Riverview Gardens / SSD
Newsletter for Families, December 2022
Riverview Gardens School District Information
Parent Advisory Council Meeting
Mon, Dec 5, 2022, 06:00 PM
Gibson Elementary School, Fonda Drive, St. Louis, MO, USA
Affordable Connectivity Program
The Affordable Connectivity Program is a Federal Communications Commission program that helps connect families or households struggling to afford internet service. This new benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers.
Eligible households can enroll through a participating broadband provider or directly with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) using an online or mail in application. You can learn more about the benefit, including eligibility and enrollment information, by visiting www.fcc.gov/ACP, or by calling 877.384.2575.
Special School District Information
Sensory Friendly Options for your Family this Winter
St. Louis Zoo’s Sensory-Friendly Wild Lights Night
December 9th, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Nothing says St. Louis Christmas quite like Wild Lights at the St. Louis Zoo. Your family can stroll through the grounds surrounded by a million lights, including animated displays, fireside stories, campfire s’mores, photo opportunities, and more. This event is made sensory-friendly with trained staff on-hand and quiet areas to help your child decompress. Get more information and tickets at stlzoo.org.
Saint Charles Christmas Traditions on Historic Main Street – Sensory-friendly tours
The Historic Main Street of Saint Charles is a magical and fun place to visit during the Holiday season. With a new inclusion initiative, Saint Charles is now offering guided sensory-friendly tours. These guided tours are conducted twice daily by sensory specialists. Each 90-minute tour introduces guests to several Christmas Legends and ends with an opportunity to get your picture with Santa and a full deck of 2019 Saint Charles Christmas Traditions trading cards. Tours are Saturdays and Sundays during the holiday festival. For more information, including dates and times, visit discoverstcharles.com.
Sibshops at ARC
Sibshops offer an opportunity for brothers and sisters of children with disabilities to get peer support and education within a recreational context. This free series includes a fun mix of information, games, activities, and discussion. Children between the ages of 7-15 years old who have a sibling with a disability are encouraged to participate.
December 14th, 4:30 – 6:00 pm , Monthly on the second Wednesday
St. Louis Arc
1177 N Warson Rd, St. Louis, MO 63132, US
Ages: Siblings ages 7 – 15
For more information, contact Lee Anna Sanders at 314-817-2269.
In-Home Residential Support (Respite)
ARCH Respite - ARCH Respite reimburses primary caregivers at a standard rate for short-term relief services they receive either in their own home, with the community, or in the home of a care provider.
https://www.slarc.org/programs/family-support/in-home-support/
ARCH Respite serves St. Louis County and St. Louis City to register, or learn more, contact ARCH@slarc.org or call 314-817-2236.
Scholarship Opportunities for High School Seniors with SSD services
High school seniors who receive SSD services and plan to enroll in a college, university or postsecondary program after graduation should review the following scholarship opportunities. Applications for The James E. Westbury/SSD Board of Education Scholarship, The Allison M. Haake Memorial Scholarship, and The Bonhomme Lions Club Scholarship are due Dec. 16, 2022. All scholarships require a letter of recommendation - don’t wait to begin! Visit ssdmo.org/scholarships for more information.
Additionally, the Special Education Foundation (SEF) sponsors the John Cary Scholarships for high school seniors. Applications are due Jan. 24, 2023.
SSD Salutes Awards
Applications for several awards which honor the contributions of SSD staff and community members are awaiting nominations, which are due Jan. 6, 2023. These awards are collectively known as Salutes awards because they are given at the District’s annual Salutes event in the spring. They include the following:
Please refer to the Salutes webpage for details about each award. Some awards permit nomination by SSD staff only, while others accept nominations from people who are not employed by SSD (e.g., students, parents, partner district staff, and other community members). Consider submitting a nomination and help us provide the recognition they deserve for their meaningful work in SSD!
FACE Workshops and Community Collaborations
FACE Workshops and Community Collaborations are now posted on the SSD site at https://www.ssdmo.org/Page/495.
Assistive Technology Workshop
December 13th, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Join FACE for a workshop all about assistive technology. In this virtual session, participants will be introduced to Assistive Technology, by SSD Assistive Technology Specialist Kim White. Learn how to request an AT consultation and participate in demonstrations of universal tools available to all SSD students. Examples will be provided for low- and high-tech AT options that can be implemented in the home and school environments. Click here to register: Assistive Technology Workshop Registration
Lunch and Learn Series 2022 - 2023
Lunch and Learn Series 2022 - 2023: Special School District’s Family and Community Engagement
The FACE department is excited to offer a virtual Lunch & Learn series for SSD families and stakeholders. The series, which will involve community organizations sharing information about their work, will continue during the 2022-23 school year and take place from 11:30 am - Noon.
Representatives from three community organizations and three SSD departments will participate in order to increase awareness about their agencies or programs and make connections with those in our SSD community who may benefit from their programs and services.
Features in the 2022-23 Lunch & Learn Series are:
- Recreation Council of Greater St. Louis, Summer Resources - Dec. 15, 2022
- Productive Living Board (PLB), Resources for Families - Jan. 25, 2023
- SSD Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) department - Feb. 22, 2023
- The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - April 26, 2023
- SSD Family and Community Engagement (FACE), Summer Engagement Activities - May 24, 2023
Each event is held virtually through YouTube Live. To access the video, please click on the organization's name in the list above. The videos will not be available to view until their scheduled date and time.
Special School District of St. Louis County
Website: www.ssdmo.org
Location: 12110 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO, USA
Phone: 314.989.8100
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SSDStLCo
Twitter: @SSDDStLCo
Riverview Gardens School District
Website: http://www.rgsd.k12.mo.us/
Location: 1370 Northumberland Drive, St. Louis, MO, USA
Phone: 314-869-2505