Happy New Year 2024!

I hope you all had a wonderful winter break, with the opportunity to rest and revive, as well as to connect with friends and loved ones.

At MDUSD, our board held our re-organizational meeting in December, where Erin Mc Ferrin was elected as Board President and Linda Mayo as Vice President for 2024. 

We also approved a Tentative Agreement with the MDEA Teachers' Union that will provide a 9% salary increase effective July 1, 2024 and 100% health benefits coverage at Kaiser rates starting Jan. 1, 2024. (Due to "me too" clauses in other union agreements, these raises and benefit increases will also be effective for other union and association employees.)  Thank you to MDEA and to our district negotiating team for working so diligently to make this possible.

Thank you to everyone who donated to HOPE for the holidays! Ms. Rosie Reid and the HOPE team did an incredible job hosting the largest holiday fair we’ve had for homeless & foster youth, collaborating with local community organizations who provided free food, toys, coats, school supplies, shoes, haircuts, and even a bilingual Santa.

And a beautiful Kwanzaa celebration was organized by the Mt Diablo African American Parent Advisory Council in Bay Point. It was a wonderful way to focus and reflect on family & community this winter.

Next school board meeting is Wednesday January 17th. Details at mdusd.org/about/board-meeting-information

Submit Teacher of the Year nominations through Jan. 16. 

Who are your favorite teachers?  Here’s your chance to recognize them.

The Mt. Diablo Unified School District is now accepting nominations for 2024-25 District Teachers of the Year, who will go on to compete for Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year (TOY) 2024-2025.

District staff members, parents/guardians, students and community members are encouraged to nominate classroom teachers who have demonstrated a passion for teaching, an ability to differentiate instruction to meet students' needs, and teachers who connect with and support their school community. 

The deadline to submit a Teacher of the Year Nomination Form is Tuesday, January 16, 2024. Click here for the form in English and here for the Spanish form.

New, free Youth Mental Health & Behavioral Apps from CalHOPE.org: 

I’m excited to share this groundbreaking new state program providing free, safe, and confidential mental health support for young people and families across the state with two easy-to-use mobile apps:

1. Brightlife - Behavioral health coaching for parents, caregivers, and kids 0–12
2. Soluna - free, safe, confidential mental health support for 13-25 year olds

Brightlife

https://www.hellobrightline.com/brightlifekids/

Get support with the tough stuff and help your child thrive. No costs attached. No insurance required. No referrals needed.

Sign Up for Free

California cares. That's why California is paying for 100% of the care your family gets through BrightLife Kids. Real coaches. Real simple. Really free — for all California families.

En Espanol

https://www.hellobrightline.com/es-US/brightlifekids/

Obtén apoyo para lo difícil y ayuda a tus hijos a prosperar. Coaching de salud conductual para padres, tutores y niños de 0 a 12 años. Sin costos asociados. No se requiere seguro. No se necesitan referencias.

A California le importa. Por eso California paga el 100 % de la atención que tu familia recibe a través de BrightLife Kids. Coaches reales. Muy sencillo. De verdad es gratuito para todas las familias de California.

In many languages!

Includes coaches who are bilingual (English/Spanish) and live translation services that cover 17 other languages* for parents/caregivers who need it. 

*Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Korean, Armenian, Russian, Farsi, Japanese, Arabic, Cambodian, Hindi, Hmong, Thai, Laotian, Punjabi, Mien, and Ukrainian

Soluna

Confidential support for 13- to 25-year-olds in California. No cost. No pressure. Chat 1:1 with a professional coach, use interactive tools to destress, or explore quizzes, videos, forums, and more.

I'm excited to introduce you to Soluna: a new, innovative, and completely free mobile app that offers confidential mental health support for your child, wherever they are in their journey. 

Research shows a stark increase in mental health issues in young people due to pressures around academic stress, social media, and tech usage. As digital natives, your child and their generation face complex challenges and stressors unlike any before them. And they often struggle in silence. That's why having a safe, private, digital mental health resource for young people is so critical. And Soluna is here to help. 

Why Soluna? Based on over two decades of clinical research, Soluna is leading the way in digital mental health for young people with a commitment to inclusivity and equity. And it all starts with our robust, diverse suite of resources designed to support a variety of needs and interests for young people ages 13 to 25. 

A universe of tools at your fingertips 

Here’s a quick look at the resources we offer to ensure your child can find the support that's right for them: 

🛠 Interactive tools: Our Thought Shaker, Mood Log, Starboard, and more will help users destress, find calm, and reset. 

🤝 Soluna coaches: Users can chat via text with a professional for personalized, 1:1 guidance. 

🔮 Unique content: To learn more about their mental health, users can explore quizzes, text chats, swipeable activities, and more. 

📕 Digital journal: For venting their feelings, jotting down ideas, or drafting big dreams, we provide users with a safe and private Free Write space