SSD/Clayton Dispatch
November 2022
Upcoming Events
School District of Clayton Calendar
November 8 No School (Professional Learning Day)
November 23-25 Thanksgiving Break
Staff Milestone
5 Years
Stephanie Phipps
Karl Schneider
Jenny Wand
10 Years
Melissa Becker
Debbie Garbow
Rachel Nichols
15 Years
Michelle Gruber
Kelly Shemwell
Family Academy
Missouri Building Block Picture Book Award 2022
Parents and caregivers can register kids ages 0-6 for the reading challenge through November 30. Read at least 5 of the 10 nominees to receive the link to the online ballot and a chance to win one of the nominated titles. Winners will be notified by December 9, 2022. Learn more.
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.
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!
Connect with the SSD Board of Education
To keep students engaged through the school year, Dream Big hosts career exploration events during the academic year, where students have the opportunity to interact with a variety of professionals in different career clusters. The professionals share their educational and career journeys and lead participants in an activity related to the field. Students who participate in the academic year events would also be encouraged to apply for our Dream Big Summer Camp. All the FREE academic year events are currently held virtually on the Zoom platform.
November 2nd: Video Game Industry
December 7th: Creative and Digital Arts
Family and Community Engagement
Lunch and Learn Series 2022 - 2023: 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.
CAASTL (Community Action Agency of St. Louis County): Please join FACE on at the Family Resource Hub, located Nov 11, 2022 in North Tech High School, from 9am to 4pm. CAASTL (Community Action Agency of St. Louis County) will be available on that date to provide additional support and access to resources that promote healthy families and a thriving community. Families can learn about case management, utility assistance, rental assistance, financial education, weatherization, and program development and education activities. A CAASTLC representative will be available to answer questions and assist with applications.
Higher Education Consortium (HEC): The Higher Education Consortium (HEC) will be at the Family Resource Hub, located in North Tech High School, from 11am to Noon on Nov 15, 2022 . The HEC can provide families with information to increase their knowledge about education, career, and workforce planning or transitioning. High school students and anyone over the age of 19 are eligible to receive services from HEC.
Family Cafe: Family and Community Engagement (FACE) will be hosting a Family Cafe on November 17, 2022 from 6-8pm at the Family Resource Hub, located in North Tech High School. Cafes are hosted by families for families. They provide parents and caregivers a safe and welcoming space to connect and learn from each other. They are centered on the Strengthening Families Five Protective Factors: RESILIENCE, RELATIONSHIPS, KNOWLEDGE, SUPPORT and COMMUNICATION. https://bit.ly/FamCafes
Family Academy: Join us for SSD’s very first Family Academy on November 5th from 9am to noon at Northview High School located on Derhake Rd in Florissant. Family Academy is an opportunity for SSD families to learn and utilize resources and strategies to improve student outcomes. The Family Academy will offer networking with community agencies and other families. There will be music, light refreshments, fun learning opportunities, and learning resources to support your student in the home. https://SSDFACE.as.me/FamAcad22
Important to note: November is Family Engagement Month please stay tuned to our district website and social media accounts for ways to engage families.
Information about the Family Leadership Institute: https://www.ssdmo.org/Page/509
PAC.ED: Parent Advisory Council of Children with Educational Diversity
PAC.ED and the School District of Clayton are proud to have participated in promoting awareness of disability history and the contributions of individuals with disabilities and to designate October as Disability History and Awareness Month. The Board of Education affirmed its commitment on Wednesday, October 13, 2022 when it signed a proclamation stating such.
Please check out the following links:
· Clayton Disability History & Awareness Proclamation Clayton Disability History & Awareness Proclamation (including presentation video).
· Award Winning Disability History & Awareness Video Series 2021.
· Intelligent Lives (the film) & Panel Discussion – available in three(3) formats including Spanish.
· Disability Awareness Video Showcase – a collection of films from acclaimed Director and Advocate Dan Habib.
PAC.ED: Parent Advisory Council of Children with Educational Diversity, advocates for awareness, understanding, equity, and inclusion of and for all students with disabilities in the School District of Clayton. PAC.ED is a volunteer organization made up of families, Clayton and Special School District (SSD) staff and administrators, as well as community members.
We have wonderful actives, events and programs planned for the 2022/2023 school year!
Stay up-to-date with Clayton PAC.ED by visiting our Dashboard
For more information or questions regarding PAC.ED, please contact: Clayton PAC.ED President, Christina Blankenship at cmblankenship@sbcglobal.net , or call 314.402.4920.
SSD Parent Advisory Council (SSD PAC)
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. The PAC consists of five parents or guardians – one member and four alternates – from each of the 22 St. Louis County school districts and from each of the five SSD special education schools. The parents or guardians of students receiving special education services in that district or school elect SSD PAC members.
The SSD PAC operates as a completely separate organization from the School District of Clayton PAC.ED. However, due to the nature of “dual district” structure that exists uniquely in St. Louis County, both PACs benefit from ongoing engagement, support, and collaboration. In fact, members of the Clayton PAC.ED often represent the School District of Clayton on the SSD PAC.
For more information check out SSD PAC or contact Christina Blankenship, call 314.402.4920, (Clayton PAC.ED President and SSD PAC (voting member).
- November 9, 2022 7-9pm via zoom
- December 14, 2022 7-9pm via zoom
- January 11, 2023 7-9pm via zoom
- February 8, 2023 7-9pm via zoom
- April 12, 2023 7-9pm via zoom
- May 10, 2023 7-9pm via zoom
Special School District of St. Louis County
Melissa Logan, Director of Special Education
Kate Pavlisin, Instructional Coach
Email: mjlogan@ssdmo.org
Website: www.ssdmo.org
Location: 12110 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO, USA
Phone: 314.989.8100
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SSDStLCo
Twitter: @SSDDStLCo
Clayton School District
Website: https://www.claytonschools.net/
Location: 2 Mark Twain Circle, Clayton, MO, USA
Phone: 314-854-6000