Special Services Department

As this is our first Special Services Newsletter of the year I wanted to take a moment to say welcome back!

It’s been a very busy few months in our department with lots of changes – new faces may have joined your team, others may have taken on new roles, and some moving on to new adventures. Change can be a lot to take in, but through it all, we’ve stayed focused on what really matters: supporting our students. We’ve still got that same energy and passion for doing great things, and it’s been wonderful to see how everyone is pulling together to ensure services and success never falters.

One of the best parts of my job is when I get to visit classrooms and experience the smiles, the laughter, and the learning happening. Seeing our students engage, learn, and grow is what makes all the difference, and it’s a reminder of why we do what we do. Whether they’re working on new skills, collaborating with friends, or proudly showing off what they've learned, the joy and determination they bring to school are truly inspiring!

This year, we’re continuing to find new and creative ways to support each child’s success, and I am grateful I get to work with a great team of staff as well as with families that never fail to show up for their kids.

Thank you for sharing your students with us!

Sammi Burgess

Director of Special Services

Our local Special Education Parent Advisory Council, or SEPAC (sea-pack) is a district-level, parent-driven group that provides input to the local school district on system-level challenges in special education. SEPAC will promote training and resources, inclusive practices, understanding of, respect for, and support of all children with special needs in our community.

As we look at our systems as a whole, we want to hear from you! Please take a second and fill out this FORM so we can hear from you and coordinate future meetings to ensure meaningful participation for all. Whether you have a student on an IEP or 504, or just want to learn more about the process, we encourage all parents to attend and get involved.

We promise, it won't take long to complete this short questionnaire. The information you provide will help drive SEPAC this year. Complete it here --> FORM

Fairchild Cinemas here in Moses Lake is offering a great opportunity to our families who benefit from some extra accommodations when going to see a movie. They will be hosting a private sensory friendly showing of Moana 2 on December 7th. Sensory friendly means the lights will not be all the way off and the sound will be adjustable. Seating is limited to only 100 people so there is room to sit, stand, dance and wiggle. Check it out before tickets sell out!

Back by popular demand are our Department Check Ins. This is a space and opportunity for some of our Special Services departments to offer some general information and/or activities that may be relevant to you and your families. Take a look at what some of our departments here at Special Services have to share for this month, and check back each newsletter to see what else is to come!

As we get back into our routines, our School Psychologists have provided a resource to refer to when wanting to engage with our kiddos about their school day.

Speech and communication services are much more in depth than many of us realize. In addition, it affects many of our students across the district. The Speech and Language Department provided us with a guide to help us understand what specific areas they focus on with some of our students.

Stresses from school can sometimes follow us home. Below are some calming strategies we can teach our kids to help regulate our state of mind and emotions.