Wilson Just Words

We are starting to implement Wilson Just Words as a reading intervention in Grades 4-12, Alternative HS, and with Adult Literacy with some students.  Here is a description of that program: 

Wilson Just Words provides a word-level intervention for students in grades 4-12

The Just Words class is not just teaching reading and spelling basics, it is providing the foundational skills that are necessary in today’s economy. Just Words provides a curriculum for the accelerated study of word structure through the six syllable types in English and the most common Latin roots. It is a highly explicit, multisensory decoding and spelling program for students in grades 4 – 12 and adults who do not require intensive intervention but do require explicit decoding and spelling instruction due to word-level deficits.

The Just Words phonics and spelling instruction includes:

• Study of English sound system
• Phoneme segmentation skills for up to six sounds in a syllable with application for decoding and spelling
• Syllable structure including six basic syllable types in English and syllable division patterns used for decoding
• Spelling of common Latin suffix endings when added to unchanging basewords
• Process for vocabulary study as well as meaning of common Latin roots
• Decoding application with phrasing for meaning
• Automatic reading and spelling of the first 250 most frequently used words from Edward Fry’s List of High Frequency Words as well as additional high frequency words
• Directed, accelerated pacing of Wilson phonics and spelling instruction
  

As a Tier II program, Just Words is an appropriate intervention in daily small group or class instruction. Just Words is highly effective for those students with gaps in their decoding and spelling and performing below grade level (16- 50th percentile). 

(www.justwords.com)

Special Education and Student Services Newsletter for November 30

1. LTS updates

Mark Arndt will be the long term sub for SLP Eliza Decker during the month of January. He will work two half days as a transition.  Therapies Plus has a person available for rest of time, but we are negotiating the cost. 

No LTS for Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant has yet to be found.  Therapies Plus is willing to contract with the district for COTA but we are negotiating the cost. We have contacted Memorial Health Center if they have a COTA available for some time. 

There is no applicants yet for School Psychologist LTS at MAMS and MASH. I may have to fill some of the responsibilities if no one is found. Teachers may have to do more of the academic testing as well during that time frame. 

2. SLATE Conference

Handouts from the School Leaders Advancing Technology in Education (SLATE) Conference in December 6-7: http://slateinwi.com/handouts

3. Read Write and Gold

Read Write and Gold will be installed on the computers in Jill Chasteen's Grade 8 Special Education room.  Read Write Gold is an assistive technology that will read text out loud to students (including NWEA testing) plus many other options for student support.  We have a full site license for MAMS that will be installed as time progresses.  www.texthelp.com

4. Special Education Family Day at the Movies

Saturday December 3rd at 1:00 pm.  Each child in special education will receive a free ticket with paid parent purchase.  Free small popcorn will be available.  The Muppets, Happy Feet 2, and Jack/Jill will all be shown. 

 

5. Taylor County Early Childhood Sub-Committee

December 2 at 1:30 pm at the District Office. 

6. CBS News 60 Minutes Special on iPads and Autism

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_8b7PgnNQQ&feature=youtu.be

7. Building Special Education Meetings in December

There are no scheduled building special education meetings for December. 

8. Mike Johnson Presentation on December 8

Mike Johnson will give a presentation on Thursday December 8 starting at 4:00 pm.  He will likely speak for 1 hour plus time for questions.  This is his first presentation in Medford.  Any interested school staff, parents, and community members are invited to attend. 

Mike is the President of the Autism Society of Central Wisconsin and VP of Camp Awesum.  He is the parent of two children including a 17 year old daughter with Aspergers Syndrome. Mike's presentation is a compilation of material from the book Ten Things Every Kid with Autism Wishes You Knew and the work of Dr. Glenis Benson who has worked with individuals with autism for over 30 years.  He hopes that everyone will learn something from this "real world" information from a parent's perspective. 

9. Family Reading Night at MAES

Thanks to all the staff who helped organize, promote, or could help at the MAES Fall Family Reading Night. Pictures are posted on the MAES and Special Education/Student Services Facebook page. 

