Special Education Connections

What a wonderful start to the school year! It was so much fun to see our students and families arriving on the first day of school, reconnecting with familiar faces, meeting new friends, and settling into their learning studios.

Our staff worked incredibly hard to prepare thoughtful, welcoming, and engaging learning environments for our students, and it has been wonderful to see those spaces come to life. We hope your children enjoyed their first week of school as much as our educators enjoyed welcoming them back.

We are grateful to begin another year in partnership with our families and look forward to all of the learning, growth, friendships, and special moments ahead. We are so happy to have everyone back!

At this year’s District Welcome Back, instructional staff participated in a variety of professional learning opportunities focused on teaching, learning, and student support. We are especially proud that all instructional aides had the opportunity to participate in learning connected to key instructional frameworks used across DMUSD.

This included:

• Portrait of a Learner — developing the skills and dispositions we want all students to build, including critical thinking, adaptability, collaboration, and a learner’s mindset.
• Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) — using students’ mathematical thinking to guide instruction and deepen conceptual understanding.
• Cultures of Thinking — creating classrooms where thinking is visible, valued, and strengthened through meaningful discussion and inquiry.

Our instructional aides will continue this professional learning throughout the year and will also be offered training in the Essential Elements of Instruction, further strengthening shared instructional practices and consistent support for students across learning environments.

We want to remind families that our website contains a wide range of helpful resources designed to support you. One highlight is our Parent Handbook, which provides important guidance on special education services and procedures. We encourage you to visit the website and explore the many resources available to you at any time. We invite you to explore these resources by visiting our website.

A Community Advisory Committee (CAC) is made up of parents, educators, and community members who are involved in special education. The CAC of the North Coastal Consortium for Special Education (NCCSE) provides meetings and special events throughout the year and advises the superintendents of the 14 school districts about special education services. Each meeting includes information on a special education topic, resources for families, and opportunities to meet with other parents to exchange resources, information, and ideas.

CAC Meetings, Agenda and Handouts

CAC Meetings: Business Items and Presentation Open to the public 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

● Tuesday, October 13, 2026

● Tuesday, November, 17, 2026

● Tuesday, January 26, 2027

● Tuesday, April 13, 2027

Excellence in Special Education Awards Ceremony Open to the public

Tuesday, May 11, 2027, 6:30 p.m.

To keep families informed and engaged, we want to share the progress our district has made in response to the Community Advisory Committee’s (CAC) priority actions. The information below outlines specific steps taken to address areas identified by our CAC Parent Representatives to support a sense of community and belonging.

Bagels & Belonging has been restructured from last year based on Parent feedback. These gatherings will no longer have a formal agenda or presentation. Instead, they are intended to provide an informal and welcoming space for parents and guardians to connect with one another, build relationships, share experiences and ideas, and strengthen our special education parent community. Whether you are new to special education or have years of experience, all special education parents and guardians are welcome.

• September 3, 2026
• November 19, 2026
• March 4, 2027

8:30–9:30 a.m.
Del Mar Heights School

13555 Boquita Drive, Del Mar, CA 92014

Picnic & Play provides an informal opportunity for families to spend time together on one of our school campuses. Bring a blanket, some snacks, and your children and enjoy time connecting with other families while students play. There is no formal agenda; the purpose is simply to build relationships and strengthen our school community.

• September 29, 2026
• December 15, 2026
• April 20, 2027

3:30–4:30 p.m.
Pacific Sky School – Kindergarten Playground near the school entrance
6631 Solterra Vista Parkway, San Diego, CA 92130

Coffee Chats are parent learning opportunities facilitated by our Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs). Unlike our family connection events, these sessions are intended to provide parents and guardians with an opportunity to ask questions, increase their understanding of behavior, and build their personal capacity to support their child’s individual needs in the home setting. Families are encouraged to bring questions and topics they would like to better understand.

• October 13, 2026
• February 9, 2027
• May 5, 2027

8:30–9:30 a.m.
Del Mar Union School District Office
11232 El Camino Real, San Diego, CA 92130

The linked flyer will also be coming home soon in your child’s Wednesday folder with the opportunities noted above. We encourage families to hang the flyer somewhere visible so you can easily reference the dates and make time to join us throughout the year.

A QR code is also included on the flyer for easy registration. We hope to see you there!

Family fun day is back at Del Mar! Admission is free for children 17 & under, children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. This special day is packed with numerous free attractions for the entire family.

Visit Julian Farm and Orchard in September and October for Harvest Fest. Their famous pumpkin patch will be in full swing.

Learning opportunities may be added to the NCCSE calendar during the school year. You can view available learning by visiting this link.

On Demand:

AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION (AAC)- IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES FOR COMMUNICATION PARTNERS AT HOME AND SCHOOL

In-Person:

DE-ESCALATING CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS

October 2, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

April 27, 2027 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. PT

Live Online:

AAC FAMILY CONNECT

September 29, November 3,2026, March 2, May 4, 2027 from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Hybrid:

AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION (AAC)- IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES FOR COMMUNICATION PARTNERS AT HOME AND SCHOOL

OCTOBER 8, 2026 from 9:00 A.M. - 11:30 A.M.

DECEMBER 11, 2026 from 9:00 A.M. - 11:30 A.M.

PARENTING THE LOVE AND LOGIC WAY

Six-sessions: September 9, 16, 23, 30, October 7, 14, 2026 from 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

• Module 1: Putting an End to Arguing, Back Talk and Begging
• Module 2: Teaching Responsibility without Losing Their Love
• Module 3: Setting Limits without Waging War
• Module 4: Avoiding Power-Struggles
• Module 5: Guiding Kids to Own and Solve Their Problems
• Module 6: Teaching Kids to Complete Chores...without Reminders and without Pay

Each school in our district is working to identify a Special Education Parent Liaison to serve as a bridge between families and the school community. These liaisons support families by helping them understand available resources, navigate district systems, and connect parents with the right people when questions arise. They also encourage parent engagement in school-wide events and assist school leaders in building a welcoming, inclusive environment for all students. For more information, please contact the administrative assistant at your child’s school.

As we begin another school year, we are grateful for the partnership of our families and the commitment of our staff. We look forward to continuing to work together to create inclusive, supportive learning environments where every student feels a sense of belonging and has meaningful opportunities to learn and grow.

Thank you for being an important part of our school community. We are excited for the year ahead and look forward to all that we will accomplish together.

Parent Welcome

District Website

Parent Handbook

Procedural Safeguards-English

Procedural Safeguards-Spanish

San Diego Regional Center

Exceptional Family Resource Center

NCCSE Community Resources

SDCOE Community Resources