Staff News

Sometimes, illness or other obligation lead to a student absence; however, multiple unexcused absences can lead to truancy and to students missing out on their learning. In an effort to curtail absenteeism, this week, Dallas ISD began sending parents truancy warnings.

Parents are expected to make sure their students are going to school, request meetings with school officials to talk about the absences, provide accurate contact information and submit an excuse note for all unexcused absences. The note, signed by the parent/guardian, should explain the reason for the absence. And be submitted within three days of the student’s return to class. If a student or parent fails to submit a note, the absence will be considered unexcused.

Unexcused absences are what triggers the warning letters regarding violation of truancy laws and can lead to truancy court proceedings with Dallas County. School districts are required to notify parents when their students have three days or parts of days of unexcused absences within a period of four weeks.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently issued a new edition with updated guidelines about the amount of physical activity people can safely do to stay healthy. The report includes guidelines for children ages 3 through 5 and updated guidelines for youth ages 6 through 17, adults, older adults, women during pregnancy and postpartum, adults with chronic health conditions, and adults with disabilities.

The second edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans is based on the latest scientific evidence, which shows that physical activity brings health benefits on its own and in addition to other healthy habits like good nutrition. The report can be found in the department’s site, but its main findings include:

• Ages 3-5—The report recommends that children ages 3 through 5 should be active throughout the day to enhance growth and development, so active play (light, moderate, or vigorous intensity) should be encouraged so they have at least three hours of activity per day.
• Ages 6-17—The recommended amount of physical activity for youth ages 6 through 17 is the same. Each day, youths need at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity to stay healthy. Most activity can be aerobic, like walking, running, or anything that makes the heart beat faster. They also need activities that make their muscles and bones strong, like climbing on playground equipment, playing basketball, and jumping rope. For youth, physical activity can help improve cognition, bone health, fitness, and heart health. It can also reduce the risk of depression.
• Most adults—For adults to get the most benefit from physical activity, it’s recommended that they do at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, like brisk walking or fast dancing, each week. Adults also need muscle-strengthening activity, like lifting weights or doing push-ups, at least two days each week.

This recommendation is based on new evidence that shows a strong relationship between increased sedentary behavior and increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and all-cause mortality. All physical activity, especially moderate-to-vigorous activity, can help offset these risks. New evidence shows that physical activity has immediate health benefits. For example, physical activity can reduce anxiety and blood pressure and improve quality of sleep and insulin sensitivity.

According to the report, for adults, physical activity helps prevent eight types of cancer (bladder, breast, colon, endometrium, esophagus, kidney, stomach, and lung). It reduces the risk of dementia—including Alzheimer’s disease—all-cause mortality, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and depression. It also improves bone health, physical function, and quality of life.

Among older adults, physical activity also can lower the risk of falls and injuries from falls.

New evidence covered in the report shows that physical activity can help manage health conditions such as pain for those who suffer from osteoarthritis. Evidence outlined in the report, also shows that physical activity can reduce disease progression for such health conditions as hypertension and type 2 diabetes, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and improve cognition for those with dementia, multiple sclerosis, ADHD, and Parkinson’s disease.

Early Learning

Through the Theory of Action Standards of Service, the Early Learning Department provides support in PreK-second grade in the areas of instructional strategy and coaching support, professional development opportunities, family and community engagement, Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) and student performance data reports.

Instructional Strategy:  PreK-2^nd grade curriculum support, Reading Academy content delivery, and consultation services for campus teams to strengthen instructional delivery.

Coaching Support:  Coaching support in all PreK and targeted K-3 classrooms to improve quality with research-proven efforts that support teaching instruction and promote positive social and emotional learning.

Professional Development: On-going opportunities for professional learning to support authentic use of technology in classroom design and use of curriculum.

Family and Community Engagement: PreK enrollment and registration training, family touchpoints throughout the year, marketing materials for campuses to strengthen PreK enrollment.

HIPPY: No charge home visits to deliver HIPPY’s evidence-based curriculum to help parents prepare their children for success in school as well as family and group meetings to share experiences.

Student Performance Reports: Data reports for all PreK-2 grade assessments at beginning, middle and end of year assessment windows.

Campuses interested in these services should visit the Dallas ISD Early Learning Website.

For additional information, contact Dr. Elena S. Hill, Assistant Superintendent of Early Learning, at elehill@dallasisd.org.

