Save the Date: Year in Review Meeting, June 2023
Save the Date: Year in ReviewJune 15, 2023, 7:00pm Thursday, June 15 @ 7:00pm We’re in the home stretch! Save the date for our last meeting of the school year … we’ll look back at this year and look ahead to summer and fall. We’re hoping to do this one in person, so stay tuned for…
Keep readingMeetup: Cup Chats (High School!), June 2023
Cup Chats: The Loft @ CHSJune 8, 2023 @ 6:30pm Thursday, June 8 @ 6:30pm CUP CHATS: THE LOFT @ CHS Do you have a rising 9th-12th grader with an IEP or 504? We hope you’ll join us for a special high school-focused gathering! Just like a regular Cup Chat, we’ll chat, we’ll share, we’ll connect.…
Keep readingAnnouncement: Seeking 2023-2024 Board Members, May 2023
Seeking 2023-2024 Board MembersMay 2023 SEPAC SOMA is building our team for the 23–24 school year and we are seeking enthusiastic volunteers. Please consider lending your time, talents, and unique perspectives to supporting special education in our towns and making sure our kids get the support they need from the school district. Please join us!…
Keep readingWorkshop: Making Sense, May 2023
Making Sense: Understanding Our Sensory Systems & RegulationMay 21, 2023, 3:00pm FREE PARENT WORKSHOP! MAKING SENSE: UNDERSTANDING OUR SENSORY SYSTEMS & REGULATIONOur sensory systems shape how we experience our worlds. But how often do we consider their impact on our children’s regulation and behavior? Join us for an opportunity to better understand sensory differences at…
Keep readingMeetup: Cup Chats, May 2023
Cup Chats May 9, 2023 @ 9:15am Tuesday, May 9 @ 9:15am📍Memorial Park (Baker & Valley) in MaplewoodCUP CHATS: Informal, in-person gatherings to connect with other parents and caregivers of kids with Special Education-related needs in our district. Now that spring weather is here, we’re meeting outside again. Our May meeting is BYOC&C … bring your…
Keep readingWorkshop: Neurodiversity & Inclusive Communities, April 2023
Thursday, April 27th, 7:30pm via ZoomRegister here: balancedkidsnj.com/marshall WORKSHOP: Neurodiversity & Inclusive SpacesMarshall PTA and Balanced Kids are teaming up to provide a free parenting workshop and our SEPAC SOMA community is invited! During this workshop parents and community members will learn about different types of neurodiversity and how to create inclusive spaces and programs…
Keep readingWorkshop: Self-Compassion for Parents, April 2023
Workshop: Self-Compassion for ParentsApril 23, 2023, 2:00-3:30pm SELF-COMPASSION FOR PARENTS: The everyday life of a parent is full of high expectations, isn’t it? Often, we put ourselves last, so we’re excited to share an opportunity to set aside those expectations and give yourself the gifts of time and grace at our free SEPAC SOMA Parent…
Keep readingAnnouncement: Meeting Recordings Available on YouTube, 2022-2023
Missed a meeting?! SEPAC SOMA TV has got you covered! Watch our 2022-2023 virtual meetings on the SEPAC SOMA YouTube Channel! OCTOBER: SOMSD Special Services OverviewNOVEMBER: Anxiety in ElementaryJANUARY: Middle School & Mental HealthJANUARY: Mental Health Support @ CHSFEBRUARY: Race & Special EducationMARCH: IEP Meetings & Parental RightsMARCH: JESPY House Information Session
Keep readingAnnouncement: Paraprofessional Appreciation Day, April 2023
Paraprofessional Appreciation DayApril 5, 2023 SEPAC SOMA and the SOMSD PTA/HSAs love our paras!We’re celebrating Paraprofessional Appreciation Day! We are grateful for their hard work, commitment to and compassion for the children in our district. So, the next time you see a para, be sure to say THANK YOU! ❤️ What do Paras do?Some students require the…
Keep readingRequest: Maplewood Master Plan, March 2023
Public Workshops: Maplewood Master PlanMarch 15 & April 15, 2023 Wednesday, March 15 & Saturday, April 15FEEDBACK OPPORTUNITY for MAPLEWOOD RESIDENTS:The Township of Maplewood is in the process of preparing a new Master Plan. These plans, which are required by the state to be updated at least every 10 years, are primarily focused on the…
Keep readingMeeting: JESPY House Info Session, March 2023
Transition Talk with JESPY HouseMarch 28, 2023, 7:30pm Tuesday, March 28 @ 7:30pmTRANSITION TALK with JESPY HOUSE: SEPAC SOMA proudly presents an opportunity to learn about transition, life after high school and a gem of an organization, JESPY House, located right here in South Orange. JESPY provides employment, housing, and recreational services, and resources to…
Keep readingMeeting: Learning Disabilities Support Group, March 2023
Learning Disabilities Support GroupMarch 8, 2023 @ 8pm Wednesday, March 8 @ 8:00pm LEARNING DISABILITIES PARENT SUPPORT GROUP: A parent-led group open to anyone who has a child with a learning difference (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, etc.) or has questions about learning differences. Email Susan Nasberg-Abrams to RSVP and for location details.
