THANK YOU!
     Thanks to one and all for their patience and support as I get a sense of how things work here at SSVT!  I wanted to express my appreciation for the warm welcome and helpful staff who have made my transition go so well..  It has been a pleasure working with staff at  student's IEP TEAM meetings and consulting around student issues.  Please feel free to stop by my office, seek me out, or email me, if you have a question, problem or concern with a student in your classes.

SPED PAC ACTIVITIES
     In Massachusetts every school district is required by law  to have a SPED PAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council).  The following is an excerpt from Section 3 of 71B that pertains to PACs:
"...The school committee of any city, town, or school district shall establish a parent advisory council on special education.  Membership shall be offered to all parents of children of disabilities and other interested parties.  The parent advisory council duties shall include but not limited to: advising the school committee on matters that pertain to the education and safety of students with disabilities; meeting regularly with school officials to participate in the planning, development, and evaluation of the school committee's special education programs. The parent advisory council shall establish by-laws regarding officers and operational procedures. In the course of its duties under this section, the parent advisory council shall receive assistance from the school committee without charge, upon reasonable notice, and subject to the availability of staff and resources..."

     The SSVT SPED PAC website is www.ssvtpac.webs.com.

     The SPED PAC meetings and topics for 2012-2013 are as follows:

• October 18, 2012                        
• Meet and Greet SSVT's new Special Education Director, Ellen Witter-Harrington  
•           November 1, 2012   5:30 PM      
• Basic Rights Presentation: Ellen Witter-Harrington          
• November 15, 2012                     
• SSVT Social Skills Program: Eve Madden, SSVT Speech Language Pathologist and Social Skills Program Facilitator
• January 10, 2013                          
• Massasoit Community College LATCH Program : Joe Harris, Program Coordinator   
• February 7, 2013                               
• "Raising teenagers is like trying to nail jello to a tree and other facts about adolescent development" : Christine A. Darseney, Ph.D., SSVT Psychologist 
• April 4, 2013 
• Are you ready for life after high school? : Ellen Witter-Harrington

Unless otherwise noted all meetings will be held in the SSVT library from 7-8 PM.
Staff are always welcome to attend any of these SPED PAC meetings.