10. Wilson Reading Level II Certification 

We will meet at 3:45 on Wednesday November 30 in the MAES Computer Lab

11. Extensive List of Math Resources

http://www.alline.org/euro/emath.html

12. MASH Building Special Education - Safety and De-Escalation Training

Don Everhard will present safety and de-escalation strategies for high school special education certified and support staff, student services, and safety response team members.  This will be from 3:20 to 4:15. Make arrangements to attend. 

13. MAMS Grade 7-8 Christmas Performance

Support staff who are needed to support individual students with disabilities can mark this time on their time card. Thank you for making arrangements to help. 

14. Ten Special Education Teachers to Follow

I was recognized as one of 10 Special Education Teachers to Follow through the We Read Better website.  Here is the link: http://wereadbetter.com/10-special-education-teachers-to-follow-on-twitter/

If you are interested in following me to receive information and resources on laws, educational techology, social media, apps, and more here is my info: www.twitter.com/Joseph_Greget

15. Student Teaching

Kellie Keene will be student teaching at MAES in Grade 4 during January and February.  Joanie Pfaff will be helping support at Alternative HS in her absence in the mornings during that time. 

16. Alternative HS Grant 

We received a $4,500 grant for job coaching and employability skills development at our Alternative HS for at risk and special education students.  We will be looking for someone to work as part of this grant for 10 hours per week. Thanks to the Weyerhauser Foundation for this grant. 

17. Taylor County Literacy Council

We have received over $8,000 in grants for the Taylor County Literacy Council.  We will need a Literacy Coordinator for 10 hours per week on average, Adult Literacy Instructors, and tutors to provide support for adults with illiteracy.  If you have an interest in any of these positions or for more information, please contact Cindy Gibson or I. 

18. Families Being Involved Workshop - Cookie Decorating

MAES and SES Pre-K students and parents will be participating in the December Families Being Involved Workshop of Cookie Decorating this Friday. 

19. Kim Heckel

Kim Heckel from Human Resources has accepted a new position outside of the school district.  On behalf of our Special Education and Student Services Program I would like to extend our appreciation for all her hard work on school policies, handbook, conference registration, vehicle reservation, staff licensing, PDP, leave requests, and more for the past 12 years.  Today (Wednesday November 30) is her last day for the district. 

20. iPad/Educational Technology

We held our monthly iPad/Educational Technology training last night.  If you would like any of the information, please contact me.  An updated list of apps available in the district is also available. 

Apps for Autism: CBS News 60 Minutes Special

Apps for Autism: CBS News 60 Minutes Special
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_8b7PgnNQQ&feature=youtu.be

Extensive list of Apps for Autism

Extensive list of Apps for Autism
https://spreadsheets.google.com/a/medford.k12.wi.us/pub?key=0AjbIta8OTS0KdHRMVWx0Q3pvOWRXRXBfd01jc3lqakE&hl=en&single=true&gid=0&output=html

50 Essential Special Education Twitter Feeds

50 Essential Special Education Twitter Feeds to follow: http://www.specialeducationadvisor.com/50-essential-special-education-twitter-feeds-to-follow/

ELL Strategies and Accommodations

Here is a list to links on information related to Instructional Strategies and Accommodations for English Language Learners: https://sites.google.com/a/medford.k12.wi.us/specialed/home/ell-strategies. Thanks to CESA 10 for sending these strategies and accommodations.

Pertussis Advisory

Pertussis Advisory

There have been several cases of pertussis at various schools in the district.  Some of you have come to me with questions, so I am sending you a copy of the advisory that went home to parents of children who may have been in contact with the affected child.

What is pertussis?                  Pertussis (also called whooping cough) is a disease caused by bacteria that spreads from person to person with close contact.  Pertussis is often mild in older children and adults, but can cause serious problems in infants.

Who gets pertussis?               Pertussis is most common among people who are unvaccinated, or who have lost the protection they got from childhood vaccines (immunity usually wanes by adolescence), and have not received a booster dose of vaccine.  Infants are also likely to get the disease since they are often too young to have full protection from the vaccine.

