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Volume 45

January 2026

South County SELPA Insights is a monthly newsletter full of information and resources brought to you by the South County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) team. January brings an opportunity to return to the rest of the school year refreshed and focused. This month we are sharing tips on caring for yourself as a caregiver to a child with special needs. Keep reading to find resources and ways we can assist you and your family.

Visit the SELPA website

SELPA Highlights

Parents and SC SELPA staff standing together at our Dec. parent support group meeting

Coffee and Conversations Parent Support Group December Meetings

The second session of our Coffee and Conversation support groups in December went wonderfully. We are excited to see more parents join us as we continue to grow and offer a safe space for more parents to connect with one another. If you are interested in joining our free parent support group continue reading to see upcoming meeting information.

Davila students and staff gathered in a decorated classroom visiting with Santa

Davila Day School Santa Event

Last month, Davila Day School hosted a festive Santa event. Students were able to meet and sign with Santa and his elves in American Sign Language (ASL). We were so glad to be able to witness the Christmas magic with the Davila staff and students.

ED&D Events

Our Equity Disproportionality & Design team recently presented at the Every Child Counts Symposium held by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA). There they had the opportunity to connect with fellow California educators on the theme of "Navigating the Present, Bridging the Future."

Jennifer Simpson posing with fellow staff at District Staff Awards

Staff Highlight

Each year at our Annual Art Exhibition and District Awards Recognition, we celebrate exceptional staff members who go above and beyond in the field of special education. We showcase their incredible work and share their stories, including what inspired them to work with students with disabilities. In case you missed last year's awards, we wanted to provide you with an opportunity to learn more about our award recipients.

Meet Jennifer Simpson, a Program Specialist with the Chula Vista Elementary School District. Jennifer has been a valued member of CVESD for the past 17 years, bringing extensive experience and dedication to her role. She has demonstrated exceptional skill in supporting students receiving Specialized Academic Instruction (SAI) services through the Resource Specialist Program (RSP), consistently ensuring they have the tools and guidance needed to succeed. In addition to her strong collaborative relationships with students, families, and staff, Jennifer excels at building effective systems that streamline processes and enhance overall student support. Her commitment, expertise, and leadership make her an invaluable asset to our school community.

Caring for the Caregiver: Self-Care Tips

The beginning of the new year is always a good opportunity to try to include new wellness resolutions into your daily routine. This month, we have a collection of wellness tips tailored to being a parent or caregiver of a child with special needs. Remember, you can only care for others if you care for yourself.

Connect with others: Find a network of parents with children with special needs to join or create your own group. Collaborate with agencies that work with your child, such as the San Diego Regional Center, for information on where to connect with other families, as well as their schools and districts. Many parents report feeling alone and wanting a space to connect with parents with similar experiences. Coffee & Conversations, South County SELPA's free and confidential parent support group, may be a good option for you to join.
Consider support for yourself: Your child may have the providers they need to help assist them with their special needs, but what about you? Be sure to seek any professional support that you may require as well. As a parent you may not be prioritizing your mental health and instead focusing on your child's needs - but yours are important too.
Ask for help: Being a primary caregiver to a child with special needs can be emotionally and physically taxing at times. Speak up to family, friends, and professionals around you if you need help or feel overwhelmed. Some ways they can support you include spending time with your child so that you may find moments for self-care, assist with chores and household tasks, or just be a listening ear. There is no shame in asking for help.

Group of coffee cups being held by hands around a table

Coffee and Conversations SELPA Parent Support Group

Are you a parent of a child with special needs that would like a space to connect with other parents? Would you benefit from a listening ear or sharing advice with other parents who can relate to you? Our free and confidential parent support group may be helpful for you.

New parents are always welcome and encouraged to join us. English and Spanish meeting options are available, and all meetings are from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

Upcoming Meetings

English

Feb. 24

April 28

All English meetings are located at the Professional Development Center

680 L St., Suite C, Chula Vista, CA 91911

All meetings are from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

Spanish

Feb. 26

April 30

All Spanish meetings are located at Nicoloff Elementary school multi-purpose room.

1777 Howard Ave., San Ysidro, CA 92173

All meetings are from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

Miracle League San Diego

The spring season is approaching quickly! Next season will run from March 7 through May 17 with no games Easter weekend. Registration is open now until Jan. 31.

The Padres Park Ribbon Cutting Ceremony has been announced. Families, players, and volunteers are encouraged to attend on Sunday, Jan. 25. at 11 a.m. at Padres Park, previously known as Engel Family Field to celebrate the beginning of field renovations. Two well-known Padres team members will be in attendance and will coach a game at the event. Lunch and some transportation will be provided. See the Miracle League Website for more event information.

