SEPAG UPDATE:
SPF SEPAG Meetings will continue monthly through the remainder of the school year. As we approach meeting dates, topics will be shared in advance. We welcome parent/Caregiver input on topics that are meaningful to parents/caregiver and students receiving Special Education and Related Services. Information can be communicated here via our "Contact Us' tab on our site.
SEPAG Meeting ( Updated to reflect a change to the date of the meeting)
The next SEPAG meeting will be on March 18th at 7pm. This meeting will be a Parent/Caregiver only meeting and will take place in the lower level of the Scotch Plains Library.
We welcome Parents/Caregivers to come and engage with the SEPAG. It is our goal to gather feedback to share with the district. This forum will allow for open discussion of topics and concerns related to Special Education and Related Services.
For all SEPAG meeting dates and topics visit the meeting information tab on the SEPAG site.
Prior meetings' Minutes can be found on our website here for your viewing.
SPF K12 Highlights & Information
February 2024 Newsletter: Scotch Plains-Fanwood Public Schools
Ask the Superintendent- Thursday, March 14th at 10am at Nettingham Middle School
Save the date for Creative Summer Workshops
Speaking to Children About Grief, A Parent/Caregiver Workshop- March 24th, at 7pm, SPFHS Media Center. Registration is required.
SPECIAL EDUCATION RELATED RESOURCES AND EVENTS HAPPENING THIS WEEK:
Tuesday, Mar. 5th
6:30pm-SPAN-Virtual Gathering on Stress Management and Self Care
6pm-SPAN-Basic Rights in Special Education. This workshop provides families with an introduction to their rights and responsibilities as parents of children with special needs.
Wednesday, Mar. 6th
1pm-Center for parent Information & Resources-Supporting Families in Navigating Comprehensive Special Education Evaluation. This workshop will highlight the basic framework of comprehensive special education evaluations with a particular focus on the criteria for a specific learning disability.
Thursday, Mar. 7th
6:30 pm-Children's Specialized Hospital-Support on the Journey: Pressure Points in Special Education- Intersection of Legal and Clinical Issues (Session 2). Pressure Points in Special Education- Intersection of Legal and Clinical Issues. Topic:Independent Evaluations.
7pm-SPAN-Parent Involvement in Special Education: Overview of Rights
7pm-Morris-Union Jointure Commission (MUJC)-Online Parent Awareness Workshop Promoting Routine & Structural Strategies at Home to Prevent Problem Behaviors.
Friday, Mar. 8th
Date to submit questions for the 3/14 Ask the Superintendent
UPCOMING & ONGOING EVENTS:
Union County Recreation Programs for Persons with Disabilities- Various events and dates
Mar. 14th, 10am, at Nettingham Middle School-Ask The Superintendent
Mar. 18th, 2pm-RAISE Center Webinar-Getting on the Same Page: Helping Families and Youth to "Think College"
Mar. 19th, 1pm Center for Parent Information & Resources-Section 504: What Parents and Students Need to Know
Mar. 21st, 6:30pm-Children's Specialized Hospital-Support on the Journey: Pressure Points in Special Education- Intersection of Legal and Clinical Issues (Session 3)
Mar. 23rd, 11am-Union County College (Cranford)-Spring Special Needs Resource Fair & Family Fun Day
Mar. 28th, 7pm- SPAN-Creating Agreement: Working Together to Resolve Conflict. This workshop will focus on helping parents and professionals "create agreement" to avoid and minimize conflict.
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 March.
March is Deaf History Month
How 11 Deaf Men Helped Shape NASA's Human Spaceflight Program - A feature article by NASA History describing the significant contributions of the "Gallaudet Eleven" in NASA's understanding of space survival. Check out the Deaf Difference + Space Survival Exhibit Video from the National Deaf Life Museum at Gallaudet University as well!
March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
Art Enables - Art Enables strives to create opportunities for artists with disabilities to make, market, and earn income from their artwork and take their place as an invaluable part of the arts community through their studio art program and gallery. Check out this introductory video of what they do and then explore the different artists and exhibitions!
Thriving with Learning & Thinking Differences - Understood - A playlist of short videos in which individuals share their experiences of thriving with learning or thinking differences.
March is Youth Art Month
What You Need to Know about Inclusive Education in the Art Room-The Art of Education University provides an overview of laws related to special education and their impact on the art classroom, with numerous examples and resources for supporting inclusive art education.
How Art Helped a Struggling Student Better Understand Himself | Understood short video of Marcos Allen, the winner of the 2017 Anne Ford Scholarship from the National Center for Learning Disabilities, as he describes how he discovered his artistic talent and the confidence it gave him.
March is Music in Our Schools Month
Inclusive Practices You Can Incorporate into Your Ensemble Rehearsals | Classical Music Indy - Practical ways to support differing abilities, make accommodations and modifications, and develop activities and spaces that promote the inclusion of neurodiverse students, students with disabilities, and students who need extra support in your music program.
Move to Include: The Arts & Music - A collection by PBS LearningMedia designed for grades 5-13+. These short videos and related activities promote inclusion for people with disabilities and center the voices and experiences of people with disabilities in music and the arts.
IN THE NEWS, BROADCASTS AND UPDATES:
NJDOE-Governor Murphy Highlights Record School Funding Increase in Fiscal Year 2025 Proposed Budget Plan
NJDOE-Autism Acceptance Virtual Art Expo Submission
NJDOE- Read Across America Week, March 2-6, 2024
NJDOE-NJ Department of Human Services Message on the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act
US Department of Education-U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights Releases New Resources on Students with Disabilities.
RESOURCES & TOOLS YOU CAN USE:
SPAN-Supporting Home Engagement in Literacy for Families
The Arc of NJ IEP Go Bag. These resources may be helpful as parents/caregivers prepare for annual IEP meetings during this time of year.
AT YOUR LEISURE:
Childmind.org-How Can We Help Kids With Self-Regulation?
READING NOOK:
A Walk In The Words, by Hudson Talbott
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.