HCM

Through the Theory of Action Standards of Service, Human Capital Management provides a one-year coaching and training program for alternative certification teacher candidates. This program is dedicated to providing Dallas ISD schools with effective teachers in areas of high need.

Dallas ISD AC Program areas of state certification include:

• Core Subjects EC-6 w/ Science of Teaching Reading
• Core Subjects EC-6 w/ Science of Teaching Reading (Bilingual Supplemental)
• English Language Arts Reading 7-12 w/ English as a Second Language (ESL)
• Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Spanish
• Math 7-12
• Science 7-12
• Social Studies 7-12
• Art EC-12 (limited availability)
• Music EC-12 (limited availability)
• Physical Education EC-12 (limited availability)
• Special Education Supplemental

The Phase 55 application is now open for new applicant interest until Monday, February 1, 2021 at 5:00 PM. Interested applicants should apply at the following link: https://bit.ly/Phase55application

Dallas ISD AC Program – Phase 56 application will launch April 1, 2021 to August 6, 2021.

Eligibility for admission into the Dallas ISD AC Program, applicants must show a(n):

• Conferred Bachelor’s degree recognized by a THECB regionally accredited institution
• Undergraduate GPA of at least 2.5
• Favorable interview cut score designed by the program
• Pay associated preparation and training fees
• Completion of Dallas ISD fingerprinting and background check requirements
• Two (2) official undergraduate transcripts:
  • One transcript is to be opened by the applicant & uploaded to the online application
  • One transcript is to be sealed (NOT opened by applicant) and mailed directly to: Lucy Salazar, Program Coordinator, 9400 N Central Expressway, Suite 1400, Dallas, TX 75231

For additional information, contact Jose Lopez, Dallas ISD AC Program Marketing, Branding, and Recruitment Coordinator joslopez@dallasisd.org.

Campuses interested in this service should contact Shuntrice Rhodes, Dallas ISD AC Program Teacher Quality Manager srhodes@dallasisd.org for available candidates that have successful met all program requirements and are ready for a yearlong internship in Dallas ISD.

School absences have risen dramatically as parents and students cope with the Covid-19 pandemic, and Dallas ISD is launching an all-out effort to help students get back in school and engaged.

Beginning Monday, February 1, and continuing through February 27, district teams will be reaching out to students and parents by phone, text and email as a part of “Operation Comeback Student Re-Engagement,” an effort to help students get back on track to continue their education.

Starting Wednesday, February 3, families not reached remotely will receive contact-free home visits by staff members seeking to find out how the district can provide the resources students need to stay in school.

“The idea is to connect with families so we know what obstacles they face and what we can do to help,” said Orlando Riddick, acting chief of School Leadership.

Once they make contact, central staff teams will talk with families to identify obstacles to school attendance, including asking questions: Do you have an internet connection? Do you need a hotspot? Do you have technology (digital devices)? Does your student know how to log in? How can we support your student’s attendance, either in person or virtually?

Visiting staff will leave families with a list of useful resources, including information about how to get meals, a hotspot or uniforms, how to track their child’s attendance and grades, answers to transportation questions, and how to reach the district online through the Let’s Talk portal.

“We realize that some of the student absenteeism is related to the pandemic, which has pushed many families into crisis.  Some students are working to help support their families, and others face serious obstacles that make regular school attendance a challenge,” Riddick said. District staff note that the state has allowed districts to count students as present if they submit their work online by 11:59 p.m. each day. For working students, the Evening Academy in Districtwide Student Initiatives may be a pathway to continue their education.

On weekdays, staff teams will make contact-free home visits during daylight hours. Evening teams will be out in the field on  Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings and make phone calls from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Teams will also visit homes every Saturday in February.

Because safety during the pandemic is critical, staff will not enter homes, but will carry cards and door knockers containing a QR code that, when scanned, will link users to a request for information or a resource sheet that will include contacts to reach counseling and mental health services and info for students and parents who need help navigating a pathway to get students back on track and attending school.

“The district and community care about students. We’re calling on everyone to pull together to emphasize the importance of regular school attendance and to join us to assist families so students can focus on their education,” Riddick said.

Benefits advises employees that Form 1095-C with information about health care coverage in 2020 will be mailed to homes in early March. The form satisfies the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirement that all individuals have health care coverage. Employers are required to provide employees the form as proof that employees and their dependents were covered or offered coverage by the employer’s health care plan. IRS has set a deadline of March 2 for employers to provide their employees the form, but employees do not have to wait to receive Form 1095-C to file their individual income tax return. More information about the form is available here.

