SSD Lindbergh Schools
September 2022 Community Engagement Newsletter
Back to School, Back to Routines
Summer can be an exciting time for our children; for many families summertime allows the mundane routines of Monday through Friday to be more relaxed and our kids are given more freedoms to stay up late, sleep in, pick their own activities, have more down time or time to spend with family and friends. As exciting as summer can be, it is often a time of disruption from “normal” routines. This disruption can make getting back into the habit of school challenging for many of our children and families. Back to school routines are essential in helping our kiddos prepare for the school year ahead by setting them up for success.
School supplies have been purchased, book bags are filled, and the kids are off to school. The first few weeks take time to adjust to getting back into the reality of school life. During the back-to-school transition phase, it can be a stressful time which can cause our children to experience more anxiety, stress, tiredness, agitation, and the list goes on. One way to combat back to school fatigue is to start implementing a few simple routines to help build consistency into everyday schedules, help prepare for the days and nights ahead and eliminate some of the added stress that comes with getting back to “normal”: whatever that may look like for your family.
Adding a few simple routines like one in the morning and before bed can help you and your family adjust to a new school year. It’s important to build routines that allow families to get enough sleep, be on time, and keep their sanity during the hustle and bustle of a busy week. Your family routines could look something like the ones below to help to reduce your stress in the morning. Be creative and create simple routines that suit your family.
We are excited to be back to school and cannot wait to see our students grow and learn new things this year!
Morning Routine Example
Get up 15 minutes before the rest of the family. This allows you time as the family manager to get ready before waking up the rest of your crew.
Have the kids get dressed immediately.
Announce the time that everyone has to be in the car or at the bus stop. Then give a 5 minute warning.
Before Bed Routine Example
With your child, lay out clothes the night before.
Gather everything that you’ll need to walk out the door in the morning and create a space by the door so that your family can place all their bags and belongings that they will need for the next day.
Adults and children: Go to bed in time to get enough sleep to have the energy to handle whatever the next day has in store.
LPAC Presents: Strategies to Improve Students' Executive Functioning
- Tuesday night September 27
- 6:00 – 7:00
- In-person at Lindbergh Central Office
Presenters Cyndy and Austin Vincent will discuss executive functioning and provide specific, actionable strategies to help parents and students navigate the school year with less stress and more success. Executive functioning refers to the skills that successful students and workers need such as time management, paying attention, and planning/prioritizing.
Cyndy Vincent, Speech and Language Pathologist and special education educator, has worked with students in the Lindbergh School District for 20+ years. Austin Vincent, Cyndy’s son and electronics engineer who also has autism, has taught students and mentored professionals by teaching strategies to navigate school and the workforce more effectively.
Join us for some practical strategies to improve your student's success.
A Quick How to Guide: Asking for Help
Well, it’s happened! The new school year has started. Your children are in a new grade, have a new teacher, may be in a new school, or possibly in a new district all together. All these changes can cause a lot of fear and anxiety. One way to help your children is to teach them how to ask for help when they feel they are unable to solve a problem on their own. Here are a few quick tips to help start a conversation with your child about feeling comfortable asking for help.
1. Help your child shift responsibility from you to them. When students strengthen their self-reflection and self-monitoring, they can more easily take on more responsibility. One way you can do this is by asking open ended questions. For example, what do you think you could do differently next time to solve that problem?
2. Brainstorm with your child about different scenarios. Give your child a scenario that you think your child may view as a problem. Then actively brainstorm with them about possible resolutions.
3. Help your child know that adults such as teachers and administrators want to help, and it is ok to ask for help when you truly need it. Keep in mind, you want to make sure you are encouraging your child to try things on their own first, but an adult is always close by and willing to help.
4. Create a secure environment. When children feel safe and secure, they are more willing to open up and talk about their fears and anxieties.
5. Help your child see they are capable of being a great success! When children feel the adults around them believe they can be successful, they then can build their own capacity for success and this allows them to be more willing to ask for help when it is needed.
Changes are often uncomfortable and can be overwhelming or scary for some students. Helping your child understand that it is ok to ask for help when they feel they have no other options is just one way of helping them become not only more independent but also more successful in the future.
Kelly Sub Services
Looking for part-time employment? SSD needs substitutes for the 22-23 school year in many areas including teacher and teacher assistant. For more information, contact Kelly Services.
Link to apply to sub for SSD through Kelly: Kelly Application to sub for SSD
Back to School Bash
Thank you to all of our families for joining us for the first annual Back to School Bash at Watson Trail Park on August 18. We loved getting to meet our new families and socializing with our returning families. The kids had great fun with face painting, games, playground activities, bubbles, and Kona Ice Sno-Cones! It was a great opportunity for our students to meet new friends and for their parents to make some connections as well. It's our goal to build a community where everyone feels supported. Have the best year and watch our newsletters for upcoming events including on September 27 at 6:00 PM at Lindbergh Central Office when LPAC presents: Strategies to Support Executive Functioning.
Around our town...
Corn Maze at Broemmelsiek Park Weekends through October
- When: Friday, September 9, 2022 - All Day Event
- Location: 1795 Highway DD - Defiance, MO 63341
- Cost: Free
- Website: web2.myvscloud.com
Oktoberfest at Grant's Farm -September 16-18
· When: September 16-18, To attend, simply purchase a Parking Ticket for the date of your choice.
· Location: 10501 Gravois Road, St. Louis, MO 63123
· Cost: Free
· Website: https://grantsfarm.com/oktoberfest-2022/
Brookdale Farms Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch-Fall weekends
- When: Sunday, September 25, 2022, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
- Location: 8004 Twin Rivers Rd., Eureka, MO 63025
- Cost: Children 3 and under: FREE Children 4-11: $6 Children 12 and up: $9 Adults: $9 CASH ONLY
- Website: www.brookdalefarmsinc.com
Communications
By the Numbers Lindbergh School District and SSD
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT (FACE)
FACE Updates
Family Leadership Institute
The highly successful SSD Parent Leadership Institute that has had more than 280 participants since 2007 is once again being offered under a new name of Family Leadership Institute (FLI).
The Institute will be Wednesday evenings from 5:30-8:30pm at SSD Central Office: October 12, 19, 26 and November 2.
If you are a parent or family member who makes the educational decisions for a child with a disability, investing the time to attend these four Wednesday evening sessions will provide:
VISION: for the future of your child.
KNOWLEDGE: to help effectively participate in your child's education.
LEADERSHIP SKILLS: to improve the educational climate for all children.
ACCESS: to new resources, friends, and experts to help you on your journey.
Apply today https://SSDPEDA.as.me/FALL2022FLI
Lindbergh Special Education Coordinator Team
Special Education Coordinator - Sperreng Middle, Concord Elementary, Dressel Elementary & Kennerly Elementary
314-989-8202
Amanda Smith
Special Education Coordinator - Lindbergh High School
314-989-8381
Amy Wassman
Special Education Coordinator - Truman Middle, Long Elementary, Crestwood Elementary & Sappington Elementary
314-989-8390
Special School District of St. Louis County
Email: jmdoyle@ssdmo.org
Website: ssdmo.org
Phone: 314-989-8463