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
Sign up to receive email updates for upcoming events
Fundations® Pre-K Workshop (June 2026)
FUNDATIONS® PRE-K WORKSHOP
WHEN: Wednesday, June 17, 2026
TIME: 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
WHERE: Churchill Center & School
1021 Municipal Center Drive | Town & Country, MO 63131
PRESENTED BY: The Sandra K. Gilligan School Partnerships & Outreach Program
COST: $330 per registrant (lunch on your own)
WHAT:
Fundations® Pre-K supports students' emerging understanding of the alphabetic principles of letter-sound associations and alphabetical order, and the written language skill of manuscript letter formation.
The skills taught align with those that the Report of the National Early Literacy Panel (2006) identified as strong and consistent predictors for the later development of literacy skills, strongly support the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (2015), and follow the same principles of instruction as other Wilson programs: explicit and systematic; interactive, incorporating multisensory instruction and motor memory learning; with ample opportunities for practice and feedback.
A Structured Literacy Approach Grounded in the Science of Reading:
The Fundations Pre-K Launch Workshop provides the practice and guidance needed to effectively begin teaching the Fundations Pre-K Activity Set.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Upon the completion of the course, participants will be able to-
• Understand how the Fundations Pre-K Activity Set supports essential early literacy instruction, including the alphabetic principal and transcription skills.
• Determine the activities and implementation schedule for the Fundations Pre-K Activity Set.
• Implement the procedures for the activities.
• Identify and use the teacher and student materials.
FOR QUESTIONS OR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Rachel Wheatley, Director of SKG School Partnerships & Outreach Program, at rwheatley@churchillstl.org.
As a Wilson® Accredited Partner, Churchill Center & School has been reviewed by Wilson Language Training® (WLT) and meets their standards of excellence in the delivery of their programs.
Experience Dyslexia®: A Learning Disabilities Simulation (June 2026)
EXPERIENCE DYSLEXIA®: A LEARNING DISABILITIES SIMULATION (FEBRUARY 2026)
WHEN: Thursday, June 25, 2026
TIME: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
WHERE: Churchill Center & School
1021 Municipal Center Drive | Town & Country, MO 63131
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 and children with dyslexia.
This session is limited to 60 participants. Participants must be 18 years or older.
QUESTIONS:
Contact Director of Sandra K. Gilligan School Partnerships & Outreach Program Rachel Wheatley at rwheatley@churchillstl.org.
Wilson Reading System® Parent Seminar (July 2026)
WILSON READING SYSTEM® SEMINAR FOR PARENTS (JULY 2026)
DATE: Wednesday, July 1, 2026
TIME: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
LOCATION: Churchill Center & School
1021 Municipal Center Drive | Town & Country, MO 63131
* RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED. *
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/8musm75
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.
Fundations® Level 2 Workshop (July 2026)
FUNDATIONS® LEVEL 2 WORKSHOP
WHEN: Wednesday, July 8, 2026
TIME: 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
WHERE: Churchill Center & School
1021 Municipal Center Drive | Town & Country, MO 63131
PRESENTED BY: The Sandra K. Gilligan School Partnerships & Outreach Program
COST: $330 per registrant (lunch on your own)
WHAT:
Fundations® utilizes a structured literacy approach grounded in the science of reading to make learning to read fun while laying the groundwork for lifelong literacy. The program’s research-based approach and extensive materials allow K–3 teachers to confidently present a carefully structured reading, spelling and handwriting curriculum using engaging, multisensory techniques. Fundations® is aligned with the science of reading and guides teachers to provide effective instructional practices.
A Structured Literacy Approach Grounded in the Science of Reading:
Level 2 builds on the skills and concepts that are taught in Levels K and 1.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Upon the completion of the course, participants will be able to-
• Identify the skills taught in Fundations: phonics and word study, vocabulary, high frequency/trick words, fluency, comprehension strategies, handwriting, spelling and punctuation.
• Understand the principles of instruction: explicit, sequential, and cumulative instruction that engages multiple learning modalities with multisensory instruction, repetition, and immediate, specific feedback.
• Identify and understand the use for all materials in the Fundations Teacher’s Kit and have a sense of how to find and use the many extended resources available on the Prevention/Early Intervention Learning Community for Fundations (membership included with participation in this workshop).
• Use the Teacher’s Manual to prepare a daily learning plan and practice lesson activity procedures.
• Visualize the flow and pace of a full Fundations lesson completed with fidelity.
FOR QUESTIONS OR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Rachel Wheatley, Director of SKG School Partnerships & Outreach Program, at rwheatley@churchillstl.org.
As a Wilson® Accredited Partner, Churchill Center & School has been reviewed by Wilson Language Training® (WLT) and meets their standards of excellence in the delivery of their programs.
Fundations® Level 1 Workshop (July 2026)
FUNDATIONS® LEVEL 1 WORKSHOP
WHEN: Monday, July 13, 2026
TIME: 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
WHERE: Churchill Center & School
1021 Municipal Center Drive | Town & Country, MO 63131
PRESENTED BY: The Sandra K. Gilligan School Partnerships & Outreach Program
COST: $330 per registrant (lunch on your own)
WHAT:
Fundations® utilizes a structured literacy approach grounded in the science of reading to make learning to read fun while laying the groundwork for lifelong literacy. The program’s research-based approach and extensive materials allow K–3 teachers to confidently present a carefully structured reading, spelling and handwriting curriculum using engaging, multisensory techniques. Fundations® is aligned with the science of reading and guides teachers to provide effective instructional practices.
A STRUCTURED LITERACY APPROACH GROUNDED IN THE SCIENCE OF READING:
Level 1 builds on the skills and concepts that are taught in Levels K.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Upon the completion of the course, participants will be able to-
• Identify the skills taught in Fundations: phonics and word study, vocabulary, high frequency/trick words, fluency, comprehension strategies, handwriting, spelling and punctuation.
