SEPAG UPDATE:
The next SEPAG meeting will be on May 6, 2024. The location for the meeting is currently under review, so please disregard the previously communicated location. Once finalized, we will communicate the meeting location in advance of May 6th.
As previously communicated, the SEPAG Executive Board election information will be communicated at the May meeting. Stay tuned for further information by visiting the SEPAG site or Facebook page. Meeting information can be viewed here on the SEPAG site.
SEPAG Meeting minutes can be viewed here. Please note that Parent/caregiver meetings' notes are not posted/shared in the interest of confidentiality.
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.
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.
SPF K12 Highlights & Information -The SPF BOE held its meeting on 4/25. SEPAG BOE Liaison and Board Member, Amy Boroff presented a SEPAG update and touched on some of the topics that were discussed at the last meeting. SPF BOE meeting agendas can be found here, and once available prior meetings can be viewed on the BOE youtube site.
The Fanscotian- (The Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School Newspaper)-April Marks National Autism Acceptance Month
SPECIAL EDUCATION RELATED RESOURCES AND EVENTS HAPPENING THIS WEEK:
Monday, Apr. 29th
10am-The Arc of NJ- Mondays With Michael (FB live)-Get Involved with the New Jersey Self Advocacy Project. 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, Apr. 30th
1pm-Center for Parent Information and Resources-Webinar - Collaboration: Schools and Families Partnering for Success
Wednesday, May 1st
Various Dates/Times-Union County Recreation Programs for Persons with Disabilities
Thursday, May 2nd
1pm-Center for Parent Information and Resources-Reading and dyslexia: Helpful tools. Letters and words do not look the same to everyone. Learn how tools that can change the visual appearance, or how reading with the ears can be helpful for reading.
Saturday, May 4th
9am - 12pm (Start time 10am)-SPF Mental Health Walk and Fair
UPCOMING & ONGOING EVENTS:
May 6th, 10am-The Arc of NJ-Summer Camp Options and Assistance
May 7th, 10am-Children's Specialized Hospital-Navigating the Journey: A Medical Overview of Autism Spectrum Disorders - Children's Specialized Hospital
May 8th, 6:30pm-SPAN-Assistive Technology for Middle and High School Setting
May 14th, 10am-Children's Specialized Hospital-Navigating the Journey: Recreation Therapy and Community Connections
May 14th, 11am SPAN-Family Engagement: Supporting Student Success
June 4th, 10am-Children's Specialized Hospital-Navigating the Journey: Ask the Therapists - Psychologist, Speech & Occupational Therapists - Children's Specialized Hospital
MONTHLY THEMES:
As the month of April comes to a close,SPF SEPAG continues to highlight Autism Acceptance. Below are scenes and descriptions, shared on the SPF Public Schools Facebook Page, of some of the individual schools as they focused on Autism acceptance:
SPFK12-"Keeping true to the phrase "All To Here Belong," in our Scotch Plains - Fanwood Schools Alma Mater, we celebrate World Autism Acceptance Month, not just in April, but every month. We are #SPFProud of our students on the autism spectrum and the achievements of all of our neurodiverse students who are very much part of the rich tapestry of our SPFSD Community."
"As part of School One students' neurodiversity celebration, they learned about autism from Robbie, the penguin! The author of the book "Robbie's World and His Spectrum of Adventures" helped students understand what some autistic traits might look like through the fun and lovable penguin's tales. Even the School One mascot, Blaze flew in to help Robbie share the excitement! #SPFProud!!!"
Brunner Elementary School
"Our Brunner Elementary students continue to celebrate the diverse minds who enrich Scotch Plains - Fanwood Public Schools. So #SPFProud of these student crafted pictures which decorate the hallways of the building - and even prouder of the students themselves!"
Evergreen Elementary School
"During their celebration of Autism Acceptance Month, our Evergreen Cubs are sharing what they're learning about Autism. They're becoming educated about the very important Communication Bill of Rights and discovering that while there are many similarities within the spectrum, Autism affects everyone differently. #SPFProud"
Nettingham Middle School shared this in their morning announcements last week:
IN THE NEWS, BROADCASTS AND UPDATES:
NJDOE-Call for Applicants for the New Jersey Preschool Inclusive Education Project
TapInto Scotch Plains Fanwood-U.S. News Announces Its 2024 'Best Public High Schools' List. Find Out Where Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS and Others Ranked
RESOURCES & TOOLS YOU CAN USE:
NJDOE:New Jersey Assessment Resource Center-NJSLA Practice Tests
SPAN Advocacy-Inclusion:A "collection of resources on Inclusion, developed and reviewed by the SPAN START-EPSD project in collaboration with New Jersey Office of Special Education Programs (NJOSEP), specifically for families to use in supporting their children in leading inclusive lives."
Montclair State University Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health-Autism Fact Sheet
For Educators & General Knowledge New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) Learning Lounge
AT YOUR LEISURE:
ADDitude-"Building a College-Readiness Timeline for Teens with ADHD" [Video Replay & Podcast #498]
Center for Parent Information and Resources-Tools and Resources for Students with Dyslexia-Presented by PACER's Simon Technology Center and Minnesota Statewide Family Engagement Center.[VIDEO]
READING NOOK:
McGinn Librarian Mr. Lohn Reads Meesha Makes Friends
Rowan University-Spotlight on Neurodiversity
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.
