In the Loop
In the Loop Staff Newsletter - December 6, 2024
Kay Recede
Weekly Wrap Up
Watch the highlights from this past week in the “Weekly Wrap Up” - December 6, 2024.
Supt’s Corner
Paso Verde Students Place First in NUSD Winter Esports Tournament
Superintendent Dr. Robyn Castillo celebrated our NUSD Winter Esports Tournament on her Instagram page. This tournament, Paso Verde scholars, Max and Kaleb, took the trophy home. The two competitors finished first in the NUSD Winter Esports Tournament on Thursday out of 54 NUSD teams.
Esports clubs at LEAP Academy school sites focus on social-emotional learning. To learn more about LEAP, click here.
Staff Spotlight
2024-2025 Classified Employee Of The Year
The "Classified Employee of the Year" (CEOY) nomination period continues through Friday, Dec. 13. Using this form, all employees are asked to nominate classified employees who positively impact the overall program and culture of their site or department, and who exemplify our Core Value that staff must be committed, collaborative, caring, and exemplary.
Remember, all employees, including management, certificated, and classified employees, may submit nominations. Please encourage your staff to take a few minutes to nominate an employee or employees deserving of the title "Classified Employee of the Year".
DATES TO REMEMBER:
- Dec. 13: Nomination forms are due
- Feb. 5: Board Celebration to honor the Classified Employees of the Year
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)
An EAP is a service designed to help you manage life’s challenges. Everyone needs a helping hand once in a while, and the EAP can provide it. Professional counselors and services can help you and your eligible family members resolve a broad range of personal problems affecting your emotional health, family life, and work life. EAP is a no-cost, confidential resource for NUSD employees and their eligible family members.
DID YOU KNOW?
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teaches school district employees to manage illness, pain, and stress by focusing on the present moment without judgment. Through techniques like body scans, breathing exercises, and yoga, MBSR helps relax muscles, reduce tension, and cultivate mindfulness in daily life. Research indicates that MBSR can effectively reduce stress, improve sleep quality, alleviate anxiety and depression, and may benefit physical health markers like blood sugar and blood pressure. While not universally effective, MBSR offers valuable tools for promoting well-being and resilience in the demanding school environment.
Activities to Practice Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR):
- Take long deep breaths.
- Sit alone and think.
- Eat a meal in silence.
- Take a slow walk by yourself.
- Stop and be mindful for a few moments every few hours.
To get more information and watch videos about this specific topic, click here.
EAP information can be found online at www.liveandworkwell.com, or by calling 1-866-248-4096. If accessing online, click register now, follow the prompts, and select SIA-SIA when prompted for the company code.
Celebrations
NUSD Recognized as Safe and Supportive School District
We are very proud to share that our district has been recognized as a safe and supportive school district in California by the nonprofit organization, Equity California Institute (ECI). ECI works collaboratively with the California Department of Education (CDE) to support LGBTQIA2S+ student civil rights, equity, and social justice.
Out of 345 total school districts in the state of California, approximately 45-percent participated in the optional survey, and the results were very positive for NUSD. Overall, our district was one of the highest scoring districts in California, scoring in the 95th percentile towards providing a safe and supportive school for LGBTQIA2S+ staff and students.
NUSD scored high in multiple areas including:
- Anti-bullying, school climate, and curriculum.
- Cultural competency training among staff members.
- LGBTQIA2S+ training.
- Mental health programs.
- Suicide prevention policies.
To further review the full report, please visit this webpage.
For NUSD specific data, click here.
All NUSD Basketball Game
What a great atmosphere for the All NUSD game between host Natomas High School and Inderkum High School! Packed house to watch two very good teams who should go deep into the playoffs. Inderkum pulled away in the fourth quarter to win 88 to 69 but this was a well played, highly entertaining & competitive game throughout. Overall a terrific night with some amazing basketball being played - thanks to all who came out to support our NUSD student athletes and coaches.
Improve Your Tomorrow Students Celebrate Academic Milestones
Improve Your Tomorrow (IYT) participants who have achieved high GPAs and who have shown significant academic improvement were celebrated at Natomas High School. IYT is a non-profit organization that works with young men of color, who are currently underrepresented in higher education, and mentors them so that they may work towards attending a four year college or university.
The celebration included a special lunch and college gear, both of which serve as powerful tools to inspire a college-going mindset. The college gear, in particular, acts as a tangible reminder of their aspirations, helping to manifest their dreams into reality.
One standout moment was celebrating Logan, a sophomore with an impressive 4.1 GPA. Logan dreams of attending Georgia Tech to study engineering, so IYT surprised him with a hoodie from the university.
Stories We Weave Shorts - Kayla
In December, many families who celebrate the holidays, start stringing lights and putting up decorations. In the Philippines and for some families from the country, the tradition often begins as early as September. In this “Stories We Weave Shorts,” Kayla, a student, shares how her family recognizes Christmas.
Bulletin Board
Newsroom Hub
Looking for articles, podcasts, or videos? Visit our Newsroom Hub.