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School Update
The latest news from
Northwest Education Services
(formerly TBAISD)
on MOCI and SXI programs
for students, families, and communities
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A Note from Supervisor MartyAnn Guiney |
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Hello students, families, and friends,
We made it through another school year together! This year has definitely not been without its challenges, but it has also been a year of growth and joy for our students and staff. I want to thank all of our parents for their support of their children and of our school team as we navigated the many changes that this year brought us. Because of the work of the entire school community, we were able to have a safe year of school, meeting the needs of both in-person and remote learners. I know that we are all hoping that the worst is behind us and that we might be able to return to more normalcy next year. I am confident that whatever comes next year, our team will be able to face it with the same flexibility, optimism, and dedication that we held this year.
As my most recent email communication to families indicated, I will be taking on a new role within Northwest Education Services (formerly TBAISD) next year. While I am excited about the new learning experiences this change will bring me, I will very much miss the staff, students, and families that I have been fortunate to work with these past five years as the supervisor of the MOCI and SXI programs. Thank you very much for allowing me to be a part of your children’s educational journeys. Pending Board of Education approval, Riley Denison will be taking over as the new supervisor of MOCI and SXI programs. She comes to us with valuable experience from Montcalm ISD. I will be assisting her in making the transition over the summer so we can ensure a smooth start to the 2021-2022 school year.
I hope you all have a restful and joy-filled summer!
Sincerely,
MartyAnn Guiney
Supervisor of Northwest Education Services MOCI and SXI Programs
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Calendars - Parent Supports - Resources |
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Supplemental Food Assistance Benefits |
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Additional P-EBT Benefits May be Available for Free/Reduced Meal Students
Deadline to Act is June 30
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has partnered with the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) by creating the Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) Program, which provides supplemental food assistance benefits to students who have temporarily lost access to free or reduced-price school meals due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Information to highlight includes:
- P-EBT benefits are only available for free/reduced students.
- P-EBT benefits are automatically issued for any month your school has virtual or hybrid learning.
- The flyer contains any month(s) that benefits were NOT issued.
- If your student did not have access to school meals during the month listed (ie: was out ill or had to quarantine) you may be eligible for additional benefits.
You must request a “proof document” by Friday, June 20, 2021, so it can be returned to you in time to submit to MDHHS. Please contact our office at 231-933-3561 to request a "proof document." Please be sure to include student name, birthdate and school location.
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Site Locater Map for Meal Distribution
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A link to the the Michigan Department of Education’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) locator is available by clicking the link below. The SFSP was created to ensure that children in need could continue to receive nutritious meals during long school vacations, when they do not have access to the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Programs. Use the SFSP site locator to find a SFSP site near you if you want to take advantage of food distribution this summer.
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New! Text Message Alert System |
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We are excited to announce the launch of a new service that will enhance communication by allowing us to deliver important information to you via SMS text messaging. This service is not intended to replace our existing means of communication– rather it will enhance them.
In order to participate in this school news alert service you must indicate your willingness to receive text messages to your phone. The process is simple and only takes a few seconds to complete.
Simply text any one of the following words to the number 67587: subscribe, optin, or yes. You’ll want to repeat the opt-in process for any wireless phone numbers that you wish to include.
You’ll know you were successful if you receive the following reply message:
You are registered to receive SchoolMessenger notifications. Txt STOP to cancel, HELP for help. Msg&data rates may apply. Msg freq varies.
The launch of the new service took place on April 8, 2021. Please note, although the district does not charge you for this service, it does not pay for text message charges that may be incurred by you for receiving text messages. Check with your wireless carrier for possible charges.
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Classroom News & Activities |
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Accessible Summer Fun
Kristine Roush, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist
It’s summertime in northern Michigan... that time of year when opportunities for fresh air, outdoor recreation, and family fun abound. But finding accessible options and wheelchair and mobility equipment-friendly locations can be a challenge. We compiled a list of all the places, organizations, and activities we can think of that might make participation and navigation a little easier for you and your student -- from formal team sport opportunities to casual, quick visits. Be sure to reach out and fill us in on any other great discoveries you have made. Please visit the link provided for a list of summer fun outdoor activities.
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Summer Activities & Modeling Vocabulary
Kendelle Toporek Speech Language Pathologist, MOCI
Molly Wrzesinski Speech Language Pathologist, SXI
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Check out these seasonal outdoor activities and examples of words or phrases you can use with your child to support their communication and create meaningful language experiences this summer. You can use a core board or your child’s AAC device to model these words! |
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Bubbles:
Go + up
My + turn
More + bubbles
Action words: play, catch, blow, pop
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Nature Walks:
Go + fast/slow
I + see
Look
Beach:
Go + in (water)
I + hear (waves)
Play + in (sand)
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Arts for All
Nicole Johnson, Teacher MOCI
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Our students have been participating in Arts for All over the past few weeks. Ms. Jen has been coming in for storytelling with students. The kids get to listen to her amazing stories, act out some of the stories, and do story-themed arts and crafts with Ms. Jen. Our students' creative sides have really come out through these activities! |
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Let's Plant a Garden!
Shannon Eno, Teacher MOCI
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Students in Mr. Eno’s classroom planted seeds for a school garden while learning about the life cycle and parts of a plant. Students observed the seeds as they grew and changed from seeds to plants ready for the garden. They kept their drawings and observations of the process in science journals so they could share the experience with their families. Students also learned the importance of providing plants with soil, water, and light to help them grow. |
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Summer Library Programs
Check out some of the local libraries for summer reading programs and activities!
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Supporting Remote Learners
At this time, it is unclear whether remote learning will be an option for the 2021-2022 school year as our Continuity of Learning Plan ends on June 30, 2021. We are anticipating legislative guidance on this toward the end of this month. We will keep you informed as we learn more about what to expect for the coming school year.
Returning Loaned Equipment and Devices to School
We are collecting loaned equipment and devices for all students who are not continuing to participate in school services over the summer months. Our remote teachers have been reaching out to parents to make a plan for you to either drop off materials at the school or have someone come to the house to pick up materials on June 14. Thank you very much for your cooperation in getting materials returned to school for the summer.
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New Name, New Look
In case you missed previous announcements, Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District is in the process of transitioning to our new name, Northwest Education Services, and use of a new brand identity. Part of this transition will be establishing new names for some of our programs and centers, including a new name for our MOCI and SXI programs. This change is part of the organization’s strategic plan and focuses on enhancing the way we represent our work to local school districts and the communities we serve. Beginning in the 2021-2022 school year, you will see our new name and logos appear more frequently, and we encourage you to refer to our organization as Northwest Education Services, or “North Ed” for short.
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Northwest Education Services (formerly TBAISD)
Traverse Heights
933 Rose Street | Traverse City, MI 49686 | 231.933.3561
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