We are midway through 1st quarter and parent-teacher conferences and fall break will be here before we know it.

During the September Brentwood Board of Education Meeting I presented on the partnership agreement between Brentwood and Special School District and shared updated numbers about the number of Brentwood students with IEPs. Below are a few of the visuals that were shared with the Board of Education.

I look forward to continuing to work with each of you. If you have questions please don't hesitate to reach out to me and I will do my best to support each team.

Travena Hostetler; Ed D

Director of Special Education; Brentwood

thostetler@brentwoodmoschools.org

trhostetler@ssdmo.org

314-989-8479

Kelly Education is the provider who places substitutes for special education teachers and paras. If you or someone you know if interested in subbing within Special School District, please reach out to Kelly Services. Please use this link to connect with Kelly Services

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

The SSD Board of Education strives for transparency, accountability, and accessibility. We welcome family, staff, and community members to share comments, concerns, and ideas with SSD Board of Education members. To find the Board member representing your subdistrict, visit the Board of Education page on the SSD website.

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.

The Community Action Agency of St. Louis (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.

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 Cafe. 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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Students Who Receive Special Education Services Invited to Take SSD Survey: Special School District values the academic and personal well-being of our students and prioritizes making data-informed decisions to support their success. In collaboration with Panorama Education, SSD students in grades 3-12 are invited to share their voices through two surveys, a climate survey and a social-emotional learning (SEL) survey. The surveys will be given during the fall and spring of the 2023-24 school year, with the fall survey window being Sept. 19 through Oct. 9. The surveys will be administered electronically, but PDF versions can be previewed on SSD's website.

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.

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

Nov. 22-24 - No School - Thanksgiving

Special School District

SSD Distance Learning Resources

SSD Partner District- Brentwood

SSD Superintendent Blog

Brentwood Return To School Plans

Brentwood School District

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