Together We Can

Happy February! Students and staff are busy getting in all their learning in before Winter Recess next week. I hope that you all get a chance to enjoy some quality family times with those you are closest to.

However, before we head to break, this Thursday, I will be presenting a Special Education update to the Board of Education. Although there is no public comment, you are welcome to watch virtually on Zoom or attend in person. As always, the meeting will be archived on the district’s YouTube page the next day, so rather than staying up late, you can watch, or rewatch, at a more convenient time.

Best,

Stacey Heiligenthaler, Ph.D.

Chief Officer of Special Education and Student Supports

stacey_heiligenthaler@greenwich.k12.ct.us

Second grade students in Ms. Lotko’s room at Old Greenwich School hit their goals for trick words for Fundations. They celebrated with a hot chocolate party and a craft.

Third grade students in Mr. Hohl's classroom at Julian Curtiss School celebrated their outstanding accomplishment of following the norms every single day and building a positive classroom community. Way to go 3H!

Glenville School kindergartners in Mrs. Fulton's class and Dr. Fabian A. Boie, a district behavior coach, had some Friday fun by doing SEL activities and games to celebrate the students' hard work on following the school norms.

Students in Ms. Pellegrino's class at Cos Cob School used the Smart Board to work on their spelling lesson.

Mr. Lovermi facilitated a MAPS (Making Action Plans) experience for one of Parkway School's fifth grade students. MAPS is a planning tool that is used to identify action steps to actualize the child's future dreams and visions. Within this MAPS experience, various members from both Parkway School and the student's soon to be middle school (Western Middle School) came together with the child's family and friends to celebrate the child's current successes and to craft meaningful goals for the years to come in both school and in life.

Ms. Deborah Whitman and Dr. Fabian Boie met with the District Social Workers from across the district to discuss ways to support students with school avoidance.

Rachel Rubin, the District's Inclusion Specialist, met with parents at Old Greenwich School to discuss neurodiversity and how to celebrate students strength and challenges.

On Wednesday, January 24, the Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center held a presentation at Greenwich High School on "Understanding Challenging Behavior." The presentation provided information on how to manage challenging behaviors in the home environment.

Did you see Community Connections student, Kieran McGuire, on Good Morning America earlier this month? He was spectacular! Take a look yourself.

Join Greenwich Together on February 8 at 7pm for a virtual discussion panel following the viewing of "Screenagers" newest film. Exploring the latest research and learning more about the personal experiences of teens and families, the film highlights the changing landscape of the substances themselves, offering solutions for how we can best empower teens as they face decisions about what they will and will not be influenced by. Register online now.

If your child is transitioning, or "bridging," from PreK to kindergarten, elementary to middle schools, or middle to high school and has a 504 or IEP, please join the SESS department's virtual information session to learn more about the bridging process.

PreK- Kindergarten

Tuesday February 27 at 6:00 PM

meet.google.com/vja-hbva-rek

Elementary to Middle School

Monday March 4 at 6:30 PM

meet.google.com/zem-xfpf-erg

Middle to High School

Wednesday March 6 at 6:30 PM

meet.google.com/ruh-pfvm-eyk

Do you have a child with an IEP (Individualized Education Program) or a 504? Do you want to feel supported by other parents? Do you want to connect with other parents? Do you want to feel heard? The Greenwich Public School Listening Community may be the place for you.

Please join our Winter 2024 Listening Community.

Meetings will be held at:

Greenwich Town Hall

101 Field Point Road

Greenwich, CT 06830

Wednesday mornings 9:30AM- 10:30AM

2/7/24, Town Hall Meeting Room

2/21/24, Cone Room

2/28/24, Cone Room

We encourage you to read the last issue of the newsletter for dates, times, and locations.

by Rachel Rubin

In past Inclusion Corners, I have written about neurodiversity, or the diversity of human brains (my brain works differently than yours). Our classrooms, schools, and community are neurodiverse places. A person is considered neurodivergent when their brain works differently than what is considered “typical.” Neurodiversity is a fact, so how do we create environments that support our neurodivergent community members? The answer is we create neuro-affirming environments.

Our partners at PINE define “neuro-affirming" as “practices [that] anticipate, uplift, and celebrate all kinds of brains and mind-bodies as a positive part of humanity, in community, not just as individuals. Neuro-affirming practices reject deficit-based thinking for a strengths-based approach and assume competence.”

To create a neuro-affirming environment, social engagement should be understood in various ways, avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach. It is important that teachers, parents, and caregivers emphasize understanding, support, and appreciation for differences, encouraging neurotypical children to recognize and respect diverse social styles.

One place you can start is the area of communication and building the understanding that there are many different ways to communicate: some people speak, some use AAC divides (aka “talkers”), some sign.

Check out the infographic below! How will you start to build a neuro-affirming environment?

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Email: stacey_heiligenthaler@greenwich.k12.ct.us
Website: https://www.greenwichschools.org/teaching-learning/special-education
Location: 290 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich, CT
Phone: (203) 625-7493