What are the symptoms?        Pertussis is a cough illness whose symptoms can range from mild to severe.  It usually begins with cold-like symptoms, with a runny nose, sneezing and dry cough.  After two weeks of cold-like symptoms, the cough slowly gets worse.  The next stage, which may last from four to six weeks, may be marked by coughing spells that are uncontrollable and may be followed by vomiting.  Between spells, the person may appear to be well and usually there is no fever.  These typical symptoms are more common in infants and young children.  Vaccinated children, teens and adults may have milder symptoms that can seem like bronchitis. 

How is pertussis spread?       The germs that cause pertussis live in the nose, mouth and throat and are sprayed into the air when an infected person sneezes, coughs or talks.  Other people can then inhale the germs in the droplets produced by the person with pertussis.  Touching a tissue or sharing a cup used by someone with the disease can also spread the disease.  The first symptoms usually appear 7 to 10 days after a person is exposed, although sometimes people do not get sick for up to 21 days after their last exposure.

How is pertussis diagnosed?             A doctor may think a patient has pertussis based on their symptoms, however, a culture or PCR test can help a doctor confirm this. For testing, a swab is taken from the back of the nose.

How can pertussis                  Although DTP or DTaP vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis)

be prevented?                                    


usually provides adequate protection against pertussis to children, the effects of the vaccine wear off over time, leaving most teens and adults at risk of the disease. However, a vaccine for teens and adults, called Tdap, is recommended to give protection against pertussis in these age groups. Tdap is given as a single “booster” dose. If your child or adolescent (10 years of age or older) has not yet had a dose of Tdap, contact your                                                       healthcare provider to discuss receiving this vaccine. If your the DTaP series (check with you provider if you are unsure).

                                                Antibiotics are sometimes given to help prevent illness in the contacts of someone with pertussis, or to decrease infectiousness in someone with pertussis.  After five days of treatment a case is no longer contagious.

What should I do?                  If your child is symptomatic, he/she should be evaluated by your family’s health care provider. If pertussis is suspected, testing for pertussis should performed and five days of  antibiotic treatment should be completed before returning to school. Please contact your health care provider and bring this advisory with you.  

Students who are symptomatic and who have had close contact with a case of pertussis will be excluded from school until they have completed 5 days of appropriate antibiotic therapy.

From Medford Area Public School District Medical Advisor Dr. Mark Reuter and School Nurse Jill Koenig

SLD Guidance Update

Specific Learning Disabilities Guidance Update from Kathy Laffin and Paula Volpiansky at the 2011 State Superintendent Conference on Special Education and Pupil Services Leadership Issues.

Power point presentation: http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/pdf/ldrcon11-sld-guidance.pdf

Legal Updates Handout from DPI Legal Counsel

Legal updates handout from Janet Jenkins, DPI Chief Legal Counsel spresented and discussed at the 2011 State Superintendent Conference on Special Education and Pupil Services Leadership Issues.

http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/pdf/ldrcon11-legal-update.pdf

Mental Health Medication Management

Mental Health Medication Management as presented by Dr. David Mays at the 2011 State Superintendent Conference on Special Education and Pupil Services Leadership Issues. Here is a link to his PowerPoint presentation which containes detailed and thorough information on mental health areas and medication. http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/pdf/ldrcon11-mh-mays.pdf

1:1 Nursing Services for Students in Schools with Special Health Care Needs

1:1 Nursing Services for Students in Schools with Special Health Care Needs as presented by DPI School Nursing Consultant Rachel Gallagher at the 2011 State Superintendent Conference on Special Education and Pupil Services Leadership Issues.

Official DPI document link: http://dpi.wi.gov/sspw/pdf/snnursingservices.pdf

PowerPoint presentation handouts: http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/pdf/ldrcon11-records-healthcare-dibble-gallagher.pdf

Patient Health Care Records in Schools

Patient Health Care Records in Schools sectional by DPI Consultants Rachel Gallagher - School Nurse and Nic Dibble - School Social Worker at the 2011 State Superintendent Conference on Special Education and Pupil Services Leadership Issues.

