Early Childhood Special Education
August 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
We are back in the flow of the school year and I hope things are beginning to feel more routine for everyone. We are coming up on Labor Day weekend and it seems to have snuck up on us very quickly! Our educational teams are working hard to plan activities that keep your student engaged and learning. The teams have wonderful ideas and are focused on "sneaking in the learning!" Help us by playing games and reading to your little one at home. Exposure to the information is powerful!
Stacy M. Sturdivant
Director of Early Childhood Special Education
SSD PAC Message:
Greetings 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 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
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
Virtual Open House
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.
Thursday, Sep 21, 2023, 06:00 PM
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.
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.
Join FACE for the first Family Cafe of the 2023/24 school year.
On Sep 14, 2023 at North Technical High School. FACE will join with families to provide a safe and welcoming space to connect and learn from each other. Family Cafes are centered on the Strengthening Families Protective Factors: Resilience, Relationships, Knowledge, Support, and Communication. Register today!
Learn sign language to use with your little one...
New this year, SSD's FACE (Family and Community Engagement) will be offering an immersive environment for learning American Sign Language (ASL)! Learn to communicate with Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HoH) individuals with an introduction to fingerspelling and basic signs to use in the home, school, and community. There are only 20 spots available for this six part series that will be held weekly starting September 21st. Click here to register!
FACE’s Lunch and Learn Series is back with an exciting lineup of presenters.
This month will highlight an SSD community partner, Easter Seals. Join us live on YouTube on September 27th at 11:30am to learn all about this amazing resource.
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...
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