ESTA  UPDATE

East Side Teachers Association/CTA/NEA    888 So. Capitol Ave    San Jose, Ca  95127

Marisa Hanson, President   

Ralph Giannini, Vice President/ Treasurer    Jane Voss, Secretary       

EstaPresident@aol.com   fax: (408) 272-7569    voice: (408) 272-0601    website:www.EastSideTA.org

December 15, 2008

ASSEMBLY 2009

If you have a site concern or question, your site representatives are available to assist you.  A few sites have some openings, 

and those sites will need to run another election in January.  

The following is the ESTA Assembly for 2009

*Specialized Unit Representative is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Assembly.

Local Grievance Representatives are not voting members of the Assembly, but they are also elected each year. This group meets 

once a month for Grievance Training with the Grievance Committee Co-Chairs: Mike Gatenby and Paul Landshof.  

Local Grievance Representatives will help you find answers if you have any questions about the contract. The following are the

2008 Local Grievance Representatives:

·         Jason Guven & Ben Castanos– Andrew Hill

·         Evelyn Sanchez- Foothill

·         Bill Kirk - Independence

·         Veronica Flores- James Lick

·         Blanca Espinosa- Yerba Buena

·         Ric Torres  – Mount Pleasant  

·         Rosalind Taylor- Santa Teresa

·         Jack Hamner- Oak Grove 

·         Paul Landshof –Piedmont Hill 

·         Jesse Griffin – Evergreen 

·         Ralph Giannini – Silver Creek 

·         Brian Barrientez – W C Overfelt 

BEST PRACTICES TEACHING CONFERENCE NEEDS PRESENTERS

Now is the time to share your best lesson plan with other teachers in the district.  Contact Robert Ibarra and let him know you want to present at the Best Practices Teaching Conference Feb. 7, at Yerba Buena High School.   The conference gives ESTA members a chance to learn from other members.  Like last year, this event will include breakfast and door prizes, provided by ESTA, so arrive early! 

• Proposal due date:  Wednesday, January 7, 2009. 
• Presenters will receive e-mail notification by January 14, 2009
• Online registration opens January 15, 2009
• Best Practices Conference February 7, 2009

REMINDER: RELIEF FUND COMMITTEE 

The ESTA Relief Fund Application was launched in the fall of 2007 as a means of assisting ESTA members who suffer unreimbursed 

financial losses of valuable personal property caused by either theft, vandalism, natural disaster, or fire while at their worksites or 

while engaged in ESTA business.  

Any application to the ESTA Relief Fund must be preceded by the filing of a police report with the San Jose Police Department.  

For many crimes against property, citizens can file police reports online.  See www.sjpd.org for details.  For an application, 

email Nilda Calvo, Relief Committee Chair, at calvon@esuhsd.org 

ESTA SCHOLARSHIPS

The ESTA Scholarship application for dependents of members, is now available on our website to download or you can send me 

an email at hansonm@esuhsd.org requesting an application. This year, 5-10 students will receive scholarships. The deadline is 

March 6, 4:00 PM at Mt. Hamilton CTA.  Only applications in hand by that time will be considered.  (Last year several applications 

were mailed on the deadline day or the day after and were not considered.)  Neil Wilson is currently the Scholarship Committee 

Chair and he is looking for a few more members to join. The committee meets 2 – 4 times a year.  Contact him 

directly at wilsonn@esuhsd.org  if you are interested in being a part of this committee.  

PREPARING FOR A LAYOFF

Here are a few things you can do to prepare yourself in the event that we have a layoff.

·         Make sure your home address is current with the district office.  Check each month on your pay warrant to see if the address 

the district has on record is yours.  If it is not the correct address, go make the change.

·         Check your personal file at the DO in January or February.  Make sure your first day of paid service is correct.  Also, make sure 

all your credentials are listed and that your status, (temporary, probationary, or permanent), is correct.

·         If you do not have a credential, make every effort to complete it as soon as possible.  Once finished, go to Human Resources 

and let them know.  Do not expect the county to update the district. 

·         If you have not finished your CLAD, make sure you are eligible for an emergency CLAD by taking the CTEL or taking the 

appropriate classes. 

FROM LIFEWORKS, CERIDIAN

Achieving and Maintaining a Healthful Weight by Mary Calvagna, MS

You may have heard that losing weight is as easy as eating less and exercising more.  Well it's true—taking in fewer calories than you use each day is the simplest way to lose weight.  Never mind the fad diets, weight-loss pills, and zany herbal remedies—it all comes down to a balanced diet and a regular exercise program.

Using the Body Mass Index

The first step is determining your current weight status: Are you underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese?

A good measure for this is the Body Mass Index (BMI), a standardized method used by many health professionals to evaluate weight and body fat.  BMI is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in meters squared.  It gives you an indication of whether you are at risk of health problems that are related to being overweight or obese.  If your BMI is 25 or higher, you are at risk for a number of serious health problems, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, pregnancy-related disorders, and osteoarthritis.

To find your weight in kilograms, multiply your weight in pounds by 0.45.  For example:
If your weight is 130 pounds: 130 x 0.45 = 58.5. Your weight in kilograms is 58.5.

To find your height in meters, multiply your height in inches by 0.0254.  For example:
If your height is 5'6”, which is 66 inches: 66 x 0.0254 = 1.6764. Your height in meters is 1.6764.
To square the number, multiply it by itself: 1.6764 x 1.6764 = 2.81

For the example above, the BMI is: 58.5 divided by 2.81 = 20.81

BMI values are interpreted as follows:

• 18.4 or less = underweight
• 18.5 to 24.9 = normal weight
• 25 to 29.9 = overweight
• 30 and over = obese

Although this is a reliable method, it is not foolproof. Because muscle tissue weighs more than fat tissue, heavily muscled people may fall into the obese range when they are not obese.  It also does not take bone density into account.

Eating a Healthful Diet

To lose weight, you need to take in fewer calories than you use. This is where your diet comes in; which may be in need of an overhaul.  But, you don't want to lower your calories at the expense of nutrition.  To learn more about developing a healthful diet that is right for you, read our article on the latest food guide pyramid: Unlocking the Secrets of the New Food Pyramid.

Try not to think of your new eating habits as "going on a diet," instead, think of it as a lifestyle change. Adding more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to your diet and cutting back on animal protein, saturated fat, and cholesterol are good for you - no matter what your age or weight.  Creating a healthy diet that you can stick to throughout your life will help you achieve and maintain your desired weight.  Losing even 10% of your body weight will lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of diabetes and heart disease.

Getting Regular Exercise

To lose weight, you need to use more calories than you take in; this is where exercise comes in.  Not only does regular exercise help you get to an ideal weight, but it can help you stay there too. Additionally, muscle burns more calories than fat, so building up your muscles will allow you to eat more while maintaining your weight.  If you don't exercise already, it is time to get started.  A good goal for many people to work up to, is exercising 4 to 6 times a week for 30 to 60 minutes at a time. There are several different types of exercise that you can do.  An ideal exercise program combines the following four types of exercise:

·         Aerobic

·         Weight-bearing

·         Strength training

·         Stretching

It is a good idea to talk with your doctor before beginning an exercise program.

No Time Like Today

Now that you have the tools, getting started is up to you.  Start slowly, have carrots or an apple for a snack, instead of a bag of chips.  

And take a walk around the block before or after the workday.  Just remember, the sooner you begin working toward your ideal weight, 

the sooner you can reap the healthful benefits.