Patient Health Care Records in Schools Power Point
http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/pdf/ldrcon11-records-healthcare-dibble-gallagher.pdf

Categories of Pupil Records
http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/pdf/ldrcon11-records-categories.pdf

Confidentiality of Mental Health Treatment
http://dpi.wi.gov/sspw/pdf/mhconfidential.pdf

Confidentiality of Mental Health Treatment

The following information was shared by WI DPI Consultants at the 2011 State Superintendent Conference on Special Education and Pupil Services Leadership Issues.


Confidentiality of Mental Health Treatment
Many families with children who have been diagnosed with depression or other mental illnesses are reluctant to share this information with school personnel, due to the social stigma associated with mental illness, a lack of knowledge of school-based services, or possible concern regarding how the school will treat confidential information. Parent concerns regarding confidentiality need to be acknowledged as valid by school personnel.

With parental consent, school personnel may receive information from community-based health care professionals regarding a student’s treatment for mental illness. The school district has a responsibility to ensure that only authorized educators are given access to this information and that they abide by all appropriate laws related to pupil records, including patient health care records, Wis. Stat. sec. 118.125(2m). Penalties exist within the law for unauthorized disclosure of patient health care records. Any person, including the state or any political subdivision of the state, who negligently violates patient health care confidentiality provisions in secs. 146.82 or 146. 83 shall be liable to any person injured as a result of the violation for actual damages to that person, exemplary damages of not more than $1,000 and costs and reasonable actual attorney fees, Wis. Stat. sec. 146.84(1)(bm). Also, whoever negligently discloses confidential information in violation of sec. 146.82 can be fined up to $1,000 for each unauthorized disclosure. Wis. Stat. sec. 146.84(2)(b). Any person employed by the state or any political subdivision of the state may be suspended without pay or discharged for violations, Wis. Stat. sec. 146.84(3).

Pupil records shall be shared with licensed school district employees, law enforcement officers who are individually designated by the school board and assigned to the school district (i.e., police-school liaison officers), and other school district officials who have been determined by the school board to have legitimate educational interests, including safety interests, in the pupil records, Wis. Stat. sec. 118.125(2)(d). A common benchmark question used to determine if an individual has legitimate educational interests, including safety interests, in a pupil record is, “Does this person need this information to provide professional services to or for a student?”

Patient health care records may be redisclosed without additional parental consent, if the redisclosure is limited to the same purpose for which the patient health care record was initially received. Wis. Stat. sec. 146.82(5)(c)3. Consequently, even if a family limits the consent given to a physician to disclose their child’s patient health care records (e.g., diagnosis of mental illness) with only one (or a few) educator(s) at a school, under some circumstances, a redisclosure to other educators within the school may be allowed or required under the law.

If a student transfers to another school district, mental health treatment records may be transferred to the next school district consistent with Wis. Stat. sec. 118.125(4), Wis. Stat. sec. 51.30(4).

More information about confidentiality is available in the Department of Public Instruction publication Student Records and Confidentiality at http://www.dpi.wi.gov/sspw/srconfid03.html.

PBIS for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Tips and Tweaks for Effective School Wide PBIS for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder was featured at the 2011 State Superintendent Conference on Special Education and Pupil Services Leadership Issues. Peg Mazeilka and Daniel Parker were the featured speakers. Here is the link to their power point presentation which is an excellent resource and provides specific examples of how to support students with autism. This will be beneficial if your school has adopted the PBIS model or not. Here is link: http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/pdf/ldrcon11-autism-pbis-mazeika-parker.pdf

35 Common Myths and Realities about Section 504

"Section 504 and the ADA in Schools: Common Myths and Realities" - presentation by Julie J Weatherly at the November 15, 2011 Annual State Superintendent Conference on Special Education and Pupil Services Leadership Issues. Link to handout which has each of the 35 common myths and the actual realities can be found at: http://www.dpi.wi.gov/sped/falleader11.html

