Partnering with Parents
To Meet the Needs of Our Students with Special Needs
September 21, 2020 Volume 3 Issue 1
If you are accessing this newsletter via the Parent Portal, please type this link into your browser so you can access the links in the newsletter- https://www.smore.com/6t8bv. Or you can find the link on Facebook or Twitter @HTDSspecialed.
Hamilton Cares
As an additional avenue to support our HTSD community, a hotline has been set up for all families to call if they are in need of any assistance. The number for the hotline is (609) 476-6138. If you or someone you know needs assistance with meals, wellness, or any other related service, please call the hotline, leave a message, and we will reach out as quickly as possible.
Back to School Nights
The Child Study Team will be available on the Back to School Nights via 'office hours' in Google Meet. They will each send out a link to the Google Meet if you would like to stop by to meet your child's case manager. The teachers will be presenting via Google Meets. Please look for more information from your child's school.
- 9/22- Davies
- 9/23- Hess
- 9/24- Davies Related Arts/PE/Health
- 9/29- Shaner
Special Education Updates
We are working hard behind the scenes to bring our students with special needs back to school as soon as and as frequently as possible. Here is some information that may be helpful to you:
- All students are currently receiving their education virtually.
- Many parents have chosen to have their children remain on virtual instruction once the schools open. Parents have this choice available to them for the entire school year.
- Other parents have chosen to have their children return to school once the hybrid options are available.
- At this time, we are unable to change students from virtual to hybrid until the end of the marking period. If this is something you are considering, please reach out to the principal and your child's case manager for more information.
- You may change your child from hybrid to virtual at any time but you must communicate with the principal and case manager.
- District Policy 1648.02 Remote Learning Options for Families
- All meeting with the CST and teachers will be held virtually.
- Beginning 9/24/20 we are permitted to start having students come to the schools on a limited basis for Child Study Team (CST) evaluations and related services (OT/PT/Speech/Counseling). The CST and related service providers will communicate with parents about this.
Mental Health and So Much More!
Please check out the Mental Health webpage on our Hamilton Township School District website. There are a ton of great resources. I have included a button below to take you directly there if you are accessing this newsletter via Facebook or Twitter. If you are accessing this newsletter via a PDF copy on the parent portal, please go to our Facebook or Twitter page @HTSDspecialed so you have access to all the links contained in the newsletter.
September is Suicide Prevention Month. Here is a great article for parents:
What to Do if You’re Worried About Suicide: A parent's guide to helping a child in distress
Qué hacer si el suicidio le preocupa: Una guía para padres sobre cómo ayudar a un hijo en peligro
Physical Health
- wearing face masks
- social distancing
- handwashing
The teachers are working with the students on these skills to keep them healthy both at home and school. Below you will find some tips on handwashing.
Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG)
We have a Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG) in the district. Each district board of education shall ensure that a special education parent advisory group is in place in the district to provide input to the district on issues concerning students with disabilities (N.J.A.C. 6A:14-1.2(h).
Please contact Marylynn Stecher- stecherm@hamiltonschools.org- if you would like to serve as a member of this group and you will be added to the email list to get reminders of meetings. Our first meeting for the 20-21 school year will be on Wednesday, October 21. It will be via a Google Meet.
Project Child Find
Parents of Hamilton Township who are concerned that their school age child (3 years to 21 years) may have special needs can receive assistance from the local school district's Child Study Team. In addition, the Hamilton Township Schools are organizing a Child Find campaign to locate and provide services for children ages three to five who may have physical, cognitive, language or emotional difficulties. Information also may be obtained on how and where to receive services for children with special needs who are younger than three. Professional guidance, assessment and an educational program are all available free for eligible children. For more information contact the Hamilton Township School District Child Study Team office at 476-6111.
Resources
NJ Special Education Website
NJ Special Education Code
Parental Rights in Special Education (PRISE) and other resources
Children and Youth Services
https://www.atlantic-county.org/intergenerational-services/children-youth.asp
START Engaging Parents of Students with Disabilities
Register Ready – New Jersey’s Special Needs Registry for Disasters
“Register Ready – New Jersey’s Special Needs Registry for Disasters allows New Jersey residents with disabilities or access and functional needs and their families, friends, caregivers and associates an opportunity to provide information to emergency response agencies so emergency responders can better plan to serve them in a disaster or other emergency."
For more information, click on this link.
Administrative Team
Supervisor of Special Education and Child Study Teams
Marylynn Stecher stecherm@hamiltonschools.org
Supervisor of Instruction in Special Education
Dana Kozak kozakd@hamiltonschools.org
Supervisor of Special Projects
Jeff Wellington wellingtonj@hamiltonschools.org
Notice of Nondiscrimination
The Hamilton Township School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, affectional or sexual orientation, ancestry, disability, age, or social or economic status in its programs and activities.
The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
Marylynn Stecher
Affirmative Action Officer
609-476-6313
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
For further information on notice of nondiscrimination, visit https://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/CFAPPS/OCR/contactus.cfm for the address and phone number of the office that serves your area, or call 1-800-421-3481.
Special Education Department
Email: stecherm@hamiltonschools.org
Website: http://hamiltonschools.org/curriculum___programs/special_education
Phone: (609)476-6314
Facebook: facebook.com/HTSDspecialed
Twitter: @HTSDspecialed