SEPAG UPDATE:
The upcoming SPF Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SPF-SEPAG) meeting on 2/5/24 at 7 p.m. ET will focus on open discussion and SEPAG matters, such as the review of by-laws. If you are interested in participating or learning more about the SPF-SEPAG, please join us on 1/8/24 at the SPF Board of Education office at 512 Cedar St., Scotch Plains, or virtually via this link.
We are always looking for parents who may be interested in joining the SEPAG. Being a School Liaison is one way to participate. It's a volunteer, unelected role, which focuses on communication and gathering input. Liaisons represent one of the public schools in the district in which they have at least one child receiving special services.
Some responsibilities of the SPF SEPAG School Liaison are:
Serve as a point person for special education-related matters for their designated school.
Meet with the principal of their designated school at least twice per year to discuss the SPF SEPAG's priorities.
Report special education-related matters trending at their designated schools to the SPF SEPAG Co-Presidents, Secretary, and Public Relations Officer.
Attend SPF SEPAG general meetings providing the parental input they've gathered.
A full listing of the role of SEPAG School Liaison can be found in the SPF SEPAG Bylaws.
If you are interested or know someone who may be, contact us at SPFsepagk12@gmail.com.
SPECIAL EDUCATION RELATED RESOURCES AND EVENTS HAPPENING THIS WEEK.
Monday, Feb. 5th
10am-The Arc of NJ- Mondays With Michael (FB live)-What is a Special Education Parent Advisory Group. Mondays with Michael is a Facebook Live series that addresses individual topics related to special education. Episodes feature a 10-15 minute discussion with The Arc of New Jersey's Director of Children's Advocacy, Michael Pearson Jr.
Tuesday, Feb. 6th
12pm- Center for Parent Information and Resources- Executive Function Tools and Supports
7pm-Union County Recreation for People with Special Needs-Inclusive Ceramic Painting for All Ages
Wednesday, Feb. 7th
10am-SPAN-NJ Inclusive Childcare Project Presents : Positive Solutions for Families
5pm-Union County Recreation for People with Special Needs-Inclusive Yoga for Teens and Adults with Disabilities and Special Needs
Thursday, Feb. 8th
1pm-SPAN-Family Engagement & Transition: A Personal Experience
Saturday, Feb. 10th
10:30am- Fanwood Library-Paint a Canvass of Kindness
UPCOMING & ONGOING EVENTS:
Feb. 13th, 12pm-SPAN-Paperwork for Families
Feb. 13th, 12pm SPAN-SEPAG Support Clinic
Feb. 21st, 1pm-SPAN-Intervention & Referral Services: Understanding How it Works
Feb. 22nd, 6:30pm-Children's Specialized Hospital-Support on the Journey: Pressure Points in Special Education - Intersection of Legal and Clinical Issues - Children's Specialized Hospital
Feb. 25th, 10am JCC of Central New Jersey-Special Needs Resource Fair
Mar. 5th, 6:30pm-SPAN-Virtual Gathering on Stress Management and Self Care
Mar. 7th, 7pm-Morris-Union Jointure Commission (MUJC)-Online Parent Awareness Workshop Promoting Routine & Structural Strategies at Home to Prevent Problem Behaviors.
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. The following information is a selection of some of the resources and information shared by the LRC as they highlight Awareness Themes for the month of February.
February is Black History Month
Highlighting African Americans with Disabilities in Honor of Black History Month | RespectAbility Reflect on the realities and challenges that continue to shape the lives of African Americans with disabilities. Learn about Black Americans with disabilities and their significant contributions to the world.
Career & Technical Education Month
Career and Technical Education Month®, or CTE Month®, takes place each February to raise awareness of the role that CTE has in readying learners for college and career success. It celebrates the value of CTE and the achievements and accomplishments of CTE programs across the country.
CareerOneStop Video Library - Explore short videos featuring hundreds of different occupations (also available in Spanish), eight broader career clusters/industries, and over twenty career-centered skills and abilities. This is a great resource to reference with your children or students as they begin to consider what career path they may want to pursue!
High School Opportunities | Career Tech NJ - Provides information about New Jersey's county vocational-technical schools, their programs, and frequently asked questions.
IN THE NEWS, BROADCASTS AND UPDATES:
(Sharing this For general Awareness)NJDOE-Special Education Medicaid Initiative (SEMI) Fiscal Year 2025 Reimbursement Revenue Projections
NJDOE-New Resources for High School Mathematics
RESOURCES & TOOLS YOU CAN USE:
SPAN Literacy-Listening Comprehension
Understood.org-Questions to ask before and during your child's IEP meeting
Scotch plains Library- Health Topic Totes. Includes information on Caregiver Health, Teen Mental Health/Resilience and others.
NJDOE Office of Special Education-Special Education Directories
New Jersey Tiered System of Supports for Early Readers
AT YOUR LEISURE:
NJCIE-The Inclusion Think Tank Podcast Episode 38: Creating Adaptive Physical Education Spaces
Child Mind Institute-Learning Disabilities and Depression:Why kids with LDs often develop depression, and need emotional support, too.
Autism Spectrum News-Harnessing the Power of Nature: Outdoor Sensory Activities for Autism Spectrum Disorder
READING NOOK:
The Out-of-Sync Family: A Story About Sensory Differences, by Carol Stock Kranowitz
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.
