Special Education Parental Advisory Council
Weston SEPAC
WELCOME!
The Weston Special Education Parent Advisory Council (Weston SEPAC) is an all parent volunteer group of that promotes a network for parents of children with disabilities to provide a forum to share information, support, provide resources and discuss important issues.
We provide educational presentations for parents and teachers of special needs and typical students. We meet with school administration and school committee members to give our input on policies and programs that impact our children. We promote and raise awareness of children with special needs. We meet with our state representative to share and discuss information to advocate for children with disabilities.
April/ May 2021
Welcome back to the 20/21 School Year! The Weston SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) has some upcoming events.
UPCOMING EVENTS!
April 2021
PRESENTATION: “After High School: Planning for College & Beyond with Special Needs ” Tuesday April 26, 2021
Wondering what to do about life after high school for your child with an IEP/504?
Join us for our next presentation on April 26th, 7pm!
Stick around after the presentation for networking and chat with other Weston parents
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 818 4061 7906
Passcode: SEPAC
PREVIOUS EVENTS:
March 2021
MEETING: SEPAC Open Meeting –Monday March 8, 2021 7:00pm
7:00pm Weston Field School Principal Dr. Dan Green will meet with SEPAC members for an open discussion
PRESENTATION: “Demystifying Transition Services” Tuesday March 9, 2021 9:00am-11:00am-speaker Judy Imperatore M.Ed.- Judy is a national expert in Vocational Assessment and Transition Services –Transitionresponse.com Learn about: 1) What is Transition? 2) What are Transition Assessments? 3) What should Transition look like in the IEP? 4) What is the Process 5) Questions —PRESENTATION SLIDES: Click HERE
FEBRUARY 2021
COFFEE MEET UP: Tuesday February 9, 2021 9:00AM -No agenda -All parents or caretakers with kids who are differently abled, who have food allergies or learning challenges are invited to attend for sharing and support! Come join other parents learn about special education and meet other special education parents to share information and support one anther!
JANUARY 2021
PRESENTATION: “The Myth of Falling Behind: Parenting and Education during a Pandemic” Wednesday January 27. 2021 6:00PM -Speaker Robin Einzig from Visible Child -a 90-minute workshop exploring our children’s learning, stress, resilience, and what they need most from all of us during these difficult times. Sponsored by: WPS Office of District Advancement, the Weston PTO, and the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). For more information about our speaker click here Visible Child
PRESENTATION: “IEP Basic Rights: Evaluation and Eligibility” -Friday January 8, 2021 9:00am –Guest speaker: Tracey Morgan from a Bright Idea Advocates -Federation for Children with Special Needs
This presentation is a comprehensive introduction into special education laws and procedures. We will delve into the purpose of the law, referrals, evaluations, and the team meeting process including determining eligibility. Further discussion will focus on services, placement, and what to do when you receive a proposed IEP. You will also learn what to do if the student is not eligible and parent’s procedural due process rights for resolving disputes. Handouts ClickHere
DECEMBER 2020
MEETING: SEPAC Business Meeting -Tuesday December 15, 2020 7:00pm –Agenda Click here
7:00pm Weston High School Principal Paul Peri will meet with SEPAC members for an open discussion –DRAFT minutes pending
NOVEMBER 2020
MEETING: SEPAC Business Meeting Agenda -click here –Monday November 23, 2020 9:00AM Minutes click here
OCTOBER 2020
PRESENTATION: “Executive Functioning in Remote Learning” – POSTPONED from Oct 8th to now Wednesday October 28th – 7 pm – Elise Wulff (MEd, Program Manager at Aspire) will be speaking about how to support your child’s executive functioning during this time of remote and hybrid learning. Registration is free thanks to Wayland PTO sponsorship. Weston SEPAC members WELCOME to attend Click Here for Presentation Slides Stuck Help Handout
PRESENTATION: “Back to School 2020: Advocating for your Student’s Special Education Rights During Covid-19” –Wednesday October 14, 2020 at 7:00PM –Co-hosted with Wayland SEPAC- Attorneys Lillian Wong and Allison Boscarine from Wong & Boscarine LLC will present on DESE updates, Special Education Services during Remote or Hybrid, health Safety & Learning at School, Covid Compensatory Claims and Questions. Click Here for Presentation Slides
SEPTEMBER 2020
MEETING: SEPAC Business Meeting –Click here for agenda – Wednesday September 30, 2020 at 7:00PM Minutes click here
SEPAC SCHEDULE 2020-2021 year
Sept 30, 2020-Business Meeting
October 14, 2020-Back to School 2020: Advocating Special Education Rights- Wong and Boscarine LLC
October 28, 2020-Business Meeting
November 23, 2020-Business Meeting
December 15, 2020-speaker planning for 2021-Autism awareness- Dyslexia
January 8, 2021 9am -IEP Basic Rights Presentation: speaker Tracey Morgan Advocate for FCSN
January 27, 2021 6pm- Presentation: The Myth of Falling Behind: Parenting and Education during a Pandemic- Robin Einzig from Visible Child
February 9, 2021 7pm-Business Meeting
March 8, 2021- 7PM -Guest Dr. Greene Field School Principal meet with SEPAC members
March 9, 2021 9am-Demystifying Transition Services Presentation with Judith Imperatore M.Ed.
April 13, 2021 7pm-
May 12, 2021 9am- Board Elections
June 2021- Staff appreciation
SEPAC BOARD 2020-2021
Co-Chairs: Lisa Lappi & Kathy Davidoff
Secretary: Maija Cirulis-Gooch
Treasurer: Becky Dempsey
Member at Large: Vicky Gifford, Jeannette Velasquez, Lornece Tull, Michelle Galloway
School Committee Liaison: Rachel Stewart
School & Program Liaisons:
High School: Kathy Davidoff & Lisa Lappi
Middle School: Becky Dempsey, Lornece Tull, Michelle Galloway
Field School: Mija Cirulis-Gooch
Country School: Vicky Gifford
Woodland School: Jeanette Velasquez
Out of District: Kathy Davidoff & Becky Dempsey
METCO: Lornece Tull & Michelle Galloway
Remote Learning Academy-Lornece Tull
CLICK FOR SEPAC BROCHURE
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Timeline PhotosThis Thursday! We're breaking down the latest state guidance on in-person learning, compensatory services, IEPs, MCAS, and Extended School Year (summer services). ![]()
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Have your questions answered live by our special education attorneys!![]()
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Register now at massadvocates.org/chat
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Timeline Photos"This year, I changed my assessments by adding a piece of paper at the end, asking, 'What else do you know about the topic, that I didn’t ask you about?'![]()
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Another teacher suggested this idea online about a year ago – I wish I could remember who it was! – and I thought, 'BOOM. I want to do this.'![]()
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Answering the question is completely optional, and when students do show more understanding on the sheet than they did on their assessment, I’ll point it out to them. Sometimes I’ll write, 'The learning wasn’t shown in your assessment, but I can see you do know this from what you wrote at the end.'![]()
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Afterward, I’ll follow up with them about how to recognize and answer test questions asked in different ways. Clearly, in cases like this, they understand the material but aren’t able to formulate an answer in response to the way I posed the question. I’ll point out to them that while it’s great that they’ve shown me their learning, they won’t always have a chance to answer assessment questions in an open-ended way, and I want them to succeed when they encounter assessment-style questions in the future.![]()
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I love what this change has done. This strategy has made my assessments more inclusive. It helps me communicate to my students: When I assess your understanding, I’m looking for what you DO know."![]()
—Teacher Julie Arsenault
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dredf.org
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