Shipyard Soundings
Updates from Marblehead Dept. of Student Services
FEBRUARY DISTRICT IMPORTANT DATES:
Preschool Screening - Sign up NOW!
Thank you for your patience as we move forward with the Preschool Screening process.
We have identified the following dates as our Preschool Screening dates:
1) February 10th
2) March 3rd
Please visit the Marblehead Public School's website to sign up your incoming Preschool student for an initial screening. If you already have a child enrolled in the Integrated Preschool program, please reach out to Alyssa Zimei at zimei.alyssa@marbleheadschools.org to confirm a slot for next year.
Based on the results of a recent Preschool Program Review completed by Seaside Educational Consultants, we are planning to restructure our PreK program. These shifts will maximize inclusive opportunities for all of our students enrolled and also ensure that our youngest learners are provided with ample opportunities for mental, physical, emotional, and social development.
We are especially excited to launch a Transition Kindergarten (or "T-K") program for our young learners who may require a bit more preparation and time before transitioning to kindergarten.
More confirmed details about these new hours, structures and tuition rates will be posted on our website on Friday, Feb. 5th, based on the results of a final vote at the 2/4 School Committee meeting. Please CLICK HERE to access the PowerPoint slides regarding on the proposed PreK structures and new tuition rates from the 1/28 School Committee meeting.
Finally, please be assured that we will be maintaining all COVID health and safety regulations during and in between each screening session, including requiring mask wearing of all participants. We want to make these screens as safe as possible for the children and personnel involved.
If you have any questions about any of the above details, please reach out to PreK Coordinator Alyssa Zimei at zimei.alyssa@marbleheadschools.org.
Student Center(ED): Featuring MHS Senior Cam Alexander
The video conversation below (that includes Cam, school committee Chair Sarah Gold, and I) highlights Cam's significant accomplishments through the dual enrollment program.
At just 3 years old, Cam was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome. Throughout his entire academic career, Cam has maintained his drive and passion for excellence, both inside and outside of school. He has advocated for children with Tourette Syndrome at the national level as a student ambassador, including traveling to Washington, D.C. and other locations around the U.S. to advocate for supports for children with Tourette Syndrome.
Cam's passion is contagious, and is yet another example of the young talent and leadership that we have in Marblehead! Thank you, Cam!
"Weekly Wednesday" Zoom Meetings Merge with SEPAC District Meetings
The monthly SEPAC meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month at 12pm. We welcome any/all parents and family members to attend...these meetings are open to all!
If you are interested in more information about these (Zoom) meetings, please check out the MHD SEPAC website, or contact SEPAC co-chair Merle Schell at mrschell.mhdsepac@gmail.com or Director of Student Services, Eric Oxford, at oxford.eric@marbleheadschools.org
These meetings include updates and discussion topics that are key to the continuous improvement, goal-setting, and success of the district, especially within the student services department.
We hope to see you at our next meeting in March!!
An Important Update Regarding OT and PT Services
Please note: the Massachusetts Board of Registration has confirmed a decision that states that our occupational therapists and assistants (OTs & COTAs) & physical therapists and assistants PTs and PTAs) are not permitted to provide synchronous to telehealth services to students who are physically located out of state.
As such, students must be physically situated within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to receive their respective related services synchronously.
For families who travel out of state and remain outside of the Commonwealth during a given school day/week(s), please note this decision has come from state-level licensing registration boards. We do not anticipate that this decision and expectation will impact a significant number of families and students. Nonetheless, please contact your child's OT/PT service provider, case manager, or Team Chair if you have any additional questions or concerns about this information.
We maintain our goal to continue to work proactively and collaboratively with families, in the best interest of our students, and we appreciate your continued collaboration as we navigate policies and regulations at the federal, state, and local levels.
Staff Spotlight - Middle School Inclusion Specialist, Gail Mack
Conference Series 2020-2021 - Upcoming Events!
Co-Sponsored by Marblehead SEPAC and the Marblehead Student Services Department
For the first time, Marblehead SEPAC and the Marblehead Student Services Department are jointly sponsoring a Conference Series. Throughout the remainder of the school year, we will continue to offer a variety of events for the well-being of parents, educators, and our children.
