WELCOME BACK!
Student Services - School Year 2023-2024
Welcome to the New School Year
Welcome!
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September 13, 2023
Dear WPS families of students with disabilities,
Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year! I hope you were able to enjoy some much-needed rest and relaxation this summer.
Below, please find information about upcoming parent and caregiver events, staffing updates, SEPAC information, and contact information.
Wishing you and your families a safe, healthy, and successful school year,
~Kathleen Desmarais
Director of Student Services
Parent and Caregiver Basic Rights Training Series
Basic Rights Part 1: Eligibility
NEW for the school year 2023-2024 - this session will be offered at least twice each month!
This workshop will review the special education process from the initial referral through the evaluation and eligibility determination team meeting. Details such as timelines will be covered, as well as basic information about what parents and caregivers can expect throughout the eligibility process. While this workshop is geared toward families who are going through an initial evaluation for the first time, it is open to everyone.
It is anticipated that each session will last between 45 – 60 minutes.
On the second Thursday of each month, the presentation will be held via Zoom beginning at 8:45 a.m. and can be accessed via this link.
On the fourth Thursday of each month, the presentation will be held via Zoom beginning at 6:00 p.m. and can be accessed via this link.
Interpreters can be arranged if requested. Participation in the informational sessions is voluntary and no names of students or parents/caregivers will be collected.
Dates for the 2023 fall months are below.
September 14, 2023 at 8:45 a.m.
September 28, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.
October 12, 2023 at 8:45 a.m.
October 26, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.
November 16* 2023 at 8:45 a.m.
November 16* 2023 at 6:00 p.m.
*This is the third Thursday of the month; dates were adjusted due to the November holidays.
Basic Rights Part 2: The IEP and Progress Reports
Thursday, October 19, 2023
8:45 - 10:15 OR 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
In this workshop, participants will walk through each part of the IEP to understand its purpose as well as common practices in IEP development. The new Massachusetts IEP, which will be implemented starting in the fall of 2024, will be previewed as well.
Basic Rights Part 3: Due Process
Thursday, January 18, 2024
9:00 - 10:30 OR 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
This workshop will answer the question, “What do I do if I don’t agree with the recommendations of the school-based team?” Strategies for maintaining a positive relationship with the teachers and related service providers despite disagreements will be discussed, as well as an overview of all dispute resolution options available to families.
Staffing Updates
At this time, we are actively seeking to fill a few vacancies, including special education teachers, instructional assistants, and one speech and language pathologist.
Any time we have staffing issues that result in missed services, the IEP Team will discuss what, if any, educational impact this had on the student, and make a plan for compensatory services if necessary. Please reach out to your child's Evaluation Team Chair (ETC) if you believe your child may require compensatory services due to an unfilled vacancy. Compensatory services are discussed as part of an IEP Team meeting and are documented in writing.
We welcomed the following faculty new to the district or to their roles during opening days this fall:
- Ilana Sommer, Evaluation Team Chair - Cunniff & Early Steps
- Jennifer Thermenos, Health Systems Manager & Float Nurse
- Courtney Healy, School Nurse, WHS
- Chaiyanne Monteiro Dobson, Guidance Counselor, WHS
- Sharon Lee, Guidance Counselor, WHS
- Megan Why, Inclusion Teacher, Cunniff
- Aine Dirraine, Learning Support Teacher, Cunniff
- Nick McDermott, Learning Support Teacher, Cunniff
- Shannon McCauley, Connections Teacher, Hosmer
- Mary Baker - Speech & Language Pathologist
- Lauren McGowan - Speech & Language Pathologist
- Erin Martin - Special Education Teacher, WMS
- Steve Karian - Special Education Teacher, WHS
Special Education Parent Advisory Council
Please see the SEPAC's Fall Newsletter here.
Current SEPAC officers are:
Bethany Grazio: Acting Co-Chair
Liz Creasey: Acting Co-Chair
Rachel Kay: Training Coordinator
Heather McManus: Secretary
The SEPAC will be holding a special election in October in order to fill the Chair position(s) permanently.
The School Committee Liaison to the SEPAC is Lily RaymanRead, and she can be reached at lily.raymanread@watertown.k12.ma.us.
Contact Information
As always, if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child and their IEP or 504 services, please do not hesitate to reach out at the school level. Families of children with IEPs can contact their child’s special education liaison (typically their primary special education teacher) or their Evaluation Team Chair. For 504 plans, the guidance counselor and Evaluation Team Chair are the primary contacts. The building principal should be contacted if there are any issues that are not resolved after communications with the liaisons, classroom teachers, and Evaluation Team Chairs. For any additional questions, concerns, or information, please contact the Student Services office and ask to speak with the Assistant Director, Jason DelPorto, or Director, Kathleen Desmarais at 617 926 7766. We are here for you!