Here is to a Spectacular September!!

It has been such a pleasure getting to see so many of you and your students these first few weeks of the school year. We have welcomed many new families for our Brentwood Team and I look forward to getting to know you and your students more and working with you and your students.

Each month I will send out a monthly newsletter where you can find links to programs and information provided to families by Special School District. This newsletter is shared with families who have students receiving services through the Special School District, all special school district staff in Brentwood, Brentwood Principals, and the Central Office Team, as well as the Brentwood Board of Education.

Please don't hesitate to reach out to me if you need my assistance or if you have any questions.

Travena Hostetler; Ed D

Director of Special Education; Brentwood

thostetler@brentwoodmoschools.org

trhostetler@ssdmo.org

314-989-8479

https://bit.ly/SESubInterestForm.

Do you have a teacher or staff member who has gone above and beyond for you or your child supporting them, encouraging them to do their best or being a listening ear when they need someone? Please take a minute to write a note of thanks by sharing your appreciation with them. You may fill out this form as many times as you would like for different school personnel.

Special School District Brentwood Staff Shout Out Form

SSD Family Leadership Institute – Fall 2023

SSD's Family and Community Engagement (FACE) program is seeking applicants interested in participating in the Fall 2023 SSD Family Leadership Institute.

Family Leadership Institute participants can:

• Build an understanding of future planning and problem-solving utilizing the Charting the LifeCourse tools.
• Learn to effectively participate in their student's education and improve the educational climate for all children.
• Learn how to positively interact and collaborate with other families and school personnel.
• Discover new resources and network with other families.

This program, offered at no cost to participants, is designed for family members who are the educational decision-makers for a student with a disability.

The three sessions will be held in-person on Wednesdays from 5:30-8:00 PM on September 20, 27, and October 4. Dinner will be provided for attendees.

Location: Special School District Central office Room 60-61, 12110 Clayton Road, Town and Country, Missouri 63131. (Enter at lower level circle drive)

Are you interested in joining this year's Family Leadership Institute?

Apply online! Paper applications are available by request. For more information, call 314.989.8460 or email face@ssdmo.org.

The Family Resource Hub where families and educators develop effective partnerships to improve student outcomes.

For more information visit the The Family Resource Hub.

The Family Resource Hub Satellite Food Pantry is located at North Tech High School which supports families with access to non-perishable food items and household supplies.

The Family Resource Hub Satellite Food Pantry

Back to School: Parent Involvement from the CDC

A new school year gives parents new opportunities to engage in their child’s school activities. Learn how you can help create a healthy, supportive school.

Get involved! When parents participate in their child’s school activities, kids get better grades, choose healthier behaviors, and have better social skills.

• Parent involvement makes school a healthier and more supportive place.
• Your involvement shows you are committed to supporting your child’s learning and development!

How You Can Get Involved in School Activities:

• Become part of the decision-making process for school health policies and practices. For example, ask to join the school wellness team.
• Ask the school to offer opportunities for parents to engage in school health activities, like a districtwide fitness challenge, family nights, or family wellness events.
• Talk with your child about healthy behaviors. Reinforce messages and practices learned in school about nutrition and physical activity.
• Set goals with your child’s school or teacher for building strong, positive relationships with peers and adults who can support your child’s emotional well-being.

Back-to-school season is an ideal time for parents to reinforce behaviors that help reduce the effects of stressful life events and teach children the skills to overcome them so they can reach their full potential. Access our parent tip sheet for more information about working with your child’s school to create a healthy and supportive environment.

More information

• Healthy Return to School Checklist
• Positive Parenting Practices
• Supporting Healthy Schools

Helping Students Navigate Back-to-School Anxiety: Tips for Families:

The start of a new school year can bring both excitement and apprehension for students, especially after the challenges posed by the previous year. It's not uncommon for students to experience back-to-school anxiety as they face new classrooms, teachers, and classmates. As a family member, your support and guidance play a crucial role in helping your student manage these feelings and start the year positively. Read more...

Do you want to learn more about SSD? FACE is offering a Virtual Open House on Tuesday, September 21st at 6pm for an introduction to the services and resources available through SSD. Join us here.

