Embedded Files
Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental Health Awareness Month is celebrated every year in the month of May. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly one in five American adults lives with a mental health condition.
How we perceive and experience mental health conditions are influenced by our culture, beliefs, sexual identity, values, race, and language. These cultural differences can impact the effectiveness of treatments, coping mechanisms, and supports. It is crucial to include culture and identity in discussions about mental health and mental health care.
Need help or support?
Need help or support?
EAP is a confidential counseling and referral service available to all eligible members and their families. Professional counselors will meet with you to define the problem and develop a course of action. They provide help in the following areas:
Family concerns
Anxiety
Depression
Relationship conflict
Alcohol or drug dependence
Other wellness issues
For more information or to make an appointment call: 253-572-5552
If you or someone you know is in crisis, you can call: 988 (open 24 hours)
The NAMI Helpline is a free, nationwide peer-support service providing information, resource referrals and support to people living with a mental health condition, their family members and caregivers, mental health providers and the public. Helpline staff and volunteers are experienced, well-trained and able to provide guidance.
Jewish American Heritage Month
Jewish American Heritage Month
Jewish American Heritage Month is celebrated in May. This month is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions that Jewish Americans have made to America over the last 369 years.
Did you know that the 23 adults and children who would form the first Jewish community in the U.S. came from Brazil in 1654? Did you know that the poem at the base of the Statue of Liberty, "The New Colossus", was written in 1883 by a 34-year-old Sephardic Jewish American poet named Emma Lazarus?
Find out more facts and access resources about Jewish American Heritage at:
Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month is honored in May.
The AANHPI community is made up of culturally and linguistically diverse people, representing populations from many countries and islands. Throughout the generations, Asian Americans and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) have contributed to the development and defense of the United States, despite enduring racial and cultural discrimination. AANHPIs have been instrumental in shaping the nation's culture, protecting its democracy, and fostering its civic institutions.
15secnewlinedemo.mp4Newline Boards are Coming
Newline Boards are Coming
As part of the 2020 Technology Levy, classroom displays are being upgraded to Newline Q interactive boards. These devices allow for a greater range of instructional approaches in classrooms, as well as full integration with Google Drive and all our online curriculum. In the next three years, 17 buildings will be having these new, interactive 75" displays installed, and by September 2023, Newline displays will be installed at Cascade Middle, Alpac, Evergreen Heights, Gildo Rey, Terminal Park and Washington.
These displays can act as whiteboards and connect to ASD curriculum without connecting to a PC or Chromebook! The instructional Technology team will be offering training sessions before the start of the new year so that teachers are ready to use these exciting instructional tools.
ClassClassTechTech 2023
ClassClassTechTech 2023
This month, we had the privilege of organizing and hosting ClassClassTechTech, an event that proved to be an incredibly enjoyable experience. We were delighted to welcome educators from various schools within our district, who dedicated time to exploring the intersection of technology and early childhood education. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all those who participated, as your active engagement contributed to the success of the event.
Moreover, we would like to express our appreciation to the exceptional presenters, whose expertise and dedication greatly enriched the event:
Amy Goodner (Alpac), Tammy House (Bowman Creek), Tiffany Read (Chinook), Scott & Erin Wickstrom (Hazelwood), Sarah Spring (Ilalko), Jessica Udd (Lake View), Marla King (Lakeland Hills) & Jennifer Longmire (Enumclaw SD), Grace Kim & Abigail Dickmann (Lea Hill)
MOVIE.mp4
Helpdesk
Helpdesk
Are you leaving the district?
Are you leaving the district?
This is the time of year when ASD staff may be taking their next move beyond the district, whether it be retirement (in which case, congratulations!) or a family move, or other opportunities elsewhere. For these staff members, it is important to manage your digital exit as smoothly as possible, so as to leave your colleagues and successors with an easy transition.
Follow our directions for Leaving the District to backup your materials swiftly and securely.
Your ASD account will be deactivated seven days after your final day of employment, so ensure that these directions are followed in a timely manner.
Traveling overseas this summer?
Traveling overseas this summer?
Are you traveling outside of the USA (including Puerto Rico, Guam, US Virgin Islands, etc.) over the summer and would like access to your email? To protect staff and student data, we currently do not allow access to our Microsoft accounts from outside the country. This is due to hacking attempts that have come from foreign countries. We can, however, make exceptions for known staff for a specific window of time.
If you would like this enabled, please complete this form no later than five working days before you travel:
Instruction
Instruction
Check Out Practice Sets
Check Out Practice Sets
Practice Sets is now live in Google Classroom! You may have seen this option lately, and we wanted to make sure you knew what it was and how it might benefit your students. Practice Sets is a tool designed to help teachers make interactive activities within Google Classroom. Based on the types of questions you build, it can offer relevant hints or suggestions for students if they need the extra support. There's even a math keyboard available! Did we mention there's autograding? This not only can save you some time, but it also provides students with real time feedback. Interested in learning more? Check out the links below!
