Early Childhood Special Education
October 2023
The mission of the Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Department is to build independence in all preschool students to enable them to reach their full potential in preparation for kindergarten.
Director's Corner
Staff have been back to school for a while now. We are back into the routine of things! Plans are being made for activities and modifications to meet each student's needs. Support is being provided in the form of surprise snacks, sharing of sales and new activities/books and more. We value the trust you show by sending your young learner to school. We truly work hard day-in and day-out to support their growth to the next level of development. Please feel free to call or email if we can ever answer a question. We are here in partnership with you!
Stacy M. Sturdivant
Director of Early Childhood Special Education
Ranken Jordan provides: Music Heals
In partnership with the Washington University Neurofibromatosis Center, Jazz St. Louis developed Beat NF, now Music Heals, to provide a unique, exciting, and FREE music therapy option for young children with NF1. Starting in 2022, Music Heals is expanding to now reach children with a wide range of developmental delays. Music Heals uses the sights, sounds, rhythm, and teamwork of jazz to improve social interaction, attention, and motor skills in these young children.
Every Friday October 6th - November 3rd. 9:30-10:30 am
Friday, Oct 6, 2023, 09:30 AM
Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital, Dorsett Road, Maryland Heights, MO, USA
Family Café, Opportunities to Connect!
Do you have a strong desire to make connections with other families in your community? Join FACE on October 5th from 6-8pm for a Family Café. Family Cafes are hosted by families for families. Conversations are centered around the Strengthening Families Five Protective Factors: Resilience, Relationships, Knowledge, Support, and Communication. To learn more or to register, click here.
The Community Action Agency of St. Louis (CAASTL)
CAASTL will be available at the Family Resource Hub, located inside North County Technical High School on October 6th and November 3rd from 10-2pm. CAASTLC can provide the following programs and services to families:
Case management
Utility assistance
Rental assistance
Financial education
Weatherization
Program development and educational activities.
Contact FACE with any questions.
Behavioral Strategies in the Home and Community Series:
Are you often frustrated or at a loss trying to manage your student’s behavior? Join SSD’s Applied Behavior Analysts on October 9th from 6-7pm to learn basic behavior strategies on how to prevent and react to behaviors when in and out in the community. In this webinar, attendees will review reinforcement strategies, basic functions of behavior, determining what your student prefers, how to apply these things across settings, and where resources are for you in the community. Click here to register and learn more.
Unity Day is coming to Special School District
All across the
nation, Unity Day is being celebrated on October 18th. Students should wear and share orange to unite for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion to send a visible message that no child should ever experience bullying. FACE will be holding a “Unity Day: Express Yourself” contest. Students are encouraged to submit entries based on the theme: “Kindness, Acceptance and Inclusion.” All forms of artistic expression will be accepted. Check the FACE website for more details on how to enter, and for additional October events and opportunities to support Unity Day.
Lunch & Learn Opportunity
FACE is excited to host Pathways to Independence for a Lunch and Learn on October 25th from 11:30-12. Pathways to Independence is a local non-profit supporting teens through navigating their transition years, with a focus on friendship and social skills. Pathways is geared toward more independent teens, often with a Level 1 Autism diagnosis, a learning disability, or other developmental disability. Through a monthly calendar, participants have their choice of a variety of social activities and social skills classes. To access the video, please visit the SSD YouTube channel.
Family Academy: EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT!
FACE is hosting its second annual Family Academy on Saturday, November 4th from 9-12 at North Tech High School, 1700 Derhake Rd., Florissant MO 63033. Families will have the opportunity to meet with a wide variety of community providers and vendors as well as participate in self-directed learning opportunities. So gather up the kids and head to North Tech for a morning filled with fun and empowerment. Visit the FACE webpage for more information and to register!
SEF Critical Needs Program:
The Special Education Foundation (SEF) offers Critical Needs services - a solution to provide immediate funding to those students served by the Special School District (SSD) where the family is either unable to financially meet the need, has exhausted community resources, or is at risk for a student medical emergency that may result in the loss of independence or academic failure. Applications (accepted year-round) are to be completed by a social worker, teacher or administrator through the SEF website, submitted to Adrienne Eaglin at aeaglin@ssdmo.org or mailed to the Special School District Learning Center at 900 Hornet Drive, Hazelwood, MO 63042.
Free Flu Shots Through BJC:
Receiving a flu shot helps keep you and your community healthy! Free flu vaccinations are being provided through Barnes-Jewish Hospital. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit https://bit.ly/3oCxqYu
Resources:
- Special School District Website; Here is the Special School District Website. Please explore to learn further.
- Family and Community Engagement: The mission of the FACE department is to partner with students, families, and staff to support students' specialized academic, social, and emotional needs to promote self-determination, equitable opportunities, and authentic inclusion.
- Parent Advisory Council of Special School District ; Please visit this site to learn details about the Parent Advisory Council (PAC)
The ECSE Administrative Team
Director of Early Childhood Special Education
(314) 989-8411
Special Education Coordinator
Ladue & Ritenour
(314) 989-8374
Special Education Coordinator
Affton, Bayless, Hancock, South County Head Start, &Webster
(314)-989-8546
Special Education Coordinator
Brentwood, Lindbergh & Valley Park
(314)989-8376
Special Education Coordinator
ECSE Deaf/Hard of Hearing
(314)-989-8274
Special Education Coordinator
Evaluation Teams & Parkway Step Program
(314) 989-7831 or (314) 415-4980
Special Education Coordinator
Parkway ECC, Parkway North Preschool, & Satellite Sites
(314) 415-4983
Special Education Coordinator
Maplewood-Richmond Heights, Jennings, Normandy, & Riverview Gardens
(314) 989-8213