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• A Message from our Executive Director
• Top Tip from the Education Pros
• Resources
• Upcoming Events

A Message from our Executive Director

January 2022

Greetings - 

Happy New Year to you and your families. What a start to 2022 it has been! We are excited to welcome our students and staff back from a well-deserved winter break. And yet, we are finding ourselves continuing to navigate through this current COVID-19 reality. As the highly transmissible omicron variant spreads in our community, I want to assure you that the safety of our students, families and staff is our top priority. Please review Superintendent Dan Goldman’s message on NWRESD’s latest COVID-19 response.

As we celebrate this month the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I am reminded of his activism and leadership that we can take inspiration from in our daily lives today more than ever. One of my favorite quotes is below:

“If you can’t fly, run; if you can’t run, walk; if you can’t walk, crawl; but by all means keep moving.” -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

And so we keep moving forward in our commitment to support you and your child. I want to Thank You for your partnership and am confident that together we can make a difference in the lives of our students every day.

2021-22 Annual Notice to Parents for Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education Services

Each year, our agency provides families with the most recent copy of the Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education Procedural Safeguards (Parent Rights booklet), an important document outlining your rights as a parent with a child who is eligible (or potentially eligible) to receive services in a special education program. 

Given the shifting nature of our practices due to COVID-19, we want to ensure that each family has received this information. You may access an electronic copy of the Parent Rights booklet by visiting the ODE website or by clicking on the links below. The information is provided in the following languages:

• Arabic
• Chinese 
• English 
• Russian 
• Somali
• Spanish 
• Vietnamese 

If you have any questions regarding these safeguards, would like a hard copy, or need them translated into another language, please contact your service coordinator directly. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to partner with you to provide the best possible services we can during this challenging time.

As always, I’m available if you have any questions. Please email Sabine Eaton at seaton@nwresd.k12.or.us to get in touch.

In solidarity-

Johnna Timmes

Executive Director of Early Learning

P.S. We just launched this newsletter a few months ago, so you might still be getting to know us. If you missed the first two newsletters, you can find them here: November Early Learner and December Early Learner. 

Top Tip from the Education Pros

How to Keep Your Sick Child Occupied

• Cooking time: Make a smoothie with your child and let them help decide which fruits and veggies can go into it. It can be a fun activity that results in a yummy, healthy treat.
• Make screens work for you: YouTube has an amazing collection of fun recordings of people reading children’s books. You can also try this website for Pete the Cat books.
• Go sensory: Sensory bins provide an engaging learning activity. Scooping, pouring, touching and feeling different textures can be a great distraction from feeling sick. Check out the Your Kids Table website for some ideas.

Learn more about Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education at Northwest Regional ESD. 

If you are an educational provider and have seen something that really works, please email communications@nwresd.k12.or.us to have your tip featured.

Resources

Free COVID-19 Tests Now Available to All Households

Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days. Order now.

2021 Tax Information for Parents of Students Experiencing Disability

The Oregon Tax Code provides an additional tax exemption for parents of eligible children with disabilities in Oregon. The procedure for claiming an exemption for the 2021 tax year is explained in the Oregon Individual Income Tax Return and Instruction booklets. A child qualifies if they meet all of the following criteria: Qualifies as a dependent of the parent(s) for tax year 2021; Is eligible for early intervention services (birth to age 3), early childhood special education services (ages 3 to 5) or receives special education as defined by the State Board of Education of the state where the child attends school; and, Is considered to have a disability as of Dec. 31, 2021, under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and related Oregon laws.

Upcoming Events

Nurturing Parenting

This training series is for parents or caregivers in Clatsop, Columbia or Tillamook counties.

Winter 2022: Thursdays, January 20 through March 10 (11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.)

Nurturing Parenting is an evidenced-based parenting curriculum that can increase family trust, bonding and relationships.

Group objectives:

• Build positive, nurturing parenting skills
• Promote effective discipline strategies
• Explore creative, insightful parenting solutions

To register, email Brenda Karr at brendak@clatsopbh.org or call her at 971-320-0515.

I Have a Student With an IFSP ... Now What?

This training is for early child care providers in Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook and Washington counties.

Feb. 10: 6-8 p.m. 

Do you have students in your program with an Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP)? This training will provide actionable strategies for implementing IFSPs in general education preschools. Participants will:

• Examine key IFSP pages in order to approach instruction for children with IFSPs.
• Explore common modifications and adaptations.
• Plan and strategize conversations with special education consultants in order to implement the IFSP in the general education preschool classroom.

Learn more and register.

Sensory Processing Difficulties in the Classroom for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

This training is for early child care providers in Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook and Washington counties.

Feb. 16: 6-8 p.m. 

Would you like more strategies for supporting children with sensory processing challenges? Participants will explore strategies to support young children on the autism spectrum with sensory challenges in early childhood environments.

Learn more and register.

Reinforcements in the Classroom for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

This training is for early child care providers in Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook and Washington Counties.

March 1: 6-8 p.m.

Would you like to learn strategies to help reinforce positive behaviors in children on the autism spectrum? Participants will explore strategies to support young children on the autism spectrum by using reinforcers in an early childhood environment to build positive behavior.

Learn more and register.

Explore More Upcoming Training Opportunities

• View the NWRESD early learning events calendar.
• Parenting Together Events (Washington County).

Join Us on March 3 for a Virtual Fundraising Gala to Benefit the Northwest Regional ESD Foundation

After a one-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the foundation board looks forward to a night of storytelling with families, educators and community members. The gala will be held from 5-6 p.m. on March 3. The event is free and open to the public. Donations to the foundation are encouraged but not required to attend. 

Keynote speakers will be:

• Maria Caballero Rubio, executive director of Centro Cultural
• Ari Shapiro, host of National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered.” 

About Early Learning at Northwest Regional ESD

Our Early Learning programs support children, families and child care providers. Our Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education programs focus on children ages birth to 5 who are experiencing disabilities. These programs work with children and families who live in Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook and Washington counties.

We also operate three programs that support child care providers and families in Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook counties. Our Child Care Resource and Referral program works to strengthen the skills of child care providers and builds child care capacity in the region. The Northwest Parenting Hub offers classes and support to parents and families. Our Early Learning Hub works to ensure children are ready for kindergarten.