Tech Tools
Tech Tools
Artificial Intelligence in Canva
Artificial Intelligence in Canva
Canva uses artificial intelligence (AI) in several ways to improve the user experience and help people create better designs. Here are some examples:
Design suggestion: Canva's AI suggests designs to users based on the type of content they want to create. For example, if a user wants to create a social media post, Canva's AI will suggest designs optimized for that platform.
Font pairing: Canva's AI can suggest font pairings based on the font that a user has already selected. This feature helps users create designs that look visually appealing and balanced.
Text to Image: Canva's AI can generate unique images from a short description within a variety of styles to support user's design goals.
Overall, Canva's AI makes the design process faster and more intuitive for users, helping them create beautiful designs without needing extensive design experience.
Video R Chance 5_4_2023 3_58_57 PM.mp4Desmos
Desmos
Desmos is an online digital classroom with a goal of helping every student learn and love math. However, it does so much more!
Follow along as ITSS Rick Chances goes through a student version of a Desmos activity to show and discuss a few of the many options of how to use Desmos for more than just math. Vocabulary practice? Matching quiz? Morning check in? Desmos can do it all and its in real time and can be anonymous to help alleviate some of that anxiety of sharing with classmates. Desmos will also sync with your Google Classroom and allow a teacher to comment on student slides. Desmos is very user-friendly to design and also makes it very easy to borrow public slides too.
Here is the Desmos activity from the video so you can follow along or look at it after you watch.
Data Security
Data Security
Welcome Duo Mobile - MFA
Welcome Duo Mobile - MFA
The Department of Technology is rolling out a new security application called Duo Mobile. This application verifies your identity when logging into district devices, networks, and systems. The reasons for using Duo Mobile are:
Protection for all of your employee and student/family information.
For our ASD cybersecurity insurance purposes, we need to update our system.
This is the best practice for computer and identity protection.
DoT is working on communicating with all departments and schools across the district to ensure everyone has the support they need during this transition, which begins this month. Your building or department leads will be communicating to you when your scheduled shift will happen. In the meantime, do not install the Duo app on your smartphone until you are prompted to do so. This needs to happen during a specific part of the set up for your account.
If you have questions, please connect with your supervisor, reach out to the Department of Technology, or see our new MFA Website.
Duo Setup.mp4Please remember while watching this video, do not install the Duo app on your device. This step will happen at a specific time during your setup period, and you will be prompted.
Skyward
Skyward
Skyward News
Skyward News
Missing photos, student pronouns, and summer Running Start. All of these and more in May's Skyward News.
The Data Services Website provides additional help and information for Skyward users.
Shout Outs!
Shout Outs!
Bryan Rivera, Classified Employee of the Year
Bryan Rivera, Classified Employee of the Year
A huge shout-out to DoT's own Bryan Rivera, who was recognized as the classified employee of the year! Here is the official statement from the ASD School Board:
The Auburn School District board of directors recognizes Bryan Rivera, help desk technician in the Department of Technology, as the Support Classified Employee of the Year.
According to several colleagues, “Bryan is the best thing to happen to the administration building.” He makes everyone feel welcome, knows everyone's name and goes above and beyond to make sure people get the help and support they need.
He is always eager to help and is happiest when he can solve other people's problems. He is cheerful, authentic and tries to make everyone's day better.
He is passionate about his work in the technology department and how it supports everyone - colleagues, schools, teachers, students and the community.
Bryan returned to the ASD in the spring of 2022. He is a 2012 Auburn Riverside graduate and former Department of Technology intern. He came back to Auburn after working for CodeDay, a non-profit providing opportunities for under-served students to explore a future in technology.
Bryan loves working in technology. He said he is humbled by this award and it is fulfilling to be recognized. His future career goals are to work as a computer engineer and be a technology leader.
Bryan lives in Auburn with his 4-year-old daughter, Ada. Ada is named after Ada Lovelace, the inventor of computer programming.
When not at work, he spends time with his daughter. He also creates digital music, is the cofounder of a livestream DJ network, develops apps, works on programming projects and is a huge Pokemon Go fan. He recently attended an international Pokemon festival in Las Vegas.
Bryan is happy to be back working in the district where he graduated. He gives special credit to Frank Medina, one of his teachers at Auburn Riverside, for his mentorship, influence and for guiding him to the DOT internship program.
Tech Tips Trivia Winners
Tech Tips Trivia Winners
Vitalina Dominguez
(Human Resources)
Julie Petit
(Dick Scobee Elementary)
Bernee Weimer
(Lea Hill Elementary)
Jennifer Anderson
(Mt. Baker Middle School)
Not pictured: Amber Powell (Alpac)
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