Kirkwood Special School District
December 2022 Edition
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT (FACE) NEWS
Assistive Technology Workshop
Join FACE for a workshop all about assistive technology on December 13 from 11:30-12:30. In this virtual session, participants will be introduced to Assistive Technology, by SSD Assistive Technology Specialist Kim White. Learn how to request an AT consultation and participate in demonstrations of universal tools available to all SSD students. Examples will be provided for low- and high-tech AT options that can be implemented in the home and school environments.Click here to register: Assistive Technology Workshop Registration
Sensory Friendly Winter Activities
St. Louis Zoo’s Sensory-Friendly Wild Lights Night
Dec. 9, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.: Nothing says St. Louis Christmas quite like Wild Lights at the St. Louis Zoo. Your family can stroll through the grounds surrounded by a million lights, including animated displays, fireside stories, campfire s’mores, photo opportunities, and more. This event is made sensory-friendly with trained staff on-hand and quiet areas to help your child decompress. Get more information and tickets at stlzoo.org.
Saint Charles Christmas Traditions on Historic Main Street – Sensory-friendly tours
The Historic Main Street of Saint Charles is a magical and fun place to visit during the Holiday season. With a new inclusion initiative, Saint Charles is now offering guided sensory-friendly tours. These guided tours are conducted twice daily by sensory specialists. Each 90-minute tour introduces guests to several Christmas Legends and ends with an opportunity to get your picture with Santa and a full deck of 2019 Saint Charles Christmas Traditions trading cards. Tours are Saturdays and Sundays during the holiday festival. For more information, including dates and times, visit discoverstcharles.com.
Sibshops at ARC
Sibshops at ARC
Wednesday, December 14 4:30 – 6:00 pm , Monthly on the second Wednesday
Location:
St. Louis Arc
1177 N Warson Rd, St. Louis, MO 63132, US
Ages: Siblings ages 7 – 15
Sibshops offer an opportunity for brothers and sisters of children with disabilities to get peer support and education within a recreational context. This free series includes a fun mix of information, games, activities, and discussion. Children between the ages of 7-15 years old who have a sibling with a disability are encouraged to participate.
For more information, contact Lee Anna Sanders at 314-817-2269.
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.
ARCH Respite serves St. Louis County and St. Louis City to register, or learn more, contact ARCH@slarc.org or call 314-817-2236.
Lunch and Learn Series
Special School District’s Family and Community Engagement (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:
Recreation Council of Greater St. Louis, Summer Resources - Dec. 15, 2022
Productive Living Board (PLB), Resources for Families - Jan. 25, 2023
SSD Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) department - Feb. 22, 2023
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - April 26, 2023
SSD Family and Community Engagement (FACE), Summer Engagement Activities - May 24, 2023
Each event is held virtually through YouTube Live. To access the video, please click on the organization's name in the list above. The videos will not be available to view until their scheduled date and time.
Scholarships and Awards
Scholarships for Seniors
Several scholarships are available for students who receive SSD services! High school seniors who plan to enroll in a college, university or postsecondary program after graduation this spring should review the following opportunities.
Applications for The James E. Westbury/SSD Board of Education Scholarship, The Allison M. Haake Memorial Scholarship, and The Bonhomme Lions Club Scholarship must receive at least one service from SSD and plan to enroll in a college, university, or postsecondary program. All scholarships require a letter of recommendation. Applications are due Dec. 16, 2022. Visit ssdmo.org/scholarships for more information.
The Special Education Foundation (SEF) sponsors the John Cary Scholarships for high school seniors, as well. Applications are due Jan. 24, 2023.
Nominations for Salutes Awards Open Until Jan. 6
Applications for several awards which honor the contributions of SSD staff and community members are awaiting nominations, due Jan. 6, 2023. These awards are collectively known as Salutes awards because they are given at the District’s annual Salutes event in the spring. They include the following:
Please refer to the Salutes webpage for details about each award. Some awards permit nomination by SSD staff only, while others accept nominations from people who are not employed by SSD (e.g., students, parents, partner district staff, and other community members). Consider submitting a nomination and help us provide the recognition they deserve for their meaningful work in SSD!
