NewtonPAC for Special Education

Assistive Technology to Support Executive Function Skills

Karen Janowski, NPS

7:30 to 9:00 PM
100 Walnut Street, Newtonville
Room 210

Learn about assistive technology tools which support students who struggle with Executive Function skills. Karen will present a variety of technology tools which support skills necessary for school success, from elementary through high school. We will focus on tools for managing executive function skills across the grade spectrum.

Karen writes: “As an Assistive & Educational Technology Consultant, my passion is to remove the obstacles to learning for all students. It is important to make the curriculum accessible to all learners and provide opportunities for struggling learners to demonstrate what they know using principles of universal design.”  Karen writes a blog http://teachingeverystudent.blogspot.com/ and an Universal Design for Learning-wiki describing free tools http://udltechtoolkit.wikispaces.com/.
Networking beginning at 7:15 PM

Newton Parent Advisory Council (NewtonPAC) for Special Education meetings are free and open to all people interested in learning more about special education.

Join us!  Questions, contact Eileen and Lisa at info@newtonpac.org.

Presentation of the options for Summer Programs for Summer 2013.  

Tuesday, November 6th
9:30 – 10:30 am

The Education Center
100 Walnut Street, Room 210

Presented by
Paula Black, Assistant Director of Student Services, and
Maura McLaughlin Tynes, Director Elementary Special Education

As promised last spring, Paula and Maura have moved the planning for summer programs to the fall of the year before the summer.  They will present the summer program options for Summer 2013.

Please RSVP to info@newtonpac.org

Background:
The team (including the parent) meets to determine the best summer placement for the student if extended year services are needed.
Extended School Year (ESY) Eligibility Memo from Newton Public Schools Student Services to Staff  Extended School Year Eligibility Memo to Staff 2-3-2011 NPS

From Judy Levin-Charns, EdD, CCC-SLP
Assistant Superintendent For Student Services

During the month of October, the elementary special education administrative restructuring committee is holding a series of focus groups to listen and gather input from principals, special education staff, and parents.  We are inviting parents to participate in a focus group on October 24th from 4:30-5:30 at 100 Walnut Street, Room 210.

NPS is in the process of restructuring the administrative team of the elementary special education department.  In addition to researching how other districts are organized, we are asking for input from principals, special education staff, and parents.  We invite you to attend a focus group designed to listen and gather information from stakeholders across the district.  The format of the group will be to briefly explain the goals of the committee and then listen to your thoughts and ideas.

An evening to meet administrators and learn about special education services and programs in Newton’s Schools for the 2012-2013 school year.

Tuesday, October 16

100 Walnut Street, Room 210

Middle and High School Students – 6:15 to 7:30 PM

Pre-School and Elementary School Student – 7:45 to 9 PM

Meet:
Judy Levin-Charns, Ed.D, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services

Middle and High School Administrators – Paula Nargi Black, Assistant Director for Student Services for Middle and High Schools; Walter Lyons, Chair Special Education Dept. Newton North HS; Kathleen Farnsworth, Chair of Special Education Dept. Newton South HS; and Miriam Kornitzer (new at Day), Courtney Rau (Bigelow), Jennifer Truslow (Brown) and Shari Engelbourg (Oak Hill) the Assistants to the Principals at the Middle Schools, and others.

Pre-school and Elementary School Administrators – Maura McLaughlin-Tynes, Director of Elementary Special Education; Sanchita Banerjee, Interim Assistant Director Elementary Special Education; Michael Thurm, Director Early Childhood Programs, and others.

The 2010-2011 Newton Special Education Program Guide can be found here.  This is the most recent Program Guide.  Descriptions of co-taught neighborhood classrooms, stabilization programs and Central High can be found here

This FREE presentation will be held in Room 210 at 100 Walnut Street.  Light refreshments and networking begin at 6:00 PM.  The Middle and High school presentation will begin at 6:15 and end at 7:30.  The Preschool and Elementary school presentation will begin at 7:45 and end at 9:00 PM.

Bring your questions!

Tuesday October 9, 2012 – 6:30 – 8:00 pm
100 Walnut Street, Room 217

Restraint and seclusion is a topic appearing in the news, is part of a Massachusetts state initiative and National discussion. This evening NPS staff will review NPS practices related to restraint and seclusion.  There will be time for general questions.  A method for sharing specific concerns will be provided.

Judy Levin-Charns, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services,
Maura McLaughlin-Tynes, Director of Elementary Special Education, and
Dan Almeida, Supervisor of Applied Behavioral Analysis Services

Background information-

From Dan Almeida, NPS follows DESE guidelines that require:
1. We do not forcibly bring a child into a room and require them to stay there alone.  A staff person must be in the room with a student unless the child decides to stay in a room alone to calm down.
2. Parents must be notified of restraints over 5 min. within 24 hrs. and a written report sent home within 3 days.  In training staff, my recommendation is to report any restraint to parents.
3. Restraint is only used as a last resort and in cases of the threat of serious, imminent harm to self or others.

While there are secluded spaces for students to go in many of the schools, they are appropriately lit and safe–no closets.  Many have bean bag chairs, books, etc. to aid in de-escalation.