Section 504 Common Myths
1. The Student Support Team process is just a way to special education
2. We don't do Section 504 here
3. Section 504 doesn't really exist
4. Section 504 provides more protections than IDEA
5. Sorry, it's our school system's policy that because he isn't eligible for special education, there's nothing more we can do for him right now
6. She needs to be on a 504 plan because she has ADHD and instead of making A's or B's, she could be making all A's.
7. She might be in a wheelchair, but she's not protected under Section 504 because she's making all A's.
8. Every student who has ever been in special education is automatically covered because the student has a record of a disability.
9. He can't be on the basketball team because I just found out that he was treated for cancer in the past.
10. A student whose doctor has diagnosed ADHD is automatically covered by Section 504 because the parents now regard the student as disabled.
11. She did the best job during the auditions, but her acne is so bad that I don't think we can choose her to play Cinderella.
12. I know they're not sick yet, but their mother just told me that they tested positive for HIV. I've got to send those boys home before someone else catches it.
13. Where a student is referred for special education evaluation and did not qualify, the student is automatically covered under Section 504.
14. Congress does not provide money to comply with Section 504 so a school system cannot be punished if it does not comply.
15. A student in special education cannot be a Scetion 594 student,
16. Even where a student is failing, if the student has been tested for special education and found I eligible, we cannot provide any special assistance of we wait a couple of years though, he'll be so far behind then hell qualify for special education.
17. Every student on medication must have a 504 plan
18. Every student diagnosed with ADHD needs a 504 plan
19. Because the student is clearly a slow learner, he is covered under Section 504
20. When students do not do well on standardized assessments, we should make them 504 students so we can include testing accommodations and modifications.
21. Where a student is so out of control, the school system should have known he was ADHD and had him on a 504 plan.
22. Of a parent requests an evaluation under Section 504 the school system must conduct it.
23. A 504 team meeting cannot be held, unless the parent is in attendance
24. A school system is required to do a reevaluation under 594 every three years, just like it does under IDEA.
25. Once a student is on a 504 plan, there is no way to get them off of one,
26. School systems should se the IDEA rights as the 504 rights,
27. A student cannot be placed on a 504 plan unless the parent consents
28. If the parent wants a student dismissed from a 504 plan, the school system must dismiss the student.
29. Accommodations needed so that a student can play football must be included on a Section 504 plan. In fact, the actual activity must be included on the plan.
30. Even when a student is making all A's, if the parents have filed a complaint with OCR, we better just go ahead and make his eligible.
31. Ms Jones, I know youre concerned about the students in your class, but if you don't stop putting your concerns in writing, ou could lose your job with the school system.
32. If it would require a one to one aide for a student to attend the after school programs, he cannot attend
33. Service animals are not allowed to attend schools with students,
34. Nothing can really happen to school staff who do not choose to implement a 504 plan,
35. The 2008 ADA Amendments have changed everything! Every student needs a Section 504 plan now.

Conditions that don't qualify for Special Education but may under Section 504

Examples of conditions that may not necessarily qualify a student for special education but may very well result in Section 504 protections are:

A. Alcoholics/drug addicts - including former users, successful participants in rehab programs,and persons regarded erroneously as current users.

B. Students with diseases - HIV positive/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B

C. Students with medical conditions -
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, severe allergies, diabetes, heart disease, epilepsy, sickle cell anemia, clinical depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, Tourette syndrome, pregnancy, obesity, and ADHD.

A person is handicapped under Section 504 if he or she:
Has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities; has record of such an impairment; and is regarded as having such an impairment.

(Section 504 and the ADA in Schools: Common Myths and Realities presentation by Julie J. Weatherly at the Annual State Superintendent Conference on Special Education and Pupil Services Leadership Issues 2011).

Coordinated and Measurable Annual Transition Goals and Services

Information below is from the the DPI site: http://www.dpi.wi.gov/sped/spp-transition.html

Coordinated and Measurable Annual Transition Goals and Services
The intent is to measure transition results, both in school and after a student exits school.