The first two events were very well received. In October, Dr. Jody Carrington spoke about the importance of emotional regulation for parents as well as children. In November, Dr. Eric Oxford, Director of Student Services, discussed and answered questions about the IEP process and purpose, as well as the importance of meeting every student’s needs.
On January 27th, Dr. James Slavet, of MHS, led a panel discussion of clinical experts from the Marblehead Public Schools, titled “Building Relationships in the School Context throughout Students’ Development.” This panel presentation also included school psychologists Dr. Alex Rosenstein and Amanda Lockerbie, as well as high school social worker Gina Hart. The content was jam-packed with resources, recommendations, and strategies to support students to make connections and build relationships in school.
Other relevant topics that will be explored this spring include: fostering inclusive peer relationships w/ Dr. Zachary Rossetti (March), developing future -ready skills w/ Dr. Scott Solberg (April), an evening with district leaders (May), and saluting Marblehead’s own Unsung Heroes (June).
Our mutual objective is to honor our school district’s commitment to provide support, foster collaboration and conversation, and build inclusion for all children, each other, and our town. Please join us and enjoy our upcoming events!
Note: All Conference Series presentations and Zoom links will be posted on Marblehead Social Media and on the events page of the Marblehead SEPAC website.
Ever Wanted to be Part of a Podcast? Now is Your Chance!
Dr. James Slavet, clinical psychologist at Marblehead High School, and Dr. April Bowling from Merrimack College, are have teamed up for the launch of a new podcast, with recordings beginning in the next few weeks.
The podcast is titled "Healthy Enough: Building Wellness in Kids with Mental Health Challenges".
Dr. April Bowling and Dr. James Slavet, leaders of THRIVE Lab, harness research and realism to help parents of children with diverse mental health challenges understand how small exercise, nutrition and sleep habits can lead to big improvements in mental and physical wellness.
Dr. Slavet and Dr. Bowling are looking to include a few anonymous, compelling stories of parents who've struggled with challenges in helping their child improve their exercise, sleep or eating behaviors or have seen improvements in their child's mental health as a result of changes in their child or families' exercise, sleep or nutrition behaviors.
If you or anyone you know might be interested in participating please email Jamie Slavet at slavet.james@marbleheadschools.org.
Defining Inclusion: An 'Inclusive' Exercise (we want your input!!)
During my time in Marblehead, I have heard over and over again - from faculty & staff, parents & families, and community members - that Marblehead prides itself on its inclusivity for all students and staff. I could not agree more! I have been extremely impressed with the inclusive mindset that so many of our educators and community members innately embrace. Part of our November edition of "Shipyard Soundings" covered the term of inclusion in a bit more detail, and included the following:
The term inclusion is a philosophy....not a special education program. To be an inclusive district and community, we embrace all students, staff and residents as equally valuable partners and contributing members of this great town. When students step into any one of our schools (physically or remotely!), it is our number one goal for that student to feel safe, comfortable and respected.
Yet, time and time again, our team has found it difficult to pinpoint a strong working definition of what it means to be an inclusive district. In conversations with many stakeholders in Marblehead, I have realized that we, as a district and as a community, need to take a moment to pause; to take a step back and reflect on what "inclusion" really means. How should we teach our children to embrace an inclusive mindset? How can we model inclusion in our own daily practice? What, in reality, does "inclusion" really mean to us here in Marblehead?
Well...I hope that we can work toward answering those questions together in the most inclusive way possible: by creating a community-wide definition of inclusion!
I welcome you to complete this (very brief....one question!) survey to have your input heard as we seek to create a working definition of inclusion as a philosophy that we can all embrace...for our students, for our staff, and for each other. See the Google Form below. Thank you for your help!
Contact the Department of Student Services
Email: oxford.eric@marbleheadschools.org
Website: https://www.marbleheadschools.org/district/department-student-services
Location: 9 Widger Road, Marblehead, MA, USA
Phone: 781-639-3140
Twitter: @ericoxford