Helping Hands
The ETCSD Special Education Parent Newsletter, Sept. 2018
Back to School!
Please be sure to welcome the following new staff:
- Alexandra Viarek, learning strategiest (special ed teacher) at the Middle School
- Matt Piper, special education teacher at the High School
- Jo Niles, special education teaching assistant at the Middle School
- Becky Lois, special education teaching assistant at Prairie View
- Carol Francis, individualized health aide for the District
In addition to new staff within special education, our board has a made a commitment to addressing the socio-emotional and behavioral needs of students through a focus on prevention and early intervention, which includes the addition of several pupil service staff members throughout the district. As always, pupil service staff can be a good resource for you as parents if you have questions or concerns regarding your child or would like some information regarding area resources.
New pupil service staff to welcome include:
- Denice Ryan, School Social Worker at Little Prairie and Prairie View
- Kim Pluess, School Social Worker at the Middle School and High School
- Elle Maus, School Counselor at Prairie View.
Once again we thank you for your continued commitment and partnership with the East Troy Community School District in order to personalize and empower your children for their success now and in the future.
Collaborative and Proactive Solutions: Creative Problem Solving Model
Parents United welcomes Kimberly R. Hopkins, LICSW, Director of Outreach and Communications at Lives in the Balance to speak regarding Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS), the empirically supported model Dr.Ross Greene describes in his influential books, The Explosive Child, Lost at School, and the recently released books, Lost and Found and Raising Human Beings. The CPS model provides a compassionate understanding of kids’ behavioral challenges and a non-adversarial, effective approach for reducing challenging behavior, improving communication, and repairing relationships.
This model has been implemented in schools, inpatient units, residential facilities, treatment programs, and juvenile detention facilities. For those new to Dr. Greene’s model, this workshop will provide an introduction to the basic themes. You will leave with an understanding of the underpinnings of Dr. Greene’s Approach, along with practical assessment and intervention tools that can be brought back to and used in diverse settings.
About the speaker: Kimberly R. Hopkins, LICSW, Director of Outreach and Communications, has been a licensed social worker since 2000 and has dedicated her entire career to working with at-risk youth and their families, primarily in residential and public school settings. She has worked with some of the most challenging, misunderstood youth, with a focus on adolescents.
Kim has managed the clinical departments of two organizations serving youth and families, both who have implemented Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) to improve outcomes/treatment goal attainment and reduce punitive interventions, such as restraints. In 2007, Kim began working with Dr. Greene providing training and consultation to various organizations and schools looking to learn CPS and implement the model in their setting.
Register here for this free event!
Thursday, Sep 13, 2018, 06:00 PM
The Ingleside Hotel, Golf Road, Pewaukee, WI, USA (formerly Country Springs Hotel)
Reading Drives Achievement: Procedural Compliance Self-Assessment (RDA:PCSA)
Specifically, it is part of the Department of Public Instruction's (DPI) role to ensure local educational agency (LEA) compliance with state and federal special education requirements. DPI has selected the RDA:PCSA process as the way that LEA compliance will be monitored. Because of the importance that we as a district place upon family and community engagement, we would like to invite interested parents to participate in an ad hoc committee in preparation for the RDA:PCSA process and follow-up review.
What is the role of the ad hoc committee?
The ad hoc committee will be comprised of parents, family members, and community members as well as select district staff. The committee discuss and plan how and when the RDA:PCSA process will be conducted within the Fall of 2018. Additionally, after records for the RDA:PCSA have been reviewed, the committee will reconvene to discuss the results. The ad hoc committee will review the errors and strengths in records for patterns to share with the LEA community and will choose the actions the LEA will take to ensure any errors do not reoccur in future samples to ensure compliance. No student specific information or data will be shared within this committee due to the need to protect student confidentiality.
If you or another family member or community member is interested in being a part of this ad hoc committee, please complete this form to contact us about participating in that process.
Thank you for helping us in this important process!
REDGen: The Test and the Art of Thinking
Join REDGen for a free documentary screening of The Test and the Art of Thinking. This film examines how each year more than 3 million high school students in the U.S. take an SAT or ACT college entrance exam. For decades there have been questions about what exactly these tests measure, how predictive they are of academic promise or success and their role in admissions.
Join parents, students and academics to reflect upon this uniquely American rite of passage, exposing fascinating issues that extend broadly within education. The screening will be followed by a discussion led by a panel of experts.
Register here for this free event!
Monday, Sep 17, 2018, 06:30 PM
Nicolet High School, North Jean Nicolet Road, Glendale, WI, USA
Walworth County Parent Resource Fair
Come to Gateway Technical College's South Building and connect with the following agencies:
- Compass Wisconsin
- Society's Assets
- Aging and Disability Resource Center
- Southeastern Wisconsin Center for Children with Special Health Care Needs
- Association for the Prevention of Family Violence
- Safe Families
- Wisconsin Statewide Parent-Educator Initiative
- Seeds of Hope
- CA Counseling
- On-Air Advocate and other resources!
Refreshments and an activity table for children will be available! Please enter the South Building at the Centralia Street entrance. If you have questions, contact jbronson@co.walworth.wi.us.
We hope to see you there!
Saturday, Sep 29, 2018, 09:00 AM
Gateway Technical College, County Road H, Elkhorn, WI, USA
Meeting the Needs of Students with Disabilities: IEPs, 504 Plans and Resolving Conflict
Preparing students with disabilities to be college, career, and community ready is the goal of every school in Wisconsin. To do this, students, who are determined eligible, receive special education services and supports through an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Other students, who do not qualify for special education, may receive accommodations through a 504 Plan. All of this can be confusing and overwhelming to understand and to know how to navigate. Sometimes conflict arises too.
In this session led by Attorney Renae Aldana and CESA 1's WSPEI Family Engagement Coordinator, Cheri Sylla, will review the different parts of the IEP, the difference between IEPs and 504s and how conflict can be resolved between families and schools. A variety of strategies and resources will be shared.
Register here for this free event!
Tuesday, Oct 16, 2018, 06:00 PM
The Ingleside Hotel, Golf Road, Pewaukee, WI, USA
Contact Us!
Email: harkat@easttroy.k12.wi.us
Website: http://www.easttroy.k12.wi.us/district/specialeducation.cfm
Phone: 262.642.6710 3223
Special thanks to Matt Katzenberger for the use of his photo on the background of this newsletter.