Indicator 13: Percent of youth with IEPs aged 16 and above with an IEP that includes appropriate measurable postsecondary goals that are annually updated and based upon an age appropriate transition assessment, transition services, including courses of study, that will reasonably enable the student to meet those postsecondary goals, and annual IEP goals related to the student's transition services needs. There also must be evidence that the student was invited to the IEP team meeting where transition services are to be discussed and evidence that, if appropriate, a representative of any participating agency was invited to the IEP team meeting with the prior consent of the parent or student who has reached the age of majority.

the site also includes handouts and samples of:
Examples of Compliance and Effective Practice Standards to meet Indicator #13 Requirements
Compliance Examples for Indicator 13
Transition Record Review Checklist
Examples of Coordinated Set of Activities Handout
WSTI E-newsletters, May 2008

Other Health Impairment

Here is a link to many resources related to the identification, eligibility, programming, incidence reports, ADHD, and services for students under an Other Health Impairment label. http://www.dpi.wi.gov/sped/ohi.html

Link to Resources for Safe and Respectful Schools in Wisconsin

Here is the WI DPI link for Resources for Safe and Respectful Schools. Multiple resources and information available: http://dpi.wi.gov/sspw/safeschool.html

SB 154 and ACT 309: Major Provisions in Pupil Records Release

1. Pupil records may now be released to law enforcement officers as they would to regular school employees if the law enforcement officer is individually designated and specifically assigned to the school.

2. Requires the release of pertinent pupil records to law enforcement or the district attorney if the officer or attorney stipulate in writing that the records are necessary for the juvenile justice system or to provide services for the student.

3. Repeals a previous provision that mandated school districts notify parents if they released pupil information to a law enforcement agency. School districts now may notify if they wish but are not required to do so (especially in the situation of an ongoing investigation).

4. Allows the school district at its discretion to release information to school district employees regarding the potential of harm that a student presents towards others.

5. Requires that the district attorney make a (reasonable attempt) to notify the school when one of its students is criminally charged and notify the school district of the disposition of the case.

SB 154 - The Law and ACT 309

Addresses key components to comprehensive school safety:
1. Requires mandatory safety plans
2. Requires each school to develop and adopt a school bullying policy
3. Pupil records and sharing information between parties

WI State Superintendent Conference on Special Education and Pupil Services Leadership Issues Handouts

Wisconsin State Superintendent Conference on Special Education and Pupil Services Leadership Issues 2011 Handouts: http://www.dpi.wi.gov/sped/falleader11.html

WI Act 309 - School Safety Plan Requirements

School safety plan shall be created with the active participation of appropriate parties as specified by the BOE. Might include: law enforcement, fire fighters, school admin, teachers, pupil services, and mental health professionals.

School safety plan shall include general guidelines specifying professionals for: emergency prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery, and plans for conducting drills.

School board shall determine which persons are required to receive school safety training

School board shall review the school safety plan at least once every three years after the plan goes into effect.

WI Statutes continue to require: monthly drills for pupils on proper evacuation methods in case of fire, and twice annual evacuation drills for pupils in event of tornado. This section was revised to add the following:
1. Twice annually pupils shall be drilled in the proper method of evacuation, or other appropriate action in case of school safety incident (may use in place of a mandatory fire or other hazard drill).
2. These drills shall be based on the procedures outlined in the school safety plan.
3. A safety drill may be substituted for any other drill required under this section.

WI DPI Model Policies on Bullying

Wisconsin DPI model policy on bullying is found at http://dpi.wi.gov/sspw/safeschool.html

School Policies on bullying must include:
A definition of bullying
A prohibition on bullying
A procedure for reporting bullying confidentiality
A prohibition on pupil retaliation for reporting an incident on bullying
A procedure for investigating reports of bullying
A requirement that school officials report incidents of bullying, and identify the persons to whom the reports must be made.
A list of disciplinary alternatives for pupils that engage in bullying or retaliate against a reportor of the same.
An identification of the school related events at which the policy applies
An identification of the property owned, leased, or used by the school district on which the policy applies
An identification of the vehicles used for pupil transportation on which the policy applies

Special Education and Student Services Newsletter for November 14

1. Child Development Day
Child Development Day will now be held on Thursday March 8.  It was originally scheduled for Thursday February 23rd. It was changed due to a conflict in the MAES gym.

