Parent Connection

Welcome to our Parent Newsletter. I would like to take this time to thank you parents for attending the TCS Community Input Sessions. Your input is very valuable to Tuscaloosa City Schools. The first 9 weeks are coming to an end. Now is a great time to reach out to your child's school to have a parent/teacher conference to learn about all the wonderful things your child(ren) are doing and to get resources to help at home. Attendance Matters, make sure your child(ren) are present every day! Each month we will highlight a skill(s) in Reading, Math, Speech, and Gifted. Also, in this newsletter you will find additional resources via links. If you are not able to locate a resource or would like additional information, please reach out to your local school. I want to thank you for all that you do to make your child's education possible, we could not do it without you!

Thanks,

Dr. Bruce Prescott

Autism: a developmental disability that significantly affects verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction generally evident before age 3 that adversely affects educational performance. Autism does not apply if a child's educational performance is adversely affected primarily because the child has an emotional disability.

Criteria: vision/hearing screening, autism rating scale, autism evaluation, language evaluation, structured and unstructured observations, behavior rating scale and/or adaptive rating scale, interview.

Deaf-Blindness: concomitant hearing and visual impairments, the combination of which causes such severe communication and other developmental or educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for children with deafness or blindness.

Criteria: audiological evaluation, optometric evaluation, performance measures

🎃October👻

1-31 National School Principals Month #ThankAPrincipal*

2 National Custodian Appreciation Day*

9 Walk and Roll to School Day #BiketoSchoolDay*

9 Parent Visitation Day Elementary School*

10 Parent Visitation Day Middle School*

10-11 World of Works*

14 Staff Planning Day/ No School for Students

17 Parent Visitation Day High School*

14-18 National School Lunch Week #NSLW24*

16 National Boss's Day*

21-25 National School Bus Safety Week #NSBSW*

22 e-learning for 9th and 11th graders (Pre ACT Testing for Grade 10 and WorkKeys for Grade 12) Subject to change

23-31 Red Ribbon Week #RedRibbonWeek*

24 Lights on Afterschool*

🦃November🍂

1-30 Native American Indian Heritage Month

11-15 National School Psychology Week

11 Veteran's Day Observed-Schools Closed

18-22 American Education Week #aew2024

20 Education Support Professional's Day #aew2024

21 Educator for a Day #aew2024

22 Substitute Educators Day #aew2024

25-29 Fall Break/Thanksgiving Holidays-Schools Closed

*Look for information coming from your Child(ren) School.

Click on a link below to see reading tips for Babies through 3rd Grade!

Click on Parent Strategies for Improving Math at Home to read on general mathematics improvement strategies, computation, geometry, measurement, statistics, probability, graphing, problem solving, and algebraic concepts.

Click on the link below on learning more about what is Twice Exception or 2E?

https://sethperler.com/child-2e-twice-exceptional-ultimate-guide/

Self-determination is a cornerstone outcome for students with disabilities. Research indicates that the more self-determined students are prior to leaving high school, the more likely they are to achieve their postschool goals. Self-determination is a mindset influenced by the ability to make choices and decisions for oneself and the belief that these choices and decisions will positively impact one's life. Parents can help their children build self-determination skills including, choice-making, decision-making, problem solving, goal setting and attainment, and self-advocacy by providing opportunities for students to utilize these skills. For example, your child can assist with meal planning and preparation; setting, monitoring, and adjusting daily, weekly, and/or monthly goals; ordering from a restaurant menu; and talking through situational issues where solutions are needed. These are just a few examples, but you can google self-determination videos and have a wealth of resources at your disposal.

Parents of high school students in grades 11 and 12 should contact the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services(205-554-1300) for the purpose of completing an application for adult support services. I also recommend that parents consult with ADRS about postsecondary service possibilities and procedures.

Transportation services may be available through Handi-Care (https://www.handi.care/). Handi-Care is a new for-profit transportation company in Tuscaloosa and surrounding areas. They take medicaid, which may help with the cost.

Transportation services may also be available at Tuscaloosa Transit Authority. Parents are encouraged to go to the website: Tuscaloosa Transit Authority; click on Demand Response Services; click on ADA Application and Rules to learn about how to access the services; click on Reasonable Modifications to learn more about requirement.

1. Time Management and Organization: Use a daily planner to plan out your days. Whether your planner a virtual (Google calendar), on your phone, or a physical planner that travels everywhere with you, use it and stick to it as best you can. Schedule in your free time, test prep hours, and anything else you can think of.
2. Task Prioritization: Using your calendar, evaluate what needs to be completed first. Is it the assignment that is due in two or the essay that is due in two weeks? Some students work better when harder tasks are completed first. Determine what is most important so that you can chip away at your to do list one assignment at a time.
3. Note Taking and Note Reviewing: Taking notes while you hear information will help you absorb it and hold on to it better. Sometimes it is hard to take detailed notes while your teacher is moving quickly in class. You can abbreviate words and phrases and use highlighters or different colored pens to help you remember where you have additional questions. Raise your hand in class or plan a time to meet afterwards for your teacher to elaborate. Once home, review your notes daily so that you can refresh your memory.
4. Setting Up Your Space: Your home study space is very important for your success. Do not study in your bed or in spaces where you can be distracted. Set up a desk or table in a quiet area with all of your supplies (paper, pencils, calculator, highlighters).
5. Motivation, Rewards, and Breaks: Small successes add up to your overall goal. Do not forget to cheer yourself on and to give your brain a chance to recharge by taking breaks.
6. Study Groups: Team up with others to study outside of school or ask your teacher if there are days that extended learning is offered after school.

Click on the link below to find 31 Days of October Crafts and Activities!

https://www.whereimaginationgrows.com/october-crafts-activities-calendar/

Tuscaloosa Public Library

Get a Library Card

Calendar of Events

WHAT IS DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY?

Success By 6 of United Way of West Alabama is proud to provide Dolly Parton's Imagination Library books FREE to children from birth to 5 years of age living in Bibb, Greene, Hale, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter, and Tuscaloosa counties. Once a month, your child will receive a new book by mail. You only need to do two things: register your child and pledge to read the books to him/her. Please, climb on board Dolly Parton's Imagination Library!

Special Education FAQs

Special Education Process

Special Education Services

Email: webmaster@tusc.k12.al.us
Website: https://www.tuscaloosacityschools.com/
Location: 1210 Almon Ave, Tuscaloosa, AL 35404, USA
Phone: (205) 759-3700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TCSBoardofEd
Twitter: @TCSBoardofEd