THE MESSENGER
Bi-Weekly eMagazine for the Monroe Community of Schools of Local District Northwest
Welcome Message
October is Children's Health Month
In honor of Children's Health Month, I would like to focus on the importance of daily physical activity. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend an average of 60 minutes each day of moderate to vigorous physical activity for children ages 6-17.
The CDC's Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans states: "Compared to those who are inactive, physically active youth have higher levels of fitness, lower body fat, and stronger bones and muscles. Physical activity also has brain health benefits for school-aged children, including improved cognition (e.g., academic performance, memory) and reduced symptoms of depression. Regular physical activity in childhood and adolescence can also be important for promoting lifelong health and well-being and preventing risk factors for various health conditions like heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes."
Although the parents of any young children are well aware of the need for daily physical exercise, the fact that students are spending so much time indoors on their devices makes it more challenging to ensure kids are moving. Here are a few tips:
Go Noodle – Many students are already familiar with this app. There are many free videos to help kids stay active and focus on mindfulness.
Blow up balloons and try to keep them up in the air. Maybe hang a blanket as a net and play “volleyball.”
Dance - Just turn on your favorite music and dance along with the kids.
–Cara Schneider
Monroe Community of Schools Administrator
October is also Filipino American History Month. Watch the video to learn a little bit about the long and rich history of Filipino Americans.
1st Grader Greg Kazakos of Dearborn Elementary demonstrates how easy it is to take the District's COVID-19 test for students.
If you have not had your child tested yet, make an appointment today for a free and safe COVID-19 test. You will need your child's Student ID number, which is available on the Parent Portal or by calling the school. You can also call us at the Monroe Community of Schools office to find the ID number.
Community News and Resources
Call 311
If you require information from the City of Los Angeles and don't know where to call, dial: 3-1-1 and City staff will help guide you to the correct city department You can also contact the City through the MYLA311 app from your mobile phone. Visit myla311.lacity.org to initiate service requests and more.
Descanso Gardens in La Cañada-Flintridge is hosting a “pumpkin-filled extravaganza” to get you and your family in the spirit of the season. A variety of pumpkin-centric displays, mazes, and installations are available to explore on foot at your own pace. Facial masks and social distancing guidelines are enforced. Children under 14 are encouraged to wear costumes. Tickets are $5-$15 for non-members, free for members.
Monroe Community of Schools Parent Resources
Morena Camp
Parent and Community Engagement CoachFor all the latest information on Workshops for Parents, please visit the Local District Northwest Parent webpage, the Monroe Community of Schools Parent webpage, and our Schoology Group for Parents (Access Code: 5RP7-PH44-Z6VR9) for Zoom ID and Passcode. You can also download our flyers here: bit.ly/PACEFlyers
Please contact me at the Monroe Community of Schools office for more information or if you have any questions about these training sessions and educational workshops.
Upcoming Workshops
Join us for these fun and informational workshops, which are presented in English and Spanish.
Stay Connected to Your Children During Distance Learning
October 27th at 10:00 AM
Click here for a flyer in English and Spanish.
How to Support Your Child At Home
November 12th at 10:00 AM
Click here for a flyer in English and Spanish.
Positive Culture
Dr. Alana Burton
Systems of Support AdviserGrowth Mindset
Growth Mindset is the belief that one’s abilities can grow with effort. When the whole person has a growth mindset, they have the power to inspire others to believe, thus improving and sustaining a positive school and community culture.
How you can increase your growth mindset?
Change your mindset
Chunk up your learning or tasks into little steps
Celebrate the process and the little steps you take
Organize your thoughts, make a plan, and start
How can you help increase others’ growth mindset?
Model your thinking and different ways to solve problems
Encourage them to try
Teach them how to build hope
Recognize their effort not just their successes
Read books that show how different people learn new skills
Remember, success is based on the process, the yet, effort, trying and continued learning
“The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you’re willing to work.” –Oprah Winfrey
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky
Join the Positive Culture Club
I also invite you to join us on Tuesday afternoons and/or Thursday mornings for the Positive Culture Club. All stakeholders (students, parents, and staff) can participate in these Zoom meetings, which have the purpose of connecting you to support and resources that promote wellness and develop social-emotional skills. The log-in information is below. Hablamos español.
Tuesdays 2:30-3:30 PM – Zoom Meeting ID: 935 9066 4090
Thursdays 7:45-8:45 AM – Zoom Meeting ID: 973 7162 4221
Focus on Wellness: Digital Citizenship
Maribel Ceja Zamora
School Mental Health ConsultantAs a Crisis Intervention Counselor and Consultant for the Monroe Community of Schools, my goal is to promote the overall wellness of our students, families, and community. I am also a member of the Local District Northwest School Mental Health team, and I am available to provide an array of services, including: psycho-education on mental health; crisis prevention, intervention and response; and linkage to District and community-based health and human services.
Feel free to reach out to me at maribel.cejazamora@lausd.net if I can be of any assistance. I am here to support our students and their families!
October is nationally recognized as Digital Citizenship month and Bullying Prevention month. Both topics go hand-in-hand and are crucial in today’s distance learning environment. Read on for for information about Digital Citizenship and let me know if you have further questions.
Promoting Safe & Healthy Ways to Connect Virtually
Every year, the third week of October is dedicated to teaching good digital citizenship in hope that all students will become safe and responsible when using technology. This year, Digital Citizenship Week is celebrated October 19 through October 23, 2020.
Digital Citizenship is the practice of engaging respectfully with others online and ensuring that the information exchanged and acquired online is valid, accurate and ethical. L.A. Unified’s Instructional Technology Initiative (ITI) is the office responsible for digital citizenship districtwide. ITI provides policy development, professional learning, and school-site supports to ensure for coherent digital citizenship. They define digital citizenship as “the practice of cultivating a positive, authentic digital footprint that can be leveraged for college and career success.” L.A. Unified has curated materials available through Common Sense Education to engage in digital citizenship conversations, lessons, and activities.
LAUSD ITI, in partnership with the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Region 16 are launching #DigCitCon2020 to strengthen our community as we connect, collaborate, and become digital agents. Digital Citizenship Con 2020 takes place Saturday, October 24th from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Please click here for more information and click here to register for the event.
Please check out the following websites for more information and resources:
ITI Resources for Classrooms, Parents, and for Teachers by Teachers
Be informed, get involved, and help us create a safe, welcoming and inclusive learning environment for our students.