Thursday, January 10 join Karen Janowski, NPS from 7:30-9:00 at the Ed Center 100 Walnut St. Room 210 to learn about assistive technology tools which support students who struggle with Executive Function skills. Karen will present a variety of technology tools which support skills necessary for school success, from elementary through high school. We will focus on tools for managing executive function skills across the grade spectrum.

Karen writes: "As an Assistive & Educational Technology Consultant, my passion is to remove the obstacles to learning for all students. It is important to make the curriculum accessible to all learners and provide opportunities for struggling learners to demonstrate what they know using principles of universal design."  Karen writes a blog http://teachingeverystudent.blogspot.com/ and an Universal Design for Learning-wiki describing free tools http://udltechtoolkit.wikispaces.com/.

Networking begins at 7:15 PM

Newton Parent Advisory Council (NewtonPAC) for Special Education meetings are free and open to all people interested in learning more about special education.

Join us!  Questions? contact Eileen and Lisa at info@newtonpac.org.

Thursday, March 1 at 7:30 PM

Transitioning from High School to Adulthood

presented by Jill Curry, NPS Transition Specialist and Tony Sirignano, NPS Job Developer

Jill Curry & Tony Sirignano will review transition planning and the Transition Planning Form (TPF).  They will review a range of transition topics including supporting student self-determination skills, the 688 referral process, employment, post-secondary education and community based resources.  Participants will be provided with handouts including a copy of the Transition Planning Form and various resources for supporting students through the transition planning process.

If you have a child receiving special education services that is turning 14 this year or already 14 or older, this meeting is for you!  Transition planning begins the year a child turns 14 per MA Special Education law.  More information on Transition ishere

Room 473 at Newton North High School, 457 Walnut Street, Newtonville.

Networking and light refreshments beginning at 7:15 pm.

Directions to Newton North and a link to the map of the school are here

Directions to Classroom 473.  Park and enter the building at the Theatre entrance as this puts you closest to the meeting  room. Classroom 473 is at the top of staircase H.  To get to Stairway H enter the Theatre entrance and turn to the right, the doors the stairway H are at the end of the glass wall.

To get to the closest elevator, walk through the Theatre lobby to the long corridor toward the main part of the school.  After you pass the block of rooms for the Innovation labs, there is a small incline in the corridor, at the end of the incline there is a small hallway on the right. Go down this hallway.  The elevator is two-thirds of the way down the hallway.  If you pass the cafeteria, turn around and find the small hall that will be on your left.  Once on the 4th floor, go to the right out of the elevator towards the end of the hall.  The room numbers will begin in the 460′s and end at 470′s.

We will have volunteers positioned in the Theatre lobby, at the entrance to the small hallway and at the elevator on the 4th floor!  Good opportunity to tour NNHS!

we hope to see you there!  Questions, contact Sandy and Jo-Louise at info@newtonpac.org.

Come hear about special education services and programs in Newton’s Middle and High Schools for the 2011-2012 school year.  Learn about the reorganization of the special education programs at Newton South High School and Day Middle School.

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NewtonPAC for Special Education Meeting
Thursday, April 14, 2011 from 7:30pm to 9:00pm
Room 210, Education Center, 100 Walnut St, Newtonville
What is “Social Thinking”?
Tracey Stoll, M.Ed. Founder and Executive Director of Learning Solutions, LLC,
“Social Thinking” is our ability to think about:
WHY we do certain things?
HOW we do certain things?
WHY does all of this matter?
Tracey will speak in detail about: What social thinking is; what effects social thinking; and how we know if a student will benefit from social thinking groups and strategies? Social cognitive thinking groups are beneficial for learners experiencing social challenges among their peers, and within daily life. Participants will come away with increased knowledge and understanding of social cognitive thinking, and strategies to stimulate the development in diverse learners.
Light refreshments and networking begin at 7:15 pm.

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The next meeting of the Newton PAC for special education will take place next Thursday, February 10, from 7:30-9:00 p.m. at the Ed Center (100 Walnut Street), Room 201.

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