2. Mike Johnson Presentation on December 8
You are invited to join us for this special presentation on Thursday December 8 from 4:00 to 5:30 pm at Medford Area Elementary School:

Mike Johnson is the President of The Autism Society of Central WI and also The Vice President of Camp Awesum. He is also the parent of two children, including a 17 year old daughter with Aspergers. Mike's presentation will focus on the struggles that many individuals face everyday with the challenges that Autism can present. The presentation is a compilation of material from the book "Ten things every kid with Autism wishes you knew" and the work of Dr. Glenis Benson who has worked with individuals on the Autism spectrum for over 30 years. Mike presents this information as a father, not an "expert", and hopes that everyone will learn something from this "real world" information from a parents perspective.

3. End of Quarter Appreciation for Special Education and Student Services
I hope everyone that attended our end of quarter appreciation had a nice time on Thursday.  Everyone seemed to enjoy getting together and having a few treats.  We had a great turnout of staff in attendance.  Thanks again for all of your efforts and hard work this past quarter for the students, parents, and each other. 

4. State Superintendent Conference on Special Education and Pupil Services Leadership Issues
I will be out of district on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Here is a copy of the agenda and sectionals that will be featured: http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/pdf/ldrcon-agenda.pdf

5. Guidance for Specific Learning Disabilities
Updated materials: http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/sped/ld.html.  We will be having more indepth discussion of adoption of RTI for LD model at each building level. We have until December 2013 to adopt this model.  I would like to work on the process for potential adoption starting with beginning of 12-13 school year. One day trainings will be held six times in Wisconsin over next two months.  If you are interested, let me know.  December 1 will be in Rice Lake and December 7 in Wausau are closest.

6. Special Education Family Day at the Movies
This will be held on Saturday December 3rd at 1:00 pm at Broadway Theatre in Medford.  A one page flyer will be sent to each special education staff.  Please make a copy to send home to each of your parents of students with disabilities.  This can be sent home along with the child's progress report and report card.  Special Education Family Day is presented by the Special Education Advisory Council.  All students with disabilities will receive a free ticket. They must be accompanied by a parent.  Special education staff who attend will also receive 1 free child admission with their paid admission.  Happy Feet 2 and Jack/Jill will be shown.

7. SLATE Conference
Jill Chasteen, Carol Wieman, and I will be special education representatives at the School Leaders Advancing Technology in Education Conference December 6-7.

8. iPads update
We have been approved for the Volume Educator Purchasing Program through Apple. Dennis Hinderliter and I are in the process of setting up individual grade level or program iTunes accounts so staff and building programs can budget accordingly for applications on their devices.  We will then have district wide applications and grade level/program applications. 

9. Attendant Care Services Update
We can not bill medicaid for when a student is receiving a related service (Speech Language, OT, PT, School Health for example) while billing the same time for Attendant Care Services. For example a student may receive 7 1/2 hours of Attendant Care Services, you should subtract the 60 minutes per day they are in a related service as part of their schedule. Contact Luanne or I with questions.

10. Progress Reports
Reminder to update your student's progress reports on a quarterly basis and send home along with child's report card.

11. Quizlet
We have upgraded to the Quizlet Plus program for our active use with this program at MASH.  Our username and password for staff use is:
login: sawdesu
password: medfordsf10

12. Club DART
Club DART is our homeroom club for students with disabilities.  Due to the popularity of this club, some regular education students have also chosen to participate.  Thanks to Nicole Gripentrog, Oralee Dittrich, Beth Van der Berg and others for all their help. We held a pre-halloween party dance last month.  Students are now talking about a day trip to Eau Claire for shopping for Christmas presents for their family. This also provides them an opportunity to apply their in class real life functional math and daily living skills.

13. Long Term Substitute Updates
We have contacted Therapies Plus out of Wisconsin Rapids and they have staff available to cover our LTS positions for Speech Language and COTA positions.  We are discussing the cost estimates provided for contracting with Therapies Plus. 

I have contacted CESA 10, CESA 9, UW LaCrosse, UW Eau Claire, UW Stout, Wausau Schools, Marshfield Schools, and Wisconsin Rapids Schools for any list of potential names for our LTS for School Psychologist position.  There have been no candidates which have officially applied. One candidate has withdrawn her name from consideration.  One other candidate is not interested unless it is a full time position.

