Superintendent asks schools to review safety procedures following U of U incident

Park City School District Superintendent Ember Conley sent the following email to all employees last night, Nov. 1:

Good Evening PCSD Staff,

It was heartbreaking as we learned of the tragic shooting and death of ChenWei Guo at the University of Utah on Monday evening. It is hard to comprehend why and how these senseless acts of violence happen, and we know when a tragedy occurs, it affects our entire community. Our thoughts are with our friends and neighbors in the University of Utah community.

I’m reminded of how we all need to be fluent in our emergency procedures. We are committed to our students’ well-being, and their safety is our first priority. Please review the procedures appropriately with your students, particularly the lockout and lockdown procedures. This sad situation is a  reminder for us to continue to be mindful of our surroundings at all times.

With many thanks for what you do each and every day,

Ember Conley, Ed.D.

Superintendent

These are the safety procedures followed by PCSD.

Nov. 1 Lunch & Learn to feature ‘Mindfulness’ techniques

If you need to reduce your stress or make healthier food choices, then you won’t want to miss Park City School District’s next Lunch and Learn planned for Wednesday, Nov. 1, from noon to 1 p.m. at the District Office. Featured guests will be Randi Jo Taurel and Rebecca Brenner who will teach mindfulness techniques. In anticipation of the upcoming holidays, Taurel and Brenner will also teach mindful eating exercises.

Mindful learning includes simple ways to reduce stress and improve impulse control, attention span, emotion regulations, and empathy. Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.

Thanks to a grant from the Park City Education Foundation, the two experts are working with 12 teachers and three counselors at Ecker Hill Middle about the benefits and uses of mindfulness. The mindfulness exercises are then taught to their students and used in their classrooms.

Taurel has been teaching yoga and mindfulness to adults, children, and families since 1999. She is certified to teach yoga through Yoga Works, City Yoga (Anusara) and Yoginos; Yoga for Youth.  She was voted one of the top yoga teachers in Park City for the past four years (The Park Record), 2013 Woman of the Year (PC Women’s Business Network) and a member of Park City Leadership (class 21).

Brenner is a mindfulness meditation teacher, speaker, and practitioner. Her studies have led her through a BFA and MA in movement and expression, trainings in somatic therapy, certifications in yoga through the Himalayan Institute and the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers, short stints at Yoga Ashrams and weekly sits with mindfulness teacher Lama Richard Glade. Brenner is the author of “The Kid’s User Guide to a Human Life.”

 

 

Dance ‘Informances’ coming to Parley’s Park Elementary

Parley’s Park Elementary School is inviting the public to its upcoming Dance “Informances” starting in November.

-Kindergarten parent interactive class: Nov. 1, 2, 6 and 8, from 11:55 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. in the dance room.

-First grade parent interactive class: Nov. 2, 6, 8, 9 from 12:45-1:30 p.m. in the dance room.

-Second grade parent performance of “Changes in the Night Sky:” Dec. 6, 2:25 p.m. in the Gym.

-Third grade parent performance of “Cultural Customs and Traditions:” Dec. 8, 10:20 a.m. in the Gym.

“We had so much fun working on these projects and integrating curriculum from their classrooms,” said instructor Melissa Gonzales. “Anyone interested in seeing how dance works in elementary schools is invited.”

Gonzales is sponsored by the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program.  The dance program is sponsored by the Park City Education Foundation.

School Bus Safety Week: Oct. 16-20

This week is National School Bus Safety Week and this year’s theme is “Stop on Red!”

Here are a few facts about Park City School District’s Transportation Department:

-PCSD has 33 buses.

– PCSD buses 1,850 students to and from school each day.

-PCSD buses travel approximately 400,000 miles a year.

-In 2016-17, PCSD buses were accident free.

The Transportation Department has completed its Safety Assemblies for this school year. Each student learned school bus safety and safe crossing practices.

A special thank you to our Rich Eddington, director of Transportation, and his staff, as well as the dedicated bus drivers who do an excellent job of keeping our students safe every day.

“We have some of the best bus drivers in the state and we truly care about our students and their safety,” said Eddington.

PCSD is currently hiring bus drivers. For more information, click here.

 

 

Substance abuse prevention and Internet safety topic of upcoming Parent Night

Mark your calendars for Thursday, Oct. 26, when Ecker Hill Middle School hosts a Parent Night.  Students and parents from throughout Park City School District are welcome to attend.

The 6 p.m. event in the school auditorium will feature Dr. Ben Belnap, the district’s Assistant Superintendent of Student Wellness, who will speak on substance abuse prevention. Dr. Belnap is a licensed psychologist who was previously a behavior specialist for the Washington County School District and clinical director of assessment for a treatment center for girls in Hurricane, Utah.

The evening will also feature Cole Parkinson from the Utah Attorney General’s Office who will speak about Internet safety. He is an area director with Utah NetSmartz. NetSmartz is a Utah program provided by the Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the state and is managed by the Utah Office of the Attorney General. He will discuss cyberbullying, Internet predators, social networking dangers, and more.

Dr. Ben Belnap

Cole Parkinson

 

 

 

 

CEO of Youth Mental Health Project to speak at Oct. 16 Lunch & Learn

“Hope and Empowerment for Families with Children Struggling with Mental Health Issues” is the topic of the next Lunch & Learn set for Oct. 16.

