Westford SEPAC

📢 SEPAC Meeting Rescheduled! ❄️

Due to the school closure for inclement weather, the SEPAC Business Meeting originally scheduled for February 6th has been rescheduled to Thursday, February 27th at 7:00 p.m. ⏰

📅 New Date: Thursday, February 27th
⏰ Time: 7:00 p.m.
📍 Location: To Be Determined (Stay tuned for updates!)

We appreciate your understanding and hope you can join us on the new date! Stay safe, and we’ll share more details about the meeting location soon.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out. See you on February 27th! 💬

📌Reminder: SEPAC Business Meeting
📅 Date: Thursday, February 6th
⏰ Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
📍 Location: Blanchard Learning Commons

We invite all families to attend the upcoming Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) Business Meeting!

What’s Happening:
✔️ Update on special education in the district from Gerard Coughlin, Director of Special Education
✔️ Discussion on the SEPAC Annual Parent/Caregiver Survey
✔️ Highlights of upcoming SEPAC events
✔️ Open discussion—share your thoughts, ideas, and concerns

This is a great opportunity to stay informed, connect with other families, and help make a difference in special education programs in our district. All are welcome!

We hope to see you there! 💬
For more details, please see the agenda

SEPAC Business Meeting 2/6/25 Westford Special Education Parents Advisory Council (SEPAC) Meeting Agenda Feb 6th 7pm-8:30pm Blanchard Learning Commons Agenda 7:00 pm - 7:20 pm Update on Special Education in the District Presenter: Gerard Couglin; Director of Special Education and SEL 7:20 pm - 7:40pm Discussion: SE...

📢 Join Us for a Free Virtual Workshop!

The Westford SEPAC invites you to our Basic Rights Workshop: Understanding the IEP on Tuesday, January 16th, 2025, at 7:00 PM.

Learn more about special education rights and the IEP process from Phyllis Keenan of the Federation for Children with Special Needs.

➡️ Register in advance here: https://fcsn.org/event/westford-br-understanding-the-iep/

Check out the flyer below for more details. We hope to see you there!

📣Attention Families!📣

Are you curious about the new IEP form and what it means for your family? The Office of Special Education and Social Emotional Learning is hosting an important presentation and Q&A session for parents to learn more about the new IEP form. Don't miss this opportunity to learn directly from the Office of SESEL and other members of the special education team.

📌When: Thursday, December 5th
⏰ Time: 7pm
📍 Where: Blanchard School Learning Commons

Agenda Highlights:
➡️Introduction to the new IEP
➡️Overview of significant changes
➡️What has NOT changed
➡️Open Q&A session

This is a great opportunity to stay informed, ask questions, and better understand how the new IEP will impact your family.

👉RSVP HERE; https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe2FrxGTyiah8dz6Xw-51cjZGAWpP7vkwBMC4ZW7vbjVGAK5w/viewform

📣Calling all families and caregivers in Westford! Join us for an important SEPAC meeting. This is your chance to hear directly from Superintendent Chris Chew and Director of Special Education Gerard Coughlin as they share updates, insights, and answer your questions about our special education program.

📅When: November 14th
🕖What time: 7:00pm-8:30pm
📍Where: Millennium Building Conf Room B

🤝Why should you attend??

👉Gain valuable information on district initiatives in special education and upcoming programs.
👉Participate in a Q&A with the SEPAC Board and join in open discussion for all attendees.
👉Have your questions answered and share feedback that can help shape future decisions.

💬Have a question? Submit them ahead of time! Fill out this quick form to ensure your questions are addressed; https://forms.gle/AAvCWaYxmae6gJeu7

Don't miss this opportunity to connect, ask, and be heard. Your voice matters, and we're excited to see you there! 🙌

➡️ Check out this free online caregiver support group offered by the Chris Walsh Center for Educators and Families at FSU

The Chris Walsh Center's free online Fall 2024 Caregiver Support Group is starting in just 2 weeks! Register today to join us: https://bit.ly/Fall2024CaregiverSupport

Unmet needs is a broad category. Yet, unfortunately, many of our children fall into this group, be it at school, in interpersonal relationships, at daycares, after school activities, mental health, or anywhere else. As Caregivers, feeling understood, supported, and informed are valuable tools for navigating these challenges with more compassion and confidence. We do not have walk this journey alone. This support group is meant to be flexible, once registered, you are welcome to drop in for any, or all, of the four sessions being offered this Fall.

When: Every Other Thursday from 7:00 PM to 8:15 PM
November 14th, November 2nd, December 5th, and December 19th
Who: Masters of Counseling Psychology student, Natalie McCollam
Where: Online hosted by the Chris Walsh Center

Come join a 4-week support and information group to:
• connect and share your journey with other caregivers of children with unmet needs.
• learn communication techniques to manage daily transitions, activities and screen time with more confidence
• practice mindful compassion to manage expectations of self and others, face unmet expectations and loss
• share challenges and ideas about advocating for your child and yourself

Every other week, Masters of Counseling Psychology student, Natalie McCollam, will present on one of the above topics, followed by a group discussion. You'll be encouraged to share your experiences and knowledge, as well as learn from one another. None of us knows everything and we are better when we come together. If you are looking for a supportive space to learn and connect with other caregivers, this group is for you!

