March 2016
Polar Plunge

Thank you all for your donations and support of the Special Olympics fundraiser. The always exciting 2016 Polar Plunge was held on Saturday February 20th and the LCOE Mighty Minions took 1st place for "Team Costume".

We have not received the final tally for contributions made to our "LCOE Mighty Minion Team," but the online contributions exceeded our original goal and are listed at $1,625.00.

The brave and bold LCOE team included our Superintendent of Schools, Brock Faulkenberg, Della Murphy, Karen Renteria, Debbie White, and Debbie's niece, Alyssa Bernauer. Debbie White and Alyssa Bernauer ranked the highest in donations received. Our team not only stepped foot into the cold and crazy waters of Clearlake, but ventured quite a distance into the freezing waters!

The funds that are raised will help showcase the capabilities and achievements of individuals with intellectual disabilities. The confidence and pride that is instilled in our athletes as a result of their participation, carries over into their everyday lives, making them contributing members in their communities.

This Autistic Life Presentation

A presentation that informs, empowers and inspires! It will be on Monday, March 14th at 6:30pm in the MAC Building on Terrace Middle School campus in Lakeport.

Children's Oral Health Project

Healthy Start and many community partners are working together to improve children's oral health in Lake County. According to the CDC, 17.5% of children between the ages of 5-19 years have untreated dental caries. Healthy Start works throughout the year to address children's oral health needs through:
  • Dental Screenings at School Sites
  • Transportation to Dental Care including to out-of-county sedated dentistry
  • Sealant Clinics at School Sites
  • Oral health education at Early Connection preschool sites
  • Assistance with Insurance Applications
  • Free oral health care supplies
These events and resources are made possible through partnerships with many community organizations including Mendocino Community Health Clinic, First 5 Lake, Public Health, Redbud Health Care District, St. Helena Family Clinic Clearlake and local school districts. During the 2014-15 School-year, nearly 200 students were transported to dental care, over 2900 students received dental screenings, and nearly 500 preschool students received weekly lessons on oral health.

Pictured below, Dr. Lewis provides dental screenings and sealants to students at Pomo School.



Please visit our website at lakecoe.org / healthy start for fun brushing videos, information on healthy brushing habits, teething, nutrition, decay prevention and more. Healthy Start sites are located in all Lake County school districts and are here to help with students' dental care needs. Please contact 707-994-0669 for more information.
PBIS Sees Success in Students

At the recent PBIS coaches training at the Seavey Center in Rocklin, CA, Mountain Vista Middle School (MVMS) presented their PBIS program to North Coast school teachers, counselors, and administrators. After sharing the demographics of the school, history teacher Tavis Perkins explained how three years ago MVMS was "such a punitive school". There was a detention room and once a student was sent out of class he or she would have to go and sit in the room all day. It was pretty bad, and MVMS was just not a happy place. Today, as Tavis explained, it's so different. There's a different attitude, and teacher Cheryl Mostin pointed out, "MVMS is a place where the kids don't have to prove who they are".
Left to right: Tavis Perkins, Cheryl Mostin, Ellen Boettcher, Emma Burke, Nicki Thomas.

Principal, Nicki Thomas, pointed out that last year, MVMS had 130 ODR's for the entire year. This year, she stated that MVMS has had only 16 referrals! "I am in the classroom; not doing discipline...PBIS totally works".
Work Well Minute



Ergonomics is good form!

Proper posture increases energy, reduces stress and brings balance to the working body.

Got a Work Well Minute for a quick Ergo self-assessment and adjustment?

1-minute Action (for the desk workers):
Neck and Head:  upright, relaxed and balanced between shoulders.
Hands and Wrists:  relaxed and straight with no bend up, down or sideways.
Knees:  At about hip level - may slightly higher or lower depending on comfort.
Eyes:  At about arm's length or more from screen.
Low Back:  Supported by a chair with forward curve or lumbar roll.
Monitor:  Centered directly in front, free of glare, with top of screen slightly below eye level.
Feet:  Flat on the floor or footrest, legs uncrossed and able to move freely under desk.

There.  That should feel better!
How did your work station check out?
For assistance with ergonomic changes to your work station, please contact your Human Resources department.

Work Well - Sponsored by Partnerships to Improve Community Health and County of Lake
WorkAbility 1 Words with 
Lake Transit Authority

The students who are participating in the WorkAbility 1 Program use the local transit system to get to and from the training sites where they work. The photo above shows Jordan Brawner, a senior at Kelseyville High 
School boarding the transit bus at Mt. Konocti Food and Gas Mart to go to his training site this year at Burger King in Lakeport. After working Jordan also rides a transit bus to get home in Lucerne. Employment Specialist 
 

March is National 
Nutrition Month!
Lake County Education Advancement Program
LEAP

LEAP is a reimbursement
 project for TK/Preschool Educators who meet three qualifications.  



Be a Hero: Check In/Protect

The Hero Project's Check-It Challenge is active through 
April 30th.

The best way to protect your children is to check-in with them each day so you can identify complications before they turn into problems.

 Raising a child is one of the most challenging jobs many adults will experience. The key to positive parenting is to anticipate and prevent challenging behaviors. Children that feel safe, loved, and protected have the best chance at turning into independent and capable adults.

It's time to be a Hero and take our Check-It Challenge. Check in with your child everyday, so you know what is going on in their lives on a daily basis.

Take the challenge at 
Friends of Lake 
County Library

Friends of Lake County 
Library gave a very generous 
donation to the Literacy Task 
Force for Imagination Library to 
ensure that all children who lost 
books in the Valley Fire have a sponsorship to join Imagination Library and get books. Pictured here is Elva Hohn, Stephanie Wayment, Christopher Veach and Leann Harvey. 

For more information about Imagination Library, contact Stephanie Wayment at swayment@lakecoe.org. For more information about Friends of Lake County Library, contact Leann Harvey at lkharvey@mchsi.com.
Lake County Family Resource Guide

Now Available in SPANISH



To order guides for your program, download a PDF or view online, click 
Every Kid in a Park

A new White House youth initiative to get all 4th graders and their families to experience the places that are home to our country's natural treasures, rich history, and vibrant culture FREE OF CHARGE! 
 Dr. Seuss's Birthday
Assistant Superintendent of Schools, April Leiferman, dressed up as the Cat in the Hat on Dr. Seuss's birthday to read to students at Lakeport Preschool.
Employees Received Free Health Screening
LCOE employee, Lynn Thomasson, receiving her free health screening.
Calendar Highlights

PITC Training 
March 12, 2016  8:00AM - 2:00PM  |  LCOE Kesey Room

My Future, My Way at Woodland/Yuba College - Clearlake 
March 12, 2016  8:30AM - 3:00PM  |  Woodland Community College (Yuba) - Clearlake

Dave Burgess Presents: Teach Like a Pirate 
March 14, 2016  4:00PM - 6:00PM  |  Cornelison Event Center

Children's Festival & Advocacy Walk 
April 09, 2016  10:00AM - 3:00PM  |  Lower Lake Park, Mill Street & Main Street, Lower Lake

 CPIN Life Science Training 
April 14, 2016  3:00PM - 8:00PM  |  Kesey Room

Student Discipline 
April 20, 2016  2:00PM - 5:00PM  |  Lake County Office of Education, 1152 S. Main Street, Lakeport
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For comments or submissions, contact Annie Mills at amills@lakecoe.org
www.lakecoe.org