CCISD Special Services

January 2022

A Note from the Executive Director:

Welcome to 2022! We are looking forward to the opportunities a new year brings and thank you for your involvement in your child's education.


In the Secondary Spotlight this month, you will see a link for the 2022 Transition Parent Survey. We would like to know what workshops you would like to see on the agenda this spring, as well as what options for dates, times and locations you are looking for. When you click the link, a Microsoft form will pop up, and it will allow you to submit your choices. We will have this link open though the end of the day on February 1st.



If translation is needed for the Newsletter:
On the right-hand column under Accessibility, click on Translate and choose desired language.


Si se necesita traducción para el Boletín:

En la columna de la derecha, abajo en donde dice Accessibility, haga clic en Traducir y elija el idioma deseado


Dr. Michele Staley

CCISD Executive Director of Special Services

2022 Adaptive PE Day

ATTENTION! The long awaited return of APE day is near. Please hold the date for April 13th, at Walter Hall Park. We are hopeful that will be allowed to host this much anticipated event.


This is a fun filled day of field day type of events that are planned and executed by the PALS, Best Buddies and Adaptive PE teams from across CCISD. It is one of the most anticipated days of the year!


If you are interested in donating items or services for APE Day 2022, please contact Mark Geiselhart by emailing mgeiselh@ccisd.net. We are extremely thankful for the donations that are received for this event and we look forward to the return of many familiar faces this year. We have missed you!

CCISD Challengers Special Olympics Team

CCISD Challengers Special Olympics Team

CCISD Challengers Special Olympics Team

The CCISD Challengers are gearing up for the Spring semester! To join the Challengers, you must have a current medical release on file with Coach Burges to participate. Please email her at ashleyburges@ccisd.net or call her at 281-284-0771 if you have any questions.


Attached below is the informational letter, current athlete information form, and physical form. If you are interested in your child joining the Challengers, please complete these items and submit them to Coach Burges as soon as possible.


Official CCISD Challengers Special Olympics Basketball practice has started!

DATES – Monday’s in January and February (Not student holidays)

TIME – 6:00-7:00 PM

WHERE – Clear Falls High School


**If your athlete is going to participate in CCISD Challengers Special Olympics basketball, click here –

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=z39lBzW9mUaVLZ0xfCXs-RZmO2J7LUFAqSEffp_z6ylUMjQ3NTFQMjZENVBKWFM5VUpGNkxBVVJKMi4u

2903 Falcon Pass, Houston, TX, USA ashleyburges@ccisd.net 281-284-0771 ccisd.net/departments/special_education_services/parent_resources/special_olympics

Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA)


SEPTA is making plans for 2022 and wants YOU to be a part of the team! Parents, grandparents, students, teachers, and friends- come join us! Scholarship applications will be released in March for those SEPTA members who qualify for the applications (active member as of October 15, 2021). Stay tuned for more details in next month's issue!


Questions? Contact Michele Klages mom4autism@gmail.com


Please see https://septaccisd.org/ for more information, or email President Angel Webb at angel@angelwebb.com if you have questions regarding SEPTA membership. A membership form is attached for review.


SEPTA recently earned the Student Involvement Award! The efforts to engage the greater community in PTA have been recognized.

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Secondary Spotlight- Transition Needs

Please take a few moments to complete the January 2022 Transition Survey. This will assist us in scheduling workshops focused on your needs. This link will be live through February 1, 2022.


CCISD Transition Parent Survey

OR

https://tinyurl.com/CCISDTransitionSurvey

Special Services Parent Resource Center

Our Parent Resource Center is open for 1:1 assistance (via TEAMS, over the phone, via email, or in person).


We can accommodate your needs via TEAMS or Zoom chats if needed. Workshop schedules will be offered on a rotating basis, and 1:1 meetings are available weekly by calling or emailing the Parent Center.


We offer a variety of parent workshops, both virtually and in person. These are tailored to the requests of the attendees, however, specific courses are offered during certain times of the year.


Mrs. Marshall can offer support and guidance as you navigate the Special Education and 504 programs. She can also help connect you to local community resources.


To view the Parent Resource Center page please visit:


https://www.ccisd.net/special-services#parent-resource-center


To reach Mrs. Marshall directly, please call 281-284-0751 or email her at pmarshall@ccisd.net

Early Childhood Spotlight

Early childhood classrooms are a great place to instill the love of learning. The following article discusses the five essentials for developing meaningful play for your early learner.


https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/five-essentials-meaningful-play

Elementary Spotlight

The CCISD Elementary AA PAES (Practical Assessment Exploration System) lab, is a program provided to students in elementary AA grades 3-5. It provides performance-based activities of basic generalizable work and life skills, interest and preferences, and behaviors that relate to the improvement of independence.


As we mentioned in the December newsletter, this new PAES Lab will be opening to students this semester and if your child is in the AA Program, you will receive a permission slip prior to your child's class visiting the lab for the first time.


We are SO excited for this opportunity that was made possible by a Special Innovative Grant from the Clear Creek Education Foundation!

