March 24th Memo to Parents from Mrs. Qualls

Important Update: Governor Henry McMaster and South Carolina Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman announced today that South Carolina’s schools will remain closed for the duration of the month of April.

Attention K5 and 1st Grade parents needing printed packets!

This Wednesday and Thursday, March 25-26, we will begin distributing two weeks’ worth of additional lessons. We will adhere to the latest updates regarding gatherings and social distancing in how packets aredistributed and picked up. We will have tables set up on the front sidewalk at Pelham Road Elementary School from 8:30 - 5:00 PM tomorrow and Thursday. With no more than 2 or 3 people at a time, you will need to pick up your child’s work packet from the tables on the sidewalk. Packets will be sorted by grade level for quick, easy pick up. Should you need additional assistance, we are available by phone in the front office at 355-7600. Please note, if you have access to a printer and willing to print your child’s work packet, there is no need to come to the school to pick up materials. Printed work packets will be available for K5 and 1st grade students only. 2nd – 5th grade students will complete all assignment online via Google Classroom; packets will be available for 2nd – 5th grade upon request only. As always, we greatly appreciate your understanding and patience during this very unique time. Let us know if you have any additional questions regarding pick up of additional work material. We are happy to help!

As mentioned previously, continue to check your email, school/district website, news, and social media for the latest information. We are receiving updates and changes by the day, sometimes by the hour.

What is Multi-Categorical Self-Contained?

The National Education Association defines a multi-categorical self-contained classroom as a one that serves a mixture of special needs and moves towards the idea of a non-categorical special education classroom. This environment allows more opportunities of mainstreaming and providing special education services for a variety of needs.

Why the Need of a Multi-Categorical Setting?

Due to the nature of special needs, many disabilities vary in severity, characteristics, and disabilities might even overlap. Prior to this classroom, children who receive a diagnosis of disability that did not exactly fit into other specified self-contained classrooms (such as ED or ID classrooms) were left being served through very limited means. Greenville county schools are now moving to this type of self-contained setting to ensure these students will be served in an all-inclusive classroom where children's needs can be more appropriately met. This type of setting allows specialized accommodations, modifications, and techniques that can be applied through one-on-one instruction, group instruction, and inclusion within the general education setting.