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Special Education Family Newsletter
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| Welcome to the Special Education Family Newsletter. Please share the SpEd Newsletter with others, and send comments to spedombuds@seattleschools.org. If someone forwarded the Special Education Family Newsletter to you, sign up here. |
Approaching Difficult Conversations About Special Education Issues for Families and Staff
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May 17, 2017
6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
5511 15th Ave South, Seattle, WA 98108
May 30, 2017
6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
1418 NW 65th St., Seattle WA 98117
In this interactive seminar, participants increase self-awareness and confidence in conflict situations. Participants will learn about the ingredients of conflict, mastering emotions and behaviors, and staying curious about what motivates others as they practice the skills needed for approaching difficult conversations. Participants will:
- Identify the elements of difficult conversations and how they impact you and those you work with.
- Recognize your role in conflict situations.
- Understand conflict styles and how to operate in stressful situations.
- Practice skills needed for holding difficult conversations such as self-awareness, active listening, and asking intentional questions.
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McClure Middle School Eighth Grader, Athena Pierce, won first place at the Washington Engineering Fair!
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The 60th annual fair had more than 600 entries in grades 1-12 and required over four hours of judges' interviews as well as a lab journal and display board from each student. Athena will also compete in the Seattle Public Schools' Science Fair on June 1st.
Athena's mother, Suzanne, is very proud of her daughter's accomplishments. She and Athena are "glad to share her news to remind other families who have children with special needs, of our kids' amazing potential."
Here is a little more about Athena:
What is your favorite subject in school?
Answer: Favorite classes are gym and Language Arts.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Answer: Outside of school, Athena cares for multiple pets and plants, reads and writes science fiction, trains on the flying trapeze, and plays the video game "Portal".
What is your favorite thing about school?
Answer: Some of Athena's favorite experiences at school this year include a school wide political protest and lunch discussions about feminism and LGBTQ awareness.
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Summer Camp Directory for Children with Special Needs 2017
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How to Find a Summer Camp or Program: You can search the camp online directory by any individual characteristic or multiple characteristics. Search by region, condition, or month - or all three.
This comprehensive directory and guide book includes tips for parents on how to research camps, questions to ask, and how to prepare your child. To download the Summer Camp Guide, go to:
(The online Directory may include programs and camps that were submitted after the deadline for the printed directory.)
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Parents and Community Members are invited to the Special Olympics Motor Activities Training Program (MATP), "Train the Trainer" and Coaches Seminar
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| "You can't put a limit on anything" -- Michael Phelps |
Join us
May 19th and
May 20th as we host our first training for the beginning of MATP programs and events in Washington State.
What is MATP?
The
Special Olympics Motor Activity Training Program (MATP) is designed for athletes who are unable to participate in the official Special Olympics sport competitions because of their skill and/or functional abilities. The MATP is designed to prepare athletes--including those with severe or profound intellectual disability and significant physical disabilities -- for sport-specific activities appropriate for their ability levels.
When:
* Friday,
May 19th, 2017 - [5:30pm - 8:00pm]
- Friday Session: Train the Trainer - Seminar Training
* Saturday,
May 20th, 2017 - [9:00am - 2:30pm]
- Practical Experience - Coaches Training and Practicum
- Athletes and participants invited to join 10:15 - 12:15
Where:
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Newport Heights Elementary School - Bellevue Washington
- 5225 119th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA 98006
Parents and Community members are welcome!
Teacher Credit hours are available!
This program is based on the following curriculum:
http://digitalguides.specialolympics.org/matp/index.php
This training is meant to provide an evening of Formal Class Training for new Trainers, the pioneers of the
Special Olympics Washington MATP Program. The following day with be an open invitation to coaches and athletes from around the state to take part in the first ever MATP Coaches Training and Practicum.
Email Tyler Bjork, King County Region Manager,
tbjork@sowa.org, to register today!