Pronto recibirá la Forma 1095-C para Comprobar su Cobertura Médica

Benefits le comunica a los empleados que la Forma 1095-C con información acerca de la cobertura de cuidados médicos del 2020 será enviada por correo a las casas de los empleados en marzo. Esta forma satisface el requisito del Affordable Care Act (ACA) de que todos los individuos tengan cobertura médica. Los empleadores deben proporcionar esta forma a sus empleados como prueba de que tiene cobertura o que se les ofreció la oportunidad de obtener cobertura a través del plan de seguro médico de la compañía. El IRS estableció el 2 de marzo como la fecha para mandar la forma a los empleados, pero los empleados no deben esperar a recibir la Forma 1095-C para presentar su declaración de impuestos. Para más información acerca de la forma, pulse aquí.

A lot of things have changed in the past few months, including how staff meets to conduct business—virtual is now the norm. Meetings taking place in a virtual room on a computer does not mean that professionalism and formality are abandoned.

Zoom has a series of recommendations on how to keep meetings professional, friendly and productive.

First, keep in mind the age-old guidelines that apply to meetings whether in-person or virtual: be on time, maintain eye contact, pay attention, dress professionally, avoid eating and drinking, mind your body language, and be respectful to whoever is speaking to maintain a productive business environment.

Additional tips from Zoom include:

1. Make sure to introduce everyone at the beginning.

Just like a real meeting or social event, you wouldn’t initiate a conversation between two acquaintances who haven’t met without introducing them. The same practice applies to a virtual meeting. If there are participants who don’t know each other, make sure to introduce all parties you are hosting at the beginning to create a welcoming environment and stimulate engagement.

2. Ensure that you have a clean, work-appropriate background.

You want your attendees’ focus to be on the meeting content, not your messy office or your amazing art collection. By having a clean setting with work-appropriate art and decorations, you reduce the chance that attendees will get distracted. You should also try to attend the meeting from a quiet area that has minimal background noise and movement. Zoom’s virtual background feature is an easy way to eliminate background distractions when you have to meet in a messy or busy location. Dallas ISD has created virtual backgrounds to be used in meetings. https://www.dallasisd.org/virtualbackgrounds

3. Look into the camera when talking instead of looking at yourself.

If you’re looking at yourself on the screen while you’re talking, it will seem like your attention is elsewhere. Direct eye contact into the camera while speaking gives attendees the impression that you are looking at them rather than off to the side, which creates an environment where everyone feels engaged and present in the conversation. Be sure to position your web camera and monitor at eye level so you can look into the camera and simulate that eye-to-eye connection with other attendees.

4. Eliminate distractions and focus on the agenda.

Notifications from messaging applications, ringtones, and applications running on your desktop can be distracting, which can make your attendees feel disrespected and undervalued. Mitigating these distractions helps keep the meeting focused and free from interruption.

5. Be aware of your audio and video settings.

Check whether your microphone is unmuted and that your camera is on to ensure that all attendees can hear you and see you when you speak.

6. If you’re the host, stick around.

The general rule for meeting hosts: Wait until everyone else has left the meeting before hanging up so attendees can leave at their own pace and get any final words in before disconnecting.

For additional tips from Zoom, visit https://blog.zoom.us/category/how-tos/.

Regular exercise is good for your body and safe for most everyone. However, with any type of activity, there is a chance you can get hurt. Exercise injuries can range from strains and sprains to back pain. With a little planning, you can prevent injury and stay safe during exercise.

MedlinePlus—a service of the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the world’s largest medical library, which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)—offers a series of tips on how to prevent common injuries when starting a fitness routine as well as information on a variety of health topics.

What Causes Exercise Injuries?

Some of the most common causes of exercise injuries include:

• Exercising before your body has warmed up
• Repeating the same motion over and over again
• Not having proper form for your exercise
• Not resting in between workouts
• Pushing your body too hard or too quickly
• Doing an exercise that is too strenuous for your level of fitness
• Not using proper equipment

Warm up and Cool Down

Warming up before exercise gets your blood flowing, warms up your muscles, and helps you avoid injury. The easiest way to warm up is to exercise slowly for the first few minutes, then pick up the pace. For example, before running, walk briskly for 5 to 10 minutes.

