Staff News

Working from home has been the new normal for district staff for a few weeks, and many of you answered The Beat poll to share your thoughts and  tips to make it a successful experience.

“It’s been a major adjustment but we will make it work as best possible in order to support our students and communities!”

Separating work time from home time can be difficult when work takes place in the home, but establishing a routine was key to many. Make sure getting up and walking regularly is part of that routine.

“This week has been the best yet. I’m in a routine that is similar to my old routine, and I get up and move when my Fitbit tells me to do so.”

“Get up at the same time. Eat healthful/tasty meals. Take a brief walk every hour—Fitbit reminds me to get 250 steps every hour. Be careful: Read emails twice before sending, watch tone.”

“I created a schedule for myself to balance out all my weekly task. I include work, grad school, household responsibilities, and personal time. This helps me to stay focus and mentally healthy.”

“As you create your daily work schedule, schedule breaks and stick to that schedule. It brings balance to your workday and reduces your stress level.”

“I made a decision to maintain a school-going routine: eat well, shower, dress professionally, wear makeup and perfume, jewelry. It helps all of my senses and helps me stay focused and motivated.”

A routine is not the only way to effectively work from home. Establishing a work space that is comfortable and helps transition from work to life also provides a mental break and can help with stress.

“If possible, create a workspace at home that includes sufficient space, comfortable seating, sufficient lighting and a window. Step outside periodically to take in the sunshine.”

“Keep a dedicated work space that has a supportive chair. All work lives here.”

Having to stay inside all the time to help stop the spread of COVID-19—especially while having to homeschool children—can be stressful, so several staff members recommended spending time with a hobby or exploring new interests. Above all, a positive attitude is key.

“It has been better than I thought. No commute leaves more time for exercise and cooking meals. I am thankful we have this opportunity to work from home and stay safe when so many don’t.”

“I have to find a time to turn everything off and move away from work. Pick up a hobby.”

“Positive thinking is very important and getting eight hours of sleep, exercising for at least 250 minutes a week, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, and drinking lots of water.”

“Make a schedule of activities apart from work. Take a walk. Create your own exercise routine. If you have a hobby, this is the time to take some time for it.”

Definitely, the best remedy for keeping cabin fever, anxiety and stress at bay is to stay in touch with others through the many technology options!

“This is me now: upbeat with a smile. Four weeks ago, I was feeling down and depressed, definitely cabin fever, but thanks to resources and communication with my family, students and coworkers, I am upbeat!”

Sheltering in place can be challenging, but coping with it isn’t impossible. As many of us enter our fifth week of staying safe at home, we might be feeling that restless, irritable, trapped, disconnected feeling that’s known as cabin fever.

If you’re somewhere on the spectrum of “did my spouse always breathe this loudly?” and “I’m about to shave my whole head if I can’t get a haircut,” you might need some cabin fever relief. Because self-isolation and social distancing is still the best way to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, it’s more critical than ever to not let cabin fever jeopardize our health and that of our communities.

With those parameters in mind, here are some tips for surviving sheltering in place without succumbing to cabin fever.

Connect with nature

• Open all of your windows
• Invest in some houseplants
• Immerse yourself in a nature documentary
• Get some ambient noise going

Get your body moving

• Download a fitness app
• Take an online dance class
• Do low-impact cardio exercise
• Yoga, and more

Carve out some quiet time

• Use noise canceling headphones or earplugs
• Do nothing for 4 minutes

Re-decorate and/or rearrange your space

• Prioritize spaciousness
• Experiment with lighting
• Declutter
• Create a vision board

If all else fails, remember that cabin fever isn’t forever. And more importantly, it means that you’re taking necessary precautions to protect yourself and your community.

Brought to you by Core 4…. Because you matter!

North Texans households that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census online or by phone should be receiving a paper form that was sent our starting April 8. The paper questionnaire includes a prepaid postage envelope to return it by mail.

All individuals living in the United States are required by law to fill out a census form online, by phone or on paper, and all answers are confidential. The census questionnaire asks each household to answer a few basic questions about everyone living in the home, including young children.

Because census data helps provide vital community services to residents of Dallas County and beyond, Dallas ISD urges families to respond to the census questionnaire. Here are a few reasons why everyone’s participation is essential:

• The census is important because the data is used to allocate more than $675 billion in federal funds to states and communities each year for the next 10 years.
• The funding includes money for school programs and services such as special education, free and reduced-price lunches, class size reduction, technology purchases, teacher training, and afterschool activities.
• The funds are also used for services that prepare students to learn, such as child health programs and assistance with housing, heating, and food costs.

