SOMSD Special Services Newsletter
December 2020
Dear Parents & Guardians,
Happy holidays! This is a wonderful time of year, but also very busy and often stressful- especially with adding in COVID-19.
Our Paraprofessionals have been working diligently to learn and improve their technological skills to better enable them to assist our staff and students in the learning platforms being utilized. They have been provided professional development in the use of the many applications teachers are using in their instruction. We are very proud of the work our paras are doing to support our students!
In closing, I want to reiterate our gratitude for your continued support and wish you and your family good health and good spirits throughout the holiday season.
On behalf of the entire Special Services Department, we thank you for your partnership and collaboration.
Yours in education,
Dr. Melody Alegria
December Dates to Remember
December 2 - 3: Half Day (3 & 4 Hour Day) Evening Conferences (PreK - 5)
December 4: Half Day (3 & 4 Hour Day) Afternoon Conferences (PreK -5)
December TBD: District Town Hall Meeting
December 23: Half Day (3 & 4 Hour Day) Holiday Recess
December 24 - 31: Holiday Recess
2020-2021 School Year Calendar:
Frontline Collaboration Portal
Parent/Guardians,
During virtual IEP meetings, you will be asked to sign the participation page of the IEP electronically via the Collaboration Portal. The Collaboration Portal is a message delivery system we are that allows us to share documents related to your child’s IEP. It is a service provided by Frontline Education, which is our IEP platform (IEP Direct). You will receive an email indicating that a document is available for your review/signature.
The access code for this document is the first three letters of the student's last name (upper case) plus his/her date of birth in mmddyyyy format. Example: XYZ04032005. Note: if a student has fewer than three letters in his/her last name, the full last name is included with date of birth.
Your case manager will be available to support as needed.
Thank you,
Building Coping Skills as a Family
Educational Resources
LEARNING ALLY
Learning Ally, which is an online audio books program. Learning Ally provides either audio books or audio books with highlighted text for many textbooks and other books. Any student that falls into one of the following categories can use this program:
Students with print disabilities (learning disabilities)
Students with Physical Disabilities
Students with Visual Impairments
Struggling readers who are receiving intervention in the school setting
LEXIA
Lexia, is an online reading supplemental program to support struggling readers.
If you would access to Learning Ally and Lexia, please contact your special education teacher(s).
School Nurse Contacts
Therese Crigler
CHS
Gretchen Shook
CHS
Hilary Conway
MMS
Keith Turpin
SOMS
Joann Harrigan
Clinton
Tanisha Anderson
Jefferson
Jean Johnson
Marshall
Steffi Golden
Montrose Early Childhood Center
Theresa Oweifie
Seth Boyden
Sharyn Wills
South Mountain School (SMS) Elementary
Julie Porter, RN
South Mountain School (SMS) Annex
School Nurse Leader
Angela Thompson
Tuscan
Did you know....
December 10-18: Hanukkah
December 25th: Christmas Day
December 26-January 1: Kwanzaa
December 31st: New Year's Eve
Learn about unique traditions, celebrations, and holidays that occur around the world during December and January.
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/winter-celebrations/
Don't forget to take the Winter Holidays Quiz:
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/games/quizzes/quiz-whiz-winter-holidays/
Special Services Staff Shout Outs!
Is there a special education teacher or special services staff member who you would like to recognize? If so, please complete this form so they can be recognized!
December 2020 Shout Outs!
Mara Fox - Child Study Team (LDTC)
Cynthia Van Wert - Special Education Teacher
Hillary Rosen - Special Education Teacher
Preschool Parent Guide to the Curriculum
Preschool News
Each school year, all general education students who are new to the South Orange and Maplewood School District’s Preschool Program are screened using the Early Screening Inventory-Revised (ESI-R) developmental screening instrument. This year, during our District’s Virtual Learning Plan, we will be utilizing a screening assessment called Ages & Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition (ASQ-3). The ASQ-3 is a developmental screening tool designed for use by early educators and health care professionals. It relies on parents as experts, is easy-to-use, family-friendly and creates the snapshot needed to catch delays and celebrate milestones. Preschool families will receive additional information during the month of December on ASQ-3 and their role in their child’s screening process.
IEP Progress Reports
Dear Families,
IEP progress reports for December, 2020 will be available for viewing via the Parent Portal in PowerSchool. Steps on how to access reports will be sent in a separate communication. Please feel free to reach out to your child's case manager directly with any questions.
Thank you!
District Resources
Reopening postponed to January 19, 2021
https://www.somsd.k12.nj.us/headlines/2020/10/27/superintendents-message-somsd-school-reopening-postponed-to-january-19th/Example of Teletherapy during Virtual Learning
Requesting Support!
Instructional Accommodation Request
- -Please reach out directly to the teacher, and copy the case manager
- -Please reach out directly to the case manager
Progress Monitoring and Reporting
- -Please reach out directly to the teacher, and copy the case manager
Related Service Question
- -Please reach out directly to the assigned therapist and copy the case manager
Unresolved Challenges on Above Concerns
- -Please reach out to the assigned supervisor (see below), if not resolved, please reach out to Asst. Superintendent, Special Services
Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC)
The Special Education Parent Advisory Committee, or SEPAC, is an advocacy group focused on policies, programs, and practices within the South Orange/Maplewood School District. Families and caregivers of student(s) with learning needs or students eligible for or receiving services under an IEP or 504 plan are encouraged to attend SEPAC Meetings. SEPAC provides parents with tools and information to work collaboratively with the school district and to be more effective advocates for their children with special educational needs.
Find us at www.sepacsoma.org. Contact us at info@sepacsoma.org.
SEPAC BOARD, 2020-2021
Michele Richman, Vice President of Policy
Malia Herman, Vice President of Community Outreach
Caryn Gehrke and Nicole Josey, Vice Presidents of Family Support
Nicole Stewart and Lindsey Stone, Vice Presidents of Programming
Beth Cosentino, Communications Officer and Administrator
Ann Leeb, Ex Officio
Department of Special Services Leadership Team
Dr. Melody Alegria, Assistant Superintendent for Special Services
Leroy Johnson, III, PreK Program Supervisor
Karen Thomany, Supervisor of Special Education K-5
Susan Ellis, Supervisor of Special Education Self-Contained K-8 Programs & 6-8
Gerri Colon, Supervisor of Special Education 9-12