You should also cool down after exercise to bring your heart rate and body temperature back to normal. Cool down by ending your routine at a slower pace for the last 5 to 10 minutes.

To Stretch or not to Stretch

To stay flexible, you should stretch at least 2 times a week. But it is unclear whether stretching really helps reduce injury.

You can stretch either after you have warmed up or after you exercise.

• DO NOT stretch cold muscles.
• Hold stretches for no longer than 15 to 30 seconds.
• DO NOT bounce.

Choose Your Exercise Wisely

If you have not been active, or have a health condition, talk with your health care provider to make sure you are healthy enough for exercise. Ask what types of exercise might be best for you.

If you are new to exercise, you may want to start with low-intensity options such as:

• Walking
• Swimming
• Riding a stationary bike
• Golf

These types of exercise are less likely to cause injury than higher-impact activities like running or aerobics. Contact sports like soccer or basketball are also more likely to cause injury.

Use the Right Equipment

Using safety equipment can greatly reduce your risk of injury.

Safety equipment for your sport may include:

• Footwear
• Helmets
• Mouth guards
• Goggles
• Shin guards or other protective guards
• Kneepads

Be sure you use the right type of equipment for your sport. For example, DO NOT play tennis in running shoes. Wear a ski helmet, not a bike helmet, when downhill skiing.

Make sure your exercise equipment:

• Fits you properly
• Is the right design for your sport or activity
• Is in good working condition
• Is used correctly and consistently

Learn Good Form

If you are new to an exercise or sport, consider taking lessons to learn the basics. Learning the right way to do an exercise or sport can help prevent injury. Look for lessons in your community or through sports or outdoors organizations. You can also consider hiring a personal trainer.

Cross Train

To help prevent overuse injuries, vary your workouts. For example, instead of running three days a week, cycle one day and run two. You will use a different set of muscles and still get a good workout.

Listen to Your Body

Forget the old saying “no pain, no gain.” Of course, to build strength and stamina, you will need to push your body. The key is to push slowly and gradually. You can expect sore muscles after your workout. But you should never feel pain when exercising. If you feel pain, stop right away.

Being tired all the time can also be a sign that you may be overdoing it. In general, avoid increasing these 3 things all at the same time:

• Number of days you exercise
• Length of time you exercise
• How hard you work out

MedlinePlus [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); [updated 2020 Jun 22]. How to avoid exercise injuries; [cited 2021 Jan 21]; Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000859.htm

Fifth-grader Dominic Patermo delivered this year’s winning speech during the 29th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Oratory Competition, which took place in the W.H. Adamson High School auditorium on Jan. 15.

The Harry C. Withers Elementary School student was one of eight finalists that participated in this year’s competition sponsored by the law firm Foley & Lardner. Unlike past year’s the January competition that highlights the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was held virtually because of safety protocols due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Trying to put on a competition like this in 2021 is not easy, but this was the most important year to put on this competition; with everything that’s been going on in the world, with the pandemic, with instances of racial injustice and civil unrest, with the economic downturn. We felt that there hasn’t been a more important year to hear the voices of these students, and to allow them to shine light in Dr. King’s legacy,” said Michael Newman, Foley & Lardner managing partner. “I leave this event inspired by these kids every day. They’re in front of a very large audience, and every year their message inspires me and makes me feel optimistic about the future of our country.”

The students gave their speeches, one by one, on the stage of the Adamson High School Auditorium. Judges, who were present virtually, listened to the speeches as they were being broadcasted live.

Dallas Mavericks CEO Cynt Marshall, diversity speaker and founder of Inclusion Nation Michelle Silverthorn, former Dallas Stars player Marty Vincent Turco, and former linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys and the Denver Broncos DeMarcus Ware were the judges. Clarice Tinsley, Fox 4 News anchor, was the master of ceremonies.

After all the speeches, the judges gathered to make a final decision on the winners. All students earned monetary prices, along with a backpack with a tablet.

Second place in the oratory competition went to Zoe Frazier, a fourth-grade student at J.P. Starks Math, Science and Technology Vanguard.

Third place went to Dinastee McKinney, a fifth-grade student at Clara Oliver Elementary School.

During the difficult months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dallas ISD staff gave a home to many pets and others discovered anew the companionship and comfort that dogs, cats and parakeets provide.

Whether exotic or more traditional, pets bring joy and brightness into the lives of Dallas ISD staff, who are sharing their love for dogs, cats and even spiders.