Community Outreach Events
We offer various events to many different constituencies in the St. Louis community who need or want more information related to learning disabilities.
Our annual College Opportunities Fair for LD/ADHD connects area high school students and their families with college and university personnel who address their specific questions as they journey through the collegiate process.
Wilson® Parent Workshops are offered four times a year for interested parents, educators, or community members who would like to learn more about the research behind the Wilson Reading System® program and why it works. Experience Dyslexia®: A Learning Disabilities Simulation created by the Northern California Branch of the International Dyslexia Association allows participants to truly experience what dyslexia is and how it makes you feel.
As they become available, movies are screened on the topics of learning disabilities and dyslexia.
For more information on Churchill’s Sandra K. Gilligan School Partnerships & Outreach Program Events, check out our upcoming events below or email Rachel Wheatley at rwheatley@churchillstl.org.
Reviews from Community Service Attendees
- “I found the event to be very helpful. We found several new college options, plus a lot of helpful general information. I think this is an outstanding community service for the school to provide.”
– College Opportunities Fair Parent Attendee - “I love the fact that all the activities were hands on. They made me realize how challenging school can be for these children.”
– Experience Dyslexia® Participant - “I felt the frustration my students must feel.”
– Experience Dyslexia® Teacher Participant - “The simulation helped me better understand my students. I learned it’s not about working harder, but teaching differently.”
– Experience Dyslexia® Teacher Participant - “The simulation helped me as a parent better understand how my son learns. It was very eye opening! Now I really understand the frustrations he must face on a daily basis.”
– Experience Dyslexia® Parent Participant
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Churchill’s 19th Annual College Opportunities Fair
CHURCHILL's 19th ANNUAL COLLEGE OPPORTUNITIES FAIR
WHEN: Monday, February 24, 2025
TIME: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
WHERE:
Churchill Center & School
1021 Municipal Center Drive | Town & Country, MO 63131
WHAT:
Join us as colleges and universities showcase their programs and services available for LD and ADHD students. You will have the opportunity to explore options in a small environment.
*You may not need the entire two hours provided to visit colleges as you see fit and are of interest to you and your family.
Check back for a continually updated list of participating colleges.
CURRENT LIST OF SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING:
• Landmark College (Putney, VT)
• Lewis and Clark Community College and the Center for Access and Accommodations (Godfrey, IL)
• Lindenwood University (St. Charles, MO)
• Mansfield Hall (Madison, WI)
• Murray State University (Murray, KY)
• OPTIONS Transitions to Independence at Brehm Preparatory School (Carbondale, IL)
• Saint Louis University (St. Louis, MO)
• SIUE: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville - Achieve Program (Edwardsville, IL)
• University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy (St. Louis, MO)
• University of Missouri-Columbia (Columbia, MO)
• The University of Missouri-St. Louis (St. Louis, MO)
• The University of Tulsa (Tulsa, OK)
• Washington University (St. Louis, MO)
• Webster University (Webster Groves, MO)
• Westminster College (Fulton, MO)
Experience Dyslexia®: A Learning Disabilities Simulation
EXPERIENCE DYSLEXIA®: A LEARNING DISABILITIES SIMULATION AT ST. CHARLES LIBRARY!
WHEN: Tuesday, March 4, 2025
TIME: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
WHERE: St. Charles County Library - Spencer Road Branch Library
427 Spencer Rd, St Peters, MO 63376
PRESENTED BY: Churchill Center & School's Sandra K. Gilligan School Partnerships & Outreach Program
WHAT:
Join us for a series of simulations designed to increase awareness of the difficulties and frustrations that people with dyslexia encounter daily.
You will rotate through six stations that simulate various language-related tasks similar to those encountered by dyslexics in the classroom and workplace. We hope this experience will lead to greater empathy and understanding when working with students/children with dyslexia.
Participants must be 18 years or older.
Wilson Reading System® Seminar for Parents (April 2025)
WILSON READING SYSTEM® SEMINAR FOR PARENTS - APRIL 2025
DATE: Tuesday, April 8, 2025
TIME: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
LOCATION: Churchill Center & School
1021 Municipal Center Drive | Town & Country, MO 63131
* RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED. *
RSVP to Rachel Wheatley at rwheatley@churchillstl.org
TOPICS TO BE ADDRESSED:
• Brain Basics
• Why Wilson® Works: Ten Critical Points
• What does this mean for my child?
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. NO FEE TO ATTEND.
As a Wilson Accredited Partner, Churchill has been reviewed by Wilson Language Training (WLT) and meets their standards of excellence in the delivery of their programs.
Our in-house, WLT-certified trainers deliver valuable professional learning to Churchill faculty and educators from schools in the St. Louis region and beyond. The Wilson Reading System is an intensive, multi-sensory program for students who have been unable to learn to read and spell with other teaching strategies.
