March 31, 2023
Greeting SELC PK Families,
As part of our normal safety procedures, we had a PRACTICE lockdown drill today. I wanted you to know in case your little one mentions it sometime over the weekend. The drill was planned and our Eaglets are experts at following the directions given during these drills. Please reach out with any questions.
SELC invites you to honor WORLD AUTISM DAY on Monday by wearing BLUE! We have a number of Eaglets with Autism in our classrooms at Stowe. Like children with Down Syndrome, these neurodiverse students present with many unique characteristics and skills. Every person is unique in their own way. We all have different abilities and that makes each of us an individual!
Here are 10 facts from the US Department of Health and Human Services about Autism that you may not know:
- ASD affects about 1 in 68 children in the United States, with more children identified than ever before.
- ASD is about 4 times more likely in boys than girls.
- ASD affects children of all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups.
- ASD is a spectrum disorder, which means that every child with ASD has different skills, challenges, and needs.
- While do not know all of the causes of ASD, we have learned that there are likely many contributing factors, including genes, early brain development, and the environment.
- ASD can be reliably diagnosed by age 2, but children may be diagnosed at earlier ages.
- Early identification of ASD helps children get the services they need.
- There is no “cure” for ASD, but there are several interventions that can help children learn important skills that improve everyday life.
- Typically, the earlier children are diagnosed and receive services, the better their outcomes are.
- Children with ASD can learn and succeed in the classroom and beyond. Like every child, with the help of their families, providers, doctors, specialists, and communities, kids with ASD can thrive.
SELC is incredibly lucky to have 28 paraprofessionals and teacher assistants on our team. The support these individuals provide our students and staff is invaluable. Please join me in wishing them a Happy Paraprofessional Day on April 5th! Paraprofessional Day occurs on the first Wednesday in April every year. This day honors educators such as paraprofessionals, teacher's aides, and instructional assistants.
ALSO, SEE BELOW FOR THE SPRING EDITION OF THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE GUIDE FOR YOUNG FAMILIES!
