Plano ISD’s Post

So many great things have happened in states across the nation to create healthier ECE programs over the last 5 years through the CDC funded Healthy Kids, Healthy Future Technical Assistance Program. Check out this blog that shares some of the successes and stories from these efforts!

At Saint Mary's, we create opportunities for our students, staff, and faculty to give back to the community and exercise wise leadership. One of our volunteer opportunities is writing encouraging letters to young patients in hospitals, through the organization Letters of Love: https://lnkd.in/eusQJ448 #wiseleadership #charactereducation #characterandvirtueeducation

I was overjoyed to attend my childrens end of term Christmas assembly at primary school yesterday. What I wasn't overjoyed with, however, was to find that they had began handing out “Attendance Awards” to all children who had not had a day off all term. Name upon name of children who had 100% attendance was called, and these children stood up, beaming, including my own child. Here are the reasons why this disappointed me (which I shared with the school): Whether a childs attendance is good or bad is entirely out of their control (at primary school age - they havent clocked about bunking at this point!). By rewarding perfect attendance, essentially what you are rewarding is good luck (not falling ill, having a well-functioning home), and demonising sickness and children whose parents are unable to cope for whatever reason. The awards exclude and vilify the most vulnerable of our children. And some of these children, knowing why they hadn’t been selected if bad health or inconsistent parenting is a consistent theme for them, would have absolutely felt that yesterday being left sitting on the floor I’m sure.   While healthy competition is absolutely imperative (we all need to teach our children how to be gracious losers, I know I do with my 7 year old!), attendance rewards place performance and productivity above sound health, inclusion and community. Excluding children who are or have been sick hold back the aspirations of an inclusive community.   More than that, they encourage sending children in to school when they could be full of germs, including covid, in order to attain this perfect attendance. Not only does this spread viruses, but it also leads to a culture where children become adults placing productivity over their own health.   I believe that we need to celebrate taking the time off to become truly healthy in body and mind. Having school and work staff who encourage this will help you to feel supported, which leads to being more productive anyway, rather than rewarding dragging yourself into school when you feel terrible (and spreading the viruses to others, who may be immunocompromised themselves), due to the message being placed on children and their parents to make it to school no matter what. Lets do away with this culture of putting our health second. So that was my school email today. Lets hope that it gives them something to reflect on, and hopefully I'll have positive news to update with in the New Year 🤞

Community advisory councils are often required (by funders or government regulators), or added on when projects don't achieve expected outcomes. Having a highly effective community engagement model is rare and difficult to accomplish. Here's one example of several stakeholders coming together to make it happen.

A few weeks ago, I shared the post below. Today, I received a response from my Senator with reassurance that she was fighting for this bill which its currently sitting with the US Senate. It reminded me yet again how amazing the REI Cooperative Action Network is in driving meaningful change. In less than 1 min, the form allowed me to submit a response to my local representatives to fight for a bill that I am passionate about-- access to green space at school for children. Her follow up today was reassuring to me that our local reps are paying attention on the other end and that my voice matters. (+ it's true: brands can be a vessel for action!) Original post: For many kids, the nearest outdoor space is at school. Yet, in many cases, there is little to no green space at school, leaving children little to no access to nature. Many schools across the country have become cement playgrounds. The Living School Yards Act, if passed, will provide grants to schools and districts to transform schoolyards into dynamic outdoor learning environments. The benefit for children is profound: 1. Growing healthy foods, trees and plants 2. Conserving water, creating wildlife habitat 3. Providing children with opportunities to observe and immerse in nature  4. Improving mental health with more time outside 5. Improving shade coverage for weather changes 6. Creating safer space to play, create, imagine, be Access to green space is a privilege and it shouldn't be. REI's Cooperative Action Network makes it easy for you to have a voice. It takes 30 seconds to help pass this bill by signing you name. Join me.

Join us on June 20 for an engaging webinar: "Updated Estimates of the Cost of Quality Early Childhood Care and Education in Oklahoma." The webinar will cover topics such as the dramatic increase in the estimated per-child cost and fundamental cost drivers in Oklahoma. Additionally, representatives from OPSR and the RAND Institute will discuss new findings regarding COVID-19’s effects on families and providers. Click the link and register today: https://bit.ly/3Vpchj5

We often think of #caregiving in terms of responsibilities caring for older adults, however more and more we see many older adults caring for younger generations. Check out this hybrid event to learn more about how to support #caregivers caring for younger loved ones! #grandparents #FamilyCaregivers

As we enter a new week, let's remember the fundamental truth that every child has the right to learn. At Evangeline’s Care and Wellness Foundation (ECWF), we are committed to breaking down the barriers that prevent children with special needs from accessing quality education. In too many places, children with special needs are overlooked and excluded from classrooms, missing out on opportunities that every child deserves. But we believe in a future where every child, regardless of their abilities, can walk into a classroom and feel empowered, supported, and capable of achieving great things. This Week’s Focus: We’re shining a light on the importance of inclusive education and how it can transform lives. Through advocacy, community support, and dedicated resources, we aim to ensure that every child, especially those with special needs, has the opportunity to thrive academically and socially. How You Can Help: Join us in this mission. Follow ECWF on LinkedIn, and Facebook to stay updated on how we're working to make education accessible for all. Share our posts, spread the word, and let’s work together to create a world where every child’s right to learn is honored.

Come check out our upcoming Nuts & Bolts series about the important impact that Fathers have on Family Engagement!

Reflecting on the words, 'If everyone had fallen behind equally, all at once, it presumably wouldn’t affect your chance of getting into college. But when the effect is differential, that could exacerbate inequality into adulthood for the whole generation.' 🎓 It's a poignant reminder that the impact of this pandemic on education has been far from uniform. Join us at the 'Educators Meeting the Moment: Equity-Focused COVID-19 Recovery Partnership Academy' by the Midwest and Plains Equity Assistance Center. 📚 We will explore the profound impact Covid had on students, challenge biased metrics, and consider the whole child as we think and plan together. 🌈 Open to educators everywhere! Registration details linked. In this two-day session we will: • Describe the effects of the pandemic on students, including disproportionate costs on Students of Color, students with disabilities, and students living in under-resourced communities • Deconstruct common narratives of pandemic-related learning challenges and evaluate resulting responses • Generate counter-narratives to reframe student learning through an educational equity framework • Co-create equity-focused considerations for educational decision-making in local contexts Register here: https://lnkd.in/ewNyzBui Can't attend? Like, comment, share, or tag someone you know who might be interested!