Welcome to the 2026-27 school year!     Happy Fall

Here is some important and helpful information regarding speech-language therapy services:

•  First quarter IEP/RTI Progress Notes will be distributed by your child’s classroom teacher during parent teacher conferences. All other quarterly progress notes will be sent home with your child’s report card for the remainder of the school year.

• Parent-teacher conferences will be held on November 18, 19, 20. These days will be half-days for students. I will attend conferences on students when requested to be there by the teacher or parent. If you would like me to attend your child's teacher conference or set up a separate time to meet with me or the related services team, then please email me as soon as possible with your request. Conferences can be scheduled in-person or via Google Meet.

• Speech-language therapy will continue to follow the district's 3:1 Service Delivery model, in which there will be 3 cycles of direct speech therapy as per your child's IEP or RTI plan,  followed by 1 cycle of indirect therapy which will be scheduled as needed per student that cycle . Related services (speech, OT, PT) are provided as yearly services. The next indirect cycle will be November 19th through December 1st due to upcoming holidays and 1/2 days.  Students are not seen directly by me during the indirect cycle with the exception of make-up sessions, observations,  and evaluations. Please do not be concerned if your child does not see me directly during indirect cycles. 

• Remember, to qualify for school-based RTI speech services a student needs to be identified as having a speech or language delay AND presents as an adverse impact on the student's academic learning. A teacher, parent or staff member who works with your child may refer them to the RTI team for consultation and/or a speech and language screening if needed.  In the meantime, please continue to encourage your child's speech and language development at home. There are links for ideas and suggestions for this above.

• The best way to reach me during the school day is by email. You can leave a voicemail message and I will return your call at the earliest convenience.

• If we have inclement weather and school is closed, then the following day that schools are open will be the cycle day that was missed and then continue the cycle days from there. For example; if a Monday, Day 1 is closed due to weather, then the next day that school reopens, let's say Tuesday, will become Day 1 and the cycle will continue from that point.  For early dismissal and delayed openings we retain the cycle day,  it does not change. You can always check the WCSD website for the current cycle day and information about school delays and cancellations. 

• This school year there are 3 speech-language pathologists working at Vassar Rd. School; Mrs. Byrne,  Ms. Volpe and Ms. Kennedy. We all work together to ensure our speech students get the services they need to be successful in class. 

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact me by email or phone. 

Sincerely,

Jamie Byrne

Jamie Byrne, M.S. CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist 

WCSD Speech Department Head T/C

Email: jamie.byrne@wcsdny.org 

Phone: 845-463-7860 x19006