Category: Newsletters

News from the Caroline County Public Schools –  Parent Teacher Resource Center
October 16, 2020

  PLEASE SHARE WITH STAFF AND FAMILIES!  
The PTRC is here to assist all families to have a successful school year. Please call or email with your concerns and questions. If we don’t know something, we will find the answers.

Upcoming Activities with the Parent Teacher Resource Center:
Grandparent/Parent/Family/Guardian Partnership  virtually

Thursday, Oct 22, 2020– 2:00 pm To Sign up -Click here .
Or join on 10/22/20  at 2:00 p.m. with the link below:
Meeting ID  meet.google.com/nwp-ttcw-tft
Phone Numbers  (‪US‬)‪+1 845-293-2479‬   PIN: ‪109 265 146#‬
What is it?   Our goal is to provide support and assistance as we navigate virtual/online learning for our students, provide suggestions, resources and reinforcement. By building this relationship, we will also build confidence with this new way of learning. 
Please join with your questions and concerns.  We will brainstorm and/or research for more answers.  We look forward to seeing you! 
Questions?  Contact Susan Gayle sgayle@ccps.us 804-633-7083

Click to register: Supporting Your Students With Special Needs During COVID-19

Thursday, Oct 29, 2020  1:00pm OR 7:00pm. Both sessions LIVE VIRTUALLY with Hank Millward, VDOE 

Mark your calendar! More information to come.

Regional Transition Guide  Tuesday, Nov 17, 2020 – 1:00 pm

Full Life Ahead – Thursday, Dec 3, 2020 – 6:30 pm

All Parents: 

• Transition University, a free parent-friendly five-week, self-paced online transition course. It is never too early to start learning about students with disabilities transitioning to adulthood and it is never too early to begin taking steps to prepare for the future. This is just one of many fantastic offerings from PEATC.
  • What is PEATC and why should I connect with them?
    The Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) builds positive futures by empowering families and individuals with disabilities through education and training. They offer FREE information, assistance, and support via email or phone, free workshops, presentations and trainings for both parents and educators.
• Teachers Guide to Anxiety in the Classroom
  In this guide, the experts at Child Mind Institute outline the types of anxiety that are common in children, and the symptoms of anxiety you might see in your classroom. Parents – some of you have moved into the role of teacher at home so, this might be very helpful to you, as well.
• Teaching Math and Computer Science to Kids with Special Needs
  Andrea Pretorian (content manager for BitIRA),  has been leading efforts to investigate the barriers to entry for women in cryptocurrency and blockchain as well as the greater STEM community at large. She is passionate about introducing students to STEM, especially her area of focus, bitcurrency. She’s just assembled a list of STEM resources for kids with special needs; it offers a range of options and approaches for parents and educators alike. It’s worth a look!
• 123 Magic Parenting is posting new videos all the time.
  Their latest topics include: Communicating with your teen; Self-esteem; Discipline in a public place; Getting your child to stop doing something without yelling, The adolescent snub; and more.

ADHD/Learning Disabilities:

• Common ADHD Questions Answered During Awareness Month
  During this year’s ADHD Awareness Month, the coalition of CHADD, ADDA, and ACO is presenting the most common questions about ADHD with reliable answers from noted experts. On the ADHD Awareness website and the coalition’s social media—Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram—new questions are posted daily. Questions from the previous days are grouped by topic for readers to explore further.

Down Syndrome:

• The Down Syndrome Association of Greater Richmond (DSAGR) Scholarship Program
  This program provides financial assistance for individuals with Down syndrome (DS) to participate in extracurricular or life skill development activities. It is intended to offer an individual with DS an opportunity for a fun, enriching program that he/she would not get in the academic/therapy arena.

Early Childhood:

• VCU-ACE Early Childhood website
  This NEW website provides a wealth of new learning opportunities for families; including several new video series.
  Along with info re: how to support your child’s success and how to problem-solve through challenges. Info from their seminars, webcasts, and online courses can help families and caregivers understand more about appropriate interventions and strategies to help their child.

