Special Services Family Newsletter
October 2019
Special Services Director’s Message
Dear Parents and Families, the Special Education staff in the Minidoka School District would like to share information we receive on resources for students with disabilities. We have decided to publish a monthly electronic newsletter to keep you up to date on what is happening locally and statewide.
If you would like to receive this each month, please share your email address by filling out the form below and entering the information. Be sure to click on the submit button at the bottom. Sherry Bingham
Tools for Life
Tools for Life is a Conference held yearly in Idaho for junior and senior high school students with disabilities (IPE and 504 plans). It will be in Pocatello on March 9-10, 2020. Registration begins October 15th. There is a $10 fee for students to attend. All rooms and meals are paid by Vocational Rehabilitation. If a student is not able to pay Idaho Parent’s Unlimited (IPUL) will waive the fee. Students sign up with their special education teacher or for 504 students their school counselor. Space is limited and the conference fills up quickly! For information on past conferences, go to the following link:
Home Depot Craft day
On scheduled Saturdays each month, Home Depot offers a free workshop for kids to build their own wooden masterpiece. Designed for kids ages 5-12, but all ages welcome! I’ve taken my kids when they were 3 and 4 and although they weren’t too adept at the hammering, they loved the stickers and painting parts!
Show up anytime between 9am and 12pm, and your child will be outfitted with the hallmark orange apron and the tools to create a wooden “whatever” (each month is a new project). And yes, they get to bring their timbered showpiece home for all to admire, along with a certificate of achievement and a snazzy pin for their apron. Did we mention it was FREE? Good job Deeps, we salute you.
This week’s project: American Eagle
Saturday, November 2, 2019; any time between 9:00am-12:00pm
You’ll be proud to complete this project using everything in the American Eagle kit. Learn to use a hammer, fine sandpaper, wood glue and a Phillips screwdriver. Assemble the bird’s basic shape and its wings, then add fun stickers. Paint the piece to bring it to life, and then build the base to help your bird stand tall. All Kids Workshop attendees must be accompanied by a parent or adult at all times. All kids get to keep their craft, receive a FREE certificate of achievement, a Workshop Apron, and a commemorative pin while supplies last. Children must be present at the store to participate in the workshop and receive the kit, apron and pin.
Disability Mentoring Day
Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) began as an event at the White House for a few dozen students in 1999. In 2010 at the national level, The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) worked with over 200 volunteers and 19 DMD national sponsors to support 13,000 students and job-seekers with disabilities participating in DMD events at sites across the country. Since then, DMD events, designed to promote career development and awareness for students and job seekers with disabilities have been held annually on or around the third Wednesday in October to coincide with National Disability Employment Awareness month. The Magic Valley Transition Team is proud to support AAPD’s work and continue this tradition by hosting the 8th annual local DMD events.
This year Disability Mentoring Day 2019 will be launched in two separate locations. The Twin Falls event will be held at the College of Southern Idaho on October 16th, while the Burley event will be held at the College of Southern Idaho Mini-Cassia Center on November 6th. Our event last year included 80 students from 12 different high schools accompanied by 25 educators and 15 Magic Valley Transition Team members. Our sponsors, the Magic Valley Transition Team, and Magic Valley employers have made this event happen with great success for the past seven years. We want to do it again in 2019, and we invite you not to miss this rich transition experience with your students.
Individual school districts are responsible for providing transportation to and from the event and schools may choose to attend whichever event is closest to their school. There is no cost to attend the event and lunch will be provided for all students and staff. If your student is interested in attending, they need to contact their special education case manager to register. There is no cost to attend the event and lunch will be provided.
Reality Town - Volunteer Help Needed!
As a part of the Disability Mentoring Day, the Magic Valley Transition Team will be hosting a ‘Reality Town’ in Burley. We will be hosting this event at the CSI Mini-Cassia Center gym on November 6th, 2019 from 8:30 to 12:30 for some local high school Students from both Minidoka and Cassia County’s. We are looking for volunteers who can help. After the event will be providing lunch for all students and volunteers.
If you are able to assist with this event, please email Kellsie at kellsie.monroe@vr.idaho.gov no later than October 21st.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
6:30 pm .Gem Center for the Arts
2417 Bank Dr. Boise ID 83705
Kerry is an award-winning national speaker and author.
Come learn about Autism and support AquAbility
in our efforts to improve the lives of people with disabilities.
Click on the event brite link below if you wish to register.
Supporting Students with Reading Needs
The State Department of Education has partnered with Idaho Public Television to produce a series of vignettes promoting good practices parents can implement to improve their children’s education.
The videos can be accessed at the National Center on Improving Literacy along with corresponding pamphlets and additional resources for parents and teachers.
https://improvingliteracy.org/kit/supporting-students-reading-needs