Youth Mental Health First Aid: Summer Learning Opportunity

This summer Southeast Polk will be partnering with Heartland AEA to certify interested staff in Mental Health First Aid. 

 

Youth Mental Health First Aid introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health challenges among children and adolescents ages 6-18. Participants learn how to use a five-step plan to help a child or adolescent in crisis. We will be offering two sections on Thursday, June 16. 

 

• Secondary staff participants will meet in the Spring Creek Media Center from 7:30-3:30

• Elementary staff participants will meet in the Clay Media Center from 8:00-4:00

 

Lunch will be limited to 30 minutes. Pizza will be provided, or you are welcome to bring your own lunch.

 

SEP will provide hourly pay for staff who attend, and those who complete the entire course will also receive Mental Health First Aid certification. The course is not available for license renewal credit. 

 

We are only able to offer each section to 30 participants.  If you are interested, please complete the form that will be sent via email this Friday, February 25th at 8:00 AM. Please complete the form by Friday, March 4.  We will let staff know if they have a spot to attend by Thursday, March 10. Our goal is to get representation from all of our buildings, so we will offer seats on a first come, first served basis by available building slots first and then by timestamp.

 

 

Secondary Collaboration

We are looking forward to our next secondary collaboration on Wednesday, February 9th. We will continue our work in 6-12 teams with standards-based learning.  Please bring a charged laptop to these sessions and any other materials as indicated by the teacher leaders from your content area.  We will meet from 7:30 AM-9:00 AM at the locations below.

Instrumental/Vocal Music/General Music/Guitar 6-12	Spring Creek Band Room
Art 6-12	HS S108
PE/Health 6-12	JH Room 180
CTE (PLTW)	High School - N169
World Language, 8th World Language	HS N 148
ELA 6-12, ESOL 6-12, TAG 6, Teacher Librarians	Spring Creek - Library
Math: 6-12	Spring Creek - Science Room
Science- 6-12	Spring Creek Science room
Social Studies 6-12	HS N268
Counselors (6-12)	HS Library
Special Ed Level III (ID) teachers grades 6-12	HS room 135

Black History Month Teaching Resources

February is National Black History Month, and according to the Iowa Department of Education website, there are some events in Iowa history to celebrate and learn more about.  Did you know:

• That Iowa was home to a town named Buxton, in which residents and businesses were fully integrated from 1895 into the 1920s?
• Iowa was one of the first states in the union to legalize interracial marriage back in 1851?
• That Iowa led the way in desegregating public schools?
• That the first black Miss America candidate was Miss Iowa back in 1970?

There are many opportunities across the school year for integrating black history within our curriculum. The month of February does give us a chance to showcase and highlight the work and significant events of Black Americans. Below are some additional resources to support teaching and learning. 

African American Museum of Iowa

Iowa Department of Human Rights

African American History Month

Iowa PBS

Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs

NEA Black History Month Lessons and Resources

NPR Black History Month Resources