Transition Workshop–Very Important!

From Jackie Tripodi–  An extremely important event of interest to all!

All of our kids will be transitioning, whether we like to think about it or not. Come and find out about the many options available to your child.

 

When the Bus Doesn’t Come ………

                 When School is Finished………

                                              What Happens Next?

 

Learn About Options for Your Son or Daughter

 

Healthy Transitions: Collaboration Among Families, Youth, Service Providers and the Medical Community

 

Join us on

Saturday, November 15, 2008

9:00 AM-1:30 PM

Institute for Basic Research

1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island

 

√ How can I use the remaining school years to create a positive

plan for transition and next steps?

√ HEALTHY Transitions–HEALTHYTransitionsNY.org and Healthy Skills Checklist

√ Transition from pediatric to adult medical care

√ Emotional support—recognizing and validating the emotions

faced in transition

 

RSVP by 11/08/2008

Parent to Parent of New York State

718-494-3462 leave a message or

 Email: siparent2parentnys@verizon.net

 

Refreshments will be served

 

Sponsors: NYS Family to Family Health Care Information Center, Parent to Parent

of NYS and NYS Institute for Health Transition Training for Youth with Developmental Disabilities, Families and Health Care Providers. NYS Developmental Disabilities Planning Council and NYS Office of MR and Developmental Disabilities

 

Important changes in IEPs–please read

From Ellen McHugh: this seems extremely important. please spread the word among parents who would be affected.

New York State Education Department (NYSED) is planning to make changes to the forms used across New York State for Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).  They are required by law to hold public meetings to receive public comments, and they have scheduled 3 meetings in early November, including one in New York City on the afternoon of November 6, 2008.   These changes could profoundly affect future IEPs, and therefore the delivery of special education supports and services for students with disabilities in New York City.   Some proposed changes that may be of interest or concern to ARISE Coalition supporters are:

• The proposed IEP no longer includes the section that asks what type of diploma the student is on track to receive.
• The proposed IEP no longer includes a place to specify group size for SETSS or related services.
• The proposed IEP does not indicate the language needs of the parent/guardian or provide a place for indicating the language of a child who needs bilingual services.
• For children who need a Behavior Intervention Plan, the proposed IEP provides a “drop down menu” of options, which includes only two options:  use of a time-out room and “other.”

NYSED will also accept written comments until November 14, 2008.  The proposed forms, address and fax number for written comments, and details regarding the hearing dates and locations can be found athttp://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/policy/formsnotices/cover1008.htm

Time 2:00-4:30 p.m. (Naturally at an extremely inconvenient time for parents!)

Thursday,November 6, 2008 

Manhattan VESID Office 

7th Floor Conference 

Room 

116 W. 32nd Street 

Manhattan, NY 10001 

 

I really wish I could go to this; it is very unlikely that I will be able to. If anyone does go, please email me fedsped@gmail.com and let me know what you learned. Thank you.

 

 

 

Virtual special ed committee meeting-Thursday 10/23

once again we will be brainstorming and visiting at the Coffee and Tea Mart on Forest Avenue,near key food, from 10 am til noon. Hope you can join us!

Gifted and Talented-deadlines are soon

please pass along to interested parties.
**************************************
Deadline for applying to G&T is Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Gifted and Talented (G&T) Program Test Administration Information 2008-09

Listed below are important dates and deadlines for families interested in having their child(ren) considered for placement to a public school gifted and talented program.

The online copies of the G&T handbook will be available on Mon. October 27. Note, the on-line edition does not include the OLSAT Practice Test.

Hard copies of the G&T handbook will be available to all public school students at their own schools and it will be available to non-public school students at all Borough Enrollment Offices on October 29, 2008. Please note: The Practice Test is included only in the hard copy of the Gifted and Talented Program Test Information Handbook.

Deadline for applying to G&T is Wednesday, November 19, 2008!
Foreign Language Request for Testing Forms and test administrations are available in the following languages only: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Korean, Russian, Spanish and Urdu.

Important Dates for Elementary School Gifted &Talented Test Administration Process

For Students Applying to Grade K, 1

ACTIVITY

DATE

Elementary School Gifted &Talented Request For Testing Forms available online

Note: Online Handbook does not include the OLSAT Practice Test, the OLSAT Practice Test is only available with a hard copy of the parent handbook.

10/27/2008

G&T Parent Handbooks distributed (hard copies)

For parents of students not enrolled in a NYC public school, the handbook can be obtained at any Borough Enrollment Office on 10/29/08. For parents of students enrolled in a NYC public school, the handbooks will be available at all public schools.

