Special Education BLAST

Onward, by Elena Aguilar, focuses on cultivating emotional resilience in educators. Onwardthebook.com, the companion website, also focuses on how to cultivate resilience, use

your energy where it counts, and more!

Onward September Theme: Building Community.

Mantra: I surround myself with with loving people. I can choose the people I allow into my life. I choose to surround myself with people who make me better.

Fall Count will be Wednesday, October 2nd. Each Worksheet B Count Sheet will be created in PowerSchool Special Programs (PSSP) by Student Services by Friday, September 20th. All special education teachers will complete the Worksheet B Count Sheet in PSSP on or before 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 2nd.

Please utilize the "Accessing Your Worksheet B Count Sheet" how-to document linked below for support accessing. If you any additional questions on how to complete your Count Sheet, please reach out to Kristin Ghiringhelli at [ghiringhellike@kalamazoopublicschools.net] or 337-0161.

In alignment with our Special Education Beginning of the Year Checklist 2024-2025, please note and plan for:

• All IEPs are to be scheduled a minimum of 2 to 4 weeks in advance of the due date.
  
• IEPs due prior to October Count (10/2/24) are due by September 27th. In other words, please avoid holding IEPs 9/30 through 10/2.

Please note within the Pro Tip within the Present Level and Goal and Objective sections have been updated with additional language: Staff must ensure any identifying student information (e.g. name, initials, etc.) is not entered into AI tools. Rather staff must use pseudonyms, ID numbers, etc..

Direct Link to KPS IEP Guidance Document.

If you have a student that requires support for a suspected or documented:

• Visual Impairment (VI) contact Micah Bormann, KRESA Coordinator at [micah.bormann@kresa.org]; and
• Deaf / Hard of Hearing (D/HH) contact Kara Mounce, KRESA Coordinator at [kara.mounce@kresa.org].

Please include your SE Coordinator when reaching out to either Micah or Kara for awareness to be able to support as needed.

From the desk of KRESA:

Due to the changes made within the system over the summer, we are seeing an issue with the Accommodations and Assessments page when completing an Amendment. An example of the reported issue is that when entering M-STEP or MI-Access Assessments, the Universal Accommodations, Designated Supports, and Accommodations dropdowns does not show up. Remember to select the content area first and then the dropdowns will show.

IF you have already selected a content area and do not see the dropdowns, follow the steps below:

1. Select the “More” and then “Refresh this section” (as in the above screenshot). You will not see this option when you are in edit mode, so cancel editing to get out of edit mode if needed.

2. This will refresh to the new changes. To get the new information to appear, delete the row that is not working and add a new line, and the new line should work.

Guiding Good Choices

Day: Monday's

Dates: September 23, 2024 - October 21, 2024 (5 weeks)

Time: 6-7:30pm

Location: Prevention Works Office

Address: 309 N Burdick St Kalamazoo Michigan, 49007.

Reminders:

• Parents may come alone or with youth to the sessions.
• If transportation is needed, we can support.
• A meal will be provided each program.
• We will send reminder texts each week.

You can share this link for parents to sign up.

Over the course of the school year, we will share information that will support you in your work with students. It may be:

• New learning;
• A reminder; or
• Might make you pause and reconsider your practice.

Paraeducator Code of Ethics

• Interact with students in a manner that demonstrates respect + dignity;
• Interact with educational staff and parents in a manner that demonstrates respect and professionalism;
• Maintain confidentiality;
• Raise questions and concerns in a professional manner and through appropriate channels; and
• Demonstrate a commitment to continued professional growth and development.

• Monthly Suspension Team Reports - Due Dates HERE.
• Medicaid completion in PowerSchool Special Programs (PSSP). See below for training information.
• Supplemental Aids and Services completion monthly OR by trimester with submission in KPS: SE Teacher + Ancillary Google Classroom.
• Lesson Plan submission in accordance with building guidance with submission in KPS: SE Teacher + Ancillary Google Classroom.

Shout out to:

• Janessa Earwood from Shawna Camburn. Janessa is an amazing team player and goes way above and beyond for our kids!
• Jennifer Bair for her leadership and high-quality creation of Supplemental Aid and Service presentation, as well as her willingness to share.