Or call (253) 880-5915
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Families and Staff are invited to join us at the final 2016-17 Seattle Public Schools Special Education Regional Meeting
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| Tuesday, May 23rd (This meeting was originally scheduled for May 9th) 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. West Seattle High School Library 3000 California Ave. SW, Seattle, WA 98116
Please join
Michaela Clancy, Director of
Seattle Public Schools Special Education Department;
Trish Campbell, Interim Director of School Based Special Education Services,
Spencer Pan, the Regional Supervisor;
Gordon Fowlds and
Amanda McNaughton, Program Specialists for West Seattle;
Margo Siegenthaler,
Special Education Ombudsperson;
Parent Partners;
Hanna
h Marzynski, Special Education Parent Liaison; and other special education staff.
The topics include information about changes in the department and updates about the
Continuum of Services for children with special needs. We want to hear directly from you as we continue to partner in improving services for our students.
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Seattle Public Schools and Vision Services Program present
End of the Year Sports Extravaganza Celebration
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The NW Association for Blind Athletes will give students an opportunity to learn basic fundamentals and skills for participating in Goalball, 5-a-side soccer, and beep baseball (weather permitting).
Saturday, June 3, 2017
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
1058 E. Mercer St., Seattle, WA 98102
Open to all K-12 students who are blind or visually impaired. Teachers of the Visually Impaired and family members are also welcome. Parents or Teachers are required to supervise students throughout the entire event.
Please bring a side dish to share, to go along with our other refreshments.
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JOIN us June 17, 2017 for the next PARALYMPIC SPORTS DAY 
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Family-Friendly Play about a Girl Who Struggles with Dyslexia
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A new musical, Pickle: The Dog Who Loved to Read!
Anything Is Possible Theater
is putting on a family-friendly play about a girl who struggles with dyslexia...This musical tackles serious issues, including dyslexia and what it means to be adopted, yet it is also a joyous and entertaining ride.
Friday/Saturday/Sunday, from June 9-25
(for three weekends)
Fridays and Saturdays 7:00 p.m.
Sundays 2:00 p.m.
Location: Anything Is Possible Theater/Rainier Arts Center (in Columbia City) 3515 South Alaska St., Seattle, WA 98118
For tickets and to find out more about the play, go to Anything Is Possible Theater.
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SPS Special Education Parent Partners
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The Seattle Public Schools
Special Education Parent Partners Program assists parents and guardians of students with an IEP (Individual Education Plan), to navigate SPS, the IEP process, and to access community resources. This program connects trained and experienced Parent Partners with parents and guardians who want support in their child's IEP and special education process. It is the goal of this program to foster an atmosphere of family/professional collaboration in special education in Seattle Public Schools.
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SPS Special Education PTSA Meetings
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The
Seattle Special Education PTSA is an advocacy organization made up of Seattle area parents, educators, friends, and students with disabilities. We strive to be a racially, culturally, and socio-economically inclusive group that is representative of the students we serve.
Please join us for our next meeting, which is also our last meeting of the 2016-17 school year:
Tuesday, May 16
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Location: John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence
Auditorium
2445 3rd Ave., S. Seattle, 98124
Special Education administrators from Seattle Public Schools will be in attendance to answer questions or address concerns from the parent community.
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SPS Special Education Advisory and Advocacy Council Meetings
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The Seattle Public School District's Special Education Advisory and Advocacy Council (SEAAC) consists of members that include parents/guardians, teachers, and community advocates. The council's goal is to collaborate with the district to achieve full participation for students with disabilities.
Upcoming meeting:
Tues., June 6, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. JSCEE, Room 2700
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| Easy access to information for all families in Seattle Public Schools |
To ensure information is accessible for all families in
Seattle Public Schools, the district has methods for community members to request communications assistance for district sponsored programs, events and activities. These services will be provided in an accessible format at no cost to the requester.
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Special Education Contacts
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The Special Education Advisory and Advocacy Council (SEAAC) invites you to submit comments and concerns that you have about special education services in Seattle Public Schools.
Special Education Anonymous Feedback Form
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