Blaine Education Association

09/21/2020

Topic: Grief and Self-Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Description: Stress experienced during the COVID 19 pandemic has changed our way of life and forced many to face new challenges. This webinar will provide an overview of the impact that profound personal losses suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic has had on many and suggest strategies that can be utilized to facilitate mourning as well as promote self-care, wellness and resiliency.

Topics Covered:

• Understanding Personal Grief & Loss
• Covid-19 & Loss Experiences
• Coping with Grief and Loss
• Grief Complications
• Self-Care, Wellness & Resiliency Strategies

All registrants will be asked to take a short, confidential survey before the webinar. This survey will help us understand and respond to participants’ experiences with loss during these challenging times. The link to the survey will be sent by separate email at the end of September.

PRESENTER: Thomas Demaria, Ph.D., Psychologist, National Center for School Crisis & Bereavement, Coalition to Support Grieving Students

Time: Oct 8, 2020 4:00 PM PST

Register at https://bit.ly/3cihfr5

09/07/2020

Let’s celebrate Labor Day and all of the benefits workers have gained by thanking your local unions! Enjoy your day!!!

08/28/2020

We as the Executive board would like to make the following statement on behalf of the BEA in regards to the recent chain of events happening across our country:

In this time of great change and social unrest in our country, the Blaine Education Association (BEA) stands behind ending racial injustice in our country. The BEA joins our superintendent, and our community in addressing all forms of racism in our classroom, in our schools, and in our community to help foster a better future for our students and families. The BEA recognizes that systemic change specific to racism needs to happen in every community across our nation recognizing what that change looks like is unique to each town and school district. The BEA commits to work in partnership with our teachers, students, staff, school district, families, and community members to ensure that we receive the knowledge and training needed to best serve all of our families and to ensure that our students of color feel safe, heard, and supported in our schools at all times. The BEA recognizes the need to ensure that this safe environment is not just a place in words, but a place of fairness and equity for all students who may suffer from all forms of discrimination. The BEA also acknowledges that systematic change takes time, and we are committed to learning and supporting everyone who is part of the BSD community in embarking in this journey together doing what is best in providing an improved learning environment for all.

Respectfully submitted to the Membership

08/26/2020

Happy First Day of School everyone! Have a great day!!

08/17/2020

08/12/2020

Let’s take back 2020 together! Learn how gaining control of your finances could allow you to become more productive and focus on other aspects of your life.

You're invited to attend any or all of the following educational workshops conducted by knowledgeable professionals from AIG Retirement Services.

Workshop Topics:

Your Retirement Plan at Work: The Basics (45min)

TRS and SERS Plan 2 & 3 –Understand your options
Overview of your district’s 403(b) and 457(b) plans

Retirement Planning & WA DRS Overview (1.5hr)

Social Security
Healthcare (Medicare & PEBB)
TRS and SERS Plan 2 & 3

Conquering Student Loan Debt (45min)

Could you qualify for student loan forgiveness
Learn strategies using a repayment plan

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08/05/2020

Join NEA Teacher Quality in a series of webinars designed to help you prepare your distance learning classroom. Register for one or all three!

Aug. 10: Planning for a Week of Distance Learning
Join ed tech experts in exploring examples of what distance education might "look" like for you and your students. We will also consider the transitional thinking required to best support student engagement and success. Register here:

http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=y6zqc0eGUE5Gd3qq2RxnzAOT09Sj8EDT

Aug. 17: Facilitating Quality Practice
Quality practice looks, sounds, and feels different virtually. Let's practice with tools that teachers and paraeducators can use with students. We will learn about best practices for online learning, including instructor presence, learning objectives, real world applications, clear expectations, engaging students, prompt feedback, and netiquette. We will focus on two platforms: Seesaw and Google Classroom. Register here:

http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=pFdrkaQVm0EVuWRg2o%2BbuwOT09Sj8EDT

Aug. 24: Providing Accommodations and Scaffolding Online
How do you support students with IEPs, English language learners, and older students with developing literacy skills in an asynchronous distance learning environment? Using Google Classroom, learn strategies for providing accommodations, scaffolds, SIOP features, and elements of explicit instruction in an asynchronous setting that support all students. Register here:

http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=P4kmsEvIlsi485mbm4PGwQOT09Sj8EDT

Join ed tech experts in exploring examples of what distance education might "look" like for you and your students. We will also consider the transitional thinking required to best support student engagement and success.

07/20/2020

From WEA President Larry Delaney:

The news continues to evolve around COVID-19 and our return to school this fall. Yet, we know our communities are in a worse position now with infections than we were in March when we initially closed schools.

Nearly 2,000 members have responded to my call for thoughts and questions about what schooling should look like this fall. I'm looking forward to a conversation with you all this Thursday where we can dive into some of those questions. You can send your questions for the town hall to [email protected].

Please join me at 1pm this Thursday, July 23, for a virtual town hall where WEA staff and I will discuss COVID-19 and the return to education at the start of the school year. You can watch it live here: https://youtu.be/QX7UaxesSzE

We have also our updated web page www.washingtonea.org/this-fall/ to include the latest news around reopening schools. The pages will continue to be updated as information becomes available so please use it as a resource.

Larry Delaney
WEA President

COVID-19 & This Fall

07/16/2020

The next workshop is on Retirement planning and goes over the Washington State Retirement Plans too. The workshop is at 9:00 am on Thursday, July 23rd. You can register on the flyer that is attached or with me.

Please let me know if you have any questions. 360-922-9493

You can also register through me:

Open to all – please register by clicking HERE:

https://my.valic.com/seminarregistration/availableseminars.aspx?regcode=6138BEL11AA


Thanks so much! Stay safe and healthy!

Lynn Johnson
VALIC Financial Advisors, Inc.
Financial Advisor

AIG Retirement Services
2825 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite 220 | Seattle, WA 98102
Tel +1 206 254 1000 | Cell +1 360 922 9493 | Fax +1 360 799 4667

[email protected] | www.aig.com/RetirementServices

We all want a future that’s worth looking forward to. Helping people achieve their goals is what AIG Retirement Services is all about. We call it being FutureFIT® — which stands for Freedom. Individually Tailored®. FutureFIT is all about owning your future — living tomorrow the way you choos...

07/13/2020

An IMPORTANT message from WEA President Larry Delaney -

Washington State educators, on Tuesday the WEA Executive Committee will meet to discuss COVID-19 and the return to education at the start of the school year. It would be very helpful if you could send me your thoughts, as of today, on what schooling should look like.

Also, has your district provided any PD around improved distance learning? Has your district had discussions around ways to minimize the inequities?

Email me directly at [email protected] and use the subject "Return to School."

Stay safe and be well.

06/21/2020

In this time of great change and social unrest in our country, the Blaine Education Association (BEA) stands behind ending racial injustice in our country.

The BEA joins our superintendent, and our community in addressing all forms of racism in our classroom, in our schools, and in our community to help foster a better future for our students and families.

The BEA recognizes that systemic change specific to racism needs to happen in every community across our nation recognizing what that change looks like is unique to each town and school district.

The BEA commits to work in partnership with our teachers, students, staff, school district, families, and community members to ensure that we receive the knowledge and training needed to best serve all of our families and to ensure that our students and staff of color feel safe, heard, and supported in our schools at all times.

The BEA recognizes the need to ensure that this safe environment is not just a place in words, but a place of fairness and equity for all students who may suffer from all forms of discrimination.

The BEA also acknowledges that systematic change takes time, and we are committed to learning and supporting everyone who is part of the BSD community in embarking in this journey together doing what is best in providing an improved learning environment for all.