Families

Communication is the key to student success. It is important to communicate regularly with your student’s teacher. Please keep us informed of changes in address and phone numbers. Your student’s teacher will provide you with their contact information. Please contact building administrators if you need additional support. We are requesting your e-mail address to alert students and families of updates and notifications of school events.
 

Social work services are provided as outlined by the student’s IEP. Crisis intervention is available for students and their families. Our social workers are able to coordinate the efforts of all agencies involved with a student. They also coordinate care team meetings. Please notify your student’s social worker of changes with outside providers or extenuating circumstances within the home. Please sign releases when needed for the exchange of information.

FACE, Family and Community Engagement, is a division within SSD dedicated to partnering with families, students, and staff to support the academic, social, and emotional needs of our students to promote self-determination, equitable opportunities, and authentic inclusion. FACE provides a number of opportunities for families to learn, receive support and resource navigation, and network with other families and community agency providers.

SSD has established the Family and Community Resource Center for families and community members at the District’s Learning Center. The FCRC contains books, brochures, and resources on many disabilities and disability-related supports.

Student progress is documented through instructional data and is collected at predetermined intervals. Progress reports are sent home on a quarterly basis. Please sign and return all paperwork that requires a parent/guardian signature.

Families are always welcome at Litzsinger School. Please call 48 hours in advance to schedule an appointment to discuss your student’s progress with the teacher and/or administrator. Sign in at the office upon arrival. A classroom observation can be arranged with the administrators with 48 hours' notice. We ask that visits be limited to no more than once a month to minimize distractions and focus of our students.

For security reasons, you must come to the office when dropping off or picking up your student. Please sign your student in and out at the office and ensure that your student is in a staff person’s custody before leaving. For this process to work smoothly, family contact information should always be kept up-to-date. Please contact the front office to update your contact information.

If your student is not going to be attending school, please call school by 7:30 AM. or before school begins. This will enable us to inform the teacher before school starts. Once students are in the classrooms, attendance is taken and sent to the office. If your student is not at school and we have not heard from you, we will call to verify that the student is at home. It is important to make sure the school has the most recent emergency contact numbers.

If a student will be leaving early during the day, a written and signed permission note from the family is needed. Please note the time your student will be picked up. Families should report to the office and sign out their student, and the secretary will call the classroom. When possible, prior notice is preferred. If a relative or friend will be picking up the student, the school must have a signed permission form. Proper identification is required before signing out a student.

Inclement weather, such as high heat index, snowstorms, or excessively low temperatures/wind chill, that poses a threat to the safety of the students may result in the closing of school. The District will announce closings as soon as possible. When Litzsinger School will be closed for the day, announcements are made on the radio, television, social media, and the District/school website. The SchoolMessenger automated phone system will attempt to call current emergency contact numbers.

Occasionally, dangerous weather or building conditions occur during the school day and school must be dismissed early. If school is dismissed early, an announcement will be made on television and radio. To ensure your student's safety, please develop an emergency backup plan for situations like this. Again, please keep the school informed of any address or phone number changes. The SchoolMessenger automated phone system will call current emergency contact numbers.

Your input is very important to your student’s school. Please consider getting involved in Parent Advisory Council (PAC). You may also be able to help in other ways by serving on committees and offering input.

Partners for Success is a family engagement guide prepared to support families as they advocate and navigate services and resources for their students. This tool provides information, tips, and contact details for key contacts. The School Compact is a written agreement between families, students, and schools regarding best practices for their student's success.