KCSOS

The Kern County Superintendents of Schools (KCSOS) hosted its inaugural Kern Codes competition yesterday wherein students from seven participating high schools and middle schools applied their knowledge about computer programming. The event was created to expose students to diverse job markets, promote hands-on learning experiences, and enhance problem-solving skills, said KCSOS science coordinator Michelle Roy. Competing schools included Career Technical Education Center..., Centennial High School, Bakersfield High School, Fruitvale Junior High, Stockdale High School, and Valley Oaks Charter School. The results of this year’s competition are as follows: Individual Middle School 1st place Warren Woolf / Valley Oaks Charter School 2nd place Matthew Sudduth / Fruitvale Junior High Group Middle School 1st place Hayliee Tat, Christian Mills, Caidence Hansen / Fruitvale Junior High 2nd place Barron Tran, Ethan Comstock, Piheng Chan / Fruitvale Junior High 3rd place Leonardo Alcaraz, Josef Rubinol / Fruitvale Junior High Individual High School 1st place Ethan Conner / Centennial High School 2nd place Harjaisal Brar / Stockdale High School 3rd place Daniel Martinez / Bakersfield High School Group High School 1st place Nik Jensen, Matty Witt, Sam Munoz / Bakersfield High School

Response to Chauvin guilty verdict in Floyd case from Dr. Mary Barlow, Kern County Superintendent of Schools. Equity and Social Justice Resources can be found at: https://kern.org/equity-and-social-justice-resources/

The Camp KEEP Foundation is excited to again be part of Kern County’s annual community crowdfunding initiative called Give Big Kern. By donating, you can help send students with financial needs to KEEP, or help fund Virtual Camp KEEP Adventure Kits. Just click the link below to make a gift. The giving window is open until 11:59PM on May 4. Thank you for your support of Camp KEEP! #GiveBigKern

Plenty of job opportunities are currently available at KCSOS. Check it out... https://www.edjoin.org/kcsos/

The 2021 CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame class includes Kern County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Mary Barlow. Barlow will be joined by fellow educator John Means, businesswoman Raji Brar, soccer coach Jeremy Gunn and nonprofit entrepreneur Clark Jensen, when the 2021 class is inducted during a ceremony airing at 7 p.m. Feb. 20, 2021, on KGET Channel 17. Read Dr. Barlow's fascinating life story below!

Good read in yesterday's Bakersfield Californian that sums up nicely the most recently state guidelines that schools must adhere to as they plan to re-open for in-person instruction.

SAVE THE DATE: Ethics in Leadership: A conversation with Dr. Thomas Wallace, Vice President for Student Affairs at California State University, Bakersfield. Feb. 11, 6 pm, via Zoom. Visit www.csub.edu/kie for more details.

Spread the word...Kern County Virtual Education Job Fair is just around the corner Saturday, Feb. 13. The event is Kern County’s largest gathering of school district recruiters in one location (to date, 29 school districts are signed up to be on hand). The event is an excellent opportunity for credentialed teachers, substitute teachers, those who are intern eligible, or those interested in teaching to see what positions or anticipated future openings may be available in the 2021-2022 school year. Registration today at https://thecentervirtualevents-kcsos21.vfairs.com/

This week (Feb. 15) is National School Counseling Week. The celebration highlights the essential contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems and the tremendous impact they have in helping students achieve school success and plan for college and career. Take a moment to thank your local school counselor! Find more here: https://bit.ly/2NSpUs5

A BIG congrats to Dr. Mary Barlow, Kern County Superintendent of Schools, who has been announced as one of five inductees to the 2021 CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame. Dr. Barlow has devoted her career to making sure schools are a place where kids can reach their full potential, the way they were for her growing up in a loving, but unstable home that found her moving in and out of poverty. Barlow earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from CSUB in 1994.

Kern County has among the highest COVID-19 positivity rates in California. As a community, we can and must do better to help control its spread. Returning to school with any normalcy depends on having a healthy community. Please watch and share our new PSA. Let’s spread the rules, not the virus... #SaveOurSchoolyear.

During the Governor’s press conference today, he announced details of his new Regional Stay at Home Order. More on the new guidance can be found below. Per the guidance, schools already open for in-person instruction will be allowed to remain open.

HAPPENING TODAY: KCSOS has partnered with Kern Public Health to offer no-cost COVID tests in downtown Bakersfield on Tuesday, Nov. 10 from 8 am to 5 pm. Pre-registration is at https://doineedacovid19test.com/, but walk ups are welcome.

HolidayLights at CALM is again in the running as one of the best zoo light shows in the U.S. in the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Poll. The 10 winning events, based on votes, will be announced on Dec. 18. You can vote at the link below once per day until the deadline of Mon., Dec. 7 at 9 a.m. Please vote and help spread the word!

Kern County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Barlow and Associate Superintendent Dr. John Mendiburu were among those who toured the Kern High School District's brand new Career Technical Education Center (CTEC) recently. Thank you to the leadership at Kern High for the tour and bringing this gem to our community's students and families, which will ultimately benefit a multitude of local industries with well-prepared graduates.

KCSOS's Aurora Learning Center Makes Its Debut... Aurora is one of three sites operated by KCSOS that provides evidence-based practices to support students with severe social-emotional and behavioral challenges.

KCSOS has partnered with Kern Public Health to offer no-cost COVID tests in downtown Bakersfield on Tuesday, Nov. 10 from 8 am to 5 pm. Pre-registration is at https://doineedacovid19test.com/, but walk ups are welcome.

Numerous job opportunities are currently available at KCSOS. Check it out... https://www.edjoin.org/kcsos/

Schools will use multiple layers of COVID-19 prevention measures to mitigate the spread of the virus as students return to campuses (masking, distancing, hand hygiene, health screenings/testing, disinfecting, contact tracing, etc.). As a collective community, everyone has a role to play in helping slow the spread. The following graphic demonstrates the risk of exposure to COVID-19 and how wearing a mask and physically distancing can help.

Did you know?... As advocates for children, KCSOS provides leadership, education and support for students, Kern's 47 school districts, and the community through programs, services and fiscal accountability. Check out the graphic to learn about all the things KCSOS does.

This year has been extremely difficult for people of all ages due to the many uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Many Californians are out of work and under serious financial stress. Children are partaking in virtual learning, which has come with unforeseen challenges and setbacks. Parents Anonymous offers a NO COST Parent and Youth Helpline which provides immediate emotional support from a trained and compassionate helpline Counselor. Open 12 hours every day: Monday-Sunday 8 am 8 pm CALL, TEXT OR CHAT in any language.

How about this t-shirt for your first day of in-person Kindergarten at Rio Bravo Elementary? "Straight Outta Distance Learning!" Priceless.

Small cohorts of students at KCSOS's Richardson Center returned for in-person instruction last week. Check out a few images.

As schools prepare to bring students back for in-person instruction in the coming weeks and months, this infographic is a good visual to illustrate how schools will help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Recognizing that no single intervention is perfect at preventing spread, schools will utilize many layers of preventative measures.

Small cohorts of students in many of KCSOS's special education programs had the opportunity to return to school for in-person instruction and support services this week. Parents who are not comfortable having their students return are given the opportunity to continue with distance learning.