I hope everyone has enjoyed the spring weather. It has been so nice to get outside. It also has been a busy month in the Department of Student Services. Special Olympics On March 22, Medfield joined Millis, Medway, Holliston and Ashland for the 5 Town Special Olympics at Holliston High School. Nine students competed in hockey related activities and even had the opportunity for photo shoots and games with Blades the Boston Bruins mascot. Students, families and staff from all over the district attended to cheer on the participants and the team even had a police escort back into town to celebrate their success. It was a wonderful day showcasing the talents of our students, the collaborative efforts of these communities and the relationships built through the camaraderie of the Special Olympics. Thanks to Holliston for hosting such an incredible day. Disability Awareness There have been many awareness days/months that have been recognized in Medfield and around the world over the past few months. I was discussing with a colleague the importance of recognizing these but always remembering that there are so many more that deserve just such recognition. I found this resource and feel it was fascinating to see so clearly just how many ways someone may be impacted by disability, health or medical diagnoses. Some of these are more openly discussed by the general public and others are not. Some disabilities are visibly recognizable and others are not. What struck me is that as a society, we continue to struggle with disability awareness and yet in seeing this comprehensive list, we could be recognizing something almost every day. I am challenging myself to check this resource each day and to find something to read, listen to or watch to further my own understanding. As a school system, we are always working to find the 'right balance' - recognition to raise awareness while trying to remain inclusive rather than exclusive by omission. Job Postings There have been a number of job postings for the Department of Student Services over the last month. This includes a special education teacher and a co-taught special education teacher at Dale Street, a special education teacher at Wheelock, a psychologist and a speech language pathologist at the high school and an out of district coordinator/transition program coordinator. Once the postings have closed, we will begin to review applications and resumes and continue with the hiring process. I will continue to update through this blog. SEPAC The next SEPAC meeting will be May 21, 2019 at 7pm at the Blake Library. The topic will be increasing student attendance and input at IEP meetings and will be led by a panel of students, parents and our team leader for grades 7-12, Karey Curley. Take care, Mary |
AuthorMary Bruhl is the Director of Student Services for the town of Medfield, Massachusetts. Archives
April 2019
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