Greetings! My name is Joy Kirk, and I am the Parent Resource Center Specialist for Frederick County Public Schools. I work with families who have students receiving special education services in grades PreK - Transition. I am in my 30th year of education and hope you will utilize the services provided by the Parent Resource Center.

The Frederick County Parent Resource Center provides information and support to families of children with disabilities as they work with school staff to identify and meet their child's unique needs. The Parent Resource Center can help with understanding IEP language and timelines, help you reinforce academic and behavior goals at home, create visuals for you to use at home, help you learn more about your child's disability, loan you materials to reinforce basic skills and help you locate community resources.

The Parent Resource Center is located in the FCPS Administration Building at 1415 Amherst Street. Mrs. Kirk is in the office 8:00 - 3:30, please call or email to make an appointment.

If you have ideas or suggestions for ways we can help families of special education students please contact Joy Kirk.

The Parent Resource Center would like our families to know our Director of Special Instructional Services, Shamika McDonald, has taken a new position outside of Frederick County. Her last day was Friday, January 31. We wish her all the best and will keep you informed as Frederick County seeks a new Director of Special Instructional Services.

Are you interested in meeting other parents who understand the shoes you walk in? Do you want to share ideas with people who understand your family life? Parent Meet Up is for you, registration is requested by February 19. Please let us know if your child/children will be attending. We have high school volunteers from the National Honor Society joining us to play games, read, color and engage with students.

We will meet at the FCPS Administration Building, in the school board meeting room.

All Parent Meet Up - February 26 from 6:00 - 7:30pm.

Thank you to James Wood High School for making a special event possible and FREE for all of our special education families! On February 7 all Colonels and future Colonels and Pioneers and future Pioneers and their families are invited to join us at James Wood High School for a basketball game and special event.

Registration for James Wood Basketball Games

Are you a grandparent or relative raising a special education student? We are here to support you. Our next Grandparent Support Group is January 8 at 10:00 in the school board office.

Are you looking for a new resource? Do you have questions that you feel no one can answer given your unique circumstances? formedfamiliesforward.org is the resource for you. Everyone who works there is part of a formed family and they have students with special needs. Please use this valuable resource.

Link and Learn are virtual trainings for families of special education students in FCPS. The meetings are held from 6:00 - 7:00pm. You will receive a link to join the day of the event.

February 24 My Child and Food, Picky Eating, Nutrition, and More

The Parent Resource Center will be showing the documentary, "Including Samuel," at the Alamo Drafthouse on March 29 at 2:00pm and 3:30pm. This will be a FREE movie event and concessions may be purchased. The documentarian, Dan Habib will join us for a discussion after the second showing. This is a documentary and not rated. However, there is some language that may not be appropriate for all ages. Please contact the Parent Resource Center with questions.

Before his son Samuel was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, photojournalist Dan Habib rarely thought about the inclusion of people with disabilities. Now he thinks about inclusion every day. Shot and produced over four years, Habib's award-winning documentary film, Including Samuel, honestly chronicles the Habib family's efforts to include Samuel in every facet of their lives. The film also features four other families with varied inclusion experiences, plus interviews with dozens of teachers, young people, parents and disability rights experts. Including Samuel is a highly personal, passionately photographed film that captures the cultural and systemic barriers to inclusion.

The Youth and Parent Summit is a three-day event held each June and sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education and the Partnership for People with Disabilities. Youth with disabilities from across the Commonwealth meet at James Madison University to network and discuss important issues together.

Our SEAC meets five times a year from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. The meetings are held at 1415 Amherst Street, Winchester, VA 22601. All meetings are open to the public. There is a designated time for public comment during the meeting. This is an opportunity to share successful educational experiences and express general concerns regarding educational issues for students with disabilities.

This year's remaining schedule is:

February 10, 2025

March 17, 2025

April 21, 2025

Frederick County Public Schools maintains an active and continuing Child Find program designed to identify, locate, and evaluate those children residing in the jurisdiction who are birth to age 21, inclusive, and are in need of special education services.

Any child who is identified as having a disability and qualifies as in need of special education is entitled to a free, appropriate public education designed to meet his/her needs. Early identification assists parents, students and schools in the design of appropriate educational services. Referrals can be made by anyone concerned with the child's educational performance including the parent, child's teacher, community agency or a school official.

For additional information, contact:

Birth to age 2: Infant and Toddler Connection of Shenandoah Valley 540-450-1052 xt. 4052

Sharlene Stowers

Ages 2 - 5 (Not eligible for Kindergarten) Lora Stevens 540-662-8997 xt. 87601

Ages 5 - 21 Contact your local school

Enrolled in Private School or Home School: Todd Coughenour 540-662-3889 xt. 88217

2/7 Inclusion Celebration JWHS Basketball vs. Millbrook

2/10 SEAC Meeting

2/12 Grandparent Support Group

2/19 Parent Meet Up

2/24 Link & Learn - Your Child and Food

Joy Kirk, Parent Resource Center Specialist

Location: 1415 Amherst Street Winchester VA 22601

Phone: 540-662-3888 xt. 88167

Email: kirkj@fcpsk12.net