Brentwood Special School District
March 2022 Edition
Dear Families,
On Friday, March 11th from 9:30-10:00, I will be hosting our monthly virtual parent meeting for parents of students with IEPs in Brentwood. This meeting will be an opportunity for Brentwood parents of students receiving services from Special School District to connect with one another as well as with me to discuss what supports are available to families in Special School District and to talk through what needs we may have in Brentwood. We will use Hostetler Zoom Link for this meeting.
As always, please don't hesitate to reach out to me with any questions or concerns you may have.
Travena Hostetler; Ed D
Director of Special Education; Brentwood
thostetler@brentwoodmoschools.org
314-989-8479
WELLNESS CORNER
Practicing Screen-time Hygiene
You might have heard the term "sleep hygiene", which means "having both a bedroom environment and daily routines that promote consistent, uninterrupted sleep" according to sleephygiene.org.
The same logic of creating environments, routines, and boundaries to promote health and wellbeing can be applied to those little rectangular devices we are so easily glued to throughout the day: our screens.
Most notably, studies show that excessive screen-time significantly increases the risk for clinical depression in adolescents. Additionally, excessive screen-time increases risks for obesity, insufficient sleep, behavior problems, delays in language and social skills development, violence, and attention problems according to the Mayo Clinic. More recently, experts have found that excessive screen-time also interferes with the development of creativity in young minds.
In light of the harmful risks of too much time on our phones, Ipads, computers, and TV's, it is crucial to practice screen-time hygiene and take back control of our kids' mental and physical health, their brain development, and their overall well-being. But if we want our kids to take this seriously, we adults need to take this seriously as well. These practices don't solely benefit kids!
Here are some tips creating healthy screen environments, routines, and boundaries:
- Limit screen time on phones using parental controls or a "screentime passcode" (available on Iphones) to limit how long your child (or yourself!) can use specific apps. This feature can also create "downtimes", such as before / during bedtime, where only essential apps can be accessed.
- Keep screens out of your or your child's bedroom and consider requiring devices be charged in a different room at night.
- Eliminate background TV
- Create tech-free zones or times, such as during mealtime or one night a week.
- Encourage unplugged, unstructured playtime.
In the digitally-crazed world we live in, these types of practices may seem unrealistic. But if we can take one small step in the right direction, we will find that it is not only possible, but liberating.
My hope is that you and your children can join me in a journey towards freedom from the ever-tightening grips of our screens. Your family's health is worth it!
For more information for screen-time hygiene, please visit:
Kelly Education
SWEP Summer Work Program
Through the program, students hold a summer job in their community and receive job-coaching support. They are paid an hourly wage for their work. SWEP is funded by the Productive Living Board of St. Louis County and is open to county residents with a qualifying disability. It is conducted through a collaboration of six area agencies - MERS/Goodwill is the Lead Agency.
A few important things to remember about eligibility for the SWEP program:
- You must be a resident of St. Louis County.
- You must be between 16 and 20 years of age and planning to return to a school program in the Fall of 2022.
- You cannot participate in SWEP while participating in the Extended School Year Program.
- Your teacher needs to submit a Teacher Input form before the program begins.
- You must be available for the entire 8 weeks of the program.
- You must have your own transportation to participate in the program.
- Not everyone who applies to the SWEP program will be able to participate this summer.
If your student is interested, please reach out to their case manager for the application OR download the application that is attached below ~
VIRTUAL LUNCH & LEARN SERIES FOR SSD FAMILIES AND STAKEHOLDERS
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:
- St. Louis ARC – April 6
- St. Louis County Library – May 4
SSD PARENT EDUCATION (PEDA)
THE SUMMER RESOURCE PACKET IS HERE!
Get tips and tricks to making this your child’s best summer yet.
To access The Summer Resource Packet, click here: PEDA 2022 Summer Resource Packet
To access the YouTube Video of our recent Summer Resource Fair, click here: https://youtu.be/VVeYDiL8ykM
Virtual Workshop: Meeting your child’s needs using Charting the LifeCourse Tools in the IEP process
When: Tue, March 15, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Description: Your child’s school Individual Education Plan (IEP) can be intimidating and overwhelming at times. Find out how to utilize LifeCourse Tools to help prepare and communicate effectively with your child’s IEP team to determine the most successful goals and interventions to help your child reach their potential.
To register for this workshop, click here: https://SSDPEDA.as.me/CTLCwithSTLARC
PEDA would love your feedback!
Please complete are PEDA Communications survey here: PEDA Survey
Staff Shout Out!!!
Do you have a teacher or staff member who has gone above and beyond for you or your child supporting them, encouraging them to do their best or being a listening ear when they need someone? Please take a minute to write a note of thanks by sharing your appreciation with them. You may fill out this form as many times as you would like for different school personnel.
Upcoming Events
SSD Board of Education Meetings:
March 8, 2022 - 5:45 pm
April 26, 2022- 5:45 pm
May 24, 2022- 5:45 pm
June 28, 2022- 5:45 pm
Please visit the SSD Board of Education for more information.
Brentwood School District Board of Education Meetings:
March 15, 2022- 7:00 pm
April 19, 2022- 7:00 pm
May 17, 2022- 7:00 pm
June 21, 2022- 7:00 pm
Please visit the Brentwood Board of Education for more information.
Helpful Links
Contact Us
Special School District of St. Louis County
12110 Clayton Road
Town & Country, MO 63131
Phone: 314‐989‐8100
Travena Hostetler
- Director of Special Education; Brentwood
- trhostetler@ssdmo.org
Erik Lewis
- School Social Worker
- erlewis@ssdmo.org
Mary Herbst
- School Psychologist
- meherbst@ssdmo.org