd. The trial of Derek Chauvin. Civil unrest. Teachers discuss how to talk about current events without traumatizing students.
https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/education/2021/04/19/derek-chauvin-trial-how-race-police-and-unrest-taught-school/7227234002/

PRESS-ENTERPRISE

Riverside Unified elementary schools to open 5 days a week
A more complete school reopening is set to take place next week in Riverside. On Wednesday, April 21, students at Riverside Unified School District‘s 30 elementary schools will begin going to class five days a week, said Tim Walker, assistant superintendent. And the hybrid program — two days a week in person, three days online — will end for those students who earlier opted for classroom instruction, Walker said.
https://www.pe.com/2021/04/16/riverside-unified-elementary-schools-to-open-5-days-a-week/

EDSOURCE

Why does California disappoint in preschool access and quality?
California continues to lag behind other states in preschool access and quality and the pandemic didn’t help matters, according to a national report that ranks all state-funded preschool programs. Covid-19 plays a pivotal role in the “State of Preschool Yearbook,” an annual report card on state-subsidized early learning released today, published by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), based at Rutgers University
https://edsource.org/2021/why-does-california-disappoint-in-preschool-access-and-quality/653227

KQED

Some Black and brown parents in Oakland feel conflicted as in-person learning returns
On Monday, the Oakland Unified School District will welcome back third through sixth graders at select schools. But as kids prepare a gradual return to in-person learning, some parents are still feeling hesitant about ending distance learning altogether.
https://www.kqed.org/news/11869776/were-not-a-monolith-some-black-and-brown-parents-in-oakland-feel-conflicted-as-in-person-learning-returns

WHITTIER DAILY NEWS

Origami cranes greet students returning to Cameron Elementary in West Covina
In Japanese legend, 1,000 origami cranes held together by string assure happiness and eternal good luck.
https://www.whittierdailynews.com/2021/04/17/origami-cranes-greet-students-returning-to-cameron-elementary-in-west-covina/

OTHER NEWS OUTLETS

Teens Tell Us How We Can Re-Imagine High School After the Pandemic
When San Diego high schools closed in spring 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, teenagers in our community became isolated from their classmates, school activities and support systems. Students like Gabriel, a senior at San Diego High School, faced even greater struggles. But Gabriel, who had never achieved higher than a 2.1 GPA, now has a 3.75 GPA. The difference: spending every day at The David’s Harp Foundation distance learning hub.
https://timesofsandiego.com/education/2021/04/17/teens-tell-us-how-we-can-re-imagine-high-school-after-the-pandemic/


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