PAC Corner
PAC Meeting Dates
Meeting Dates will be held at the NMKS Library from 6:30pm-8:00pm on the following dates:
December 1, 2022
February 9, 2023
April 20, 2023
National School Psychology Week
Lindsay Amen-Kirkwood High School
Sarah Giger-North Kirkwood Middle School and Westchester Elementary
Anna Mae Halamicek-Nipher Middle School and North Glendale Elementary
Jennifer Manley-Robinson Elementary
JJ Velk-Keysor Elementary and Tillman Elementary
2022 Dates to Remember-DECEMBER
Read a Book Month
Computer Science Education Week (Tech)
Inclusive Schools Week
National Special Education Day
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
Nancy Linhoff
Anna Mae Halamicek
I am the school psychologist at Nipher Middle and North Glendale, where I've been for 7 years now! My favorite part of working in Kirkwood is feeling that I help students get the support they need, whether it be through our gen-ed or special ed supports. This year, I have loved finding inventive ways to problem-solve for students instead of spending too much time focusing on what special education 'label' may be appropriate. My other favorite part of being in Kirkwood is working with a fantastic team of school psychologists; they are the absolute best support system. In my free time, I am cherishing every second I get to be silly with my 3.5 year old and 7 month old. You can frequently find us on adventures to all of our local playgrounds and the St. Charles library.
Amy Mancuso
My name is Mrs. Mancuso (or Ms. M) and I’m excited to be in my fourth year as a paraprofessional for Robinson. I’m enjoying working with first graders this year. They are a constant source of entertainment, whether they’re amazing me with their progress or just simply making me laugh. My co-workers are also a big part of why I come back every day. I live in South County with my husband and dog, Macklin. Before Robinson, I was a nanny to the same family for eight years, and I continue to take care of them in the summer. I have a Masters in Teaching from Fontbonne University and have recently become certified in Special Ed.
In my off time, I like to try new restaurants, pet my dog, shop resale, hang out with friends, and watch Parks and Rec for the 100th time. My favorite place to travel to is South Florida.
Helpful Links
Connect with the SSD Board of Education
The SSD Board of Education strives for transparency, accountability, and accessibility. We welcome family, staff, and community members to share comments, concerns, and ideas with SSD Board of Education members. To find the Board member representing your subdistrict, visit the Board of Education page on the SSD website.
Upcoming Events
SSD Board of Education Meetings:
December 13, 2022 Board of Education Business Meeting 5:45 PM
Please visit the SSD Board of Education for more information.
Kirkwood School District Board of Education Meetings:
December 5, 2022 Board Work Session 5:00 PM
December 19, 2022 Board Meeting 7:00 PM
Please visit the Kirkwood Board of Education for more information.
December 1, 2022 KW SSD PAC Meeting 6:30 PM
December 14, 2022 SSD PAC 7:00 PM
December 21, 2022 End of 1st Semester
December 22, 2022-January 3, 2023 No School-Winter Break
Contact Us
Special School District of St. Louis County
12110 Clayton Road
Town & Country, MO 63131
Phone: 314‐989‐8100
Taneal Davis
- Director of Special Education-Robinson
- tmdavis@ssdmo.org
- taneal.davis@kirkwoodschools.org
Colleen Card
- Special Education Coordinator-KHS
- COcard@ssdmo.org
- colleen.card@kirkwoodschools.org
Bridget Duke
- Special Education Coordinator-North Glendale, Tillman, Nipher
- baduke@ssdmo.org
- bridget.duke@kirkwoodschools.org
Emily Meuth
- Special Education Coordinator-Keysor, Westchester, NKMS
- ELMeuth@ssdmo.org
- emily.meuth@kirkwoodschools.org