“When we fail to value experience, our students pay the price.” – Vicky Bond, SEPAC SOMA Board Member, speaking at the 8/28/25 SOMSD BOE Meeting in support of district paraprofessionals. ▣ WATCH HERE Powerful words from Vicky! Continue watching to hear from current and former SEPAC Board Members Beth Cosentino, Jocelyn Ryan, and Lindsey Stone.Continue reading “Statement: Support for Paraprofessionals, Fall 2025”
Author Archives: sepacsoma
Save the Date: Special Education Overview, October 2025
OCTOBERSPECIAL EDUCATION @ SOMSDWe hope you’ll join us for our first SEPAC SOMA community meeting of the year! Kathleen Gesumaria, SOMSD Assistant Superintendent for Special Services, will share an overview of the programs, classes, and services available in our district. Wednesday, Oct 15 @ 7pm▣ Virtual Meeting (link soon!)
Survey: 2025-2025 Parent Input, September 2025
2025-2026 SurveyYOU INSPIRE US! The SEPAC SOMA team is hard at work planning our 2025-2026 meetings, and the more we know about YOU, the better we are able to support our amazing community of families! ► Have you taken our 2025-2026 Survey yet?! We’d love your input on topics, meetings, communication preferences and volunteer opportunities.Continue reading “Survey: 2025-2025 Parent Input, September 2025”
Meetup: Cup Chat, Sept 2025
SEPTEMBERCUP CHATS: Conversation, Connection & CommunityBack to School can be an exciting fresh start and a welcome return to structure, but it can also be a stressful transition for students (and their families). We get it. We really do. We hope you’ll join us for the first SEPAC SOMA Cup Chat of the school year. Our informal,Continue reading “Meetup: Cup Chat, Sept 2025”
Idea: All About Me One-Pager, September 2025
ALL ABOUT ME!Here’s one of our very favorite Back to School tips: Create an “All About Me!” one-pager about your child to help their teachers and support team get to know them quickly. Share it with building administration so that they can share with teachers, therapists, paras, lunch and recess aides … any staff whoContinue reading “Idea: All About Me One-Pager, September 2025”
Announcement: ESY Website, June 2025
EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR 2025Great news! SOMSD Special Services ESY has its very own website this year! It’s chockfull of info about Extended School Year, including a recording of the Parent Info Night on June 9th, ICYMI. ► ESY @ SOMSD Website
Meeting: End-of-Year Meetup, June 2025
JUNE 2025: LAST MEETING OF THE YEAR!Join us for one of our favorite get-togethers of the year … our annual Dope, Nope & Hope meeting where we review how this school year went and look ahead to summer and next fall. But the school year isn’t quite over … we have one last bit ofContinue reading “Meeting: End-of-Year Meetup, June 2025”
Announcement: Resource Fair Guide, May 2025
MAY 2025: RESOURCE FAIR GUIDE What a joy it was to see our SEPAC SOMA community making connections! Huge thanks to the families who stopped by and to the local providers, groups and organizations who joined us, with extra gratitude for Together We Bloom, Beloved Bath, Lindsey Stone Homes, and the South Mountain YMCA forContinue reading “Announcement: Resource Fair Guide, May 2025”
Meetup: Mental Health & Special Education, May 2025
MAY 2025: MENTAL HEALTH & SPECIAL EDUCATIONLet’s Talk Meds … A parent- and caregiver-only virtual gathering to talk about medications for mental health and other learning and thinking differences such as ADHD and neurodiverse populations. We’ll chat about safety, efficacy, and use for managing and preventing symptoms. Moderated by fellow SOMSD parents Dina Roskin, MA,Continue reading “Meetup: Mental Health & Special Education, May 2025”
Event: Inclusive Resource Fair, May 2025
MAY 2025: INCLUSIVE RESOURCE FAIROur 2nd Annual SEPAC SOMA Resource Fair! Stop by to connect with local therapists, groups and organizations in the South Orange-Maplewood area who provide inclusive opportunities and services to individuals with disabilities. Huge thanks to Together We Bloom’s Traveling Sensory Room for hosting a sensory-friendly quiet space, Lindsey Stone Homes for providing refreshments, and theContinue reading “Event: Inclusive Resource Fair, May 2025”
SEPAC SOMA 