In partnership with CONNECT Summit County, the Lunch & Learn begins at 11:30 in the Community Room at the Park City Library. CONNECT Summit County has arranged for Randi Silverman to speak in Summit County while she is in Utah to present a keynote address to the University of Utah Critical Issues For Teens and Youth Conference. Silverman is CEO of “Youth Mental Health Project.”

The event begins at 11:45 a.m. with a screening of “No Letting Go,” followed by Silverman’s workshop/discussion from 12-1. Guests are encouraged bring their own lunch; CONNECT Summit County will provide drinks. Please RSVP to connectsummitcounty@gmail.com. The first 50 attendees will receive a complimentary copy of Silverman’s workshop booklet.

Silverman is the​ writer and producer of the award-winning film “No Letting Go,” which were based on her family’s experience with her son’s struggle with mental illness. As national public speaker and presenter on the topic of children’s mental health, Silverman sparks meaningful conversations that provide insight into the challenges faced by families with a loved one who struggle with mental illness.

“CONNECT Summit County is very pleased that we can bring this important mental health advocate to Summit County,” said Ed Rutan, president of CONNECT. “Randi is such an empowering speaker because she speaks as a parent to other parents struggling with their children’s mental health issues. She offers advice and strategies that equip families to build partnerships with the schools and mental health providers so that everyone works together to get the most effective treatment for their children.”

In 2011, Silverman co-founded a local community Parent-to-Parent Support Group, which has served more than 1,000 families in Westchester, New York. As a graduate of the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Law, she also uses her knowledge of the law to help parents advocate for the educational needs of their children who suffer from mental health challenges.

 

TMJH student tech leaders taking social media challenge

Student tech leaders at Treasure Mountain Junior High realize they are addicted to their cell phones. Their solution: go without social media for one week. Sam Thompson, technology instruction coach, is also taking the challenge.

Starting tonight at midnight and running until 9 a.m. Oct. 4,  the students will only be using their phones to call and send texts (with no pictures:) “I realize it’s not feasible to completely remove these devices from our lives,” said Thompson.

During the challenge the students can only use their phones for the following:

phone calls, text messaging (no pictures, only text), an alarm clock (most indicated that’s a big use), and Facetime.

The students have already sent out messages on their various social media channels announcing they will be “offline” for a week.

“While this is not required, I strongly encourage the students to try this challenge,” Thompson said. “My hope is that it will provide some great insight as to the good and bad of tech use.”

The faculty and staff at TMJH were also invited to join the students in the challenge and share their thoughts on how it has affected them.

The Student Tech Club was given seed money by the Park City Education Foundation to fund its first two years, and is now in its third year.

Parents of students with disabilities invited to Lunch and Learns

The district is hosting four Lunch & Learns this schools year for parents who have students with disabilities — this includes a student with an IEP or a Section 504 accommodation plan.

All Lunch & Learns are from noon to 1 p.m. at the District Office. Parents are invited to bring their lunch and listen to the discussion.

Lunch and Learn Schedule for 2017-18

Oct. 10: Learning Ally: Reading/audio material resource and ACT accommodations (NOTE: Learning Ally was piloted at Parley’s Park Elementary in 2015-16 with seed money from the Park City Education Foundation). 

Dec. 12: Social Skills and conflict resolution, and coercion cycle

Feb. 13: Building bridges between school and home, supporting behavior goals between school/home, and homework help at home.

April 17: Supporting students with anxiety

SafeUT mobile app designed to help keep students safe

Park City School District officials are reminding students and parents to download the SafeUT mobile app. The app provides students confidential and anonymous two-way communication with SafeUT crisis counselors or school staff via one-touch options to “Call Crisisline,” “Chat Crisisline,” or “Submit a Tip.”

Developed by the University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute (UNI)the mobile app connects students directly to a UNI crisis counselor.
“SafeUT was rolled out across the state last year as a way to keep Utah students safe,” said Samantha Walsh, intervention counselor at Park City High. “Safe UT is one tool that students can utilized to be safe and well by taking care of themselves and taking care of each other.”
One key feature to the app is that it allows students to text an anonymous tip of any kind to their administrators. Students can also call or text the UNI crisis line directly from the app.

The SafeUT crisis text and tip line is a statewide service that provides real-time crisis intervention to youth through texting and a confidential tip program – right from their smartphone. Licensed clinicians are available 24/7 to respond to all incoming chats, texts, and calls by providing support or crisis counseling, suicide prevention, and referral services.

The app is free and the services are confidential. Counseling topics include: depression, anxiety or other mental health issues, suicide prevention, loss and grief, bullying and cyber bullying, drug and alcohol problems, self-harm, relationship difficulties, and any life challenge.

 

‘See the Results and Feel the Difference’

In an effort to live healthier lives, members of Team Bearclaw at Treasure Mountain Junior High School learned about nutrition, yoga, and creating stronger, healthier bodies during a kick-off today, Sept. 15,  for its “See the Results and Feel the Difference” project.

Three guest speakers talked to our students.  Liz Stephens, an Olympic Nordic skier, discussed the importance of having a good nutrition plan even if you are not an athlete. Yoga instructor Sheri Russell taught the students a routine and talked about the benefits of centering themselves when they are stressed or need help focusing during challenging situations. Jim Tschaburn, an Alpine ski racing coach and USA weightlifting certified coach, talked to the students about how to create workout plans to have stronger, healthier bodies.

The students will now take the information they learned today and will develop a nutrition plan and workout plan for a potential student/client. They will present these plans to professionals in the community in the spring and eventually select a plan to follow for the month of April.