Autism Spectrum:

• A Second Annual Autism Hope Summit at UVA
• The Supporting Transformative Autism Research (STAR) initiative at the University of Virginia is hosting the Second Annual Virginia Autism Hope Summit.  This event is free of charge and provides an opportunity for learning, networking, and discussion on a range of topics related to autism across the lifespan. Families, self-advocates, friends, and service providers are welcome!
• Upcoming ASCV Conference Series – Building a Spectrum of Opportunity
  This conference will feature weekly virtual presentations on critical autism-related topics for self-advocates, caregivers, teachers and other professionals. Featuring an Opening Keynote from Dr. Jed Baker on “Managing Overwhelming Frustration and Anxiety in the New Normal”, and additional topics including: utilizing waiver services, Interoception, gender differences, co-occurring mental health conditions, and more. Click the above link for complete info and registration 

Resources you need to know:
Caroline County Schools Special Education Department  Stay updated!
Caroline County Schools Transition Program  Check out the latest activities our students are participating in. 

• Paragon Autism Services   
•   For more information contact Joshua@paragonautismservices.com
  
• Autism Society-Central Virginia (AS-CV)
  Whether you’re new or have been involved in the ASD community for a while the AS-CV is the #1 resource for you and your family. They offer a wealth of information and resources, as well as, social, support and sibling opportunities. Becky Boswell, Bradford Hulcher, Tammy Burns and the rest of the team are committed, knowledgeable and passionate about helping you and your family. Be sure to check out their ‘meetings and events’ page.
• Community Services Board (CSB)
  The Rappahannock Area Community Services Board (RACSB) provides prevention, treatment, employment and support services for Caroline citizens and families with mental health, substance use and intellectual disabilities. They work collaboratively with schools, law enforcement, and social services. They can also assist you with case management, counseling, crisis services, and general parenting education.
• Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI)
  The department offers a wide array of specialized services, supports, resources and programs for Virginia residents of all ages who are experiencing significant visual disabilities. The DBVI is committed to providing quality services to assist Virginia’s citizens who are blind, deafblind or vision impaired in achieving their maximum level of employment, education, and personal independence.
• Department of Social Services (DSS)
  and the CSB work very closely together to serve you, your child and your family. They help to ensure that thousands of Virginia’s most vulnerable citizens have access to the best services and benefits available to them, such as: Financial Assistance, Medicaid Waivers, Health Financial Assistance, Family & Individual Services, Services for Children, and Services for Adults.
• disAbility Resource Center – 409 Progress St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401  540-373-2559
  A Center for Independent Living working to enable people of all disabilities of all ages to reach their greatest potential of independent living. 
• Down Syndrome Association of Greater Richmond (DSAGR)
  DSAGR is a wonderful resource. They strive to improve the quality of life for individuals with Down syndrome and their families by providing access to current and accurate information on Down syndrome and by fostering programs that focus on education, community services, public awareness, medical issues, research, advocacy, legal issues and parenting.
• The Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC)     PEATC builds positive futures for Virginia’s children by working collaboratively with families, schools and communities in order to improve opportunities for excellence in education and success in school and community life. They offer FREE information, assistance, and support via email or phone, as well as, FREE workshops, presentations and training for both parents and educators. Call 1-800-869-6782. 

• Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) can assist you with many things. They collaborate with schools in providing Transition Services. They offer Employment Services help people with disabilities get ready for, find, and keep a job. We have a residential training and medical rehabilitation center known as Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center, and they process disability claims for benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income Disability Programs.
• Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS)
  This department manages Virginia’s public mental health, developmental disability and substance abuse services system. Services are provided for children, families, and adults with mental illness, intellectual or developmental disabilities or substance abuse disorders, as well as, for veterans. For more information call 804-786-3921 or visit