10/29/2008

Deadline to return Request For Testing forms to schools (public school students) and Borough Enrollment Offices (non-public school students)

11/19/2008

Testing of Students in NYC Public Schools for entry to grades K, 1

1/5/2009 – 2/15/2009

Testing of Non-Public School Students for entry to grades K, 1

Weekends: Jan. 10,11, 24, 25, 31

February 1, 7, 8, 14 and 15

Score Reports and Applications (for eligible students) mailed to families

4/6/2009

G&T online application (for eligible students) goes live for entry grade K/1

4/6/2009

Application deadline

4/24/2009

Placement Offer letters distributed to families

5/29/2009

Student Placement appeals deadline

6/12/2009

Appeals offers distributed to families

6/19/2009

Families register at schools

6/1/2009 – 6/26//2009

Important Dates for Elementary School Gifted &Talented Test Administration Process

For Students Applying to Grades 2, 3

ACTIVITY

DATE

Request for Testing Form and Handbooks available

10/29/2008

Request for Testing Forms Due

11/19/2008

Testing of Students in NYC public schools for entry to grades 2,3

2/22 through 3/23

Testing of Non-Public School Students for entry to grades 2,3

Weekend of March 14 and 15

Score Reports and Applications (for eligible students) mailed to families

5/1/2009

G&T online application (for eligible students) goes live for 2nd/3rd

5/1/2009

Application deadline

5/15/2009

Offer letters distributed to families

6/19/2009

Offer decisions due back to OSEPO

7/3/2009

Student appeals deadline

7/3/2009

Appeals offers distributed to families

7/10/2009

Important Dates for Elementary School Gifted &Talented Grades 4, 5 Process

Criteria: Scoring at Level 4 on both ELA and Math NY State Assessments

ACTIVITY

DATE

Applications available at schools/website

5/18/2009

G&T online application goes live for 4th/5th

5/18/2009

Application deadline

6/26/2009

Offer letters distributed to families

7/17/2009

Offer decisions due back to OSEPO

7/31/2009

Student appeals deadline

7/31/2009

Appeals offers distributed to families

8/7/2009

· CONTACTS
· ANNA COMMITANTE , Director of English Language Arts, Social Studies and Gifted/Talented
ACommit@schools.nyc.gov
· MICHAEL ADIN , Gifted & Talented Instructional Specialist
Gifted & Talented Instructional Specialist
MAdin@schools.nyc.gov
· NICKY KRAM ROSEN , Gifted and Talented Instructional Specialist
NRosen2@schools.nyc.gov
· LIZ SAPLIN , Gifted/Talented Instructional Specialist
lsaplin@schools.nyc.gov
· GRACE GONZALEZ , Gifted/Talented Instructional Specialist
ggonzal2@schools.nyc.gov
· DENISE JORDAN , Assistant to Director of English Language Arts, Social Studies and Gifted/Talented
DJordan@schools.nyc.gov
· ANGELA HARGRAVES , Administrative Assistant, English Language Arts, Social Studies and Gifted/Talented
212-374-5165
AHargraves@schools.nyc.gov
· MICHELLE SPRINGER , Administrative Assistant, English Language Arts, Social Studies and Gifted/Talented
212-374-5972
MSpring@schools.nyc.gov
52 Chambers Street, Rm. 208
New York, NY 10007
Tel.: 212-374-5165 or
212-374-5972
Fax: 212-374-5901

*******************************************************************************

reminder–new day and location for Legislative Forum

It is on Friday, November 14, 9:30–12:00 noon, at the Jerome Parker Campus, Marsh Avenue Expeditionary School, 100 Essex Drive, behind PS 58.
Many elected officials have already responded.
We are focusing on three main areas of concern:
***severe overcrowding
***proposed deep budget cuts
***continuation (or change) of mayoral control of the DOE
If you want to submit a topic in advance please email me fedsped@gmail.com
Sign in to speak or ask a question; we will get to as many as time permits.
for more information please email Kathleen Boyer at fedsped@gmail.com

Hope to see you all there on November 14!

Now’s your chance to tell Joel Klein!

From Sam Pirizzolo of the CEC:

Dear Parents:
The Panel for Educational Policy will be holding a meeting at Petrides on October 20th.

This meeting is an opportunity for you to speak directly to the Chancellor. You may speak about ANY concerns that you have. If you have comments or suggestions, this is the time to make them. The PEP meeting only comes to Staten Island Once A Year. The meeting will be held at 6 PM in the Petrides School Auditorium, 715 Ocean Terrace, Staten Island, NY.