To register for the Fall 2024 Caregiver Support Group please click this link: https://bit.ly/Fall2024CaregiverSupport
If someone you know would benefit from this support group, please feel free to forward this email or share the included social media tile so they can sign up.

📣Calling all Westford parents and caregivers!

The SEPAC needs your help! We are looking for a SEPAC liaison or point of contact person(s) for each of our nine schools. SEPAC is a fantastic resource for families, and a liaison is the bridge between SEPAC and your school community. Thank you to those who have already signed up!👏

👉Right now, we're looking for liaisons for:
-Nabnassett Elementary School
-Robinson Elementary School
-Westford Academy

👉What does a SEPAC Liaison do?
-It's all about communication! You'll make sure important SEPAC information reaches parents and caregivers in your school's newsletter.
-This is a flexible volunteer role that allows you to advocate for all students with special needs in your child's school. ‍

👉Why be a SEPAC Liaison?
-You'll be a valuable part of a supportive network for families of students with disabilities.
-You'll have a direct impact on ensuring all students get the resources they need to thrive!

👉Interested? Please Sign up today!🙌
-Just click this link: https://bit.ly/3ZKFF7j

Together, we can make a difference for all of our Westford students!

SEPAC Liaison (point of contact) - 2024/2025 Do you have an interest in special education? The SEPAC is looking for points of contact for each of our nine schools. Responsibilities of point people: 1. The SEPAC asks for our school building principals to include Westford SEPAC information and updates in their weekly newsletter to school familie...

For those seeking Executive Function support, check out this great virtual event.

Sarah Ward: 360 Thinking Model:
Wednesday, Oct 23, 6pm (Virtual)

The 360 Thinking Model: Breakthrough Strategies to Develop Independent Executive Function Skills

Is your child disorganized and may not have the materials they need or even turn in the homework they have completed?
Is their desk, room or locker a ‘black hole’ for papers and materials?
Do you observe a student who struggles to “stop and read the room” and meet the demands of the situation?
Or do you see students who struggle to initiate complex academic assignments, procrastinate and then run out of time to do their ‘best work’?
Is your child constantly multitasking, so tasks/assignments take twice as long as they should? Are you looking for some solutions to digital distractions?
Do you wish your child had a sense of urgency when it comes to time so that tasks are completed, and routines to get out the door or to the next activity or class happen on time?
Does it seem that they have an inability to breakdown the demands of an assignment and have a sense of how to start?
Do students seem prompt dependent? Are you constantly reminding them of the materials they need and the steps to take?

This presentation will help you to teach your children how to manage their time, space, and materials (and keep their emotions in check). Learn powerful strategies to help children develop independent executive function skills.

Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AU5Npgc_RH2Np-L2-C0OJQ #/registration

📌Reminder for our upcoming meeting this Thursday! Hope to see you there.👏

🏀Let's show some support for our amazing Unified Sports basketball team. 👏 Cheer our players on at their first home game this Wednesday @3:45pm!

An opportunity for families of students on IEP’s to influence DESE policies by providing input through a survey:
👉BlackPrint Education Consulting, in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), is seeking valuable feedback from families of students with IEPs to help improve Special Education procedures. 📣Your voice is crucial in shaping policies that impact your child’s education.
Participation options-
📌1) Join a Focus Group to share your experiences and suggestions in person. To register: https://bit.ly/DESEFocusGroup
📌2) Complete a Survey to provide your feedback online: Complete the survey: https://bit.ly/LetDESEknow (Please complete by October 11, 2024)

Focus Group Registration The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has hired BlackPrint Education Consulting to collect feedback on their Special Education procedures from the Offices of Public School Monitoring (PSM), The Office of Approved Special Education Schools (OASES) and Public Resolu...

Great learning opportunity, graciously shared by Reading SEPAC.

Registration link in comments.

Check out the great resources from the Lurie Center for Autism and Mass General for Children.👍Virtual presentations are offered monthly, free of charge and open to the public.

The Lurie Center for Autism invites you to join Elise Wulff, MEd, and Jillian Dyment, MEd, CAGS for a virtual discussion about equipping parents and caregivers with strategies to support students in participating effectively in their Individualized Education Program (IEP) process. Our presenters will offer practical advice on introducing and enhancing student understanding of the IEP document and team meetings, tools to foster engagement and self-advocacy, and techniques to encourage active participation in meetings. There will be time allocated for questions at the end of the discussion.

Registration is required. Register online here: https://conta.cc/3WMPaja

📣Did you know? Westford Academy has partnered with Cartwheel, an organization that works with school districts to provide students and families with rapid access to mental health services.
👉Additionally, Cartwheel offers FREE webinars, 'designed to empower caregivers, family members, and school staff in the districts with practical and actionable information on mental health topics affecting youth and families today." Find out more about the 24-25 upcoming webinars for parents and caregivers here; https://bit.ly/4ghf5so

👏Welcome back to school for many of our Westford students and families, and a warm hello to those families with students in year-round or residential programs.

👉Because it is the start of a new school year for many, here is a great resource written by the FCSN (Federation for Children with Special Needs) and the Massachusetts Department of Education to help guide families through the special education process.

A Parent’s Guide to Special Education – English – Federation for Children with Special Needs From our information specialist-staffed Information Center to our annual Visions of Community Conference, your generous support helps inform, educate and empower families with the information they need to ensure better outcomes for their children.