SSD Webster Groves Schools

On September 9, 2023 the Webster Groves School District (WGSD) held its’ 2nd annual Family BBQ at Ivy Crockett Park. It was the perfect weather for an amazing event! There were various organizations within the community represented to provide information and to answer any questions.

The WGSD provided hot dogs, chips, freeze pops and snow cones.

(This article is taken directly from Psych Central https://psychcentral.com/health/minute-mindfulness-exercises#what-is-mindfulness)

Mindfulness is actively paying attention to the present. A sell-known mindfulness teacher Jon Kabat-Zinn defines mindfulness in his book “Mindfulness for Beginners” as “awareness, cultivated by paying attention in a sustained and particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.” The practice of mindfulness involves two types of directed thought: Traditional which is when you sit undisturbed and pay attention to your breath and body and active medication which is when you focus on what you are doing while you are doing it. For example, walking in the park or completing a household chore.

The practice of mindfulness can be completed in one minute! Research in 2019 suggests consistent meditation of a short duration can have the same health benefits as meditations of longer duration and higher intensity. Consistent daily practice seems to be more important than the length of your practice. If you begin stopping for 1 minute a couple of times a day, you may soon find yourself expanding your practice to several times, or even 5 or 6 times, a day. Soon, mindfulness will be a daily practice that comes naturally.

A Mindfulness exercise you can do in 1 minute called "Just Sit, a basic meditation that is easy to learn and is created to be practiced in as short as a minute.

This version of "Just Sit" is provided by Center for Healthy Living at Kaiser Permanente.

1. Sit up straight, but not stiffly, in a chair with your feet flat on the ground.
2. Place your hands in a balanced position and close your eyes.
3. Focus on your breathing, as you follow each breath in and out.
4. After 1 minute (or longer), gradually open your eyes and resume activities.

Stay tuned for more ways to practice mindfulness.

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...

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 Questions

• Bullying Resources

• Student & Related Services

Crystal Elze, Webster Groves Instructional Facilitator and Madeline Craig, assistant principal at Webster Groves High School have planned co-teaching professional development for teachers who will work together this year in a co-taught setting. The teachers will meet together September 12, October 24, January 23, and April 9. Just a few of the topics covered will include: Specifically Designed Instruction, Collaboration, Co-Managing, and HI-Yield Instructional Strategies.

The WGPAC is scheduled to meet four times for the 23/24 school year. There will be a topic and/or guest speaker and time to get to know one another.

Feel free to bring in your own meal or snack.

Meetings will be on the following dates at Global Brew in Rock Hill on Tuesday evenings from 7-8 PM.

September 12

November 14

February 13

April 9

Please mark your calendars and plan to join!

Questions? Contact JJ.Gossrau@gmail.com

*The Webster Groves Parent Advisory Council was formed by families who expect that children with disabilities and/or unique learning needs are educated effectively, afforded the dignity of belonging, and valued throughout all Webster Groves School District learning opportunities and experiences.

The Brain Injury Association of Missouri (BIA-MO) is pleased to offer educational scholarships for survivors of brain injury to pursue post-secondary education. Please click here for more information.

Bullying is an unacceptable part of our children’s lives. Do your children know how to recognize the signs of bullying? Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center offers resources to help. Click here to learn how you can become a partner in your child’s learning.

The Family and Community Resource Center (FCRC), located at the Learning Center in Hazelwood, has several books that help to increase awareness and prevent bullying for students of all different ages and abilities. Here is a list of just a few:

“Betty Stops the Bully: An Emotional Literacy Book” written by Lawrence E. Shapiro, Ph.D “Emily is Being Bullied. What Can She Do?” written by Helen Cowie, Harriet Tenebaum, and Ffion Jones “I Wish I Knew What to Do?!, Teens tell it like it is…on what to say to get BULLIES to leave you alone!” edited by Beth Carls and Amy Looper

Contact FACE today (face@ssdmo.org, 314-989-8460) to have one of these books or many others sent home in your student’s backpack!

The Family Resource Hub is 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

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.

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.

CAASTL will be available at the Family Resource Hub, located at North Tech High School on October 6th and November 3rd from 10 pm - 2pm. CAASTLC can provided the following programs and services to families:

• Case Management
• Utility Assistance
• Rental Assistance
• Financial Education
• Weatherization
• Program development and education 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 - 8 pm 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.

Learn more or REGISTER today!

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 is excited to host Pathways to Independence for a Lunch and Learn on October 25th from 11:30 AM - -12 PM. 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.

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.

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!

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 PM - 7 PM 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.

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.

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

Affordable Connectivity Program: The Affordable Connectivity Program is a Federal Communications Commission program that helps connect families or households struggling to afford internet service. This new benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers.

Eligible households can enroll through a participating broadband provider or directly with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) using an online or mail in application. You can learn more about the benefit, including eligibility and enrollment information, by visiting www.fcc.gov/ACP, or by calling 877.384.2575.

Residential Households in the U.S. can order one set of 4 FREE at-home tests from usps.com. To order the free tests visit covidtests.gov.

Special School District is providing assistance to those who need help accessing or completing the online form. For assistance, visit FREE At-Home COVID Test.

Webster Groves School District Return to School Plan

SSD Superintendent Updates

ECSE Department Newsletter

Academic & Related Services Toolkit for Educators

Your Voice Counts!

Distance Learning Resources for Families

PEDA Parent/Family workshop

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