SSD/Clayton Dispatch

May 2023

Upcoming Events

May 29 Memorial Day (No School)

June 1 Last Day of School

Happy Retirement

Congratulations to Elizabeth Bude and Patrick Schappert who are retiring at the end of this school year. We have been lucky to have them part of the Clayton SSD team. We wish them all the best in their retirement!

Building Block Award

Congratulations to our very own Joyce Reinitz who recently was awarded SSD Building Block award.

“Mrs. Reinitz works so hard each and every day for all students. She creates environments where students feel safe to share, they feel supported, and she is instilling compassion and understanding to these students through the personal stories she shares. Having Mrs. Reinitz around truly makes the most positive difference in our classroom and we all cannot thank her enough for all that she does.” -Liz Vasilopoulos

Community Opportunities

zoom_out_map

After School Meals

Operation Food Search will provide free after school meals starting Monday, August 22, 2022 to children at select SLCL locations during the school year. Stop by after school and enjoy a nutritious meal along with activities for kids. Meals will be available Monday-Friday, free of charge for children ages 5-18.

The After School Meals program is offered at the following branches:

Florissant Valley Branch, Monday-Friday from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Jamestown Bluffs Branch, Monday–Friday from 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Lewis & Clark Branch, Monday–Friday from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Natural Bridge Branch, Monday–Friday from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Parkview Branch, Monday-Friday from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Prairie Commons Branch, Monday–Friday from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Rock Road Branch, Monday–Friday from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Weber Road Branch, Monday–Friday from 2:30-4:00 p.m.

zoom_out_map

AMC Sensory Friendly Films

We turn the lights up and the sound down, so you can feel free to be you at these unique showings for people living with autism or other special needs.

zoom_out_map

Family Sunday

You’re invited to the Museum every Sunday for hands-on art activities and special interactive components for kids within the galleries. Each week’s activities focus on a different, family-friendly theme.

Summer Opportunities

zoom_out_map

Recreational Council of Greater St. Louis

If you or someone you know may be interested in accessing this amazing resources, check them out here:

Newsletter of the Recreation Council of Greater St. Louis Winter 22-23 Edition

Recreation Council of Greater St. Louis

zoom_out_map

Where kids can volunteer in St. Louis

From pulling honeysuckle to becoming a “baseball buddy,” there’s a variety of things young people can do to get involved in their community.

10 places where kids can volunteer in St. Louis

zoom_out_map

SLU Basketball Summer Camp

Saint Louis University Women’s Basketball is hosting a summer-day camp July 17 – 19, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. All students, kindergarten through eighth grade, can receive hands on instruction from the coaches and student-athletes. The Billikens are coming off their most successful season to-date, winning the Atlantic 10 Tournament and making their first NCAA Tournament appearance this past March.

Day camp is $200 and includes lunch each day and a shirt. Students can work on their basketball skills, participate in friendly competitions, and build relationships with the team’s student-athletes and coaches.

Attached is a flyer with information and registration instructions. Please feel free to print or distribute to your staff and students. We would love for them to participate this summer. Any questions, please email Coach Tra’Dayja Smith at Tradayja.Smith@slu.edu.

Go Billikens!

www.slu.edu

SEF Accepting Applications for Kid to Camp Program:

The Special Education Foundation is now accepting applications to assist children with disabilities served by SSD to attend one or more camps this summer. Each year, the SEF provides tuition assistance to enable students served by SSD to attend summer camps. Sometimes children with disabilities cannot join their peers in a summer camp experience due to financial constraints or other hardships. SEF steps in to help young people and their families take advantage of these experiences that can sometimes be life-changing. Parents and caregivers can have peace of mind knowing that their child is in a safe and healthy place. Apply here.

Student Leadership Opportunities: Please check out these unique and FREE leadership opportunities for high school students with disabilities, ages 16 - 21.

Family and Community Engagement

Join the FACE team on May 24th for a Lunch and Learn to discover new and exciting ways to engage your students this summer. Face will highlight various local opportunities as well as ways to keep your students’ skills sharp over the summer break.

