SSD Lindbergh Schools
February 2024 Community Engagement Newsletter
YOU KNOW YOU MAKE ME WANT TO SHOUT!
WE WANT TO GIVE YOU THE CHANCE EVERY MONTH to give a shout out to any SSD staff who is making a difference in your child's life. Think about a teacher, paraprofessional or SSD administrator who is doing something wonderful, tell us their name and any compliment you'd like to share.
Click here to SHOUT THEM OUT!
STAFF SPOTLIGHT - AMY THOMPSON
INTRODUCTION
Amy Thompson is a special education resource math teacher at Sperreng Middle School. She has been with the Special School District for 6 years. Prior to that, Amy taught math and reading intervention at a charter school in St. Louis for 7 years.
EDUCATION
Amy is certified in Middle School Math, Elementary Education and Special Education. She took an interesting route to teaching. First, she got a Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Southern Illinois University in 1994. She worked as an engineer for several years until having a baby, then she became a stay at home mom. When Amy’s children were in middle school, she went back to school at Missouri Baptist University to become a teacher.
FAMILY
Amy has been married to her husband, Marc, for 31 years who works for Ameren. They have 2 adult boys. Adam is married to Becca and is 27 years old. He works at Washington University as a Health and Safety Professional. Brendan is 25 years old and does Industrial Logistics at Experitec in Chesterfield. Brendan recently bought his own house and moved out, making Amy and Marc "empty nesters!"
WHAT IS AMY UP TO NOW?
Amy enjoys traveling and glamping with her husband and friends, watching TV, and playing with her dogs. She has 3 dogs: Tucker who is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Mia and Murphy who are Goldendoodles. The dogs are a huge part of their lives and travel with them all summer. They also enjoy going to the Botanical Gardens and St. Louis Cardinals Baseball games. She currently enjoys teaching 7th and 8th grade math and watching her students grow. She also loves co-teaching with amazing Sperreng educators and finds Sperreng to be a very supportive school community.
Amy is excited for this semester because the teachers are getting the 8th graders ready to transition to high school. As an 8th grade case manager, this is a big deal and an exciting time for all team members.
Favorite Quote: “Be the person your dog thinks you are. —C.J. Frick (My dogs have a pretty high opinion of me. If I can be half as good as they believe I am, I’ll be doing great!!!)
LPAC Presents: Special Education Resource Fair
Join us on Saturday March 2nd from 1:00 - 3:30 for our second Special Education Resource Fair. The event will be held at Concord Elementary School and includes resources from around St. Louis and St. Louis County.
Based on family responses from our fall survey, the fair will include presentations on the topics of:
Positive Discipline Supported by Home Practices
Student Mental Health and Social Emotional Supports
Understanding & Supporting My Child's Reading Disability
Planning With My Child for A Great Future
Some of our community guests will have booths to share community information with families. A few of these organizations include:
ARC
Starkloff Disability Institute
Youth in Need
UMSL Succeed
St. Louis Community College
FACE - SSD
IRC - SSD
Variety St. Louis
Watch for more information in your Principal's e-Newsletter and in a flyer emailed to all families of students who have an IEP.
Save the Dates: STL County Apprenticeship & Career Pathways Showcases
SSD will be partnering with Affton, Pattonville, and Rockwood school districts again this year to host the St. Louis County Apprenticeship & Career Pathways Showcases. Last year’s events were very successful and helped middle and high-school students throughout the St. Louis region learn about the many careers available to them that require specialized training.
Visit the Showcase webpage for more information!
The District will host three Saturday events, each held from 10 AM – 1 PM:
Feb. 24 – Eureka High School
March 2 – North Tech High School
March 9 – South Tech High School
FAMILY RESOURCE HUB
Family Resource Hub Food Pantry is stocked with food and supplies and open for families who are in need. Contact FACE or your school social worker to find out more.
The Community Action Agency of St. Louis County (CAASTLC) will also be available at the SSD Family Resource Hub (located inside North Tech High School) on Friday, February 2nd, from 10am-2pm to provide information and access to many of their programs, including the Low-Income Home Energy Program (LIHEAP) and Water Assistance Program (LIWAP).
FAMILY ACADEMY
FACE is set to host Family Academy on Saturday, February 24th, from 9 AM to 12 PM at Neuwoehner High School, 12112 Clayton Rd, St. Louis MO 63131. Families can connect with various community providers and vendors and partake in self-directed learning opportunities. Round up the kids and head to Family Academy for a morning of fun and empowerment. You don't want to miss this academy if you’re looking for Summer Recreation opportunities. The Recreation Council of Greater St. Louis and many of our local camp vendors will be onsite to discuss funding and recreation options.
Visit the FACE webpage for more details and to secure your spot!
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Are you new to Special School District, or do you just want to learn more about our amazing organization? Join FACE for a Virtual Open House on February 1st at 9:30am. Families can receive an introduction to the services and resources available through SSD.
Join the zoom meeting here.
FACE will be hosting Part 2 of our 2 part webinar, Behavior Strategies in the Home and Community on February 7th at 6 PM. Join us as we expand on previous lessons which discussed crisis procedures in the home and reinforcing alternative behaviors, a review of acceptance and commitment therapy strategies, and a focus on present moment and diffusion techniques. Register here today!
