SSD Webster Groves Schools

SHOUT OUT to Carrie Sachtleben, a general education kindergarten teacher at Edgar Road Elementary!

Carrie Sachtleben is a sponsor of the Best Buddies at Edgar Road Elementary. She coordinated an event after school on October 17th that teachers and students attended. Best Buddies has grown to 3,000 chapters worldwide, positively impacting the lives of over 1.3 million people with and without an educational disability.

The Best Buddies Organization is active in 49 of 50 states and in 49 countries worldwide. (https://www.bestbuddies.org/)

On October 19th, our paraprofessionals spent the morning engaged in Professional Development with our Special School District Paraprofessional Coach, Michele Stokes. The topics covered were active supervision and student engagement. The sessions were very resourceful and engaging!

Thank you Michele for a wonderful session with our paraprofessionals!

“Down Syndrome Awareness Month,” or “DSAM,” Is a month to raise awareness and celebrate the many abilities of individuals with Down syndrome. DSAM seeks to break down barriers and focus on promoting advocacy for people with Down syndrome. This month we recognize Will, a student in the Webster Groves School District.

HERE ARE A FEW FACTS ABOUT WILL!

Favorite Food: Cheeseburgers

Favorite Subjects in School: Science and Social Studies

Favorite Color: Blue and Orange

Favorite Trading Cards: Pokeman

Favorite Video Game: Mine Craft and Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild

Favorite Teachers: Mr. Pingel and Mrs. Williams

Favorite Team: St. Louis Cardinals

Best Vacation: South Dakota

Favorite Song: Country Road by John Denver

Favorite You Tube Channel: Beck Bro Jack

Favorite YouTuber: TechnoBlade

Students enrolled in the Functional Skills, Vocational Skills, and CBVI classes at Webster Groves High School take monthly trips into the community to expand their learning outside of the classroom. In September the students took a trip to the Missouri Botanical Gardens followed by lunch at Racanelli's Pizza located in Webster Groves Community. In October they took a trip to the St. Louis Zoo. Students got the chance to practice community-based skills such as appropriate social interactions, money skills, ordering at a restaurant, working in groups, and much more.

Students are encouraged to practice their independence while on these trips to help work towards their post-secondary goals.

Camp programs help to maintain educational momentum for students during extended academic breaks throughout the year. The Special Education Foundation's (SEF) Kid-to-Camp program can help bridge the learning gap for students served by SSD during the upcoming winter break. Camperships are awarded based on financial need and student benefits.

For a list of camp resources and to apply to SEF's Kid-to-Camp program, visit https://sef-stl.org/programs/kid-to-camp/

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 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.

CAASTL will be available at the Family Resource Hub, located at North Tech High School on November 3rd from 10 PM - 2 PM.

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.

FACE is hosting its second annual Family Academy on Saturday, November 4th from 9 AM -12 PM 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!

Please join us on Monday, November 6th from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM via Zoom Link.

There will be presentations from SWEP (Summer Work Experience Program), Neighborhood Experiences, and the Youth Summer Program, along with a Q&A Session.

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 students. Programs such as SWEP (Summer Work Experience Program) have early deadlines in February.

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.

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.

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

Join FACE as they welcome Starkloff Disability Institute for a Lunch and Learn on November 15th at 11:30 AM live on YouTube. This Lunch and Learn will highlight Starkloff’s Dream Big and Access U programs. Each of these programs help student’s focus on the future by offering career and post-secondary education guidance.

You can find this live event as well as previously recorded Lunch and Learns on the SSD YouTube page.

Are you interested in making connections with other families and community members in our district? Join Face on November 16th, for the final Family Cafe of the semester. Family Cafes are hosted by families, for families. They provide parents and caregivers a safe and welcoming space to connect and learn from each other. They are centered on the Strengthening Families Five Protective Factors: Resilience, Relationships, Knowledge, Support and Communication. Three cafes will be hosted each semester.

This semester they will be held at North Technical High School 1700 Derhake Rd., Florissant, MO 63033 from 6-8pm.

Register today!

FACE will host Vocational Rehabilitation for a HUB Huddle on Friday, November 17th. SSD's The Department of Vocational Rehabilitation to provide our community with additional support and access to resources that support employment after transition.

A representative from VR will be available at the SSD Family Resource Hub (located inside North Tech High School) to provide information on many of their programs, including VR Youth Services, Pre-Employment Transition Services (pre-ETS), and share support for families.

Are you new to SSD or just wanting to learn more about the district? Join FACE for a Virtual Open House on Tuesday, November 21st at 9:30am. Families can receive an introduction to the services and resources available through SSD. These virtual meetings invite all families into our learning community as equal partners throughout the learning process, symbolizing that FACE's door is always open!

Click here to join the virtual meeting.

Each year, the Special School District posts annual public notices as required by Board of Education policy and state law. These notices primarily serve to inform parents and students of their rights. Full SSD Board of Education policies and regulations can be found on the District website.

All of SSD's public notices can be found on the District website at www.ssdmo.org/publicnotices.

Did you know that the SSD has copies of the Procedural Safeguards and Parent Bill of Rights available in multiple languages on our website? The Procedural Safeguards help keep families informed about their rights and protections under IDEA.

Visit the Procedural Safeguards section of the District website to review.

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.

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!

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

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

Webster Groves Newsletter Feedback