The South River Advocate |
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Vol.4 Issue 8 |
The Newsletter of SEPTA of South River | June/Summer 2003 |
| http://www.specialeducationpta.org | email: info@specialeducationpta.org | Information Line (732) 651-7157 |
June 25: Last Day of School & High School Graduation - Denny Stadium
June 26: South River Board of Education Meeting - High School Library 7 pm.
July 21: South River Board of Education Pre-Meeting - Board Conf Room 7 pm.
July 24: South River Board of Education Meeting - High School Library 7 pm.
July 31: SEPTA Board Meeting SR Public Library 7-9 pm
August 25: South River Board of Education Pre-Meeting - Board Conf Room 7 pm.
August 28: South River Board of Education Meeting - High School Library 7 pm.
As the school year draws to a close so does my term as President of SEPTA and this seems to be an appropriate time to reflect on what SEPTA has accomplished over the last 4 years. SEPTA has tried to empower parents by providing them with information on a wide range to topics in a variety of forms.
One of our first was the creation of a website. We started out small and simple and within three years we had outgrown the limits of the free site causing us to get our own domain www.specialeducationpta.org . Now we have more than enough room to grow. Another method of keeping parents informed has been the South River Advocate, this newsletter. It is sent home with all classified students from the Elementary through the High School, and is available on our website. Both our website and newsletter contain information not only about SEPTA, but also about workshops and events sponsored by other organizations. Concerning not only Special Education, but non classified children as well.
SEPTA has also sponsored 4 -5 workshops a year for parents and teachers. Topics have included Parents Rights and Roles in Special Education, Transition Planning, Recreational Opportunities for Special Needs Children, AD/HD, Sensory Integration Therapy and Behavior modification
Last Year SEPTA started a Special Needs collection at the South River Public Library and will be adding to the collection this year. The collection includes books, video tapes, computer software, and a magazine subscription. On subjects like Special Ed law, Advocating for your child, specific disabilities activities for your child and behavior modification.
This is the 3rd year that SEPTA has awarded a scholarship to a graduating Special Education student. We hope this has helped these students to continue their education.
This year SEPTA sponsored a music program for students in both of the Pre-school handicapped classes. Each class received 5 music lessons given by teachers from the East Brunswick Academy of Music. I was lucky enough to attend all of these lessons and know the students enjoyed these.
At last years New Jersey State PTA Convention SEPTA was presented the Great IDEA Award for our outstanding efforts in advocating for special education.
None of these programs would have been possible if it was not for the hard work and dedication of everyone on SEPTA's board and the cooperation of District personnel.
I know looking to the future SEPTA will grow and build on what has already been accomplished. Even though this school year is not over SEPTA is already busy planning for next year, but we need parents to help, So if you would like to make a difference in your child's life please become involved in SEPTA.
Dr. Marciante, the Director if Special Ed is also leaving South River and going to Manalapan as the Director of Student Personnel Services
SEPTA would like to wish Dr.s' Ambrogi & Marciante good luck in the future and Congratulation to Mr.'s Grygo, Pfister, and Coleman on their
| President | Bill England |
| Vice President | Patty Borgstede |
| Treasurer | Bill Sellar |
| Secretary | George Borgstede |
| By-Laws Chair | Open |
| Faculty Rep | Open |
If you are interested, please come to one of our meetings, call our Information line or e-mail us. We would love to hear from you
Wrightslaw: Special Education Law by Peter W.D. Wright & Pamela Darr Wright
Meeting the ADD Challenge by Steven B Gordon and Michael J. Asher
The AD/HD Forms Book, Identification, Measurement, and Intervention by Steven B Gordon and Michael J. Asher
Legal Rights of the Catastrophically Ill and Injured by Joseph L. Romano
Better IEP's How to Develop Legally Correct and Educationally Useful Programs by Barbara D. Bateman, Mary Anne Linden
IEP Success Basic Underlying Principles of IEPs Video featuring Barbara D. Bateman
Kidspiration CD program for grades K-5 with activity book
Subscription to Exceptional Parent Magazine
The Special Education PTA is asking for parent volunteers to help other parents in special education. We would like to set up a program were parents can contact other parents who have "Been there...and done that" with questions concerning special education and related issues.
We would like to set up a contact for each grade level (ex. Parents of children who have recently completed Pre-school, Elementary, Middle, and High School) in which parents with children entering that level of education could contact the "tier parent(s)" by either telephone or email during hours set by the" tier parent".
Remember when you and your child started out in each stage of the special education process; the uncertainty requarding procedures, tests, where to get information, and just plain where do you start in all this ... Help put your experiences to good use and help someone else benefit from what you've learned.
Tier parent support would be kept confidential and would be up to the tier parent how much time they could volunteer.
If you are interested please contact
SEPTA by email at infor@specialeducationpta.org or
Call SEPTA at (732) 651-7157.
Help us make the phrase "Been there...done that" mean more that learning by trial and error... Let it be a way of offering knowledge and guidance to someone who could use it the most.
Laffin Chevrolet-Oldsmobile of South River
Magnifico's Ice Cream of East Brunswick
Thank you for your support.