Wilson Reading System® Introductory Course (April 2025)
WILSON READING SYSTEM® INTRODUCTORY COURSE - APRIL 2025
WHEN:
• Monday, April 14, 2025
• Tuesday, April 15, 2025
• Wednesday, April 16, 2025
TIME: Daily from 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM (lunch on your own)
WHERE: Churchill Center & School
1021 Municipal Center Drive | Town & Country, MO 63131
COST: $725 per registrant (lunch on your own)
WHAT:
This course provides participants with an overview of the Wilson Reading System® (WRS) 4th Edition curriculum and serves as the prerequisite for WRS Level I Certification. Over three consecutive days (16.5 hours), this course examines how WRS addresses the teaching of phonemic awareness, word identification, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension through an integrated study of phonology, morphology, and orthography with students in grade two and above with persistent phonological coding deficits. Participants learn about reading research, dyslexia, appropriate student identification and placement, program implementation, progress monitoring, scheduling, and creating a successful learning environment. Principles of language structure and how to teach language with direct, multisensory methods are demonstrated and practiced during the course. Participants explore the standard 10-part Wilson Lesson Plan and practice planning and delivering a lesson while receiving modeling and feedback from a Wilson® Credentialed Trainer during the course.
Everyone Deserves To Learn To Read!
Wilson Reading System® (WRS) is the flagship program of Wilson Language Training® and the foundation of all other Wilson® programs. The Tier 3 Structured Literacy (SL) program is based on phonological-coding research and Orton-Gillingham principles.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Upon the completion of the course, participants will be able to -
• Define dyslexia and describe common characteristics.
• Explain the process of identifying appropriate students and placing them in the Wilson Reading System.
• Understand the principles of instruction: explicit, sequential and cumulative, engaging multiple learning modalities with multisensory techniques, repetition and feedback.
• Create an optimal learning environment, prepare a lesson plan and practice techniques.
• Understand the key components of instruction and presentation of lessons in three blocks:
BLOCK 1: Word Study/Foundational Reading Skills: Lesson Plan Parts 1-5
- Phonemic Awareness, Decoding, Vocabulary, High Frequency Word Reading, Single-Word Accuracy/Automaticity, Phrasing/Prosody, Fluency and Comprehension at the Sentence Level
BLOCK 2: Spelling/Foundational Writing Skills: Lesson Plan Parts 6-8
- Phoneme Segmentation, Encoding (Spelling), English Spelling Rules, High Frequency Word Spelling, Vocabulary, Concept Mark Up, Sentence-Level Punctuation and Proofreading
BLOCK 3: Fluency/Comprehension: Lesson Plan Parts 9-10
- Vocabulary, Listening/Silent and Oral Reading Fluency and Comprehension, Narrative and Informational Text
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:
1. Participants may enroll in the WRS Level I Certification Training or the online course WRS Intensive Instruction for the Non-Responsive Reader (Steps 1-6) within five years of completing a WRS Introductory Course.
2. Materials are not included. All materials can be purchased directly from Wilson Language Training®.
CANCELLATION/REFUND POLICY: Any refunds for cancellations will only be issued if cancelled seat can be filled, less a $50 processing fee. This applies to seats purchased with any accepted forms of payment.
FOR QUESTIONS OR MORE INFORMATION: Please email Rachel Wheatley, Director of Sandra K. Gilligan School Partnerships & Outreach Program, at rwheatley@churchillstl.org.
Experience Dyslexia®: A Learning Disabilities Simulation (April 2025)
EXPERIENCE DYSLEXIA®: A LEARNING DISABILITIES SIMULATION
WHEN: Thursday, April 24, 2025
TIME: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
WHERE: Churchill Center & School
COST: NO free to attend, but you must register in advance. ONLY 60 participants!
PRESENTED BY: Churchill Center & School's Sandra K. Gilligan School Partnerships & Outreach Program
WHAT:
Join us for a series of simulations designed to increase awareness of the difficulties and frustrations that people with dyslexia encounter daily.
You will rotate through six stations that simulate various language-related tasks similar to those encountered by dyslexics in the classroom and workplace. We hope this experience will lead to greater empathy and understanding when working with students/children with dyslexia.
This session is limited to 60 participants. Reserve your spot now! Participants must be 18 years or older.
LEARN MORE HERE:
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/tk6tdwq/lp/deac44c1-79fa-478a-9bbf-91c17e6079b6
Churchill’s Speaker Series Presents… “For the Love of Learning”
Churchill Center & School's Speaker Series, Sponsored by the Mr. & Mrs. Parker B. Condie, Sr. Fund, Presents...
FOR THE LOVE OF LEARNING
SPEAKER: Emily Kircher-Morris
WHEN: Wednesday, April 20, 2025
TIME: 6:30 - 8:00 PM
WHERE: Churchill Center & School
1021 Municipal Center Dr. | Town & Country, MO 63131
COST: FREE EVENT (But must register to attend)
WHAT:
Teachers and parents have been searching for a way to ignite passion and motivation in kids for years. How is it that neurodivergent kids, many who have incredible strengths and abilities, struggle with basic motivation? The secret to motivation is deeper than a growth mindset, and drive isn't as black-and-white as intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation. Through this presentation, Emily shares the three ingredients needed for self-regulated motivation. Implementing these steps helps our learners harness their motivation, leaving us on the sideline to watch them soar.
WHO:
Emily Kircher-Morris, LPC, is the host of The Neurodiversity Podcast, which explores the psychological, educational, and social needs for enriching the lives of neurodivergent people. She is the author of several books for parents and educators related to the development of children and teens who are neurodivergent and cognitively gifted. She started her career in education and now works as a mental health counselor in private practice outside of St. Louis, Missouri, specializing in supporting neurodivergent, twice-exceptional, and gifted people of all ages.
Find out more: emilykirchermorris.com