The Community Action Agency of St. Louis County (CAASTL) will be at the HUB, located in North County Technical School, on May 12, 2023 from 9-4pm. CAASTL can help families in need of rental assistance, utility assistance, and weatherization needs.

SUMMER HOURS FOR THE HUB: Access to the HUB, located in North Technical High School, will only be available over the summer by appointment. Email face@ssdmo.org to make an appointment.

Still on the hunt for good summer camps or activities? There are search engines that can help with that. Blueprint 4 Summer and Kids out and About are great resources to help fill those hot summer days.

Youth Mental Health First Aid Training is available for families in SSD. The course is located at Maryland Heights Community Center on July 22, 2023 from 9 - 3:30 PM. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. To join us please register at https://forms.gle/CRFvDJH76XbSyFQg7. Seats are limited. Register to become a mental health first aider today.

The National Association on Mental Illness (NAMI) offers meaningful resources to support youth, educators, families, and caregivers have productive discussions about mental health with youth and young adults. Please visit the website to review the resources. https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults/Youth-and-Young-Adult-Resources

Lunch and Learn Series 2022 - 2023: Special School District’s Family and Community Engagement (FACE) department is excited to offer a virtual Lunch & Learn series for SSD families and stakeholders. The series, which will involve community organizations sharing information about their work, will continue during the 2022-23 school year and take place from 11:30 AM - Noon.

Representatives from three community organizations and three SSD departments will participate in order to increase awareness about their agencies or programs and make connections with those in our SSD community who may benefit from their programs and services.

Features in the 2022-23 Lunch & Learn Series are:

SSD Family and Community Engagement (FACE), Summer Engagement Activities - May 24, 2023

Each event is held virtually through YouTube Live. To access the video, please click on the organization's name in the list above. The videos will not be available to view until their scheduled date and time.

PAC.ED: Parent Advisory Council of Children with Educational Diversity

It is never too early to start thinking about Summer options! Whether you are thinking about this Summer or subsequent Summers! Knowledge is power when planning for your student. Programs such as SWEP (Summer Work Experience Program) have deadlines!

Don’t forget to check out the following links:

· Clayton Disability History & Awareness Proclamation Clayton Disability History & Awareness Proclamation (including presentation video).

· Award Winning Disability History & Awareness Video Series 2021.

· Intelligent Lives (the film) & Panel Discussion – available in three(3) formats including Spanish.

· Disability Awareness Video Showcase – a collection of films from acclaimed Director and Advocate Dan Habib.

PAC.ED: Parent Advisory Council of Children with Educational Diversity, 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.

We have wonderful actives, events and programs planned for the 2022/2023 school year!

Stay up-to-date with Clayton PAC.ED by visiting our Dashboard

For more information or questions regarding PAC.ED, please contact: Clayton PAC.ED President, Christina Blankenship at cmblankenship@sbcglobal.net , or call 314.402.4920.

SSD Parent Advisory Council (SSD PAC)

The SSD Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is comprised of families advising and collaborating to improve the education, confidence and social outcomes of each student served by SSD. The PAC consists of five parents or guardians – one member and four alternates – from each of the 22 St. Louis County school districts and from each of the five SSD special education schools. The parents or guardians of students receiving special education services in that district or school elect SSD PAC members.

The SSD PAC operates as a completely separate organization from the School District of Clayton PAC.ED. However, due to the nature of “dual district” structure that exists uniquely in St. Louis County, both PACs benefit from ongoing engagement, support, and collaboration. In fact, members of the Clayton PAC.ED often represent the School District of Clayton on the SSD PAC.

For more information check out SSD PAC or contact Christina Blankenship, call 314.402.4920, (Clayton PAC.ED President and SSD PAC (voting member).

April 12, 2023 7-9pm via zoom
May 10, 2023 7-9pm via zoom

Let's Talk!

Let’s Talk is an open invitation from Special School District (SSD) to tell us what’s on your mind.Let’s Talk is an easy way to submit feedback at your convenience directly to the SSD staff member who can help.