Galveston-Brazoria Cooperative for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (GBCDHH)

As we start a new year, many of us focus on healthy habits and self-care. One aspect of this that is often overlooked is hearing conservation. We live in a very noisy world with traffic, appliances, electronics, and many other sources of noise. It is important to understand safe listening levels and how to protect your hearing and your child’s hearing.


This is a great article that talks about what parents can do to help protect kids’ hearing. https://www.noisyplanet.nidcd.nih.gov/parents/what-parents-can-do

Journey of Sound to the Brain

Assessment Spotlight

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What is a School Psychologist?


"School psychologists are uniquely qualified members of school teams that support students' ability to learn and teachers' ability to teach. They apply expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior, to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. School psychologists partner with families, teachers, school administrators, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments that strengthen connections between home, school, and the community."


See the attached graphic and PDF for more information on the role that LSSP's hold within the public school system.

Dyslexia Spotlight

Louisa Moats, who has dedicated her career to struggling readers, wrote the first version of Teaching Reading Is Rocket Science, which the AFT published in 1999. In it, she explained how children learn to read, the essential components of reading instruction, what causes reading difficulties and how to prevent or reduce them.


In this new edition, she adds depth to the science and provides clarity on the challenge before us: taking action.


This report is an update to the original Teaching Reading Is Rocket Science published by the American Federation of Teachers over 20 years ago and emerges from a collaboration between the AFT and the Center for Development and Learning
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Student Achievement Resources

Texas Project First is a resource for that provides information on the state reading curriculum, assessment and rules that are determined by The Texas Education Agency (TEA). Texas Project First is a project of Family to Family Network.


http://texasprojectfirst.org/node/322

Transition and Community Partnerships


The CCISD Special Services Transition Padlet is updated frequently for parents and guardians to research all aspects of transition. Access the Padlet here:


https://padlet.com/krodgers3/9irpnylfh6



Community Partnerships


Lonestar UT Health

UHCL

Texas Workforce Commission


Work Based Learning locations are places where our students are currently employed, or attending work based learning classes with their teachers during the school day. This list is updated each semester, as new contracts are signed. We appreciate all of the support we receive from our community business partners.


Mod Pizza (various)

Goodwill (various)

Kohls (Baybrook)

Walgreens (Kemah)

Jason's Deli (League City)

Rudy's BBQ

Gulf Coast Equine and Pet

Bed & Biscuit

Helen Hall Library

Joe Lee's Seafood

Pet Supplies Plus (various)

Mario's Pizza (Seabrook)

Randall's (League City)

Natural Living Coop and Cafe

JC Penny (Baybrook)

Friendswood Animal Shelter

Lighthouse Resale Shop (Kemah/Bacliff)

Staples (Webster)

Kilgore's (League City)

Amoco (League City)

Las Haciendas (League City)

Petco (Clear Lake)

Denny's (Baybrook)

CVS (League City)

Armand Bayou Nature Center

Dentistry for Children and Adults (Webster)

Texas A&M University Affiliated Seminar Series

Affiliated Faculty Seminar Series: Supporting Students with IDD Through the Education Experience


Texas A&M is presenting a faculty seminar series in the spring semester. The professors who will be speaking will be sharing their educational experiences, research and knowledge as it relates to the topics of each month.


This series is designed to be interactive and designed to increase your knowledge and awareness for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Each course is 1.5 hours long and will be conducted on site and in person. Seminars will be scheduled the first Tuesday of every month from 1:30-3:30pm via zoom, or in person.


To participate, you must register. Please see the links below for the registration information.


February 1, 2022



Location:


For more information on Texas A&M's Center on Disability and Development, please visit their webpage at :


https://cdd.tamu.edu/

STAAR Resources

The following embedded link will take you to the state assessment page of the Texas Education Agency. Within this website, you can find out more information about each of the state assessments that are required each year in public schools, including TELPAS and TELPAS alternate. You can also access released tests, so that you can see samples of the exams your student will take.


Be sure to visit the Family Portal in order to view secure test information and records for your student. There are custom resources available to parents for use at home as well.

Galveston County CoCare

Galveston County CoCare is a listing of community members, service providers, healthcare specialists, educational partners and religious organizations that work to ensure that citizens of the county have access to resources that could be helpful in a time of need.


Galveston CoCare provides digital case management systems to help manage needs such as:


disaster services

food

housing

medical

mental

rehabilitation

domestic violence

youth services

religious needs

veteran specific needs

educational needs


For more information on this community network please visit: https://www.galvestoncocare.com/

SpedTex- Special Education Information Center

SpedTex is a state funded information center for parents, educators and service providers. It includes special education information, updates and resources for Texas families.


The link below will take you directly to their monthly newsletters, which usually has offerings for webinars, conferences and TEA published materials.

State Resources

Navigate Life Texas

Resources and Support for families raising children with disabilities

https://www.navigatelifetexas.org/ or https://www.navigatelifetexas.org/es


Texas Education Agency- Special Student Populations


https://tea.texas.gov/academics/special-student-populations/special-education


Section 504

https://tea.texas.gov/academics/special-student-populations/special-education


Dyslexia

https://tea.texas.gov/academics/special-student-populations/dyslexia-and-related-disorders