In past years, census takers visited homes that failed to respond to the questionnaire. Because of the coronavirus, it’s uncertain whether census takers will visit homes this year. The current shelter in place order makes it more essential than ever that everyone responds to the census questionnaire online, via the mail or telephone. To learn more, visit the Census Bureau FAQs page at https://2020census.gov/en/help.html.

Social distancing and working from home has us sitting more than normal. Gyms are closed, but you can still have an amazing and challenging workout at home without equipment.

A favorite go-to exercise of Dimitrius Glenn, NCSF-CPT certified personal/athletic trainer, is bodyweight exercises. They are very effective for strength building and fitness.

The following body weight exercises should take no more than 30 minutes to complete at home, with a special focus on working your full body. Complete two to three rounds of every exercise spending one minute on each. Remember to rest briefly after each exercise and each round.

Ab In/Outs: Look up as you come up; bring knees to chest

Reverse Fly Cobra: Look at mat at all times; bring arms, shoulders and legs up at same time

Plyometric Pushup or any pushup variation: Gaze out in front of mat; hands outside of mat; push

Body weight Squat: Toes up; heels down; back straight; chest out; sit; legs 90 degrees as you sit

Squat Jumps: Sit; legs 90 degrees; touch ground if possible; jump; land in same way as started; repeat

Reverse Lunge: Take a big step back and keep back foot heel straight up toward ceiling; knees are behind toes on front leg; keep back straight; chin and neck neutral; *1 minute per leg*

This is an excellent workout routine you can do whenever you have 30 minutes to spare to get your body moving. Even though it can be done anywhere, there’s no place like home.

Working from home doesn’t mean leaving exercise behind. Starting next week, HCM Benefits is bringing health-boosting workouts to you with free, online fitness, stretch and meditation classes each week. Classes are hosted by certified personal trainers and streamed live through Skype so staff can participate using a computer, tablet or phone in the comfort and safety of your home. For more information about the classes, download the flyer.

Tuesdays

Cardio strength and high intensity interval training—Jump start your week with an energizing workout.

Class lasts an hour from noon to 1 p.m.

Wednesdays

Stretch and meditation lunch break—Revive your energy and learn ways to stretch and release tension to take care of your well-being. Learn how to stretch and relax.

Class lasts 30 minutes from noon to 12:30 p.m.

To join a class, visit dallasisd.org/benefits to find the link to the online session before class begins.

• Allow at least 5 minutes before class time to access the link to get started.
• Each class will have a unique online link that will be posted before each class begins.

Human Capital Management requests employees review and update their personal contact information by May 24 to ensure they receive important communications from the district, such as benefits information and inclement weather notices.

To update or confirm your information into Oracle:

• Within the district network or VPN:     https://orion.dallasisd.org/iorion
• Outside the district network:              https://orion.dallasisd.org/dorion

Go to Employee Self-Service and follow the steps below:

Employee Self-Service > Human Capital Management Information > Personal Information

Download the instructions to update your address or phone number. For technical assistance with Oracle, please contact the IT Service Desk at (972) 925-5630.

Contracts for all contract eligible employees are available via Oracle Employee Self Service. Human Capital Management has sent an email from notifications@dallasisd.org explaining how to complete the acceptance process. Employees should provide their electronic signature within two weeks of the delivery date of the contract.

The resignation deadline for this year is July 3, 2020. Not signing your contract does not mean that you have resigned from the district. To resign, contracted employees will still need to submit an S54.

A list of contract-eligible positions and additional information may be found on the contracts home page at http://www.dallasisd.org/contracts.

If you have any questions about a contract you can reach out to Human Capital Management at contracts@dallasisd.org and a team member will assist you.

It’s National Volunteer Recognition Month, and on behalf of schools, Dallas ISD wants to express appreciation to everyone whose donations and service help make Dallas ISD a great place for students to learn and grow.

Whether helping in a classroom, chaperoning a field trip, serving as tutors, or donating to help schools recover from the tornado damage, volunteers deserve our thanks. In this current challenging times, supporters are continuing to step up, donating gift cards for families and volunteering to help with meal distribution.

As of spring break, Dallas ISD volunteers had given 181,425 hours of service to the district, and partners donated $8.9 million in cash, goods and services. While impressive, these figures cannot express the true value of contributions by volunteers and partners.