SPF-SEPAG WEEKLY COMMUNICATION- BACK TO SCHOOL EDITION

SEPAG UPDATE:

The SPF SEPAG extends a warm welcome back to school to students, caregivers and families! 

We look forward to this school year as we continue to work to gather input and advise the district on systemic matters, so that children receiving services in/out of our district have the resources, accommodations, and opportunities they need to thrive.

The first SPF SEPAG meeting of the new school year was held on Monday 9/11, where topics ranging from communication, transportation and supportive services at the High School were discussed amongst others.  

Remember that all things SEPAG including meeting dates, meeting minutes and other helpful resources can be found on our website.  Our next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 16th, 2023 at 7pm. Please share this communication with anyone that you think it may be useful to. We look forward to a productive and collaborative year!

SPF HIGHLIGHT: Nettingham Middle School's Word of the Month is Community

SPECIAL EDUCATION RELATED RESOURCES AND EVENTS HAPPENING THIS WEEK:

Monday, Sept. 18th

• 7pm-SPAN-Local School Board Elections: Advocacy in Action - What impact does your local school board have on your child's education? What does it take to be an effective school board member?

 

Tuesday, Sept. 19th

• Center for Parent Information- Communicating with your child’s School. This training is designed to help parents resolve disputes and address concerns with their child’s school.

• 12pm-SPAN-Look To The Future: Transition From School To Adult Life. This workshop will provide information for you and your student on the transition from school to adult life.

 

Wednesday, Sept. 20th

• 12pm-SPAN- Key Components of the IEP:A review of the essential components of an Individualized Education Plan.

• 2pm-Center for Parent Information & Resources-Family Engagement in School Mental Health. Families and schools don’t always have the same ideas of what family engagement looks like. This webinar will detail ways to bring families and schools together on the concept of “family engagement”.

• 7pm-SPAN-Section 504 and the American Disabilities Act. This workshop focuses on the right to services and accommodations for students with disabilities and special health/emotional needs.

 

Thursday, Sept. 21st

• 11am NJSACC(New Jersey's Afterschool & Out-of-School Time Professional Network)-Afterschool Conversations With Njsacc. (NJSACC) and Child & Family Resources collaborated with SPAN to gather helpful resources to use with children preparing to experience new out-of-school programs

 

Saturday, Sept. 23rd

• 9:45 am-Center for Parent Information & Resources- Seminar IDEA and IEP. “Becoming a stronger advocate for your child starts by understanding special education law”. 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Sept. 27th, 4pm- Scotch Plains Library- Paw Buddies. Children are invited to practice their reading with a trained therapy animal at this program.

• October 11th, 6:30pm- RWJBarnabas-Building Positive Relationships with your Special Education Team and School District

• October 13th- The College of New Jersey- Educators Briefing

• Oct. 18th & Dec. 6th-Learning Resource Center-Building Mathematical Routines

• October 26th, 10am-RWJBarnabas-A Medical Overview of Autism Spectrum Disorders - Children's Specialized Hospital

MONTHLY THEMES:

The Learning Resource Center (LRC) Network is a project of the New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Special Education funded through IDEA Part B funds. The materials and resources at the LRC’s are provided to support the education of students with disabilities, helping them to succeed and to achieve in the least restrictive environment. LRC shares these resources as a part of it’s Back to School theme for the month of September: 

 

• Back-to-School: A 4-Week Plan for a Great Start - Understood
• Back-to-School Tips for Kids Who Are Struggling - Child Mind Institute
• Back to School Tips for Parents - Child Mind Institute
• Helping Students with Autism Transition into a New School Year - Edutopia
• Listen and Look at Back to School Night - Reading Rockets

IN THE NEWS, BROADCASTS AND UPDATES:

• Scotch Plains Resident Jonathan Wiener Selected to NJ ...
• Title I School Parents Right To Know Letter 
• Statewide Information Sessions on the Release of the New Jersey Autism Program Quality Indicators – Revised
• Governor Murphy Signs Legislation to Establish Commission to Study Effects of Social Media Usage on Youth

TOOLS YOU CAN USE:

• Union county recreation for people with disabilities

• NJ Office of Special Education shared US dep of Ed’s- Miniseries on Supporting Students’ Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Academic Well-Being and Success

AT YOUR LEISURE:

• NJ Coalition for Inclusive Education -Think Tank Podcast Episode 29: Celebrating Each Success

READING NOOK:

• It's Back to School We Go!

                                                                                                

Visit our site spf-sepag.blogspot.com for more info

The information on this website/newsletter is for general informational purposes only. SPF-SEPAG makes no representation or warranty, express or implied. Your use of the information  is solely at your own discretion. This website/newsletter  may contain links to third party content that are not controlled or operated by the SPF SEPAG. Your use of third-party websites is at your own risk and subject to the terms and conditions of use for those websites.