SSD's Family and Community Engagement (FACE) program is seeking applicants interested in participating in the Fall 2023 SSD Family Leadership Institute.

Family Leadership Institute participants can:

● Build an understanding of future planning and problem-solving utilizing the Charting the LifeCourse tools.

● Learn to effectively participate in their student's education and improve the educational climate for all children.

● Learn how to positively interact and collaborate with other families and school personnel.

● Discover new resources and network with other families.

This program, offered at no cost to participants, is designed for family members who are the educational decision-makers for a student with a disability.

The three sessions will be held in-person on Wednesdays from 5:30-8:00 PM on September 20, 27, and October 4. Dinner will be provided for attendees.

Location: Special School District Central office Room 60-61, 12110 Clayton Road, Town and Country, Missouri 63131. (Enter at lower level circle drive)

Are you interested in joining this year's Family Leadership Institute?

Apply online! Paper applications are available by request. For more information, call 314.989.8460 or email face@ssdmo.org.

Would you like to learn more about how you can support your student through the IEP process? Join FACE virtually on September 5th at 6pm for a webinar that will link the use of Charting the LifeCourse tools with preparing for your student’s IEP. Click here to register.

Charting The LifeCourse (CtLC) - Tuesday, September 19th 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm – Clayton Administration Building - Board Room

Please join us for an evening of Family-to-Family Connections to learn how the Charting The LifeCourse Framework tools can help you to explore your student's vision and goals for a "good life" now and in the future.

The core belief of CtLC is that ALL people have the right to live, love, work, place, and pursue their own life aspirations. Charting the LifeCourse is about encouraging high expectations, self-determination, having and expanding different conversations, having life experiences to move the trajectory in the desired direction, and Integrating multiple types of support.

A light supper will be served- Students Welcome!! For more information about CtLC and to RSVP click HERE!

PAC.ED 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. Check our webpages to keep up to date on current PAC.ED events, as well as family resources.

Families!

Has special education got you stressed out? The beginning of a new year and unknowns can be extra scary with an IEP or 504. The system can be hard to navigate even in the best districts. Those great documents, laws, & policies put into place to help us are hard to understand. It can be a lonely journey. But you are not alone! You have the SSD PAC.

The SSD PAC is open to every family with a child receiving SSD services. We have monthly zoom meetings. We are parents like you. We get it. You can just log on and watch. SSD and FACE share updates, great information, and presentations based on your needs. We advocate to inform policy with our parent voice. We share a parent perspective to help our schools know how to best help our kids.

We’re having an in-person Family Gathering on Sept. 13, 6:30 PM, at the SSD Learning Center in Hazelwood. Please come; tap into this community that exists for you.

Your New SSD PAC President,

Rebecca Flieg

Online SSD Resources to Help Families All Year:

Visit SSDMO.org for links to resources that will direct you to information that will be helpful throughout the year - bookmark the webpage to make it easy to find. The links below apply to all students county-wide who receive services from SSD.

• Partner Districts

• Partner District Communication Sequence

• IEPs - Frequently Asked QuestionsBullying Resources

• Student & Related Services

Sept. 1 - Early Release Day for PK-12

Sept. 4 - Labor Day - District Closed

Sept. 22 - No School for PK-12

Oct. 2-6 - Homecoming Week

Oct. 13 - Early Release Day for PK-12

Oct. 18, 24 - Preschool Parent-Teacher Conferences

Oct. 19, 24 - Elementary School Parent-Techer Conferences

Oct. 19, 25 - Middle and High School Parent-Teacher Conferences

Oct. 27 - Early Release Day for PK-12

Oct. 30 - No School for PK-12

Special School District

Brentwood School District

SSD Partner District- Brentwood

SSD Superintendent Blog

Special School District of St. Louis County

12110 Clayton Road

Town & Country, MO 63131

Phone: 314‐989‐8100

Travena Hostetler

• Director of Special Education; Brentwood
• trhostetler@ssdmo.org
  

Erik Lewis

• School Social Worker
• erlewis@ssdmo.org
  

Mary Herbst

• School Psychologist
• meherbst@ssdmo.org