Bayless SSD Newsletter
December 2022
Dear Bayless Families,
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving break and are ready for colder temperatures! As we near Winter Break, I hope that everyone takes time to enjoy family and friends, a brisk walk in the winter air, and time to rest and relax.
I also want to celebrate a staff member for being recognized in the St. Louis area for her exceptional work. Melissa Duke won an Emerson Excellence in Teaching award and received her recognition at the Bayless Board of Education meeting in November. We are very grateful to have Melissa on our team and supporting our students!
Take care,
Maureen Nelson Ed. S.
Health and Wellness
Tips to Connect with Your Kids During the Holidays
Holiday excitement and stress can overwhelm even the best us. The holiday season is supposed to be about family and togetherness, right? Even so, it's often easy to overlook this fundamental fact. Which is why it's so important to take time out of the seasonal hustle and bustle to help your family enjoy the real meaning of the holidays.
Here are some tips to help you and your younger children enhance the unique family connection you share this holiday season.
- Time-In Fun: Tip your child with five- or 10-minute "time-in" activities. You can use a token system to remind you and your child to stop and take a few moments to have fun together during the busy day. Place the token in a jar to see how much time you spend with your child each week.
- Holiday Goodie Vouchers: Build your child's sense of accomplishment by giving him/her age-appropriate chores, activities and learning tasks. Place one goodie voucher under your child's pillow at night. The reward written on the voucher should cost nothing, such as a promise of time and attention with loved ones.
- Memory Mosaics: Create a gallery of memories from the past year on your child's bedroom wall or in the family room where everyone can see it. Your child can use photos or drawings to help create positive memories.
- Love Notes: Throughout the holiday season, hide a few notes (stickers, cards) of praise in places where your child will find them.
- Family Tree: Help your child learn about your family and who he/she is by making family tree ornaments each month that can be used as decorations during the holidays.
Remember, no matter what the age of your child, spending extra time and offering extra praise can help you all enjoy a happier, calmer, more familial holiday season.
SSD Board of Education Elections
Candidate filing for three open seats on the Special School District’s Board of Education opens at 8 AM on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022 and continues until 5 PM on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022. One of the available seats represents Subdistrict 2 - Affton, Bayless, Hancock Place, and Mehlville school districts. Interested in learning more about the filing process, eligibility, or the responsibilities/time commitments of an SSD Board member? Visit the Board Election section of the District website.
FACE
Assistive Technology Workshop
Join FACE for a workshop all about assistive technology. 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 Options for your Family this Winter
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
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.
Scholarship Opportunities for SSD High School 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.
SSD Staff Encouraged to Nominate Students for Zander Award
Since 1988, SSD has sponsored The Rosemary Zander Awards for students receiving at least one service from SSD and have demonstrated extraordinary progress and an excellent attitude. The award has long recognized the accomplishments of students receiving services or technical education courses from SSD.
Students have been honored for success in a variety of categories – academics, arts, athletics, communications, vocational training, employment, independent living skills, community service, and extracurricular activities. Recipients of the award must be nominated by an SSD staff member using the The Rosemary Zander Awards form by Dec. 16, 2022.
Upcoming Events
December 22-31 Winter Break
Contact Us
Special School District of St. Louis County
12110 Clayton Road
Town & Country, MO 63131
Phone: 314‐989‐8100
Maureen Nelson, Director of Special Education
Stephanie Wansing, Social Worker
Selma Kostic, School Psychologist
Jason Driedger, School Psychologist
Email: monelson@ssdmo.org
Website: baylessk12.org
Location: 4530 Weber Rd, Affton, MO 63123, USA
Phone: (314) 256-8690.3009