Central School PTA

EAST BRUNSWICK SPECIAL EDUCATION PTA

(SEPTA)

August 31, 2009

Dear Friend,

Welcome back to a new school year.  As the year begins, we would like to re-introduce you to the East Brunswick Special Education PTA (SEPTA), an “extension your school’s PTA“.  Listed on the back of this letter are the 2009-2010 SEPTA meeting dates and topics, fundraiser schedule, SEPTA Social Group outings, Adult comedy night out and membership form.  A registration form for each Social group activity is listed under SEPTA FORMS on the website at http://teacherweb.com/NJ/FrostElementarySchool/SEPTA.  Enclosed in this packet you will find a committee description list and sign up form, and picture consent document.  An informational flyer providing SEPTA’s goals and mission in the community, and a recreation list offering activities for children of all levels of ability is available at SEPTA meetings, and will be accessible at back-to-school nights.  Return correspondence to your school’s PTA or SEPTA mailbox in an envelope addressed to “SEPTA” by Friday, September 25, 2009.  Families with  children in out-of-district placements can send forms to the administration building at: East Brunswick Public Schools, Special Education Department, 760 Route 18, East Brunswick, NJ  08816:  Attention:  Special Education PTA.  We are interested in your ideas and encourage you to share them.  SEPTA’s topics are informational and educational.  Many subjects apply to families with children in the mainstream and special education setting.  You do not need to be a member to attend a meeting.  Look on the website for upcoming community and school programs.  Living in an increasingly growing and diverse community, it is our hope to have families become involved by taking on a committee, attending meetings, and helping to integrate families.

Each district school has a SEPTA liaison.  This representative will give a SEPTA report at monthly PTA meetings or through the school newsletter.  They will pick up correspondence on SEPTA’s behalf.  School representatives often cover for each other.  In order to have optimum communication in the schools, SEPTA is seeking a second school representative in each building.  Many schools have a teacher liaison who communicates programs, and resources with building teachers and administrators.  For your convenience, enclosed is the SEPTA committee list including the parent and teacher liaison for each school.  This year a parent-to-parent group is being provided by the Special Education Department and SEPTA parents intended to provide perspective or support that may be required to parents of special education students or to those families new to the referral process.

The Special Education Department, in conjunction with SEPTA, has scheduled “Coffee Talks”.  Different dates and times have been planned in order to accommodate the varied schedules of the community.  Coffee talk provides parents with an opportunity to stop in and meet the Director of Special Education and to chat about any issues.  The dates and times are as follows: November 12, 2009 from 6:00-7:00 PM at the East Brunswick Public Library, January 25, 2010  from 9:00 -11:00 AM at the  Board of Education Building and May 20, 2010 from 4:00-6:00 PM at the Board of Education building  If you plan to attend please RSVP to SEPTA at eddieweinersepta@hotmail.com

At this time, please join us in welcoming Amy Geoffroy who will shadow all facets of SEPTA as President elect during the 2009-2010 school year.  Amy has been on committees within SEPTA, including Adopt-A-Family, Diversity Council and is currently the parent SEPTA liaison at Memorial Elementary School.  Amy is involved in the district’s efforts to provide information about the September 29^th bond referendum to rebuild Memorial School to bring children back into their home schools.   Please introduce yourself to Amy at a SEPTA meeting, or when you see her in the community.

To find out more about SEPTA contact Eddie & Audrey Weiner via e-mail at eddieweinersepta@hotmail.com, by telephone at 732-390-9265, or visit the web page at http://teacherweb.com/NJ/FrostElementarySchool/SEPTA.  We look forward to meeting you soon.

Sincerely,

Eddie & Audrey Weiner

Special Education PTA Presidents

Welcomeletter-2009-2010