SSD/U. City News
September 2023
Greetings Families and Staff:
Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year!
We are excited to welcome you back to school for another year of learning, growth, and exploration. This past week we have spent time getting to know each other, settling in, and students enjoying their time at school. Students and teachers practiced routines and procedures, learning classroom, and building expectations.
Our dedicated team of educators is committed to providing quality instruction that engages and inspires. We have planned various exciting activities, events, and opportunities for students to excel academically and personally.
Communication between home and school is vital, and we encourage parents and guardians to stay connected with us. Whether it's through parent-teacher conferences, newsletters, or a phone call. We are here to support your child's learning journey. If you have any questions about your child's programming, please don't hesitate to reach out to any of us.
Thank you for entrusting us with your child's education. We look forward to a year filled with accomplishments, joy, and shared moments of discovery.
In partnership,
Wendy F. Gilliam, Director of Special Education- wfgilliam@ssdmo.org
Meghan Boyer, Special Education Coordinator- mkboyer@ssdmo.org
Bri'Ana Martin, Special Education Coordinator- bcmartin@ssdmo.org
New 2023-2024 School Year!
Family Resources
Stay Cool this summer!
The link below is a link to use to easily locate a cooling center this summer. Please take a look and share this information as needed this summer.
https://data.mo.gov/Health/Missouri-Cooling-Centers-Map/2wki-9iz8
Free Flu Shots Through BJC: Receiving a flu shot helps keep you and your community healthy! Free flu vaccinations are being provided through Barnes-Jewish Hospital. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit https://bit.ly/3oCxqYu
UPCOMING DISTRICT EVENTS
Literacy for Joy & Justice, Speaker Nwando Achebe: Sept. 1, 2023
District Closed for Labor Day Holiday: Sept. 4, 2023
Flynn Park Curriculum Night: Sept. 5, 2023
High School Curriculum Night: Sept. 6, 2023
Board of Education Work Session: Sept. 7, 2023
One U City Community Meeting: Sept. 12, 2023
(Register by school: Barbara C. Jordan, Flynn Park, Jackson Park, Pershing, Brittany Woods Middle)
Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Sept. 29, 2023
Homecoming Parade: Sept. 30, 3023
(Parade Participant Registration due Sept. 24)
Prepare Your Calendar for Exciting FACE Events coming soon…
Would you like to learn more about how you can support your student through the IEP process? Join FACE virtually on September 5th at 6pm for a webinar that will link the use of Charting the LifeCourse tools with preparing for your student’s IEP. Click here to register.
SSD Family Leadership Institute – Fall 2023
SSD's Family and Community Engagement (FACE) program is seeking applicants interested in participating in the Fall 2023 SSD Family Leadership Institute.
Family Leadership Institute participants can:
Build an understanding of future planning and problem-solving utilizing the Charting the LifeCourse 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, 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 September 20, 27, and October 4. Dinner will be provided for attendees.
Location: Special School District Central office Room 60-61, 12110 Clayton Road, Town and Country, Missouri 63131. (Enter at lower level circle drive)
Are you interested in joining this year's Family Leadership Institute?
Apply online! Paper applications are available by request. For more information, call 314.989.8460 or email face@ssdmo.org.
Join FACE for the first Family Cafe of the 2023/24 school year. On Sep 14, 2023 at North Technical High School. FACE will join with families to provide a safe and welcoming space to connect and learn from each other. Family Cafes are centered on the Strengthening Families Protective Factors: Resilience, Relationships, Knowledge, Support, and Communication. Register today!
Lunch and Learn
FACE’s Lunch and Learn Series is back with an exciting lineup of presenters. This month will highlight an SSD community partner, Easter Seals. Join us live on YouTube on September 27th at 11:30 a.m. to learn all about this amazing resource.
Virtual Open House
American Sign Language
THE FAMILY RESOURCE HUB
Learn more HERE:
Helping Students Navigate Back-to-School Anxiety: Tips for Families: The start of a new school year can bring both excitement and apprehension for students, especially after the challenges posed by the previous year. It's not uncommon for students to experience back-to-school anxiety as they face new classrooms, teachers, and classmates. As a family member, your support and guidance play a crucial role in helping your student manage these feelings and start the year positively. Read more...
Family Resource Hub Virtual Grand Opening. Video
Online SSD Resources to Help Families All Year: Visit SSDMO.org for links to resources that will direct you to information that will be helpful throughout the year - bookmark the webpage to make it easy to find. The links below apply to all students county-wide who receive services from SSD.
For more information please contact 314-989-8311
PAC.ED: PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL OF CHILDREN WITH EDUCATIONAL DIVERSITY
SSD PAC Message:
Greetings Families!
Has special education got you stressed out? The beginning of a new year and
unknowns can be extra scary with an IEP or 504. The system can be hard to
navigate even in the best districts. Those great documents, laws, & policies put
into place to help us are hard to understand. It can be a lonely journey. But you
are not alone! You have the SSD PAC.
The SSD PAC is open to every family with a child receiving SSD services. We have monthly zoom meetings. We are parents like you. We get it. You can just log on and watch. SSD and FACE share updates, great information, and presentations based on your needs. We advocate to inform policy with our parent voice. We share parent perspective to help our schools know how to best help our kids.
We’re having an in-person Family Gathering on Sept. 13, 6:30 PM, at the SSD Learning Center in Hazelwood. Please come; tap into this community that exists for you.
Your New SSD PAC President,
Rebecca Flieg
The SSD Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is comprised of families advising and collaborating to improve the education, confidence and social outcomes of each student served by SSD.
Learn more on the PAC website.
Special Education By the Numbers
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HW5vrHl0MAWBxeIWfQaF9bWTw1lwr6QO/view?usp=sharing
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- SSD Superintendent Updates
- SSD Parent Advisory Council
- Parent Education & Diversity Awareness Program
- SSD-University City School District
SSD's Homebound Releases HEART - Web-Based Online Application
Aug. 1, 2023 - SSD's Homebound department is excited to announce HEART (Homebound Education Application Recording Tool), a new web-based online application! The digital application replaces the five-part PDF application that was being used in previous years.
FOCUS Selected to Serve Student Information Needs
August 23, 2023 - SSD has selected FOCUS as the District’s new student information system for SSD schools and programs, replacing Tyler Student Information System (SIS). Tyler announced last year they would no longer be supporting SIS after the 2024-2025 school year.
SSD ADMINISTRATOR CONTACTS
Wendy F. Gilliam, Ed.S
Special Educator Director.
314-989-8241/314-290-4038
wgilliam@ucityschools.org
Meghan Boyer, Ed.S.
Special Education Coordinator
314-290-4150 Pershing Elementary School
Briana Martin
Special Education Coordinator
314-290-4280 Brittany Woods
314-290-4100 U. City High School
Special School District of St. Louis County
314-989-8100SSDMO.org