Riverview Gardens / SSD
Newsletter for Families, April 2023
Riverview Gardens School District Information
Special School District Information
SEF Accepting Applications for Kid to Camp Program
The Special Education Foundation is now accepting applications to assist children with disabilities served by SSD to attend one or more camps this summer. Each year, the SEF provides tuition assistance to enable students served by SSD to attend summer camps. Sometimes children with disabilities cannot join their peers in a summer camp experience due to financial constraints or other hardships. SEF steps in to help young people and their families take advantage of these experiences that can sometimes be life-changing. Parents and caregivers can have peace of mind knowing that their child is in a safe and healthy place. Apply here.
Family Leadership Institute
Last call for applicants to the Family Leadership Institute (FLI)! FLI is a great opportunity for educational decision makers to:
- Build an understanding of future planning and problem-solving using Charting the Life Course tools.
- Learn to effectively participate in their student's education and improve the educational climate for all children.
- Learn how to positively interact and collaborate with other families and school personnel.
- Discover new resources and network with other families.
This program, which is offered at no cost to participants, is designed for family members who are the educational decision-makers for a student with a disability.
The three sessions will be held in-person on Wednesdays, from 5:30-8:00 PM on April 19, 26, and May 3, 2023. Dinner will be provided for attendees.
Click here to apply today!
FACE Workshops and Community Collaborations
FACE Workshops and Community Collaborations are now posted on the SSD site at https://www.ssdmo.org/Page/495.
Does your student have a new Autism diagnosis or are you interested in learning more about Autism and how to best support student learning in the home environment? Join FACE on April 5th at 6pm as one of SSD’s own Autism Effective Practice Specialists gives practical advice and information. To learn more and to register for this event, click here.
FACE along with SSD’s Behavior Analysts are hosting a workshop about toilet training on April 10th at 6:30. You can learn strategies to break down toilet training skills and gather resources to help your student’s success. To learn more and to register for this event, click here.
FACE is hosting a Family Cafe at North Technical High School on April 27th at 6pm. Cafes are hosted by families for families and provide a welcoming space for families to learn from each other. Click here to register or visit our website www.ssdmo.org/face for more information.
FACE is hosting two HUB Huddles this month at our HUB located in North Technical High School.
- On April 14th Community Action Agency of St. Louis County (CAASTL) will be available to help families with emergency utility and weatherization assistance from 9am-4pm.
- To learn more, click here.
- On April 18th from 11am-12pm the Higher Education Consortium will be available to provide families with the opportunity to access information and increase their knowledge about education, career, and workforce planning or transitioning. This service is available to all high school students and anyone over the age of 19.
- To learn more, click here.
SPOTLIGHT ON BULLYING
Bullying is an unacceptable part of our children’s lives. Do your children know how to recognize the signs of bullying? Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center offers resources to help.
Click here to learn how you can become a partner in your child’s learning.
The Family and Community Resource Center (FCRC), located at the Learning Center in Hazelwood, has several books that help to increase awareness and prevent bullying for students of all different ages and abilities. Here is a list of just a few:
“Betty Stops the Bully: An Emotional Literacy Book” written by Lawrence E. Shapiro, Ph.D “Emily is Being Bullied. What Can She Do?” written by Helen Cowie, Harriet Tenebaum, and Ffion Jones
“I Wish I Knew What to Do?!, Teens tell it like it is…on what to say to get BULLIES to leave you alone!” edited by Beth Carls and Amy Looper
Contact FACE today (face@ssdmo.org, 314-989-8460) to have one of these books or many others sent home in your student’s backpack!
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:
- The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - April 26, 2023
- SSD Family and Community Engagement (FACE), Summer Engagement Activities - May 24, 2023
Join us live on our SSD YouTube Channel.
Lunch and Learn past videos
Community Supports and News
Student Leadership Opportunities: Missouri Youth Leadership Forum
Please check out this unique and FREE leadership opportunities for high school students with disabilities, ages 16 - 21. Apply by April 15.
Brain Injury Association of Missouri Educational Scholarship
The Brain Injury Association of Missouri (BIA-MO) is pleased to offer educational scholarships for survivors of brain injury to pursue post-secondary education.
Deadline for Application and Supporting Material is April 30, 2023.
https://braininjuryassociationofmissouri.formstack.com/forms/scholarship_application
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.
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 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