Kirkwood Special School District
November 2022 Edition
Special Olympics Bowling
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT (FACE) NEWS
Lunch and Learn Series
Special School District’s Family and Community Engagement (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.
CAASTL (Community Action Agency of St. Louis County)
Please join FACE on at the Family Resource Hub, located Nov 11, 2022 in North Tech High School, from 9am to 4pm. CAASTL (Community Action Agency of St. Louis County) will be available on that date to provide additional support and access to resources that promote healthy families and a thriving community. Families can learn about case management, utility assistance, rental assistance, financial education, weatherization, and program development and education activities. A CAASTLC representative will be available to answer questions and assist with applications.
Higher Education Consortium (HEC)
The Higher Education Consortium (HEC) will be at the Family Resource Hub, located in North Tech High School, from 11am to Noon on Nov 15, 2022 . The HEC can provide families with
information to increase their knowledge about education, career, and workforce planning or transitioning. High school students and anyone over the age of 19 are eligible to receive services from HEC.
Family Cafe
Family and Community Engagement (FACE) will be hosting a Family Cafe on November 17, 2022 from 6-8pm at the Family Resource Hub, located in North Tech High School. Cafes are hosted by families for families. They provide parents and caregivers a safe and welcoming space to connect and learn from each other. They are centered on the Strengthening Families Five Protective Factors:RESILIENCE, RELATIONSHIPS, KNOWLEDGE, SUPPORT and COMMUNICATION. https://bit.ly/FamCafes
Family Academy
Join us for SSD’s very first Family Academy on November 5th from 9am to noon at Northview High School located on Derhake Rd in Florissant. Family Academy is an opportunity for SSD families to learn and utilize resources and strategies to improve student outcomes. The Family Academy will offer networking with community agencies and other families. There will be music, light refreshments, fun learning opportunities, and learning resources to support your student in the home. https://SSDFACE.as.me/FamAcad22
Scholarships for Seniors
Several scholarships are available for students who receive SSD services! High school seniors who plan to enroll in a college, university or postsecondary program after graduation this spring should review the following opportunities.
Applications for The James E. Westbury/SSD Board of Education Scholarship, The Allison M. Haake Memorial Scholarship, and The Bonhomme Lions Club Scholarship must receive at least one service from SSD and plan to enroll in a college, university, or postsecondary program. All scholarships require a letter of recommendation. Applications are due Dec. 16, 2022. Visit ssdmo.org/scholarships for more information.
The Special Education Foundation (SEF) sponsors the John Cary Scholarships for high school seniors, as well. Applications are due Jan. 24, 2023.
Nominations for Salutes Awards Open Until Jan. 6
Applications for several awards which honor the contributions of SSD staff and community members are awaiting nominations, 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!
PAC Corner
PAC Meeting Dates
Meeting Dates will be held at the NMKS Library from 6:30pm-8:00pm on the following dates:
December 1, 2022
February 9, 2023
April 20, 2023
PAC Meeting Notes
2022 Calendar of Disability-November
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
Dana Meineke
Lynn Anne Dale
Hi, my name is Lynn Anne, I am a Speech-Language Pathologist at Westchester Elementary. I have been teaching in Kirkwood for 19 years, 18 of those years have been at WE. Prior to working in Kirkwood, I spent 2 years working for First Steps. My husband (John) and I have 3 children (Natalie, Kate, and John) who attend school in the Kirkwood School District. After babysitting for a little girl who needed help communicating, I knew I wanted to be a SLP. I love working with all the teachers, especially my SSD team and students. The ability to help students communicate, problem solve situations and understand language so that they can be a part of their community is so rewarding. I take pride in helping them communicate and share their unique abilities with their classmates and community. The students make me laugh and make every day better. In my spare time, I love to watch Natalie and Kate dance and John play sports. I also like to travel, shop, exercise, and spend time with family and friends.
Shannon Haviland
My name is Shannon Haviland. This is my 4th year working for SSD at Robinson Elementary as a paraprofessional. I love working with the kids, teaching them new skills, reinforcing old skills, and best of all watching them have that 'aha' moment when they figure something out. My favorite part of my job is seeing the kids smiling faces every morning knowing that I get to spend another day with them. I live in Saint Louis with my husband and three children. My children are 23, 21 and 12. We enjoy doing things outdoors and hanging out watching TV. In my free time I enjoy talking walks, and cooking.
Helpful Links
Connect with the SSD Board of Education
The SSD Board of Education strives for transparency, accountability, and accessibility. We welcome family, staff, and community members to share comments, concerns, and ideas with SSD Board of Education members. To find the Board member representing your subdistrict, visit the Board of Education page on the SSD website.
Upcoming Events
SSD Board of Education Meetings:
November 1, 2022 Board of Education Work Study 5:45 PM
November 15, 2022 Board of Education Business Meeting 5:45 PM
Please visit the SSD Board of Education for more information.
Kirkwood School District Board of Education Meetings:
November 7, 2022 Board Work Session 5:00 PM
November 21, 2022 Board Meeting 7:00 PM
Please visit the Kirkwood Board of Education for more information.
November 8, 2022 No School for Students
November 9, 2022 SSD PAC Meeting 7:00 PM
November 23-25, 2022 No School for Students
Contact Us
Special School District of St. Louis County
12110 Clayton Road
Town & Country, MO 63131
Phone: 314‐989‐8100
Taneal Davis
- Director of Special Education-Robinson
- tmdavis@ssdmo.org
- taneal.davis@kirkwoodschools.org
Colleen Card
- Special Education Coordinator-KHS
- COcard@ssdmo.org
- colleen.card@kirkwoodschools.org
Bridget Duke
- Special Education Coordinator-North Glendale, Tillman, Nipher
- baduke@ssdmo.org
- bridget.duke@kirkwoodschools.org
Emily Meuth
- Special Education Coordinator-Keysor, Westchester, NKMS
- ELMeuth@ssdmo.org
- emily.meuth@kirkwoodschools.org