Be sure to follow Miracle League of San Diego on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date with their latest postings.

A player and buddy walking the bases together

Miracle League players and buddies celebrating together on the field

Free American Sign Language (ASL) Classes at Davila Day School

Davila Day School is offering a free ASL class on their campus every Wednesday from 3:45 to 5 p.m. Parents, siblings, and community members interested in learning to sign are welcome! Childcare is available during class meetings.

For more information visit the Davila Day School website.

2025-26 Schedule:

Q3 Jan. 14 to March 11
Q4 April 8 to May 27

Location:

Davila Day School

415 Smith Ave., Chula Vista, CA 91910

What is the Community Advisory Committee (CAC)?

The CAC is a team of parents and other individuals with a personal or professional interest in securing appropriate services for students with special needs.

To join the CAC or access more information, see the CAC webpage.

Upcoming CAC Meetings

Feb. 17

9:30 a.m. (in-person)

April 21

9:30 a.m. (in-person)

In-person meetings are located at the South County Regional Education Center at 800 National City Blvd., National City, CA 91950

2026 Art Exhibition Information

Our 18th annual Art Exhibition and District Recognition Awards event is approaching quickly! The theme for this year is, "Splash of Imagination," inspired by sea-life and curiosity about the underwater world. With this theme in mind, we encourage you to begin art projects with students.

To make things easier, we are taking a different approach on permission slips. We hope this will encourage more participation, as there is no need to collect permission slips. If a student or their family do not want to participate, they can submit a form indicating they opt out.

Please review our instructions. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to

e-mail kendra.sales@sdcoe.net.

Date: April 22

Time: 3:30 to 5 p.m.

Location: South County Regional Education Center (SCREC) 800 National City Blvd., National City, CA 91950

Eighteenth Annual Art Exhibition and District Recognition Awards South County Regional Education Center (SCREC) 800 National Blvd, National City, CA 91950 Splash of Imagination For more information email us at scselpaadr@sdcoe.net. April 22, 2026 3:30 - 4

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Corner

Recognizing everyone's efforts helps maintain an overall positive relationship.

You can show this by saying, “I appreciate how much time you’ve spent helping my child with their reading.”

You can also recognize this outside of meetings or conversations with a thankful note, e-mail, or speaking to other staff or parents about your positive experience.

Communication Tips

Paraphrase what you have heard to demonstrate understanding. Examples include:

"What I'm hearing is that you are concerned about..."

"If I understand you correctly, this is what you mean..."

Avoid phrases like "I know what you mean."

Upcoming Events

Jan. 21 to Feb. 11 — Winter Parent IEP Academy

If you are interested in understanding the IEP process more, wish to participate more in your child's IEP, or have specific questions, consider joining our upcoming South County SELPA IEP Academy. There will be four free virtual sessions in English and Spanish, all meetings are from 10 to 11 a.m.

Feb. 10 — Online Safety and Internet Crime Prevention Webinar Series, Session 1

This is a virtual meeting from 6 to 7 p.m. with Spanish interpretation available. Join us for the first of two informative evening sessions designed for parents and caregivers of middle and high school students. Learn practical strategies to help protect teens online and recognize risks in today’s digital world.

Feb. 24 — Online Safety and Internet Crime Prevention Webinar Series, Session 2

This is a virtual meeting from 6 to 7 p.m. with Spanish interpretation available. Join us for the second of two informative evening sessions designed for parents and caregivers of middle and high school students. Learn practical strategies to help protect teens online and recognize risks in today’s digital world.

April 2 to 23 — Spring Parent IEP Academy

April 22 — 18th Annual Art Exhibition and District Recognition Awards

The 2026 Art Exhibition will begin at 3:30 p.m. at the South County Regional Educational Center (SCREC) at 800 National City Blvd., National City, CA 91950. The official theme for this year is, "Splash of Imagination!" Join us to view student-created art and recognize our member district staff.

April 28 — CVESD You, Me, and Your Student's IEP Series

3:30 to 5 p.m. at Sonia Sotomayor Elementary, 1790 Santa Christina Ave.

A free event for Chula Vista Elementary School District families. Attend to learn practical ways to support your student, learn about their IEP, ask questions, and hear about community resources available. Food and childcare are provided. We look forward to seeing you there!

If you have any questions or comments on the SELPA Insights newsletter, please contact our team at scselpaadr@sdcoe.net.

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