October 2022

In compliance with state and federal laws, Dallas ISD requires that all employees complete the policy acknowledgement and compliance training at the beginning of every school year. This year, the training must be completed by Monday, November 14.

Step 1: Complete Policy Acknowledgement

Using their email address and password, employees will log into the policy acknowledgement website at https://PolicyAcknowledgement.dallasisd.org to acknowledge the Employee Handbook, Annual Employee Notification of District Policies, Family Relationship Disclosure, and Confidentiality Requirements.

Step 2: Complete Compliance Training in Cornerstone

Employees will use their email address and password to log into Cornerstone at https://dallasisd.csod.com. The compliance training assignment will be in the “My Assigned Training” section located on the “Welcome” page or on the “Learning” tab under “View Your Transcript.”

Training includes child abuse awareness, educators’ code of ethics, copyright and licensing, dress code standards, employment concerns and employee rights, staff safety protocols, FERPA, sexual harassment, and workplace bullying. Training for campus staff will also include anaphylaxis and auto-Injectors, bloodborne pathogens, bullying, and Section 504.

For assistance with technical issues in Cornerstone, go to the Live User Support tab in Cornerstone to access the live support team.

Training for substitute staff only: Both the policy acknowledgement and compliance training are available in the Compliance Learning Portal. Substitute staff will use their employee ID, last name (as listed in Oracle), and date of birth to log into the portal.

Links to the policy acknowledgement, Cornerstone, and the substitute portal can also be accessed on the Policy and Compliance website at https://www.dallasisd.org/hcmpolicy.

For additional questions or assistance, please contact Human Capital Management’s Policy and Compliance team at HCMcompliance@dallasisd.org.

With the theme “Get your day in gear with a healthy school lunch,” Dallas ISD is celebrating National School Lunch Week Oct. 10-14 to highlight the importance of healthy school lunches to a student’s success both in and out of the classroom.

National School Lunch Week began in 1962 to promote the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Created in 1946, the NSLP was designed to provide nutritious meals to children from low-income families who might not otherwise have access to a daily meal. Today, the NSLP ensures the health and well-being of all public school students and improves academic performance by giving students the nutrition they need to succeed. 

Recent research shows that children are getting their healthiest meals at school, so Dallas ISD’s Food and Child Nutrition Services will feature special menus, events, activities and more during the weeklong celebration, with the goal of encouraging students to eat a healthy lunch at school.

“School meals are free for all students all school year, so it’s a great time to give school lunch a try,” said Michael Rosenberger, executive director of Food and Child Nutrition Services. “National School Lunch Week helps us educate parents and students about all the wonderful benefits of our lunch program.” 

On Oct. 12—“take your parent to lunch day”—families are encouraged to participate by posting pictures on social media an tagging @DallasISDFood, using the hashtags #DallasISDFood, #FarmToSchool and #NSLW2023. Staff can also download activity sheets for students on the Food and Child Nutrition Services website. 

Help us spread the word about the district’s Child and Adult Care Food Program, as well. Through this program, Dallas ISD can offer free dinner on weeknights and weekend meals for qualified academic and enrichment programs. If your campus would benefit from this resource, contact Food and Child Nutrition Services for more information on how to apply.

World Mental Health Day, Oct. 10, is an opportunity for students, families and staff across Dallas ISD to focus on protecting and improving mental health and well-being. This year’s theme is “make mental health and well-being for all a global priority,” and the district is encouraging everyone to check in with their mental health and intentionally practice self-care. 

Everyone experiences daily stressors, so it is especially important to learn the signs that may indicate an ongoing mental health concern and to pay attention to repeated thoughts and feelings. The following symptoms may be indicators of mental illness when they are experienced for prolonged periods of time:

• Sudden mood changes
• Decreased sense of confidence 
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Withdrawing from relationships
• Excessive use of drugs or alcohol
• Loss of interest in regular activities 
• Changes in appetite
• Difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly
• Feeling sad or down 
• Paranoia, delusions or feeling detached from reality 
• Experiencing exhaustion or fatigue
• Difficulty coping with minor problems and daily activities
• Thoughts of suicide

In addition to performing regular check-ins, self-care is a key practice when it comes to maintaining overall well-being, especially for those who may be feeling overwhelmed. Join us in dedicating time to mental wellness by incorporating one or more of these positive habits into your day or week: 

• Do a simple stretching routine. Something as quick as taking a moment to relax your jaw, neck and shoulders can make a difference. 
• Switch off your phone for an hour. Try moving it to another room or turning on “airplane mode” or “do not disturb.”
• Make a playlist of cheerful songs and press “play” whenever you could use a pick-me-up. 
• Get in touch with a friend you have not seen for some time. 
• Organize a friend or family game night and bring out all your favorite board games or video games. 
• Carry a water bottle, and make sure to stay hydrated when you find yourself struggling to concentrate or are feeling extra tired.
• Keep a gratitude journal. 
• Be gentle with yourself, especially on your hardest days. Select a few self-affirmations, and speak to yourself with the same care you would show your friends and family. 
• Spend time outside every day. Even if you only have energy for a few minutes, the fresh air will do you good. 
• Every time someone compliments you, make a note in a journal or on your computer. On bad days, their words may lift your spirits. 

For anyone who is struggling, help is available. Don’t hesitate to contact your doctor or mental health care provider with questions and concerns. If you are experiencing a crisis, get immediate support by contacting the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in English or Spanish at 988, or by accessing the National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., by calling 1-800-950-6264, texting “HelpLine” to 62640 or emailing helpline@nami.org. 

Dallas ISD staff can also take advantage of Dallas ISD’s Employee Assistance Program by LifeWorks. The confidential, secure platform has countless resources available online for free, including on-call counselors who are available seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Reach out to LifeWorks at (972) 925-4000, or visit www.dallasisd.org/benefits and click on Benefits Resources to access online EAP information. 

You matter, and so does your mental health and well-being. Take some time to reflect on how you are doing, and prioritize yourself and your needs. And remember: You are never alone. 

*Sources: LifeWorks and World Health Organization

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and Dallas ISD’s Information Technology is sharing tips to stay safe online. This week, Avoid Being Phished:

• STOP and think if you are expecting the sender’s email
• Hover over links to verify if it’s from a trusted source
• Don’t respond to unsolicited emails that ask for personal information
• Be super cautious before clicking or downloading attachments
• Don’t be tricked by what appears to be an urgent message
• Remember: If something is too good to be true in appearance, it probably is too good to be true in reality

National Cybersecurity Month has been celebrated since 2004 led by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) in a collaborative effort between government and industry to raise cybersecurity awareness nationally and internationally. 

This year’s theme—See Yourself in Cyber—shows that everyone is part of cyberspace and that it’s up to each person to make smart decisions to keep important information safe.