The Rockwood Reader

Rockwood is proud to share our 2023-24 annual report with our community! Our nearly 3,500 teachers and staff members go above and beyond to ensure a quality learning experience each day for nearly 20,000. Learn more HERE.

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 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).

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!

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.

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.

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.

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/

Happy New Year, Rockwood families!

Greetings from the SSD Parent Advisory Council. We want to help you support your child this year. To get you off to a great start, we have some recommendations.

First, go to https://recreationcouncil.org/ and sign up for their newsletter. This is your one stop shop for activities for your child. The Summer Guide for camps just arrived, and they fill up fast. Now is the time to begin registration! To learn more & hear about help with funding through vouchers, please watch this SSD PAC presentation about 20 minutes in: https://youtu.be/Ag_lIFm1ESk.

Second, take advantage of FACE! Go to https://www.ssdmo.org/face, scroll down under ‘key contacts’, and register for their new newsletter. I know I’ll be attending January 24 Lunch & Learn zoom on Mizzou PAWs, and February 28th on Guardianship alternatives.

Recreation Council and camp vendors will be at FACE Family Academy February 24th, if you have questions about sending your child to camp.

Also, please check out IDD Gateway Resource Guide: https://sites.google.com/view/plb/home. It’s an amazing resource put out by Family Navigation. Do you have a Family Navigator yet? Come meet them at FACE Family Academy on February 24th. Don’t know what Family Navigation is yet? Check out our PAC meeting where we had them present:

SSD's Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is now accepting New/Renewal of Membership Self-Nomination Forms. Completed nomination forms must be returned to the Executive Committee no later than Feb. 15, 2024.

Elections are rotated each year, with Affton School District, Bayless School District, Brentwood School District, School District of Clayton, Ferguson-Florissant School District, Hancock Place School District, Ladue School District, Mehlville School District, Normandy Schools Collaborative, Rockwood School District, School District of University City, and Valley Park School District holding elections this year.

No School - Professional Development Day

Friday, February 9th

No School - Presidents' Day Holiday

Monday, February 19th

No School - Spring Recess

Monday, March 18th through Friday, March 22nd

Special School District

February 13th @ 5:45 PM

February 23rd @ 1:30 PM - Education Policy Subcommittee Meeting

February 27th @ 5:45 PM

More info here

Rockwood School District

February 1st @ 7:00 PM

February 22nd @ 7:00 PM

March 7th @ 7:00 PM

More info here

• SSD Superintendent Updates
• SSD Parent Advisory Council
• Parent Education & Diversity Awareness Program
• SSD Guidance/Resources for In-Person and Distance Learning
• SSD Partner District - Rockwood
• Academic and Related Services Toolkit

314-989-8268

Mandy Lloyd, Administrative Assistant

636-733-2071

Website: https://www.ssdmo.org
Location: 12110 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO, USA
Phone: 314.989.8100
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SSDStLCo
Twitter: @ssdstlco

Website: https://www.rsdmo.org
Location: 111 East North Street, Eureka, MO, USA
Phone: 636-733-2000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rockwood.School.District
Twitter: @rockwoodschools