• Understand the principles of instruction: explicit, sequential, and cumulative instruction that engages multiple learning modalities with multisensory instruction, repetition, and immediate, specific feedback.
• Identify and understand the use for all materials in the Fundations Teacher’s Kit and have a sense of how to find and use the many extended resources available on the Prevention/Early Intervention Learning Community for Fundations (membership included with participation in this workshop).
• Use the Teacher’s Manual to prepare a daily learning plan and practice lesson activity procedures.
• Visualize the flow and pace of a full Fundations lesson completed with fidelity.
As a Wilson® Accredited Partner, Churchill Center & School has been reviewed by Wilson Language Training® (WLT) and meets their standards of excellence in the delivery of their programs.
FOR QUESTIONS OR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Rachel Wheatley, Director of SKG School Partnerships & Outreach, at rwheatley@churchillstl.org.
The Key Comprehension Routine for Teachers of Grades 4-12 (July 2026)
THE KEY COMPREHENSION ROUTINE (for Teachers of Grades 4-12)
WHEN: Monday, July 13, 2026 and Monday, July 27, 2026
TIME: 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
WHERE:
In Person: Churchill Center & School
1021 Municipal Center Drive | Town & Country, MO 63131
Virtual: Confirmation email will be sent with event URL link.
COST: $400.00 (covers a copy of the book, access to online course and in-person training)
WHAT:
The Key Comprehension Routine teaches a foundational set of research-based, comprehension strategies that support listening and reading comprehension in any subject area. Teachers learn how to share strategies using existing content reading and instructional materials. When used across multiple grade levels, students will benefit from a consistent approach to comprehension instruction as they move from grade to grade and subject to subject.
Register by May 27, 2025 for our summer session to learn valuable comprehension and notetaking strategies to improve your classroom instruction. You will receive a copy of "The Key Comprehension Routine" book with your registration. The book includes an introduction to comprehension instruction, details about each instructional practice, classroom examples, and professional learning activities. There are also reproducible templates.
* You will need to complete 8 hours of the online course before each in-person meeting. *
QUESTIONS OR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Rachel Wheatley, Director SKG School Partnerships & Outreach Program, at rwheatley@churchillstl.org.
Churchill Center & School’s Sibling Workshop (July 2026)
CHURCHILL CENTER & SCHOOL'S SIBLING WORKSHOP:
*** Exclusively for siblings 5th grade through college-aged of Churchill day or summer school students. ***
DATE: Thursday, July 16, 2026
TIME: 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
WHERE: Churchill Center & School
1021 Municipal Center Drive | Town & Country, MO 63131
WHAT:
Sibling relationships can be complex and challenging. When a child is struggling with a learning disability, those relationships can become even more complicated.
This workshop will focus on activities that simulate what it is like to have a learning disability/dyslexia. Siblings will have the opportunity to actually experience some of the frustrations felt by children with LD via these simulated activities. We hope it will help siblings understand the daily social and academic struggles experienced by their brother or sister with a learning disorder. Some time for discussion and Q&A will be provided.
Free to attend. Must register to attend!
SPONSORED BY: The Sandra K. Gilligan School Partnerships & Outreach Program.
LEARN MORE!
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/sz86j7c/lp/e35fde96-1d76-4688-9d20-f53d818bea7d
Wilson® Just Words® Introductory Workshop (August 2026)
Looking for a word-level intervention for small groups of students (up to 15) in grades 4-12?
Introducing...
WILSON LANGUAGE TRAINING® JUST WORDS® LAUNCH WORKSHOP
WHEN: Wednesday, August 19, 2026
TIME: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM CST
WHERE: Churchill Center & School
1021 Municipal Center Drive | Town & Country, MO 63131
COST: $330.00 per person
Just Words® is a word-level intervention for students in grades 4-12 and adults who have mild to moderate gaps in their decoding and spelling proficiency.
- Highly explicit, multisensory structured literacy program that focuses on decoding and spelling
- Curriculum and strategies are expertly aligned to the science of reading and writing.
- "Just the word study" part of the Wilson Reading System® curriculum at an accelerated pace.
WHAT:
This workshop provides the practice and guidance needed to effectively begin teaching the Just Words® curriculum. This full day workshop is highly interactive and designed to allow for teacher input and active engagement via activities and discussions throughout. The workshop covers an overview of the program, a dive into the materials and resources needed to teach Just Words, a look at how to use the Instructor Manual and practice planning a lesson, and wraps up with a chance to see Just Words in action, debrief and look at what "next steps" will help participants kick off their Just Words instruction.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Upon the completion of the course, participants will be able to -
• Identify the skills taught in Just Words: phonics and word study (phonemic awareness, six basic syllable types in English, spelling rules, common Latin roots, prefixes and suffixes), vocabulary study and high frequency words.
• Understand the principles of instruction: explicit, sequential and cumulative instruction that engages multiple learning modalities with multisensory instruction, repetition and immediate, specific feedback.
• Identify and understand the use for all materials in the Just Words Teacher's Kit, and have a sense of how to find and use the many extended resources available on the Intervention Learning Community for Just Words (membership included with participation in this workshop).
• Use the Instructor Manual to prepare a daily learning plan and practice lesson activity procedures.
• Visualize the flow and pace of a full Just Words lesson completed with fidelity.
• Identify which students may be appropriate for a Just Words class, and understand how to assess students' progress in the class by using progress checks at the beginning of each unit and unit tests at the end.
QUESTIONS:
Contact Rachel Wheatley, Director of the Sandra K. Gilligan School Partnerships & Outreach Program, at rwheatley@churchillstl.org