June 2016
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Medical Assistant Graduation

Congratulations to the recent graduates of the Medical Assistant (MA) Program offered through the Lake County Office of Education (LCOE). On Thursday, May 9th, students, families and staff gathered at the Cornelison Center to celebrate the course completion of 18 students.

Tammy Serpa, Education Specialist of the Career & College Readiness Department welcomed the crowd of more than 200 as she thanked Lake County Superintendent of Schools, Brock Falkenberg, for his continued support of career technical education in the county. Dr. Elyse Donald addressed the students as she prompted them to always remember that they do not get to choose their patients and to practice their new trade with empathy. Following Donald, Family Nurse Practitioner Christine Dalva shared her inspirational message of medicine as a holistic approach to wellness. Each student was individually recognized by instructors Diedra Lagle and Mandy Robbins for their unique traits including courage, assertiveness and compassion.

Front row (left to right): Instructor Mandy Robbins, Lacey Talley, Cynthia Jimenez Ruiz, Olivia Valdovinos-Hernandez, Regina Amaral, Savanah Vargo, Rosa Avalos, Brittany Franklin, Holly Hough, Amanda Brazeal, and Instructor Diedra Lagle.

Back row (left to right): Estela Deladillo, Griselda Martinez, Monica Collins, Charlotte Wright, Sara Guerrero, Samantha LaFranchi, Regina Sanders, Melanie Bucher, and Marysol Rodriguez.

The Lake County Office of Education is currently taking applications for the next Medical Assistant class starting in August. For more information on the Medical Assistant program, contact Tammy Serpa 263-8918 x287, email [email protected] or visit our website at lakecoe.org.

New Employees

New Hires:

Ryan Mahan
- Director of Human Resources & Operations
Ryan Mahan is a returning local. After graduating from Clear Lake High School he went off to study at Mendocino College (where he met his wife), UC Davis, CSU Fresno, and Florida International University. When he's not updating LCOE policies he enjoys spending time with his family, reading, writing, juggling, and getting beaten up by his two sons (5 and 3 years old). An unrepentant geek, Ryan loves books and movies in the sci-fi and fantasy genres, and basically anything with Christopher Walken in it. Treats and other assorted baked goods can be sent to his attention at the main LCOE office.

Christine Hutt - Coordinator of Communications
Christine Hutt has many years in the marketing/public relations field working for national and local clients. Most recently she served as Director of Community Relations for a local non-profit organization and she is the vice chair of the Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee. She loves to read and garden and writes murder mystery plots for Murder Us Productions, which produces dinner theater events for local businesses and non-profits.

Angelina Ramirez - Fiscal Specialist II
Angelina Ramirez has lived in Lake County her whole life and is a 2005 Lower Lake High School graduate. She started working in the banking industry when she was 19 years old. She is joining the LCOE team from Mendo Lake Credit Union where she has worked the past 6 1/2 years. She enjoys wake surfing and staying fit. She is a huge dog lover and has 2 rescue dogs of her own. Spending time with her close friends, long-time boyfriend and family are her favorite things to do.

Welcome all new employees!
Association of California School Administrators Golf Tournament


Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Golf Tournament at the Adams Springs Golf Course on Cobb Mountain was held on Thursday June 2nd. The golf tournament was held to raise funds for the ACSA scholarship. One ACSA scholarship is given to one deserving student at each comprehensive high school in Lake County. The scholarship ranges from $250-500 depending on how much is raised in the course of the school year.  Adams Springs Golf Course has been a fantastic sponsor of this tournament for many years. The tournament generates between $1200-$1700 each year. The tournament is open to all educators to donate or play. They have had administrators, certified and classified employees participate. 
Rotary Funds After School Program

For the second year in a a row, the Lake Area Rotary Club Association (LARCA) has donated the necessary funds to support the expanded after school program at Minnie Cannon Elementary School in Middletown for the 2016-2017 school year.

After the 2015 fires that ravaged Cobb and Middletown, many students were stranded after school waiting for their working parents to pick them up. Although there was an after school program in place it was limited to 29 students. The students who were on the waiting list to participate in the program wandered the school grounds even as darkness approached, at times pressing their faces to the window to watch the students enrolled in the after school program enjoying activities and eating a hot meal.



Hero Project's Tech-Free-Time Challenge

 
The Hero Project's challenge is underway for the months of May and June. They are challenging parents to unplug from technology and reconnect with their family, 30 minutes a day, 3 days a week.  Every family who completes the challenge will receive a FREE play package. One lucky grand prize winner will receive $150 to The Game Hub in Lower Lake.