Massachusetts Interagency Restraint/Seclusion Prevention Initiative

http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/consumer/family-services/child-care-support/interagency-restraint-and-seclusion-prevention.html

Senate Hearing, July 12, 2012
Full Committee Hearing – Beyond Seclusion and Restraint: Creating Positive Learning Environments for All Students

http://www.help.senate.gov/hearings/hearing/?id=28ddbd0d-5056-9502-5dea-7197eb6434c8

Discipline of students with disabilities
NPS procedures are outlined in the Students’ Rights and Responsibilities Handbook 2012-2013

http://www3.newton.k12.ma.us/sites/default/files/R&R%20complete%209-12_0.pdf

We want to know what you want to learn this year!

We have four more presentations to schedule for the 2012-2013 NewtonPAC information meetings; three evening and one morning meeting.  A number of topics have been suggested by parents.  Too many for one year!

Please take this survey to let us know what topics are of greatest interest to you.  There is space to add ideas, make suggestions for speakers, and offer to arrange a meeting.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VD5DKDF

Currently scheduled meetings-
Newton Special Education Programs
Basic Rights in Special Education – in the evening on November 14 and in the morning on December 13 (Twice because this is REALLY important!)

Questions for Eileen, Lisa, Jo-Louise and Sandy – email: info@newtonpac.org

Meet… Judy Levin-Charns, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, and senior Student Services staff.

Learn… about special education services provided by Newton Public Schools.

One evening, two sessions.  One session for preschool and elementary school parents.  One session for middle and high school parents.  Check back soon for the order of the sessions.

When:  October 16, 2012, 6 pm to 9 pm

Where: Education Center, 100 Walnut Street, Room 210

All are welcome!

Questions? info@newtonpac.org

Do you have a 1 or more hours per week (or month) that you can contribute to NewtonPAC??

It’s not hard, it can be fun, it feels good to help fellow parents of children with special needs and you can make new friends!  You, yes each one of you, has something to share and contribute.  Please consider taking on a role or project.

The various roles/projects/tasks that need to be filled are listed below and in more detail in NewtonPAC Project List 2012.

You can sign up to volunteer here using Doodle poll (see what your friends are doing), or by emailing info@newtonpac.org. Jo-Louise and Sandy will help you learn the “ropes.”  Questions, reach Sandy and Jo-Louise at info@newtonpac.org.

NewtonPAC 2012-2013 – Supported Activities
Listserve Moderators – Sandy Baird and Jo-Louise Allen
Webmaster – Rich Frost
Evening Meeting Coordinators – Lisa DePalma will do two meetings
Welcoming Coordinator – Lisa DePalma
Informal coffees, day – Lisa DePalma
Transition Program Coordinator – Jo-Louise Allen
District Communication/Dispute Resolution Project – Sandy Baird

Volunteers Needed for these Roles and Projects
Co-Chairs
Clerk/Secretary

Central Administration outreach
School Committee outreach

PAC PTO liaisons Coordinator
PTO Council Executive Board Member
Election Coordinator
Membership Coordinator

Communication and Publicity
Tri-Fold Distribution
Budget Analysis Committee
Understanding Our Differences Liaison
Annual Awards Ceremony
Refreshments
By-Laws update lead
NoNAP-PAC Liaison
Inclusive Schools Week Coordinator
Out-of-district Facilitator

Projects
Education and Support for Parents
Transitions working group
Life of the School HS/MS working group
Restraint Policy working group
Annual Survey of Parents
Web Resource Development
Marketing, design, social media
Communication Coordinator across NPS Programs and schools
Social activities
Community awareness
Library book master
SPED 101
“How to do SPED in Newton”

The Newton Parents Advisory Council for Special Education (NewtonPAC) is thrilled to announce our Third Annual NewtonPAC Special Educator Awards!

The awards ceremony will be held on Tuesday, June 5th at 7pm at Newton North Lasker Theatre, 457 Walnut St and will be followed by a casual reception.

Once again, we will be honoring a few of the many members of NPS staff who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to have truly made a difference in the lives of our children with special needs.

Do you have someone you’d like to recognize?

Send your nominations to PACawards2012@gmail.com by May 15th.

Please read the following important information regarding nominations!

All nominations must be received by May 15th.

Nominations MUST include:

1) Your name (will not be made public – nominator’s names are known only to award recipients).

2) Nominee’s home school and e-mail address. If s/he is a district-wide employee, please designate as such and note which school your child attends.

3) A SHORT paragraph on why you believe s/he should be recognized (please help by keeping it short!) .

Please note that the awards are for the CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR ONLY.

All nominees will be recognized.

Nominees can be any member of NPS staff.  They do NOT have to be special education dedicated if they made a difference to a child receiving special education services.

There is no official limit to the number of staff members nominated per family, but please use your discretion. The awards are meant to recognize truly outstanding efforts.

Send your nominations directly to Eileen at PACawards2012@gmail.com by May 15th.

If you are interested in helping with refreshments, set-up or clean-up for the awards ceremony, please write to PACawards2012@gmail.com to volunteer.

If you have any questions, please contact Eileen Sandberg at PACawards2012@gmail.com

Thanks!
Eileen Sandberg, Awards Ceremony Coordinator