SEPTEMBERCUP CHATS: BACK TO SCHOOLOur informal, in-person gatherings are a great way to connect with other parents and caregivers of kids with IEPs, 504s, and Special Education-related needs in our district. Our Cup Chats are BYOC…bring your own cup of your favorite morning beverage. September can be an exciting and fresh start and a welcomeContinue reading “Meeting: Cup Chats – Back to School, September 2026”
Category Archives: SEPAC SOMA
SURVEY: PARA TRANSITION FEEDBACK, SEPTEMBER 2026
SEPTEMBERSURVEY: PARAPROFESSIONAL TRANSITION FEEDBACKWe’ve created a community tool to collect feedback on the paraprofessional transition from ESS to Delta-T in SOMSD. If your child has a para, please share positive and negative experiences so that we can share an anonymous compilation with district administration, the Board of Education, and the community. You can fill outContinue reading “SURVEY: PARA TRANSITION FEEDBACK, SEPTEMBER 2026”
Resource: All About Me One-Pager, August 2026
ALL ABOUT METhe new school year can be overwhelming for children (and parents), so we’ve created this customizable one-pager to help teachers and support staff get to know your child quickly. Share it with any staff who may be in contact with your child, including bus drives and bus aides. Click File > Download toContinue reading “Resource: All About Me One-Pager, August 2026”
Statement: Paraprofessional Staffing and Communication Clarifications, July 2026
JULY 2026PUBLIC STATEMENT: Transition of Paraprofessional Staffing Vendors and Communication Clarifications The following statement was submitted on 7/31/26 on behalf of SEPAC SOMA to SOMSD Superintendent Jason Bing, Assistant Superintendent Kathleen Gesumaria, and the members of the SOMSD Board of Education. The Special Education Parent Advisory Committee South Orange Maplewood (SEPAC SOMA) issues this publicContinue reading “Statement: Paraprofessional Staffing and Communication Clarifications, July 2026”
Announcement: 2026-2027 Executive Board, June 2026
JUNE 2026Members in attendance at our community meeting on June 3, 2026, approved the proposed slate for the 2026-2027 SEPAC SOMA Executive Board. If you’d like to learn more about one of our open positions, please reach out to info@sepacsoma.org. 2026-2027 EXECUTIVE BOARD President: Verna HolcombVP, Policy Initiatives: Scott InglesVP, Family Engagement: Ifeoma NwigweVP, CommunityContinue reading “Announcement: 2026-2027 Executive Board, June 2026”
Survey: End-of-Year Reflection, June 2026
JUNE 2026END OF YEAR SURVEYWhat’s your DOPE, NOPE & HOPE for the year?Sharing the good, the not-so-good, and what you’d like to see in the future is our end-of-year tradition! ► Take our End-of-Year Survey Your feedback, your experiences, your highs and lows … that’s the heart of what we do as an advisory group.Continue reading “Survey: End-of-Year Reflection, June 2026”
Meeting: Wrap-Up Meeting, June 2026
JUNE 2026LAST 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 of homeworkContinue reading “Meeting: Wrap-Up Meeting, June 2026”
Meeting: Transition to Preschool & Kindergarten, May 2026
MAY 2026TRANSITIONS – Preschool & KindergartenStarting preschool or kindergarten is a thrilling (and seriously ADORABLE) major milestone. But it can also be anxiety-inducing, especially for families of children with disabilities. Join us to learn more about what to expect next year and how to help your child (and YOU!) ease the transition to a new environment with new expectations.Continue reading “Meeting: Transition to Preschool & Kindergarten, May 2026”
Save the Date: End of Year Meeting, June 2026
JUNE 2026IT’S A WRAP!Save the date for our last SEPAC SOMA meetup of the year! We’ll talk about how this school year went and look ahead to summer and fall. Wednesday 6/3 @ 7:00pm◉ District Meeting Room, 525 Academy St, Maplewood
Recap: Special Education Ombudsman, April 2026
RECAP: LUNCH & LEARN with the Special Education OmbudsmanSEPAC SOMA hosted a free virtual learning session with Tracy Gillespie, Special Education Ombudsman for the New Jersey Department of Education. Lunch & Learn meetings are a new offering from the NJ DOE Office of Special Education, intended to strengthen collaboration and promote a shared understanding ofContinue reading “Recap: Special Education Ombudsman, April 2026”
SEPAC SOMA 