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Mamaroneck-Larchmont SEPTA E-News |
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Special EDition E-Newsletter |
February 7, 2011 |
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Dear SEPTA Members & Friends,
We hope you are hanging in there as we slowly progress through Winter. As always, much is happening that we want to share with you. Additionally, please check out the news and resources we are sharing below. Do you have news or information to share with SEPTA? If so please let us know.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or could use a little parent guidance or support, we are here for you!
There are 2 very important meetings next week - Feb. 8th District Budget meeting and Feb. 10th Annual Review and Committee on Special Education Workshop for parents - see below under District Events.
Cecilia Absher & Sam Jensen
SEPTA Co-Presidents
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SEPTA's Faculty Grants - The Time is Now to Submit a Grant Request!
SEPTA faculty grants provide funding for creative programs, equipment or pilot projects that enhance and support the educational experience for students with learning differences or disabilities. These grants are intended to allow regular and special education teachers, specialists and administrators, who are or become SEPTA members, to undertake new projects that they would otherwise be unable to pursue or to pursue projects to a greater extent than they otherwise could. Grants may be requested for an individual classroom or for projects that benefit a range of classrooms or ages. Grants are usually limited to projects requiring several hundred dollars. We anticipate that most grants will be in the $200-$500 range, although smaller grants will receive equal consideration. The deadline for all grant requests for this school year is Friday, February 18, 2011. SEPTA Faculty Grants Co-Chairs - Liz Paras 834-0787, paras@cims.nyu.edu & Barbara Mehlman - 833-8905, bmehlman7@msn.com. The grant application form is available on SEPTA's website.
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SEPTA's Nominating Committee - Please help us work to insure SEPTA has strong leadership and board members for 2011-12. The Nominating Committee is being formed now to identify candidates to fill open officer and board positions. Please let us know if you are interested in participating on the Nominating Committee and invite your friends to join us as well! Contact Amy Lieberman - dashdoar@gmail.com or 552-1568 or Amy Kass - amysuekass@yahoo.com 834-3752. |
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Upcoming District Events:
- Tues., Feb. 8, 9:00a.m. - District Workshop - Speech & Language Pathologists present Word Retrieval and its Impact on Learning - 9:00a.m. MHS - Room N101.
- Tues. Feb. 8, 7:30p.m. - Mamaroneck Schools Community Engagement Meeting, Hommocks Middle School Library, -- Very Important Meeting for All Community Members: Please attend Mamaroneck Schools' Evening of Community Engagement Around the 2011-2012 Budget on Tuesday, Feb. 8th at the Hommocks Middle School Library @ 7:30 pm. Superintendent Dr. Robert Shaps will provide a brief synopsis of the current budget situation and the continued challenges the District faces as it begins developing the annual budget. Small groups will then be formed, with each group exploring a few guiding questions and compiling community member feedback. Members of this year's newly-formed Citizens Budget Advisory Committee (made up of 25 community members) will help facilitate discussion. For information on and presentations made to the Advisory Committee, go to http://www.mamkschools.org/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=32855& Your voice is important - please come and participate!
- Fri. Feb. 11, 10a.m.-12noon - The CSE and Annual Review Process, Roni Kramer and Karen Gatto, Directors of Elementary and Secondary Special Education will be presenting a workshop for parents in preparation for Annual Reviews and the new IEP requirements. The workshop is for parents of students with the Special Education Classification. MHS Tiered Classroom. For information about the new IEP forms and requirements, click here.
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Community & Regional Events:
· Parent Management Training (PMT) Groups that are starting this coming February for parents of children on the autistic spectrum. PMT is an effective treatment for decreasing oppositional, aggressive and antisocial behaviors. The first PMT group is meeting in our Hartsdale location, starting February 10th from 10:30am to 12:00pm. The Hartsdale Clinic is located on 141 N. Central Ave. in Hartsdale. Our second group is meeting in the Peekskill location, starting February 16th from 12:30pm to 2pm. The Peekskill Clinic is located on 1101 Main Street,Crossroad Shopping Plaza (enter from Park Street). PMT, developed by Dr. Alan Kazdin at Yale Child Study Center, trains parents to manage their child's behavioral problems in the home and at school. Parents will learn new ways to understand their child's behavior and to practice skills and techniques for effectively handling problem behaviors. Parents are active participants in this group including role plays and weekly homework assignments (eg. behavior charts). For more information, parents should contact: Kari Phillips, LCSW (914) 949 - 7699, ext 377 kphillips@wjcs.com or Bonnie Graham, LMSW Program Coordinator, Autism Family Center (914) 761 - 0600 ext. 228.
