SSD/Parkway Newsletter
June 2022
Dear Parkway Families,
I sit here typing this on the last official week of the school year and I’m marveling at how fast these months have gone. What a year it’s been! We have such gratitude for the educators that have worked in the schools day in and day out providing meaningful learning opportunities. We have an abundance of gratitude for all our families that have supported their students and their schools as we navigated the year. Thank you for a successful 2021-2022 school year.
This month continues our plan of sharing ideas or resources that might be of interest over the summer months if you are looking for connection activities. Hope that your family can enjoy engaging in some of the suggestions shared by our Parkway team members.
The Special Education Coordinators within Parkway will be working all summer to recruit and hire staff. If you know of a strong candidate that would be a good fit for Parkway, please share the Paraprofessional link with them and let your school’s Special Education Coordinator know so that we can reach out as soon as they are a candidate. Thank you for helping us to recruit dedicated staff members to join us in Parkway!
As always, a heartfelt thank you for all that you do to partner with us on behalf of your students. We appreciate your support of our staff and school communities.
In collaboration,
Dr. Amy Blumenfeld
Director of Special Education
314-989-8435 / ablumenfeld@ssdmo.org
314-415-5297 / ablumenfeld2@parkwayschools.net
KELLY SERVICES
SSD has recently partnered with Kelly Education Services for our substitute provider across St. Louis County. Kelly Education Services is actively looking to build their substitute base. Please see the below flyer for information about the process for receiving a substitute certification.
PEDA
Are you still thinking about what to do this summer?
The PEDA Summer Resource Packet can help!
PEDA 2022 Summer Resource Packet
Other helpful resources:
St. Louis Recreation Council www.recreationcouncil.org
Blueprint for Summer https://blueprint4.com/stl/
St. Louis County Parks Activity Guide https://bit.ly/3LHpRsp
Early Childhood Summer Resource Guide https://adobe.ly/3vSuol1
The highly successful SSD Parent Leadership Institute that has had more than 280 participants since 2007 is once again being offered under a new name of Family Leadership Institute (FLI).
The Institute will be Wednesday evenings from 5:30-8:30pm at SSD Central Office: October 12, 19, 26 and November 2.
If you are a parent or family member who makes the educational decisions for a child with a disability, investing the time to attend these four Wednesday evening sessions will provide:
VISION: for the future of your child.
KNOWLEDGE: to help effectively participate in your child's education.
LEADERSHIP SKILLS: to improve the educational climate for all children.
ACCESS: to new resources, friends, and experts to help you on your journey.
Apply today https://SSDPEDA.as.me/FALL2022FLI
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT
The family engagement department would like to offer some timely resources for families to check out.
1. The Family Resource Hub –
a. Family Resource Hub Virtual Grand Opening Video
c. Introducing The Family Resource Hub
d. The Family Resource Hub Satellite Food Pantry
2. Youth Mental Health Training for Families – Google link: https://forms.gle/28CzBcceYgadDhJk6
4. The Recreation Council of Greater St. Louis Summer Program Guide Announcement (Summer Program Guides Available on 1.21.22)
Summer Activities Corner:
This month, we’d like to share a few resources to help start off your summer well. Below you will find the following items.
1. Literacy Recommendations for Families (list of sites broken down by age levels)
2. ‘Summer in the Lou’ (list of places to visit this summer/free activities for families/free sites to visit for topics to help parents)
3. Three lists for Speech & Language websites and/or apps for an iPad/smart device (Please note that some of the apps on the list are not free apps)
Literacy Recommendations for Families
Primary Grades
1. ABCya.com
Educational Computer Games for Kids!
2. PBS
3. Star Fall
4. Story Place
https://www.storyplace.org/front
Intermediate Grades
1. Common Lit
2. Into the Book
https://reading.ecb.org/student/index.html
3. Tween Tribune
4. Harry Potter Reading Club
5. LitPick
Any Grades
1. Tumble Books
2. Reading Rockets Children’s Books and Authors
https://www.readingrockets.org/books
3. Reading Rockets for Parents
https://www.readingrockets.org/audience/parents
4. Reader’s Theater
http://www.aaronshep.com/rt/RTE.html
5. Reader’s Theater
http://www.thebestclass.org/rtscripts.html
6. Read Write Think
https://www.readwritethink.org/
7. Online Etymology Dictionary
8. Unite for Literacy
https://www.uniteforliteracy.com/
9. Epic (there is a fee for this site, about $5)
For Parents
1. Embracing Dyslexia
Summer in the Lou
Kids out and about in St. Louis
Has an extensive listing of various things families and kids can do in the St. Louis area. There is a section for free things that families can do:
Great Outings for Kids with Special Needs
Sensory Friendly Activities in St. Louis
50 Great Websites for Parents of special needs children
Parent Resources & Support:
Through a one-to-one “match,” experienced Support Parents provide emotional support to families of individuals with special health care needs and assist them in finding information and resources.
The online-only Complex Child E-Magazine is free and written solely by parents of special needs children. The fellowship provided by this e-magazine is vast. You can submit your own posts for others to reference, search for articles by topic, or browse their database of
information. You can also find articles that direct to local resources and organizations.
Networking is an essential component of parent advocacy. PACCD meetings provide parents the chance to ask questions and share information that benefits both students and families. Topics for PACCD meetings vary by month and all parents and guardians are welcome and encouraged to join. Please email contactpaccd@gmail.com to get more information about PACCD and/or to look for ways to get involved!
Best,
Laura Hoff
PACCD President
Let’s Talk is an easy way to submit feedback at your convenience directly to the SSD staff member who can help.
UPCOMING DATES
June 6: SSD Governing Council Meeting 7 pm
June 7: SSD Public Review Committee Meeting 6 pm
June 14: SSD Board of Education Work Study Session 5:45
June 15: Parkway Board of Education Meeting 7 pm
June 28: SSD Board of Education Business Meeting 5:45
July 12: SSD Board of Education Business Meeting 5:45
Aug 9: SSD Board of Education Work Study Session 5:45
Aug 10: Parkway Board of Education Meeting 7 pm
Special School District of St. Louis County
Email: ablumenfeld@ssdmo.org
Website: www.ssdmo.org
Location: 12110 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO, USA
Phone: 314.989.8435
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SSDStLCo
Twitter: @SSDDStLCo
Parkway School District
Website: https://www.parkwayschools.net/
Location: 455 North Woods Mill Road, Chesterfield, MO, USA
Phone: 314-415-8100