Technology has changed the way we live. Thanks to the benefits of technology, we've experienced amazing advances in society. If we're not careful, however, the blessings of technology can get in the way of our ability to become the parents our children need and deserve. Children blossom under the full warmth of our attention, and now - more than ever before - they are receiving less of our focus. Don't let your cell phone or other forms of technology, come between you and the most important people in your life. Commit to being a hero, accept the Tech-Free-Time Challenge by visiting www.lakecountyheroproject.com!


The Hero Project celebrated it's fourth Hullabaloo on June 11th at Konocti Education Center in Clearlake. The event was a FREE family-friendly event and had resource booths, workshops, a cooking demonstration, a photobooth, bandana tie-dyeing, outdoor activities and a huge Superhero Scramble Obstacle Course COLOR EXPLOSION! 

The obstacle course contained nine different obstacles, seven different color stations and 350 pounds of color powder dye that the children got to run through. Some children's goal was to get through as fast as possible without getting hit with any color and other's goals were to get as colorful as possible.Children big and small ran through the course with their parents and had an absolute blast. You can see more of the COLOR EXPLOSION by clicking on the picture below to check out the photo album.

Children running through the Superhero Scramble Obstacle Course COLOR EXPLOSION! A few volunteers at the Pink station spraying a color explosion participant with color powder as she runs the obstacle course.

Work Well Minute


"No Pressure"
Simply consider your Blood Pressure at Work
 Most people's blood pressure tends to be highest
during hours of work and on workdays
 
High Blood Pressure prompts more doctor visits then any other health condition!
 
Workday Tips to support Blood Pressure health
 
What to Eat:  Potassium-rich foods help! Try including avocado, low fat yogurt, bananas, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, kiwi, dried apricot and peanuts in your workday diet.  Need an excuse to eat chocolate?  Enjoy a half an ounce of Dark Chocolate daily - containing at least 70% cocoa. Dark chocolate makes blood vessels more elastic, reducing blood pressure

What NOT to Eat:  Be Salt Smart - Try reading packages and menus to stay within 1500 milligrams of salt per day. Try your best not to add salt to your meal.

What to Drink:  Water - of course.  Instead of coffee, try hibiscus tea for a hot or cold drink.  Cranberry juice.  Low or non-fat milk.
 
Bust a move!  Move around a little more during your workday - Every little bit counts. Take the stairs, walk on your break or at lunch.  Request a standing desk.  When you notice the pressure rising, simply walk it off.

Feeling the pressure rise?  Relax:  If possible, try listening to music at work.  Breathe - simply pause and take 3-6 slow, deep breaths (try this now if needed).   
 
How much work is too much?  Putting in more than 41 hours per week at the office raises your risk of hypertension by 15%.  Commit to starting/ending your workday on time.  Set an end of workday reminder on your phone or computer.
 
Have a Great Day! (...no pressure)
 
Sponsored by Partnerships to Improve Community Health
 
For additional useful information visit Be Well Lake County - Your guide for all things healthy in Lake County:   http://lakecountybewell.org/healthy-living-guide/living-well/


  
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Calendar Highlights

Lego Beginner NXT Robot Workshop 
July 12, 2016  10:00AM - 3:00PM  |  Taylor Observatory 5725 Oak Hills Lane Kelseyville CA

Intermediate Lego NXT Robot Workshop 
July 13, 2016  10:00AM - 3:00PM  |  Taylor Observatory 5725 Oak Hills Lane Kelseyville CA

Engineering Challenge- Lego NXT Robotic Workshop 
July 14, 2016  10:00AM - 3:00PM  |  Taylor Observatory 5725 Oak Hills Lane Kelseyville CA

ServSafe Workshop 
July 20, 2016 - July 21, 2016  |  Woodland Community College (Yuba) - Clearlake

Having Hard Conversations with speaker Jennifer Abrams 
August 01, 2016  8:30AM - 3:30PM  |  Marymount California University, Lakeside Campus 3700 County Club Dr., Lucerne, CA 95458

Girls in Careers Workshop 
August 02, 2016 - August 03, 2016  |  High Valley Ranch - Clearlake Oaks

California English Language Development Test (CELDT) 
August 24, 2016  9:00AM - 4:00PM  |  Lake County Office of Education: Kesey Room | 1152 S. Main St., Lakeport, CA 95453

Aug-some Tech 
August 25, 2016  3:30PM - 5:00PM  |  Lake County Office of Education, Learning Lab | 1152 S. Main St. Lakeport, CA 95453

California English Language Development Test (CELDT) 
August 30, 2016  9:00AM - 4:00AM  |  Mendocino Office of Education: Cedar Building, River Room | 2240 Old River Rd. Ukiah, CA 95482

For comments or submissions contact
Annie Mills