Central Staff News

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.

Thinking of starting a fitness program? One of the best ways to start is to evaluate yourself physically and mentally, then decide what kind of workouts you want to have. One of the things you should consider is mixing some weight exercises along with any cardio you might do.

Coach Demetrius Glenn, a recognized fitness expert, provides some information about different weight exercises so you can see which one seems more appealing to your capabilities and preferences.

What are free weights and weight machines?

Free weights and weight machines work to help you increase strength and power. Free weights are barbells, dumbbells and kettlebells you can pick up while weight machines are stationary and can be easier to use for those who have not done weight training in the past. Which one is best for you?

Pros of free weights and weight machines:

• Free weights are safe as long as you’re using proper form and technique and they are something you can easily have in a home gym.
• Weight machines are more commonly found in fitness clubs and exercise studios
• Free weights can help to simulate real life lifting scenarios, so this directly helps with improving total body stabilization.
• Both options offer many physical benefits, such as increased bone density, improved body composition and easier weight maintenance (or faster weight loss).

Something to keep in mind:

• Even free weights require space.
• Using weight machines, you’re not able to complete natural body movements as you can with free weights.
• To get a full workout with both, you typically will need multiple machines or lots of different equipment.
• Weight machines can be expensive if you decide to buy one for your home.

What is a body weight workout?

Body weight workouts are strength training exercises, where you use your own body weight as resistance. It helps you enhance strength, power, endurance, speed and flexibility, as well as improve coordination and balance. You can do simple exercises, such as pushups, pull-ups and planks just to get the body moving. Movements like, pushing, pulling, squatting, bending, twisting and balance are all exercises that use body weight as resistance instead of actual weights.

Pros of body weight workouts:

• No equipment required—you can do it anywhere even in small places.
• You can do it on the go—traveling for work, on holidays or whenever you’re away from home.
• Body weight exercises are ideal if one is older or has physical issues that might make using weights difficult.
• Since these exercises typically mimic actions that we do daily, it’s easier to see results faster than the typical weight machines.
• Using your body weight is easier, free and there’s plenty of body weight workout videos and resources out there, so you won’t get bored.

Cons of body weight workouts:

• Some exercises can be anatomically difficult, especially by those who are just starting, because they require a lot of upper body strength.
• Some exercises might be challenging at first, but they are ideal for those who are not already used to machines and free weights.
• Since the exercises use your own body weight, you might not see the same results in muscle development as you would using weights.

When deciding which type of weight exercise is best for you, keep in mind what you want to accomplish. Either method you choose, the ideal is that you do weight exercises at least twice a week to really see some results. As always, it’s good to contact your physician before starting a new exercise routine.

The W2 form will be available for viewing Jan. 20, 2021 for all the employees who have set up to receive them online.

To access the form:

1. Inside the district network, go to Oracle Self-Service, choose Payroll Information and Employee W2
2. From the district’s main web page, click on Staff from the district’s main page and choose Oracle Login. Once logged in, go to Employee Self-Service, choose Payroll Information and Employee W2.
3. Outside the district’s network, go to https://disdportal.dallasisd.org, go to Apps Logon Links into Oracle, go to Employee Self-Service, Payroll Information and Employee W2.

If you have any problems, please send an email to notifypayroll@dallasisd.org and include your employee ID number, name and the issue or question you might have to receive prompt assistance.

For employees who are not setup to receive their W2 online, the forms will be mailed to the employee’s address as it appears in Oracle. W2s should be received by Jan. 31, 2021.

The safety and well-being of all Dallas ISD employees is a top priority, which is why the district is working with Dallas County Health and Human Services, Parkland Hospital and other organizations in the community to secure vaccines for staff. To prepare, the district has created a form for employees to register their interest in receiving vaccines through Dallas ISD as they become available. The state has begun phase 1B of vaccinations, which, according to the state and county, is focused on people 65+ and those with specific underlying conditions.

The district is working to secure vaccines for staff who meet the conditions of the 1B phase of the state’s vaccination schedule. Employees who meet the conditions should register so the district can send them information on how to obtain the vaccine when doses are available; however, the vaccine can also be obtained through Dallas County Health and Human Services and private physicians.

If you meet the Phase 1B conditions, please, complete and submit the form to let us know you are interested in receiving the vaccine from Dallas ISD, and you will be contacted as it becomes available.

If you have any questions, please contact us by sending an email to covid19@dallasisd.org.

COVID-19 vaccine registration form

Empleados de Dallas ISD se pueden registrar para la fase 1B para recibir las vacunas para COVID-19 

La seguridad y bienestar de los empleados de Dallas ISD es una gran prioridad, por lo que el distrito ha estado trabajando con Dallas County Health and Human Services, Parkland Hospital y otras organizaciones en la comunidad para obtener vacunas para los empleados. Para prepararnos, el distrito ha creado una forma para que los empleados registren su interés en recibir la vacuna a través de Dallas ISD conforme estas estén disponibles. El estado ha comenzado la fase 1B de vacunación, la cual según el estado y el condado, se enfoca en las personas de por lo menos 65 años de edad y aquellos que tengan ciertas condiciones médicas crónica serias.

El distrito continúa trabajando para obtener vacunas para el personal que tiene las condiciones de la fase 1B del plan de vacunación del estado. Los empleados que llenen los requisitos deben registrarse para que el distrito les proporcione información cuando las dosis estén disponibles; sin embargo, la vacuna también se puede obtener a través del Dallas County Health and Human Services y médicos privados.

Si llena los requisitos de la fase 1B, por favor, complete y entregue la forma para indicar que está interesado en recibir la vacuna y el distrito lo contactará cuando esté disponible.

Si tiene alguna pregunta, por favor contáctenos mandando un correo electrónico covid19@dallasisd.org.

Forma de registro para la vacuna del COVID-19