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.