Tulare County Office of Education

Educators - March is California Arts Education Month (AEM)! To support the arts in this unique year, we invite you to submit examples of your students’ work as actors, artists, dancers, filmmakers, musicians, and poets. We are looking for photos, videos, audio recordings, poetry, and stories from solo, group, and whole class work in dance, media arts, instrumental and vocal music, theatre, visual arts, and literary arts. In March, submitted artifacts will be showcased on a s...pecial TCOE AEM webpage. Visit bit.ly/2021AEMCelebration for guidelines on registering and uploading students work. All submissions are due by February 17. For more information on the AEM project, contact Kate Stover at [email protected].

Role models and support systems are important to lead a life of healthy choices. The more positive influences a person surrounds himself or herself with, the more likely they are to follow those healthy examples. Learn more about the importance of choosing positive role models by reading the CHOICES Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) Newsletter at www.tcoe.org/CHOICESNewsletter. The newsletter is available in English and Spanish and is supported by a California Department of Education TUPE grant.

Let's all howl at the moon! Tonight's lunar phase is the Full Wolf Moon. It was named by Native Americans for the hungry wolves howling in the cold winter wilderness. Keep track of all the moon phases as well as other night sky events all year with this downloadable calendar bookmark: https://bit.ly/38v9Cfr.

Are you interested in earning a California single subject teaching credential in math, science, or English? Would you like to explore the benefits of teaching or substituting? If so, get started by registering for TCOE's TRRE Residency Program and virtual teacher/substitute job fair in partnership with Visalia Unified School District. Register today at https://thecentervirtual-ohjan21.vfairs.com! #visaliausd #csubakersfield

Are you in need of child care? We can assist you in finding the setting that is the best fit for you and your children. For over 50 years, the Tulare County Office of Education's Early Childhood Education Program has been assisting Tulare County families in creating lifelong learners! Staff from ECE will contact you about programs available in your community! For availability, contact Resource and Referral at [email protected] or (559) 651-0185. For assistance with childcare, contact Connections for Quality Care at [email protected] or (559) 651-3026.

TCOE's Theatre Company is pleased to announce a variety of virtual spring workshops, including classes for dance, acting, and monologues. The Theatre Company is also excited to announce registration for two spring online musicals, "Our Father's Dragon" (www.tcoe.org/TheatreSpringShow) and "Dream Roles" (www.tcoe.org/TheatreCabaret) This summer, the company plans to produce the musical "Little Women!" Visit www.tcoe.org/TheatreCo for complete registration information. Classe...s will fill quickly, register today! For dance class registration, visit www.tcoe.org/TheatreDanceClass For acting class registration, visit www.tcoe.org/TheatreActingClass For monologue class registration, visit www.tcoe.org/TheatreMonologueSeries

Mars is a mysterious and strange planet that has been the subject of science fiction for decades. But after studying Mars closer, our understanding of the red planet is now a little more "science" and a lot less "fiction. As we continue to study the red planet, we’re certain to find many strange new surprises! The TCOE Planetarium & Science Center wishes you a safe and happy Halloween!

On October 30, 1938, Orson Welles and the Mercury Theater performed a live adaptation of H.G. Wells' "War of the Worlds." The performance was in the style of a news broadcast, which lead many listeners tuning in late to believe the nation was in fact being invaded by aliens from Mars! Click on the following link to listen to the out-of-this-world performance: https://bit.ly/35S68Cv. But be warned, it can be a bit spooky! Follow us to receive regular astronomy updates from the TCOE Planetarium & Science Center.

The CHOICES Prevention Program reminds students that nicotine is the drug found in tobacco products that makes them addictive. This means that once you use it, your body will continue to want more. This chemical dependency can negatively impact youth's brain develop in several ways. It’s best never to use products containing nicotine! Learn more about the health risks of nicotine and vaping by reading CHOICES Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) Newsletter at www.tcoe.org/CHOICESNewsletter. The newsletter is available in English and Spanish and is supported by a California Department of Education TUPE grant. Image courtesy of Stanford Prevention Toolkit.

Educators and parents share this third and final video in our Red Ribbon Celebration series with your students. Today we learn why the nation celebrates Red Ribbon Week and ways students can lead lives that are alcohol, drug, and tobacco free! Annually, TCOE's CHOICES Prevention Program partners with the Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency to host the Tulare County Red Ribbon Celebration. Other partners in the event include Visalia Unified School District PULSE Aft...erschool Program, National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Tulare Co. Inc., Family Services of Tulare County, and Family HealthCare Network. The video can also be viewed on TCOE's YouTube Channel at https://youtu.be/ZSqOXn-miHk. Stay drug free!

