Partnering with Parents

November, 2023 Volume 5 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/12yr6 . Or you can find the link on the HTSD Facebook page.

November:

23- Happy Thanksgiving

24- No School

December:

2- National Special Education Day

4 to 8- Inclusive Schools Week

12- Report Cards and IEP Progress Reports Issued

12, 13, 14- Parent Teacher Conferences- Early Dismissal for Students

22- Early Dismissal

25- Jan. 1- Schools Closed for Winter Break

We celebrate National Special Education Day each year on December 2. This day commemorates the anniversary of our nation's first federal special education law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), signed by President Ford on December 2, 1975.

https://inclusiveschools.org/inclusive-schools-week/

Inclusive Schools Week is an annual event which is held each year during the first full week in December. Since its inception in 2001, Inclusive Schools Week has celebrated the progress that schools have made in providing a supportive and quality education to an increasingly diverse student population, including students who are marginalized due to disability, gender, socio-economic status, cultural heritage, language preference, and other factors.

"Our theme for Inclusive Schools Week 2023 is Draw Me In! Participating in art provides a pathway to self-discovery, and sharing art opens doors to understanding and respecting different ways of thinking. Do we see the faces of all children and youth drawn into the canvas of our schools and society today?"

Watch the HTSD social media pages for some great activities during Inclusive Schools Week!

Questions to ask at your parent-teacher conference

by: Colorín Colorado

Knowing that you have to go to a parent-teacher conference may make you feel nervous, intimidated, or frustrated. You may wonder what to expect, and what is expected of you. Preparing a list of questions will help you have a productive conversation with your child’s teacher.

Prepare a list of questions.

Prioritize your questions in case you run out of time during the conference. The following questions are examples that will help you learn more about your child’s progress in school:

1. What is my child expected to learn this year?
2. How will this be evaluated?
3. What are my child’s strongest and weakest subjects?
4. What are some examples of these strengths and weaknesses?
5. Does my child hand homework in on time?
6. What types of tests and evaluations will my child have to take this year?
7. How are my child’s test-taking skills?
8. Is my child participating in class discussions and activities?
9. How are my child’s social skills?
10. Does my child seem happy at school?
11. Have you noticed any unusual behaviors?
12. Has my child missed any classes other than excused absences?
13. Do you think my child is reaching his or her potential?
14. What can I do at home to help support my child’s academic progress?

If your child receives special services (gifted programs, special education, English classes, speech or occupational therapy, or support for a learning disability), ask about the frequency of these services and about your child’s progress with them.

Ask for explanations of anything you don’t understand.

Listen carefully to what the teacher says. If you don’t understand something that the teacher talks about (such as an educational term or an explanation of a school policy), don’t be afraid to ask for clarification. It is important for you to understand what your child’s teacher is telling you.

Ask the most important questions early in the conference.

Ask the most important questions first as you may run out of time, especially if other parents are waiting to have their conference after yours. You can always schedule another meeting with the teacher to cover any points you didn’t cover.

Here is a quick reminder of how to locate your child's progress report in the Genesis Parent Portal. Progress Reports and Report Cards will be posted to the Genesis Parent Portal on December 12. Report Cards will be in the Report Card tab and Progress Reports will be in the Documents tab.

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 next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 25 at 6:00 p.m.

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.

https://www.nj.gov/health/fhs/eis/for-families/

“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.

• Hamilton Township School District Website

• NJ Special Education Website

• http://www.state.nj.us/education/specialed/

• NJ Special Education Code

• https://www.state.nj.us/education/code/current/title6a/chap14.pdf

• Parental Rights in Special Education (PRISE) and other resources

• https://www.nj.gov/education/specialed/parents/
  

• Children and Youth Services

• https://www.atlantic-county.org/intergenerational-services/children-youth.asp

• START Engaging Parents of Students with Disabilities

• http://www.spanadvocacy.org/content/start-engaging-parents-students-disabilities

• https://spanadvocacy.org/download/start-quick-guides/
  

• Parent Teen Connect- https://www.parenteenconnect.org/

Supervisor of Special Education and Child Study Teams

Marylynn Stecher stecherm@hamiltonschools.org

Supervisor of Instruction in Special Education

Dana Kozak kozakd@hamiltonschools.org

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

stecherm@hamiltonschools.org

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.

Email: stecherm@hamiltonschools.org
Website: http://hamiltonschools.org/curriculum___programs/special_education
Phone: (609)476-6314
Facebook: facebook.com/HTSDspecialed
Twitter: @HTSDspecialed