Keep readingACTION: Emergency Drills Policy Changes, February 2023
ACTION ALERT!BOE MEETING: Thursday, February 23, 2023, 7:00pmAt tonight’s SOMSD Board of Education meeting, there will be a First Reading of changes to Policy 8420 (Emergency & Crisis Situations), which covers how emergency drills are handled in our schools. In recent years, parents and experts in our community, including SEPAC SOMA, strongly advocated to make…
Keep readingMeeting: IEPs & Parental Rights, March 2023
IEPs & Parental RightsMarch 7, 2023 @ 7:30pm Tuesday, March 7 @ 7:30pmALL ABOUT IEP MEETINGS: Join us to take a deeper look at what’s in an Individualized Education Program (IEP), how to prepare for an IEP meeting, and parents’ rights during the process. We’ll share info and tips, with lots of time for questions…
Keep readingMeetup: Cup Chats, February 2023
Cup ChatsFebruary 28, 2023 @ 9:15am Tuesday, February 28 @ 9:15am📍Elitist Coffee in South Orange (3rd & Valley)CUP CHATS: Informal, in-person gatherings to connect with other parents and caregivers of kids with Special Education-related needs in our district.
Keep readingRecap: Anxiety in High School, January 2023
Meeting Recap: Anxiety in High School January 9, 2023 At our January 24th SEPAC SOMA meeting, we learned how to spot – and support – anxiety in high school students, and about the mental health programs available at Columbia High School. Jenny Easton gave an overview of how anxiety often presents in teenagers and the…
Keep readingEvent: TSTI’s “Crip Camp” Discussion with Judy Huemann, February 2023
Event Alert! TSTI’s Movies Together Virtual Discussion”Crip Camp” with Judy HeumannFebruary 5, 2023 @ 4pm This Sunday! February 5th @ 4pmDisability rights activist Judith Heumann will be leading Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel’s Movies Together discussion of “Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution,” the 2020 documentary about a 1970s Catskills summer camp that galvanized a group of teens…
Keep readingMeeting: Race & Special Education, February 2023
Race & Special EducationThursday, February 16 @ 7:30pm Thursday, February 16 @ 7:30pmRACE & SPECIAL EDUCATION: SEPAC SOMA is thrilled to have Dr Kevin Gilbert, SOMSD Assistant Superintendent of Access & Equity, joining us for our annual look at the intersection of race and special education in our school district. This year the discussion will…
Keep readingRecap: Middle School & Mental Health, January 2023
Meeting Recap: Middle School & Mental HealthJanuary 9, 2023 At our January 9th SEPAC SOMA meeting, a panel of SOMSD experts joined us to take a close look at anxiety in middle school, including signs of stress, strategies at home and how to get help at MMS and SOMS. Alison Steiner explained how anxiety presents…
Keep readingMeetup: Cup Chats, January 2023
Cup ChatsJanuary 22, 2023 @ 3:00pm Sunday, January 22 @ 3:00pm📍Elitist Coffee in South Orange (3rd & Valley)CUP CHATS: Informal, in-person gatherings to connect with other parents and caregivers of kids with Special Education-related needs in our district.
Keep readingMeeting: Anxiety in High School, January 2023
Anxiety in High SchoolTuesday, January 24 @ 7:30pm Tuesday, January 24 @ 7:30pmHIGH ANXIETY: High school can be hard to handle in the best of times and, after the events of the last few years, even more teens are struggling. We’ll hear from a panel of CHS experts about anxiety and mental health in the…
Keep readingMeeting: Middle School & Mental Health, January 2023
Middle School & Mental HealthJanuary 9, 2023 @ 7:30pm Monday, January 9 @ 7:30pmMiddle School & Mental Health: Join us to learn more from our panel of SOMSD experts about anxiety in middle school, including signs of stress, strategies at home and how to get help at MMS and SOMS. This meeting will be virtual. Do…
Keep readingSave the Date: Anxiety in High School, January 2023
Save the Date: Anxiety (& More) in High School Tuesday, January 24 @ 7:30pmAnxiety (& More) in High School: High school can be hard to handle in the best of times and, in this post-pandemic world, even more teens are struggling. Join us to learn more about mental health in high school and the support programs…
Keep readingRequest: Share Your Challenges
Feedback Wanted: Sharing Your Challenges Helps Our Community If you are running into difficulties related to your child’s IEP or 504 plan, SEPAC SOMA wants to know. Often, you aren’t alone … sharing your individual experience adds to the bigger picture and helps us identify systemic issues that should be elevated to district administration.► Add your input
Keep readingRecap: Anxiety in Elementary, November 2022
Meeting Recap: Anxiety in ElementaryMonday, November 21, 2022 Anxiety in elementary school … What does it look like? How can parents and caregivers support children at home? Who can help at school? Where to start?? At our SEPAC SOMA community meeting on November 21, 2022, SOMSD Social Workers Arelis Tapia-Vargas and Marilu Gregory shared valuable information…
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