The Tulare County CHARACTER COUNTS! Program takes a look back at its 25th Annual CHARACTER COUNTS! Week Celebration (October 19-24) with great appreciation to the teachers and community members from 143 Tulare County schools who nominated over 4,600 Kids of Character despite the challenge of distance learning! Our appreciation also extends to the Visalia Times-Delta and Tulare Advance-Register for standing by us to recognize good character in students and promote it as a co...mmunity asset for the past 25 years! Thank you Visalia Times-Delta and Tulare Advance-Register. Since so many of our youth have exceptional character, last week the Visalia Times-Delta staff interviewed, photographed and shared selected stories of students every day during CHARACTER COUNTS! Week. These students profiled in the Visalia Times-Delta and the Tulare Advance-Register along with the finalists in each pillar category (Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring & Citizenship) will be honored at the Annual Provident-Salierno Family Foundation Kids of Character Reception next month. Read the stories of this year's top honorees: Sutter Lautenschlager, Trustworthiness https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com//character-/5930277002/ Danica Schaub, Respect https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com//get-know-o/3644514001/ Santiago Vazquez, Responsibility https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com//character-/3644666001/ Adair Panzo Olvera, Fairness https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com//character-/5902261002/ Abigail Munyon, Caring https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com//character-c/3645298001/ Yahir Rivera Chavez, Citizenship https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com//hard-work-p/3742907001/ CHARACTER COUNTS! in Tulare County. www.tcoe.org/CharacterCounts.

TCOE’s Early Childhood Education Program is hosting a variety of professional learning opportunities each month during the school year. Some of the training topics include trauma informed care, working with children with special needs, strengthening families, and community care licensing. The intended audience for these trainings include family childcare providers, state preschool staff, Head Start staff, private center based staff, home based staff, and tribal childcare staf...f, as well as current college students who are seeking their degree in early childhood education or child development. In order to register for these trainings, participants must first create a Workforce Registry Profile at caregistry.org. When registering, check the calendar and the Workforce Registry website for training updates, as trainings are subject to change. For additional information on the trainings or the Workforce Registry website, please contact [email protected]. Check out the learning opportunities available in November!

Did you know the surface of Mars remained a mystery until the 1960s? We didn't get a close-up look at the red planet until 1965 when the Mariner 4 probe successfully flew by the planet and snapped the first pictures of the Martian surface. The first tire tracks were left on Mars in 1997 by the Sojourner rover, becoming the first vehicle to drive on another planet. Follow us to receive Marstober updates all month from the TCOE Planetarium & Science Center.

Educators and parents - hope you're enjoying Red Ribbon Week! Watch this second video in our three-part series with your students as Tulare County community leaders speak about the importance of Red Ribbon Week and students leading lives that are alcohol, drug, and tobacco free! Our final video will be released October 30 at 9:00 a.m. on TCOE's Facebook page and YouTube channel (tcoe.org/YouTube). Annually, TCOE's CHOICES Prevention Program partners with the Tulare County He...alth & Human Services Agency to host the Tulare County Red Ribbon Celebration. Other partners in the event include Visalia Unified School District PULSE Afterschool Program, National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Tulare Co. Inc., Family Services of Tulare County, and Family HealthCare Network. The video can also be viewed on TCOE's YouTube Channel at https://youtu.be/GDOPV6Gj22s.

Educators grades 3-12, don't miss this four-part professional learning opportunity, "Going Virtual with ELD." Learn how to adapt English Language Development strategies for distance learning. Support your English learners by attending these sessions beginning November 16!

Observing Mars isn't a new pastime. We've been looking at the red planet for thousands of years! But it wasn't until 1609 that famous astronomer Galileo Galili first used a telescope to get a closer look at Mars. It wasn't until 1659 that Christiaan Huygens, using a telescope of his own design, was able to get a close enough view of the surface of Mars to sketch his observations. Follow us to receive Marstober updates all month from the TCOE Planetarium & Science Center.

Join us in celebrating the men and women recognized in the 2020 Excellence in Education Awards program! This video honors the 26 nominees, finalists, and winners submitted to the prestigious awards program by Tulare County school districts. The nominees were submitted in three categories Administrator/Manager of the Year, Teacher of the Year, and School Employee of the Year. The winners include Philip Pierschbacher, assistant superintendent of personnel, Tulare City School... District (Administrator/Manager of the Year); Stacy Trapletti, seventh-grade mathematics teacher, Cherry Avenue Middle School, Tulare City School District (Teacher of the Year); and Micaela Macareno, administrative assistant to the superintendent, Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified School District (School Employee of the Year). The 2020 Excellence in Education Awards is a partnership with Educational Employees Credit Union. The first Tulare County Excellence in Education Awards were presented in 1995. Thank you @MyEECU for your ongoing partnership! The video is also available for view on TCOE’s YouTube channel at youtu.be/fHyC6SFFRRo or tcoe.org/YouTube. More information is available at tcoe.org/ExcellenceInEducation.

Educators and parents - it's Red Ribbon Week! Watch with your students; this five-minute video provides an overview of the nation's longest-running anti-drug program and the role the death of DEA agent Kiki Camarena had in creating it. Two additional videos will be released October 28 and 30 at 9:00 a.m. on TCOE's Facebook page and YouTube channel (tcoe.org/YouTube). Annually, TCOE's CHOICES Prevention Program partners with the Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency... to host the Tulare County Red Ribbon Celebration. Other partners in the event include Visalia Unified School District PULSE Afterschool Program, National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Tulare Co. Inc., Family Services of Tulare County, and Family HealthCare Network. The video can also be viewed on TCOE's YouTube Channel at youtu.be/RfK86x9D5iA.