Therapy Dog Improves Learning and Behavior 

September 13, 2023 - “When she sees me, she smiles and gives me a lot of kisses, and it tickles.” For Kierice Irbing, sixth-grader at Ackerman School, that’s a greeting from a four-legged friend named Sophie that never gets old. Sophie is a therapy dog who has been coming to Ackerman since she was only eight months old. Her owner is Amy Keith, reading specialist.

Students Explore the Outdoors while Fishing

September 11, 2023 - It’s a tradition that’s continued for nearly a decade. Every year in September, students and staff at Ackerman make the journey to a nearby park to socialize, play games, and of course, go fishing. 

SSD Student Surveys Administered Sept. 8 - Oct. 9, 2023

Aug. 31, 2023 - SSD values the academic and personal well-being of our students and prioritizes making data-informed decisions to support their success. In collaboration with Panorama Education, SSD students in grades 3-12 are invited to share their voices through two surveys, a climate survey and a social-emotional learning (SEL) survey.

Helping Students Navigate Back-to-School Anxiety: Tips for Families

Aug. 16, 2023 - The start of a new school year can bring both excitement and apprehension for students, especially after the challenges posed by the previous year. It's not uncommon for students to experience back-to-school anxiety as they face new classrooms, teachers, and classmates. As a family member, your support and guidance play a crucial role in helping your student manage these feelings and start the year positively. 

Welcome to the 2023-2024 School Year!

August 16, 2023 - On behalf of the SSD Board of Education and District staff, I am excited to welcome you to the 2023-24 school year. I hope that you and your family are returning from summer break refreshed, re-energized, and refocused. As we prepare to embark on a new school year, we are excited to welcome both familiar faces and new members to our school community. New and returning students can look forward to a supportive and welcoming environment that fosters growth and a strong sense of belonging.

FACE’s Welcoming School Walkthrough 2023 Promising Practice Recipient

July 5, 2023 - SSD’s Welcoming School Walkthrough (WSW) has been selected by Character.org as a 2023 Promising Practice. WSW allows families, community members, administrators, teachers, and paraprofessionals to provide feedback on the environment and culture of indoor and outdoor spaces of SSD schools and the Learning Center.

New Application Portal for Special School District

June 21, 2023 - SSD will use the TalentEd application portal beginning Saturday, July 1, 2023. The new application portal will allow the Office of Employee Success and Engagement (OESE) to track applicants throughout the hiring process, improve data collection and analytics, and better serve job seekers and supervisors.