SSD/Normandy Monthly Communication
Staff and Family Newsletter -October 2021
Is it October already?
Can you believe it is already October? We are overwhelmed with the level of excitement for learning displayed by scholars. They have embraced our culture and climate norms as well as academic learning expectations. Kuddos to you and your children!
This month, our scholars will begin setting academic and social emotional goals for themselves. Teachers will facilitate those conversations to ensure our students are setting attainable goals for themselves. Ask your children about their goals and what data they look at to determine how close they are to reaching their goals. We also encourage you to connect with teachers should you have any input on goals or have questions.
As always, should you need to connect with a member of the leadership team, our contact information is below. Be safe and be well!
DeAndria Player, Director of Special Education dmplayer@ssdmo.org
Barbara Champagne, Special Education Coordinator bachampagne@ssdmo.org
Lynette Swift-Elliott, Special Education Coordinator lswift-elliott@ssdmo.org
Discounted Home Internet Access
Home internet access is important for student success, whether learning in-person or at home. To provide all families with the opportunity to access the internet, the FCC has launched a temporary program, Emergency Broadband Benefit, to help families struggling to afford internet service. The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible families and households who are struggling to stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible households can also receive a discount of up to $100 for the purchase of a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers. For more info, please visit: fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit
SSD Parent Workshops
All SSD workshops are provided free of charge to parents, families, educators and community members. For a full listing including dates and times, please visit the SSD website.
Lunch & Learn with SSD
Special School District’s Family and Community Outreach, Social Work, Parent Education and Diversity Awareness (PEDA) and Communications departments have teamed up 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 take place on the first Wednesday of each month during the 2021-22 school year, from 11:30 AM - Noon.
Representatives from nine community organizations will participate in order to increase awareness about their agency and make connections with those in our SSD community who may benefit from their programs and services.
Organizations represented in the Lunch & Learn series include:
- The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – Sept. 1
- The Community Action Agency of St. Louis County (CAASTL) – Oct. 6
- Operation Food Search – Nov. 3
- Behavioral Health Response – Dec. 1
- Easterseals Midwest – Jan. 5
- The Recreation Council of Greater St. Louis – Feb. 2
- Team Activities for Special Kids (TASK) – March 2
- St. Louis ARC – April 6
- St. Louis County Library – May 4
Parent Education & Diversity Awareness (PEDA)
Parent Education & Diversity Awareness (PEDA): Workshops have been added to the schedule. The workshops can be found on PEDA's website. The workshops include:
Orientation to the IEP Process: Sep. 30, 2021, 6:30 PM
Lunch and Learn with Community Action Agency of St. Louis: Oct. 6, 2021, 11:30 AM
Planning for the Future - Augmentative Communication Funding: Oct. 14, 2021, 12:30 PM
Introduction to Charting the LifeCourse (in collaboration with St. Louis ARC) - Nov. 18, 6:30 PM
PEDA has several workshops scheduled for October. These include:
WORKSHOP: Planning for the Future - Augmentative Communication Funding
Oct. 14, 2021
Starts at 12:30 PM
Description
Augmentative Communication facilitators from Special School District will discuss ways that families and students can pursue funding for augmentative communication devices. An additional discussion will include what the process is for families to purchase dedicated communication systems for their student when considering transition and post-secondary outcomes.
WORKSHOP: Why is my Child Misbehaving? (This is a workshop for families who have early childhood aged children)
Oct. 20, 2021
Starts at 12:30 PM
Description
This training will focus on early childhood specific positive parenting strategies to manage challenging behavior. Parents will leave with hands-on strategies that can be implemented in the home setting.
Along with workshops, PEDA also has a Family and Community Resource Center at the Hazelwood Learning Center that has books and resources available for check out. Families and community members are welcome to visit the center and/or contact PEDA with inquiries. In the Spring of 2022, PEDA will be hosting another Parent Leadership Institute and will begin taking applications soon. Please contact us at 314.989.8460 or ssdpeda@ssdmo.org if you have any questions and visit our website at www.ssdmo.org/PEDA
Special School District Upcoming Events
October 12 Board of Education Work Study Meeting
October 13 Parent Advisory Council (PAC) Meeting
October 14 Workshop: Planning for the Future: Augmentative Communication Funding
October 20 Workshop: Why is my Child Misbehaving?
October 26 Board of Education Business Meeting
Special School District of St. Louis County
Email: dmplayer@ssdmo.org
Website: www.ssdmo.org
Location: 12110 Clayton Road, Wildwood, MO, USA
Phone: 314.989.8100
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SSDStLCo
Twitter: @SSDDStLCo
Normandy Schools Collaborative Upcoming Events
October 8 Early Dismissal-All Schools
October 12 JEGB Board Meeting 6:00pm
October 15 Early Dismissal -All Schools
October 21 Parent Teacher Conferences (pm sessions/students in attendance)
October 22 NO SCHOOL-Parent/Teacher Conferences
October 29 Fall Break-NO School/District Closed
Normandy Schools Collaborative
Website: https://www.normandysc.org/
Location: 3855 Lucas and Hunt Road, Normandy, MO, USA
Phone: 314-493-0400