SSD Webster Groves Schools
September 2023 Community Engagement Newsletter
Welcome to the 2023-2024 School year!
On August 11, 2023, we welcomed our SSD staff for another exciting school year! Staff were greeted with lunch boxes, T-shirts and classroom library books. Staff also participated in various professional development sessions as well. Staff were able to meet parents and students during Open House, Kindergarten Jump Start, and March to Middle School. We also have various new staff members joining our Webster Schools. We are looking forward to a great school year with our students and families. Please reach out for assistance if needed.
Community Based Vocational Instruction to start at Sunrise Retirement Center this month.
Students from Webster Groves High School to start Community Based Vocational Instruction at Sunrise Retirement Center this month. Colleen Flickinger and Holly Tieman are teaming up to support students learning vocational skills at Sunrise starting in September. Some of the responsibilities will include setting the tables in the dining room, clearing tables, flipping menus from lunch to dinner, supporting the drink station and bistro in the lobby, caring for plants, delivering packages to residents and assisting residents. The students are providing a valuable service to Sunrise while learning job skills to build upon as they transition from high school into the real world!
LET'S WELCOME OUR NEW STAFF!
Holly Tieman
Holly Tieman is a new Essential skills teacher at Webster Grove High School. Holly has worked in education for about 17 years. She worked in different roles and with different ages of students. Holly's family includes her husband of eighteen years, daughter who will be a senior this year, and two dogs, Coco and Daisy. She enjoys outdoor activities, yoga, and taking Irish dance classes.
Marcie Dawson
Marcie Dawson is a new teacher at Webster High School. She will teach Algebra and learning strategies. She previously worked in Rockwood School District.
Helping Students Navigate Back-to-School Anxiety: Tips for Families
Online SSD Resources to Help Families All Year
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.
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
CO-TEACHING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 23-24
WELCOME TO THE WEBSTER GROVES PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL (WGPAC)
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.
WGSD FAMILY BARBEQUE! - SAVE THE DATE!
The WGSD Family Barbecue, held at the beginning of the school year for several years, is back again in 2023! Mark your calendars now for this free, all-school event!
The barbecue will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sat. Sept. 9, 2023 at Ivory Crockett Park.
Brain Injury Association of Missouri Educational Scholarships
SPOTLIGHT ON BULLYING
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:
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
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.
FACE Updates
Join FACE for the first Family Cafe of the 2023/24 school year.
American Sign Language (ASL)!
FACE’s Lunch and Learn Series
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.
Free Flu Shots Through BJC
Affordable Connectivity Program
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.
Free At-Home COVID-19 Test
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.