Partnering with Parents
To Meet the Needs of Our Students with Special Needs
March 8, 2019 Volume 1 Issue 2

Important Dates
March
National Social Worker Month
Developmental Disabilities Month
Read Across America Month
Music in Our Schools Month
Youth Art Month
Women’s History Month
11- 10th Annual Ricky McAvaddy Blood Drive
12- Davies Student Art Exhibit at Atlantic County Library
14- Early Dismissal for Students
14- Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG) Meeting
14- Books in Your Backyard
20- IEP Progress Reports
26- Purple Day for Epilepsy Awareness
April
6- Resources Fair






Special Education Parent Advisory Group
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).
Generally we meet 4 times per year, though we decide the schedule at our first meeting each school year. Our next meeting is scheduled for March 14, 2019 in the Davies Library. 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 group to get reminders of meetings.
Epilepsy Awareness
We are encouraging staff and students to wear purple on March 26 to build awareness of epilepsy. Staff will also be encouraged to share some basic information about epilepsy with the students.
Purple Day- http://www.purpleday.org/

IEP Season is Starting!
IEP season is starting. IEP meetings for all special education students will be scheduled in the spring (mid March through mid June) to prepare for next school year. As the parent, you are a critical member of the IEP Team. The case manager will be in communication with you to set up a date and time for the IEP meeting. Here are a few tips for a successful IEP meeting:
- Remember that you are a critical member of the IEP Team. You are the premier expert on your child.
- Assume that the rest of the IEP Team also wants what is best for your child. We are here because we are advocates for children.
- Feel free to bring a family member, friend, or advocate to the meeting. Sometimes this is helpful in remembering all the information shared.
- Bring a list of your questions and concerns, then discuss each one.
- Review the Parental Rights in Special Education (PRISE)- https://www.state.nj.us/education/specialed/resources.shtml
Binder Project
If you have a child with special needs, you are aware of how much paperwork is generated about and for your child. It might be helpful to you to keep all of this information in a binder for easy reference. Consider creating a binder containing the following:
- Evaluations done by the school district
- Evaluations completed by other doctors and therapists
- Previous IEPs
- Report Cards and IEP Progress Reports
- Other pertinent information
Happy hole-punching!
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.
Learning Ally
With over 80,000 titles, Learning Ally is the largest library of human-read audiobooks. These books include literature, popular fiction and curriculum-aligned titles. Learning Ally allows all students to have access to grade-level content. Highlighted text provides a multi-sensory reading experience that enables readers to easily absorb content.
Our district has a subscription to Learning Ally for students who require access to audiobooks in order to learn and read more effectively. This is an accommodation we have for students with a disability that affects reading and comprehension skills. Many teachers are using audiobooks with their students. Our subscription to Learning Ally allows students to not only access their audiobooks at school, but at home as well. Hopefully many of you are already using Learning Ally with your children at home. If you would like to know more about using Learning Ally at home, please contact your child's teacher.
Resources
NJ Special Education Website
NJ Special Education Code
Parental Rights in Special Education (PRISE) and other resources
START Engaging Parents of Students with Disabilities
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.
Administrative Team for Student Services
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
Child Study Teams
District
Physical Therapist
Vanessa DeCesari decesariv@hamiltonschools.org
- Mrs. DeCesari will be going out on maternity leave this week. While she is out Mrs. Ginger Fisher and Mrs. Amanda Kane will be filling in for her. They can be reached at fisherg@hamiltonschools.org and kanea@hamiltonschools.org.
Occupational Therapist
Ashley Galbiati galbiatia@hamiltonschools.org
Behaviorist
Adetokunbo Ajayi ajayia@hamiltonschools.org
- Ms. Ajayi is currently on maternity leave. We have consultants assisting us at this time.
Child Study Team Administrative Secretary
MaryEllen Tantum 609-476-6314
Shaner School
School Psychologist
Kelly Crowder crowderk@hamiltonschools.org
Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant
Jessica Crawford crawfordj@hamiltonschools.org
Speech Therapist
Kelli Pinnix pinnixk@hamiltonschools.org
Child Study Team Secretary
Debbie Fiamingo 609-476-6111
Hess School
School Psychologists
Brynn Sissman sissmanb@hamiltonschools.org
- Ms. Sissman is currently on maternity leave. Mrs. Ellen Wetzel and Mrs. Rose Rhine, retired CST members, are filling in for her. They can be reached at wetzele@hamiltonschools.org and rhiner@hamiltonschools.org.
Samantha Wilson wilsons@hamiltonschools.org
Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant
Kelsey Thompson thompsonk@hamiltonschools.org
School Social Workers
Catherine Anema anemac@hamiltonschools.org
Ann Bucknam bucknama@hamiltonschools.org
Speech Therapists
Diana Evans evansd@hamiltonschools.org
Karen Fink finkk@hamiltonschools.org
Anne Nelson nelsona@hamiltonschools.org
Caitlin Ponticello ponticelloc@hamiltonschools.org
Occupational Therapist
Jessica Goldstein goldsteinj@hamiltonschools.org
Child Study Team Secretary
Debbie Fiamingo 609-476-6111
Davies School
School Psychologists
Andrew Disque disquea@hamiltonschools.org
Gabriella Spinella spinellag@hamiltonschools.org
Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant
Toni Riccelli riccellit@hamiltonschools.org
School Social Worker
Revaé Burton burtonr@hamiltonschools.org
Speech Therapist
Lindsay Combs combsl@hamiltonschools.org
Child Study Team Secretary
Jayne Carmen 609-476-6246
Additional Counselors
In addition to the school psychologists and social workers on the Child Study Teams, we have school counselors (formerly known as guidance counselors) and additional social workers
District
School Counselor
Lynn Evangelist- evangeliste@hamiltonschools.org
- 504 Coordinator for both Hess and Davies
Shaner
School Counselor
Dotsi Schoenstein- schoensteind@hamiltonschools.org
- 504 Coordinator for Shaner
School Social Workers
Sara Leonelli- leonellis@hamiltonschools.org
Dymir Tatem- tatemd@hamiltonschools.org
Hess
School Counselors
Laura Hackney- hackneyl@hamiltonschools.org
Dan Bryz-Gornia- gorniab@hamiltonschools.org
Megan Sherman- shermanm@hamiltonschools.org
Davies
School Counselors
Mike Diorio- dioriom@hamiltonschools.org
Wendy McKensie- mckensiew@hamiltonschools.org

National Social Worker Month
March is National Social Workers Month. "Children today are increasingly victims of many social forces that negatively affect their role as students. Many families are in a state of change and until it becomes stabilized, in whatever form, children's unmet physical and emotional needs will continue to interfere with their ability to learn and adjust in school...School Social Workers are trained mental health professionals who can assist with mental health concerns, behavioral concerns, positive behavioral support, academic and classroom support, consultation with teachers, parents and administrators as well as provide individual and group counseling/therapy." https://www.sswaa.org/school-social-work Pictured from left to right: Dymir Tatem, Ann Bucknam, Catherine Anema, Revae Burton, and Sara Leonelli.
Previous Newsletter
Special Education Department
Coming in Future Issues
- A peek at our Trauma-Informed, Responsive, Mindful Model Classroom
- Information about our Mental Health Initiative and Educating the Whole Child