14. Families Being Involved Workshop
Thanks to the pre-kindergarten staff for their organizing our Families Being Involved Workshop at Sports Page Bowling this past Friday.  Great turnout of children and their parents bowling together. FBI Workshops are held on a monthly basis.  This provides opportunities for children and parents to interact. We count these as Parental Outreach Activities hours as we must do 87.5 hours per year.  This helps the district count pre-k students as .6 FTE instead of .5 FTE gaining more revenue.

15. Adaptive PE for students at SES
I have had a request for students with significant needs at SES going up to MAES for Adaptive PE. Adaptive PE is held 2-3 times per week starting at 2:30.

16. Sign Language for Educators
We continue with our Sign Language for Educators class tonight at MAES.  Our last class will be held Monday November 21.  We have had over 30 parents, grandparents, and staff attend these six week trainings.  There has been a wide range of representative programs in attendance - Speech Language, Special Education Teachers from each building, Kindergarten teachers, Grade 1 teachers, Grade 2 teachers, Paraprofessionals from each building, Sign Language Interpreter, Gifted and Talented, Private Schools, MASH PE, and more.  Thanks to everyone for their attendance and participation.

17. Non Violent CPI training
Select high school special education and regular education staff will be attending the Non Violent CPI training in Wausau on November 17. 

18. TEACCH Training for Autism
The Tasks Galore curriculum materials from the TEACCH Training for Autism held this past August have been order for the teachers which requested them.

19. High School Special Education Meeting
MASH Sped meeting will be held on Tuesday November 22nd at 3:20 in the conference room. 

20. MADA Graduate
We have had our second graduate from our Medford Adult Diploma Academy program.  The presentation of the diploma will be held on Thursday November 17 at 4:00 pm at NTC in Medford.  This adult student has been working for the past year on a nightly basis to earn her HS diploma.  Thanks to the Medford BOE, NTC, CLC Adult Education, and Taylor County Education Committee for their support of this program.  MADA is designed for adults over the age of 18 who wish to come back to school to earn their HS diploma.

21. Rural Literacy Grant
NTC has approached me about helping write a grant application through the Rural Literacy Grant.  This grant would help fund literacy initiatives through our Medford Adult Diploma Academy, Taylor County Literacy Council, and other community and school reading initiatives.  I have a meeting this afternoon for more information. 

22. Taylor County Education Committee
Taylor County Education Committee has given a grant to support our Medford Adult Diploma Academy.  They have asked us to present to them at their next meeting about our Taylor County Literacy Council.

23. School Health Advisory Council
This will be held on Monday November 28 at 4:00 pm at the D.O.

24. iPad/Educational Technology Training
This will be held on Tuesday November 29 at 4:00 pm at the D.O.

Child Development Day in Medford

Medford Area Public School District will be holding our annual Child Development Day on Thursday March 8 from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. CDD is our annual child find screening for 2 1/2 to 4 year olds. Community organizations will be available to talk about resources for children. Parents will receive developmental information and screening results.

Weebly

We have several teachers especially at the middle school level that
have started to create their own websites.  This can be done through
google or through a site called Weebly.  Here is the link for more
info: http://www.weebly.com/  Here are some sample weebly sites:
http://jchasteen.weebly.com/ = Jill Chasteen 8th Grade Special
Education
http://alleonardmams.weebly.com/ = Al Leonard MAMS Principal
http://mrsjessicamartin.weebly.com/ = Jessica Martin MAMS and MASH
School Psychologist
http://stibbeclass.weebly.com/ = Angie Stibbe Grade 6 Teacher

Mike Johnson President of The Autism Society of Central WI in Medford

Thursday December 8 at 4:00 pm at MAES - Mike Johnson

Mike Johnson is the President of The Autism Society of Central WI and also The Vice President of Camp Awesum. He is also the parent of two children, including a 17 year old daughter with Aspergers. Mike's presentation focuses on the struggles that many individuals face everyday with the challenges that Autism can present. The presentation is a compilation of material from the book "Ten things every kid with Autism wishes you knew" and the work of Dr. Glenis Benson who has worked with individuals on the Autism spectrum for over 30 years. Mike presents this information as a father, not an "expert", and hopes that everyone will learn something from this "real world" information from a parents perspective.