Tuscan School PTA

Advocacy Workshop & other Special Ed News

4/4/2014

There will be a workshop for parents and educators, free to attend, sponsored by the South Orange Maplewood SEPAC and START (Statewide Parents Advocacy Network).
Find more information here
http://somsepac.org/2014/04/04/advocacy-workshop-may-5th/

The school district has posted a new document that describes "Models of Inclusion" a method for delivering services to students at all age levels, you can find more information here http://somsepac.org/2014/04/04/information-from-som-district-on-inclusion-and-school-budget/

SEPAC Meeting in March - New Date

2/21/2014

The next SEPAC meeting will be held in March; you can find the flyer here and please note the new URL for the SEPAC website:
www.somsepac.org

Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC)
TOWN HALL MEETING
New Date Wednesday March 5th 7:30 – 9:00pm
District Meeting Room: 525 Academy St. Maplewood

Please join us for a special town hall meeting of the
South Orange/Maplewood SEPAC
Come and meet your school liaison parent. Share your experiences this year. Let us know what is going well and what your concerns are. Please remember that we are parent volunteers; we cannot answer for the District. Rather, we will do our best to advocate with you on behalf of all students with special educational needs.

Who should attend? Families of students…
• in all grades, in all schools and in out-of-district placements;
• who have Individualized Education Plans;
• who have 504 plans; and/or
• who are at any stage of the referral and intervention process.

www.somsepac.org email: info@somsepac.org

Save the date: May 5th for our next meeting: Parent Advocacy Workshop

Film Viewing in November: How Difficult Can This Be?

11/3/2013

click image for flyer

Save the date for November 19th @ 7:30pm at Marshall School for a free film viewing of Richard Lavoie's "How Difficult Can This Be?: the F.A.T. City workshop (Fear Anxiety Tension)
Often referred to as transformative, and as the best educational film ever made, you will literally experience what it is like to be learning disabled. If you love a child with learning differences - you should see this film!
Parents, guardians, caretakers and staff are welcome!

The Parenting Center and Elementary PTAs work together to provide programming to assist parents and guardians support their family and student's learning experiences through speakers, workshops, film viewings, parent groups and more. Find more at theparentingcenter.info

Speaker in October: Ungifted-Intelligence Redefined

10/4/2013

click image for flyer

Adults and staff welcome on October 29th, 7:30pm at South Mountain School in the cafeteria.
Sponsored by your elementary PTAs and the Parenting Center, this program is free.
In Ungifted, cognitive psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman—who was relegated to special education as a child—sets out to show that the way we interpret traditional metrics of intelligence is misguided. Kaufman explores the latest research in genetics and neuroscience, as well as evolutionary, developmental, social, positive, and cognitive

Special Education Parent Advisory Committee Meeting

10/3/2013

Tuesday October 22, 2013 at 7:00- 8:30pm District Meeting Room
525 Academy St. Maplewood

Please join us for a meeting of the South Orange/Maplewood SEPAC, with guest speakers Jennifer Cudmore and Mara Liebowitz, who will present on assistive technology for students with special needs.

Ms. Cudmore has served as Assistive Technology Specialist for SOMA School District, Ms. Liebowitz is a certified Learning and Disabilities Consultant, and both are current special education inclusion co-teachers at Clinton Elementary School.

Who should attend? Families of students...

in all grades, in all schools and in out-of-district placements;
who have Individualized Education Plans;
who have 504 plans; and/or
who are at any stage of the referral and intervention process.

Also save these dates for SOMA SEPAC Meetings in 2014: January 9, March 4, and May 5

April SEPAC Meeting

4/5/2013

Find the flyer here

Spring SEPAC Meeting
SEPAC - Special Education Parent Advisory Committee
Join us to discuss issues related to parents supporting their children in education: the difference between a 504 and an IEP; discuss timelines associated with procedural safeguards; suggest ways to partner with case managers effectively; and preparing for school transitions (preK to K, elementary to middle, middle to high, etc.) with special needs children.
Thspeaker will be Esther Canty-Barnes, Director, Special Education Clinic, Rutgers University School of Law

The executive committee will meet at 6.30pm to review the bylaws and other committee business.
Join our email list through www.somsd-sepac.org
Questions? email admin1@somsd-sepac.org

Special Needs Friendly Basketball Clinic

2/15/2013

News from the Special Education PTO:
Our Special Needs Friendly Basketball Clinic was cancelled due to the snowstorm and can take place on Saturday February 23rd from 1:00pm-2:00pm at the Maplewood Middle School gym with a minimum of 10 children. Siblings are welcome!
Last minute scheduling but with RSVPs by Saturday the 16th this event can take place! Please email to RSVP or for more info.
Clinic is free, all ages and abilities welcome, parents must stay, siblings are welcome, high school student mentors work with students.

~ Leon Morton leonmorton@comcast.net
Special Ed PTO Executive Committee

SEPAC Meeting Notice

2/11/2013

Find the flyer here

There will be a district wide meeting of the SEPAC, Special Education Parent Advisory Committee, on March 11th at the Board of Education Office, 7:30pm-9:00pm.
Details on the flyer.

Parent Group for Student support

2/2/2013

The Parenting Center is sponsoring a monthly support group for
parents of elementary and middle school children diagnosed with
ADD/ADHD or children who have attention difficulties. It will
offer parents the opportunity to share information, concerns and
solutions.
This group is led by Madelyn Petrow-Cohen, LCSW. She is in
private practice in the Maplewood/South Orange area and has
extensive experience working with children and families.

2012-2013 DATES: all meetings are 7:30pm @ Board Office
February 11
March 11
April 15
May 6

Parent Training from MUJC

1/31/2013

On behalf of Dr. Patricia Barker and the SOMSD Special Education Parent Advisory Committee, please see the flyers from the Morris Union Jointure Committee www.mujc.org on Parent Training Sessions and an Awareness Workshop on Autism.

The Parent Training sessions are no cost to participants and are for families, parents, grandparents, child study team members, babysitters, caregivers, teachers and therapists of children with pervasive developmental disorders. More information is on the mujc.org site and the attached flyers.
Find the PDF flyers here