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, Community…
Keep readingSOMSD: ESY Registration, June 2026
JUNE 2026ESY REGISTRATIONIf your child is eligible for Extended School Year with the district, you should have received an email from their case manager with registration details: “We are asking you to confirm your child(ren)’s participation in the program. We encourage every parent/guardian who is considering ESY for their child to confirm as soon as…
Keep readingSurvey: 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.…
Keep readingMeeting: 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 homework…
Keep readingMeeting: 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.…
Keep readingSave 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
Keep readingMeeting: Transition to Middle & High School, May 2026
MAY 2026TRANSITIONS – Middle & High SchoolStarting 6th or 9th Grade means big changes! A larger school, more teachers, multiple classes, keeping track of grades and assignments, how support and services fit into the day … a new environment raises so many questions. Join us to talk transitions for tweens and teens with disabilities with…
Keep readingRecap: Transitioning to Adult Life, April 2026
APRIL 2026RECAP: TRANSITIONING TO ADULT LIFEJESPY House, a local provider based in South Orange, joined us in April to share info about planning, options, and resources for youth with developmental disabilities and their parents. Learn about the transition to adult life after high school or an 18-21 program. Housing, employment, recreational services … what’s next?…
Keep readingEvent: Community Health Fair, April 2026
APRIL 2026We’ll be at the Maplewood/South Orange Community Health Fair this Saturday in DeHart Park. ( INSIDE if the weather doesn’t cooperate.) We hope you’ll stop by and say hello. If you have questions about Special Education supports and resources in our community, our team would love to chat. There will be free health screenings,…
Keep readingMeeting: Lunch & Learn with Ombudsman, April 2026
APRIL 2026LUNCH & LEARN with the Special Education OmbudsmanParents and caregivers are invited to attend a free virtual learning session hosted by SEPAC SOMA and 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…
Keep readingSave the Date: Transition to Middle & High School, May 2026
MAY 2026TRANSITIONS – Middle & High SchoolStarting 6th or 9th Grade means big changes! Join SEPAC SOMA to talk transitions for tweens and teens with disabilities with a panel of middle and high school experts. ◉ Monday 5/4 @ 7:00pmIn person! Location soon!
Keep readingMeetup: Out-of-District Cup Chat, May 2026
MAY 2026CUP CHATS: Conversation, Connection & CommunityDo you have a child in an out-of-district school? Save the date for our next Cup Chat exclusively for parents and caregivers of neurodiverse students with an out-of-district placement, whether it’s through SOMSD, unilateral, or private. Join our Out-of-District School SEPAC SOMA Liaison Jennifer Wiezorek for an informal discussion…
Keep readingMeeting: Transitioning to Adult Life, April 2026
APRIL 2026TRANSITIONING TO ADULT LIFELearn about the transition to adult life after high school or an 18-21 program. Housing, employment, recreational services … what’s next? JESPY House, a local provider based in South Orange, joins us to share info about planning, options, and resources for youth with developmental disabilities and their parents. Tuesday, April 7…
Keep readingAnnouncement: Paraprofessional Appreciation Day, April 2026
APRIL 2026 Paraprofessional Appreciation Day is April 1st! SEPAC SOMA loves our SOMSD paras! We are grateful for their hard work, commitment to, and compassion for the children in our district. So, the next time you see a paraprofessional at school, be sure to say THANK YOU! What do Paras do?Some students require supplementary support…
Keep readingSave the Date: Transitioning to Adult Life, April 2026
APRIL 2026TRANSITIONING TO ADULT LIFELearn about the transition to adult life after high school or an 18-21 program. Housing, employment, recreational services … what’s next? JESPY House, a local provider based in South Orange, joins us to share info about planning, options, and resources for youth with developmental disabilities and their parents. Tuesday, April 7…
Keep readingMeeting: Annual Race & Special Education Panel, February 2026
FEBRUARY 20266th Annual RACE & SPECIAL EDUCATION PanelSpecial Education & the Multicultural Experience: How do culture and language shape the special education journey? Join our panelists for an insightful discussion on the unique intersection of race, language, and disability. This session will dive into the real-world barriers that multicultural and multilingual families face and highlight the…
Keep readingEvent: Inclusive Resource Fair, February 2026
FEBRUARY 2026INCLUSIVE RESOURCE FAIRComing soon … our 3rd Annual SEPAC SOMA Resource Fair! Add it to your calendar now, then stop by on February 28th to connect with local providers, groups, and organizations in the South Orange-Maplewood area who offer inclusive opportunities, activities, and services to individuals with disabilities. Huge thanks to Together We Bloom’s Traveling Sensory Room for hosting…
Keep readingSave the Date: Race & Special Education, February 2026
FEBRUARY 2026COMMUNITY MEETINGSave the date for our annual look at the intersectionality of race and special education at SOMSD with a panel of special guests. More info soon! Thursday 2/12/26 @ 7:30pm▣ Virtual Meeting (link to come)
Keep readingRecap: Dec 2025 Mtg – Understanding Executive Function
DECEMBER 2025WHAT IS EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING?Stephanie Cannon, an Executive Functioning Coach and local mom, joined us in December to share an overview of executive functioning and strategies to encourage skill development at home. Missed the meeting? Check out the presentation slides and meeting recording for loads of helpful info about the essential skills that help our…
Keep readingSave the Date: Inclusive Resource Fair, February 2026
FEBRUARY 2026INCLUSIVE RESOURCE FAIRSave the date for our 3rd 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. Saturday 2/28 @ 3:00-5:00pm◉ Columbia High School Cafeteria17 Parker Ave, Maplewood
Keep readingAsk: Exec Function Questions, December 2025
DECEMBER 2025 QUESTIONS WANTED!Executive Functioning … it’s a term we hear frequently as we learn more about our kids with disabilities (like ADHD), especially as they move into middle and high school. But what is it? How can we help support growth in these essential life skills? We’re so excited to dive into this topic…
Keep readingMeeting: Executive Function Skills, December 2025
DECEMBEr 2025EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING SKILLSExecutive function is an essential set of skills that helps us learn and manage daily life. Without these skills, it can be difficult for students to focus, manage time, and stay organized, especially as their workload increases and their schedule becomes more complicated in middle and high school. Stephanie Cannon, an Executive…
Keep readingMeetup: Out-of-District Virtual Cup Chat, December 2025
DECEMBER 2025CUP CHATS: Conversation, Connection & CommunityDo you have a child in an out-of-district school?SEPAC SOMA is hosting a meeting exclusively for parents and caregivers of neurodiverse students with an out-of-district placement, whether it’s through SOMSD, unilateral, or private. Join our Out-of-District School SEPAC SOMA Liaison Jennifer Wiezorek for an evening informal conversation* about common experiences,…
Keep readingSave the Date: Executive Functioning, December 2025
DECEMBER 2025 EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING SKILLSSave the date for our next SEPAC SOMA Community Meeting! Staying organized and planning ahead can be difficult for many children (and adults!) with disabilities. We hope you’ll plan to join us in December to learn more about Executive Functioning skills with EF Coach Stephanie Cannon, and how we can encourage…
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