· Dyslexia Symposium - Understanding & Managing the Disability - Saturday, March 5th - The Murphy Center at Iona College - New Rochelle 9:30-4:00pm . To register contact Patty Besen by Feb 25, 2011, pbesen@inoa.edu or 633-2210. Topics include: Testing and Assessment, Scientifically Proven Approaches to Language Remediation, Navigating the College Process, Addressing Challenging Behaviors, Dyslexia and the Law and Executive Functioning Coaching.
· Rick Lavoie "It's So Much Work to Be Your Friend": Helping the Child with Learning Disabilities Find Social Success -- Monday, March 7, 2011 - 6:30 registration 7:00 pm Lecture Temple Israel Center, White Plains. Rick Lavoie is a special education expert who has served children with special needs for 40 years. He holds three degrees in Special Education and has served as an adjunct professor or visiting lecturer at numerous universities and has made many national television appearances including on CBS Morning Show, Good Morning America & ABC Evening News. Kindly RSVP by February 21st! Space is limited - call Michelle Steinhart 914-948-2800 x 145 or e-mail michellesteinhart@gmail.com.
· 10th New Rochelle School District Transition Fair - Thursday, March 10, 2011 - 5:00 pm - New Rochelle High School House 4 Cafeteria. For students and parents who are interesting in learning more about transition from school. Representatives from colleges, employment, housing, and social and recreational programs. |
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In the News:
RTI Process May Not Delay Special Education Evaluations -- Informal interventions, instructional support team approaches and response to intervention measures may not delay a special education evaluation. If a child is suspected of having a disability that impacts his or her educational performance, an evaluation under the Individuals With Disabilities Act would be appropriate to pursue. See letter here: http://www.olrs.ohio.gov/sites/olrs.ohio.gov/files/u5/osep-rti-memo1-21-11.pdf. More info: http://cecblog.typepad.com/policy/2011/02/osep-reminds-states-rti-must-not-interfere-with-initial-evaluations.html
Taming the Homework Monster - Advice for Teachers & Parents:
http://www.smartkidswithld.org/ld-basics/treatments-and-support/taming-the-homework-monster-for-kids-with-ld-adhd |
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Resources to Be Aware of:
District's New Elementary Math Resources for Parents and Students: Please visit the parent resource page on the District website - Click Here- to access a number of recently posted math resources. These math games and resources have been carefully selected by school staff to be utilized by parents and kids outside of school to practice and enhance their math skills. Even playing a suggested math game for 5 or 10 minutes at a time can enhance confidence and help develop or solidify skills.
Special Education Advisor --http://www.specialeducationadvisor.com/For up to date information and to learn more about SEPTA, visit the SEPTA website: http://mamkschoolspta.org/septa/ |
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Starting to Think About Summer? - Here are a Few Resources You Might Consider - Please Note: SEPTA is not endorsing and has not evaluated these programs):
Day Camps:
JCC -Scarsdale: Summer programs Please contact Linda Helfman, B.A, Program Director, 472-3300 x347, E-mail:helfmanl@jccmw.org
NYU - ADHD Camp Program: www.aboutourkids.org 212-263-0760 Located at SUNY Maritime College - Throggs Neck. A week for kids 7-11 with ADHD and behavior disorders.
Our Victory Day Camp: www.ourvictory.com (203) 329-3394. For special needs children ages 5-12.
Sociable Kidz: www.sociablekidz.com 374-5024 Mamaroneck. - Ages 4-15. The focus is on development of social skills.
Academically Oriented Programs:
The Center for Literacy Enrichment: 422-4135 www.thecenterforliteracy.com. Pace University White Plains. Reading and writing skill development.
Windward Summer Program - enhancement of reading , writing, math & science http://www.windwardny.org/home/news_item.asp?id=104&newsArea=home
Do you have a summer camp or program to recommend for kids with learning differences or special needs? Email Cecilia at ctabsher@att.net. |
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SEPTA Magazine Fundraising Campaign
http://mamaroneck-larchmont-septa.classclick.net/frontend.php/supportseptagrants.html
Do you or anyone you know enjoy magazines such as Oprah, Sports Illustrated, Bon Appetit, People, Vogue, Men's Journal or many more popular titles? Please support SEPTA and its efforts to provide grants (see below) to our staff by ordering magazines (or renewing your subscriptions) through the link above. If you are renewing a subscription, please enter your name exactly as it appears on your current subscription so that it will be added on to the current subscription. You can invite friends and relatives all over to join in this campaign which runs through Feb 18th. Thanks for your support! Questions? Contact Cecilia Absher at CTAbsher@att.net |
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