If you would like to speak, you must sign in between 5:30 – 6:00 PM. Each speaker will be allowed two minutes to speak during the Public Comment portion of the meeting.

If you are unfamiliar with this process and would like some help please contact our office for assistance. Our email address is cec31@schools.nyc.gov. For more information see our web site at www.cec31.org, click on news.

Thank you,

Sam PirozzoloPresident CEC 31

***so don’t just complain to each other, come and complain directly to the chancellor! Hope to see you all there!

Dyslexia Workshops/Prof’l Development

please pass on to those who may be interested.
****************************************
New York Branch of the International Dyslexia Association
Fall Workshops
Fall Workshops
Research Based Writing Instruction
Satisfractions
Executive Function
Keys to Literacy

Fall 2008

Register now for Fall
Professional Development

Visit www.nybida.org for
more info and registration!

Research Based Writing Instruction

RESEARCH VALIDATED STRATEGIES TO TEACH WRITING SKILLS

In this workshop you will learn about the research-validated strategy found to be an effective way to teach writing, called the Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD). You will learn the 6 steps of SRSD and will be able to leave the workshop with explicit techniques that you can use to create successful, self-regulated writers for both expository and narrative writing.

Instructor: Pooja Patel, English Teacher, United Nations International School and Learning Specialist in private practice
Date: October 20, 2008
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Fee: $75 Members / $100 Non-Members
Registration Deadline: Friday, October 10th

SATISFRACTIONS

MULTISENSORY TECHNIQUES IN
TEACHING FRACTIONS

This one day training will employ a multisensory approach to provide an overview of the principles fractions. Using templates and a unique collection of stencils, participants will create fraction circles to study elementary properties of fractions. By building the fraction models themselves, they will see and understand that equivalent fractions and lowest common denominators are something that can be made tangible and concrete to students.

Instructor: Matthew A. Malina, Math Teacher and Curriculum Developer
Date: Thursday, October 23, 2008
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Fee: $75 and $25 material fee
Registration Deadline: Wednesday, October 15th

Executive Functions for Teachers:
Basics and Practical Applications

What are the executive functions? What role do they play in teaching and learning?
How can I be more effective in helping children improve performance and increase independence as learners? This course will address each of these questions and discuss how to integrate strategy instruction with the teaching of content and increase awareness of how teaching style influences the quality of learning.

Instructor: Lydia H. Soifer, Ph.D., Soifer Learning Center
Date: Thursday, November 6, 2008
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Fee: $175 Members/ $200 Non-Members
Registration Deadline: Tuesday, October 28

Keys to Literacy: Comprehension and Vocabulary Instruction

This training will offer an overview of the research on effective comprehension and vocabulary instruction. It will also present a model for integrating comprehension and vocabulary strategies into content classroom instruction.

Instructor: Joan Sedita, founding partner of Keys to Literacy
Date: December 11, 2008
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Fee: $175.00
Registration Deadline: Monday, December 1

New residential school

For kids with special needs, started by some moms from Long Island. May be of interest.

Try again–meet for coffee on Oct.23

Things are stabilizing with my family medical crises so I would like to attempt another  coffee morning for support, information and hanging out. Thanks to Diane who contacted me and let me know that some parents are interested in doing this. so let’s try for Thursday, Oct. 23 from 10 am to noon at the Coffee and Tea Market Cafe, on Forest Ave. near Key Food. Let me know if you are coming. I am going to try to talk to Linda Wernikoff in the meantime and see if there is anything she can do about the issues that were raised last time.

thanks for  your patience. See you there!

31 IDEAL presents a forum on school governance

SCHOOL GOVERNANCE

 

MAYORAL CONTROL

 

            Thursday, October 23, 2008  7:00 pm

 

            New Location

            Intermediate School 72

                  33 Ferndale Ave

                           Staten Island, NY 10314

 

                  Scheduled Panelists

                 

Moderator: Mara Montalbano - NY1 News Anchor and Reporter

                 

Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum 

 

UFT Borough Rep Emil Pietromonaco - Chair of UFT Task Force on School Governance

 

Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott

 

Deputy Chancellor Christopher Cerf

 

Leonie Haimson - Parent Commission on School Governance and Mayoral Control

 

April Humphrey – Alliance for Quality Education

 

Contact Joan McKeever-Thomas for more information d31ideal@yahoo.com