You can access part 1 on the SSD YouTube channel.
Are you craving more meaningful connections with members of the SSD community? Do you like learning from others in a safe, inclusive environment? If so, join us on February 8th from 6-8 PM at North Tech for the first Family Cafe of the Spring Semester. Cafes are hosted by families for families. They provide parents and caregivers with a safe and welcoming space to connect and learn from each other. They are centered on strengthening families' protective factors: Resilience, relationships, knowledge, support, and communication.
Click here for more information and to register.
Exciting news! The FACE second-semester calendar of events is now available. Packed with enriching activities, it aims to strengthen family/school partnerships. You can access the calendar here. Mark your calendars and join us—your participation is key to fostering a positive and engaging school community.
Want to learn more about opportunities for families in our district? Sign up on our website for the new FACE-to-face newsletter from SSD’s Family and Community Engagement Division. Scroll to the bottom of the page, look to the right-hand corner, and share your name and email address to stay up to date on our events.
KEEP DREAMING!
FACE Newsletter
Are you looking for unique and accessible activities to participate in this winter? Look no further than the latest FACE newsletter! In it you will find not only information on what FACE has to offer, but also ideas to enhance your student’s learning and great community events and offerings.
You can sign up to have future newsletters sent to your inbox by visiting the FACE website today!
FACE YouTube
Would you like to learn more about how to support our student’s learning this Winter? Take a look at the FACE YouTube page and watch any of our pre-recorded webinars. Topics include toilet training, executive functioning, behavior supports, and Special Education Process. Check it out and email us at face@ssdmo.org to suggest other important topics.
AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE (ASL SERIES)
A few spots remain for families to sign up for American Sign Language (ASL) classes. This six-week class will be held weekly beginning February 8 at 6:00 PM at SSD’s Central Office. Families will be in 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. Topics include family, school, food, and community signs. Deaf cultural norms will be discussed, which include introductions and daily interaction between the deaf and the hearing. Space is limited.
Register here.
Public Notices
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.
Procedural Safeguards Notice
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 is offering 10 sponsorships (valued at $500) for Junior year students to attend the 2024 American Legion Auxiliary Missouri Girls State and American Legion Auxiliary Missouri Boys State. The programs will be held the week of June 22 – June 29, 2024 at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO. The program includes a college campus experience of staying in the dorms overnight at the university for a week as a citizen of a mythical state that all the citizens will govern at the city, county and state level. Students must send a sponsorship solicitation email/letter and letter of reference from the student’s SSD teacher to Tim Eby, SEF Executive Director at tim@sef-stl.org by March 1, 2024. Read here for more information, or contact Jackie Ruhm Dunn jackiedunnstl@gmail.com or 314.640.1154 for questions.
The Special Education Foundation is accepting applications for next year's Fred Saigh Leadership Academy class. Started in 2004, this program provides high school students with unique community-focused opportunities to broaden their horizons.
Each year, up to 20 students displaying leadership potential are chosen to participate in a training program that introduces and develops their leadership skills, engaging them in community issues. Students dedicate one day per month to visit key sites and meet leaders in the metropolitan area, exposing them to vital institutions that address community needs. Applications are accepted now through February 20, 2024.
2024 SSD BOARD OF EDUCATION ELECTION
Three candidates have filed for two open positions on the Special School District Board of Education in the spring election. The open positions are for three-year terms and represent the following subdistricts:
Subdistrict 5 – Brentwood, Kirkwood, Lindbergh, Valley Park, and Webster Groves school districts
Subdistrict 6 – Ladue, Normandy, Ritenour, and University City school districts
In March, the Board candidates will be interviewed by the SSD Governing Council, which selects new members of the Board of Education. The Governing Council is comprised of one Board of Education member from each of the 22 school districts in St. Louis County.
Learn more about SSD's current Board of Education members, policies, and meetings on the District website.
Learn More about UMSL's Succeed Program
The UMSL Succeed Program is designed to encourage and facilitate students to gain independence through academics, vocational experiences, and college residential/student life. Students must meet the criteria, which include:
● Have a documented intellectual or developmental disability.
● Demonstrate a strong interest or desire to pursue post-secondary education to expand career & life opportunities.
● Have completed or will complete high school with a modified/standard diploma, or a certificate of program completion/achievement.
See the entire list of requirements and learn more about the program!
FREE FLU SHOTS THROUGH BJC
For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit https://bit.ly/3oCxqYu
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.
Follow SSD on Instagram!
SSD launched a new Instagram account in October and would love for you to follow. The District will be sharing photos and updates from all across the District, including our students and staff in partner districts.
Follow us to stay connected and see what we are up to: www.instagram.com/ssdstlco/
Lindbergh Special Education Administrator Team
Shannon Jeralds
Special Education Coordinator - Truman Middle, Crestwood Elementary, Long Elementary & Sappington Elementary
314-989-8680
Special Education Coordinator - Sperreng Middle, Concord Elementary, Dressel Elementary & Kennerly Elementary
314-989-8202
Amanda Smith
Special Education Coordinator - Lindbergh High School
314-989-8381
Special School District of St. Louis County - Director Dr. Joy Doyle
Email: jmdoyle@ssdmo.org
Website: ssdmo.org
Phone: 314-989-8463