Staying connected is more important than ever. Here are several opportunities for all students.

• The next MeetUp for Online Academy/ homeschool families will be Thursday, September 24th @ noon via Zoom  https://zoom.us/j/7191866057
  
  

• Office Hours are available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8:00 am to 9:00 am for our students who are not learning at Wickliffe (on away from school learning days, homeschooled, or Online Academy) via Zoom  https://zoom.us/j/7191866057 Please feel free to drop by. 
  
  

• As we continue to explore ways to stay connected to all of the kiddos and provide resources to families, my interns created a Bitmoji Classroom.  Here is the link. Let us know what you think! https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1XwAJtp6yPkIPi75RLDpR0LsouNajGNlZ4jgtbaUuRzc/edit?usp=sharing
  
  

• Lunch Groups: All children are invited to participate. If your child would benefit from one of these opportunities, please email Dr. Kassoy (fkassoy@uaschools.org) no later than Tuesday, October 6, 2020. 

• Super Sibs: Siblings of children with special needs have unique needs themselves.  Their sister or brother with special needs will get a bigger share of attention.  While having a sib with special needs presents challenges, it also comes with opportunities. Kids who grow up with a sibling with special health or developmental needs may have more of a chance to develop many prosocial skills. This group is designed to create connections between peers who understand what it means to be a Super Sib!
  
  

• Healing Hearts: As parents and caregivers,  we can’t protect our children from the pain of loss, but we can help them feel safe. By allowing and encouraging them to express their feelings, we can help them build healthy coping skills to process the loss they experienced. These tools will serve them well now and in the future. This group is designed for children who have experienced the death of a loved one and could benefit from being in a supportive group with peers who are on the same journey.

Raising social consciousness by encouraging the school community to examine and act upon complex issues within a democratice society is one of Wickliffe’s Foundational Principles. As we are dealing with a national reckoning of racism in our country, talking to children about race is critical. I hope this article from the American Academy of Pediatrics provides some talking points for those of you who are just getting started on this journey and is validating for those of you who are further along. 

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/emotional-wellness/Building-Resilience/Pages/Talking-to-Children-About-Racial-Bias.aspx