Oct.1: Wills & Estate Planning 1-3pm N.J. Bar Association Call 1-800-FreeLaw to register

Oct. 2: SEPTA Executive Board meeting 7-9pm S.R. Elem. Library

Oct. 8: No School

Oct. 12: Rutgers Seminar: "Building the Brainware: Education Children for Sound Character, Nonviolence, Emotional Intelligence & Academic Performance in Safe, Caring Schools" 9- 4:30pm Call (732) 445-7795 ext.36 to register

Oct. 17: Rutgers Seminar-

"Functional Assessment of Challenging Behaviors: An Effective Approach to Intervention" 9 – 3pm

Call (732) 445-7795 ext.36 to register

Oct. 18: Board of Education

Pre-meeting 7pm Admin. Office

Oct. 19: No School – Teacher inservice.

Oct. 20: SEPTA / SPAN workshop at the S.R. Public Library

10:30 – 2:30 pm

"Developing an IEP for Academic Achievement and the Least Restrictive Environment"

Oct. 22: Board of Education Meeting 7pm S.R. H.S. Library

Oct. 24: Special Education Law 7- 9pm NJ Bar Association Call 1-800- Free Law.

Oct. 31: Happy Halloween!

SEPTA/ SPAN Free Workshops:

The Special Education PTA of South River and the State Wide Parent Advocacy Network will be holding 2 free workshops at the South River Public Library on Saturday, September 20^th from 10:30 –2:30pm.

10:30 am Workshop 1: "Developing an IEP for Academic Achievement" will teach parents how to help write an IEP for their child using effective methods and Federal regulations to emphasize academic achievement and get the related services your child may need to succeed.

*A light lunch will be served between workshops

12:45pm Workshop 2: "The Least Restrictive Environment" will discuss mainstreaming child with various special needs into the regular education program with the necessary support systems to insure academic achievement.

Up Coming Seminars: Rutgers University to Host Two Seminars:

Oct 12, 2001 from 9 – 4:30 pm at Rutgers Busch Campus Center "Building the Brainware:
Education Children for Sound Character, Nonviolence, Emotional Intelligence, and Academic Performance in Safe, Caring Schools- A Workshop for Educators, Professional School Counselors, and those Concerned with Enhancing Character and Academics."
Focus: Emotional Intelligence/ Social and Emotional Learning (EQ/SEL). EQ/ESL is the process whereby children gain the ability to recognize and manage their emotions, make responsible decisions, and establish positive relationships. Fee $149.00 (includes materials and continental breakfast)

October 17, 2001 from 9- 3pm at the Rutgers Busch Campus Center "Functional Assessment of Challenging Behaviors: An Effective Approach to Intervention"
presented by Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center
Focus: Children with autism often exhibit behaviors which interfere with learning and disrupt classroom environments. Functional behavior assessment presents a model for understanding these behaviors and developing effective interventions. Fee: $100.00 (includes registration fee, continental breakfast & materials)

For more information on either of these workshops, please call the Center for Applied Psychology at (732) 445-7795 ext. 36

The N.J. Department of Education- Office of Special Education Programs has listed on the New Jersey Department of Education web site (www.state.nj.us/njded) a complied listing addressing the accommodations/modifications that may be used during the administration of the ESPA, GEPA, (HSPT11/A) and the Special Review Assessment. It should be noted that the accommodations used should be consistent with the instructional and assessment used in the classroom as well as listed in the student’s IEP (Individualized Education Plan) or 504 Plan.

• Setting accommodations
• Scheduling Accommodations
• Test Material Modifications
• Test Procedures Accommodations/Modifications(covering both administration and responses)
• Other Considerations

HSPT- Oct. 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th March 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th

ESPA – Oct. 16^th and 17^th April 29^th and 30^th

May 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd

GEPA- March 12^th, 13^th, 14^th, 15^th,

Date: Saturday, October 20, 2001
Time: 9;10:30-12:15 & 12:45-2:30pm * A light lunch will be served between workshops.

Location: The South River Public Library

55 Appleby Ave., South River, New Jersey

Special Guest Speaker: Penny Dragonetti -SPAN Reg. Dir.

Families are introduced to their role in developing and implementing an effective Individualized Education Program for their child with special needs / learning disabilities. This workshop provides a step-by-step overview of the IEP process, and demonstrates how families can participate as equals in that process. Useful parent tools including Positive Student Profiles and the IEP worksheet are introduced and discussed with parents to maximize their child’s potential in academic achievements. Families also learn about the federal requirements for IEPS, and the mandate that they participate as equal partners in the IEP development.

Don’t feel intimidated at an IEP meeting again! Come and learn your child’s rights and your rights as a parent in helping to form an IEP that will provide and lead your child towards achievement.

*We ask that you register for this workshop so that we may have enough supplies for all attending. To register please call the SEPTA Information Line at (732) 432-6747 or register by emailing SEPTA at: septa_srnj@geocities.com