Minutes from February 2017 SEPTA Meeting

Minutes of

Arlington Special Education PTA

Thursday 2/9/17 7-8:30 PM

Syphax Education Center

2110 Washington Blvd., Rooms 101 & 103

Arlington, VA

Minutes from January meeting:

• Presented by Caroline Levy, President for approval. Passed.

Officers’ Reports:

• President’s Report: Caroline Levy
• We’re looking for 2 members for a 3 member nominating committee for 2017-18 board positions. .
• President cannot serve on the nominating committee.
• 2017-1018 Open SEPTA positions include (descriptions on a handout):
• President. (If there’s no President Elect for next year, Caroline will not continue.)
• President-elect.
• VP Membership.
• VP Communications.
• VP Fundraising.

Exciting Upcoming Events:

• SEPTA Meeting on March 9th on transitions, looking ahead.
• Workshop with Cheryl Jorgensen on inclusion.
• Saturday March 18, 2017. 8:30 AM-3:30 AM, Gunston.
• Magic Paintbrush, Free Event for Families and Educators
• Saturday, March 25, 2017
• 10 – 10:45 a.m. Children ages 7 and under, with their families
• 11:00 – 12:00 Educator training and lunch
• 1:00 – 1:45 p.m. Children ages 8 and up, with their families
• Educators may observe the family sessions.
• Additional sessions may be added if there is sufficient interest.
• Location: Thomas Jefferson Community Center, 3501 2nd St S, Arlington, VA 22204

Treasurer’s Report: Caroline Levy for Adam Mann.

• We’re in the black.

Parent Liaison Report: Janna Dressel (delivered by Caroline Levy).

• Only six more schools need liaison volunteers: ATS, Arlington Science Focus, Carlin Springs, HB Woodlawn, Washington-Lee, Career Center.
• While there is no one set job description for the parent liaison, the most important role is to be a disseminator, cross pollinator of information among PRC, SEPTA, AESEC, Office of SpEd and Office of Therapeutic Recreation. Liaisons funnel info. back to the school through newsletters or at PTA meetings and information lives on longer than it otherwise would.

VP of Fundraising Report: Linda Campanelli

• This is Linda’s final year of 3 as VP of Fundraising. Linda reports that the job is not daunting, can be done at home even by an introvert. The Silent Auction and Phantom Ball are our two big events.
• Silent Auction will take place the first two weeks in March. If you have a gift card or service to donate, contact Linda.

Summer Programs:

Arlington Country Therapeutic Recreation, Robin Mitchell, Inclusion Coordinator.

• Will not offer I Can Bike Camp this year. (Can call the Henry principal; they might offer it there.)
• If you sign your child up for a contracted camp, one without the TR logo, TR can consult with the contractor if you sign a release form upon enrollment.
• Camps that have the TR logo next to them, TR supports.
• Sign up even if you don’t know if you can go. You can always cancel the weeks.
• Registration opened Mid-February, is open now: https://arlingtonva.s3.dualstack.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2014/12/Summer-Camp-Brochure-2017-ONLINE.pdf
• TR camps are designed for different age groups.
• Modifications could include, but are not limited to: individualized modification plans; specialized staff training; adapted equipment/techniques; sign language interpreters; large print and Braille materials; additional staff
• To request inclusion support when registering for camps with the logo, call TR: 703.228.4740; Email TR: trinfo@arlingtonva.us

Arlington Public Schools—Colleen Koval, Office of Student Services, Special Ed

• https://www.apsva.us/summer-school/ Summer school catalog/registration form is online already. Registration begins 3/1.
• Extended School Year, ESY consideration available for students with an IEP.
• APS does co-locate with Summer Programs and Parks n’Rec.
• Question: Do you think you might bring back the OT/Speech Camp? Answer: Colleen will ask.
• Question: What about bringing back the social skills program? Colleen: That had low enrollment, so now we offer social skills throughout every class.

JCC-Northern VA—Arlene Lefner, Program Coordinator, JCC.

• Don’t have to be Jewish to attend these camps.
• They have specialty gymnastics, drama, social skills, dance camps and an inclusion camp that children can attend independently or with a shadow.
• There is a peer mentor program for grades 5-8. Typical kids are paired with kids with special needs. This program pilots this summer.
• Camp Kadima is a social skills camp that ends at grade 6.
• Question: Where are you located? Answer: Near the NOVA campus.
• They have a welcome interview for each child with special needs.
• Visit jccnv.org/camp for all registration information and forms.

Auburn School—Heather Hargrave, Head of School, Fairfax Campus.

• Private school year round, but open for camp in the summer.
• Based in Chantilly, but do have kids from Arlington.
• Specialize year round with kids with moderate to high intelligence but with anxiety, ADD, Aspergers and and autism.
• Camp is six weeks, July 3rd-August 11.
• Each week is a theme—animals, around the world, Legos, with social learning as a focus of every theme.
• They offer a lot of structure even in the non-academic camps.
• There is a gym inside for movement on rainy days.
• The camp serves rising kindergarteners through rising ninth graders.
• Question: How many instructors? Answer: About 4-5 kids to every adult.
• What’s the cost? Answer: 8:30-3:15 $600. $300 for 1/2 day.
• http://www.theauburnschool.org/page/149

Washington Lab School —Nancy Roland, Associate Director of Admissions.

• Throughout the year they serve students with average to above average intellectual ability but who have processing and executive functioning issues.
• In the summer they have a programs from 8:30-1:30, a lower school program for grades 1-6 and another program for rising 7th-9th graders.
• They offer Camp Smile: Sensory-Motor Integration and Language Experience for ages 4-8, June 26-July 21. 8:30 AM-1:30PM.
• In their regular morning program, every student has reading instruction; a problem solving period; a gym period; and an immersive theatrical “academic club” with different themes.
• After 1:30, they offer an extended day program till 5:00.
• The Summer Project at Lab for rising 7th, 8th, and 9th graders 8:30am-1:30pm is All the World’s a Stage: Life at Shakespeare’s Globe Theater. The project focuses on reading, writing and math through staging a production.
• Question: Where are you located? Answer: DC, Palisades area, near MacArthur.
• For more information, sadie.hendrickson@labschool.org

Camp SuperNOVA by Skill Builders

• Camp provides campers with a traditional adventure camp experience with the added benefit of speech-language and occupational therapy support.
• In the summer they offer two camp sessions July 31-August 4th and or August 7th-August 11th.
• Ages 5-8.
• Office in MacLean, camp at Falls Church Presbyterian Church, 225 East Broad St., Falls Church, VA 22046.
• Offers other programs throughout the school year.
• Focus on pragmatic language goals, group problem solving, maybe a field trip.
• 15 kids max per camp plus therapists.
• Contact: Julie Aills,  juliea@skillbuildersllc.com or Elizabeth McKezie at (703) 941-7757, ext. 107.

Kate McClain Social Skills —Kate McClain.

• Ten yeas since she started her first social group.
• Camp Friendship: children age 5 – 14 who need to work on social, communication, and friendship skills. 3 age groups –  Explorers (K – 2nd grade), Pioneers (3rd-5th grade), and Apprentices (6th-8th grade).
• Summer Camp offers indoor & outdoor playtime, games, arts & crafts, moon bounce, water play, collaborative projects, sports, and more! (Kids will also work on school preparedness skills such as following the schedule, working with a group, being flexible, waiting nicely, etc.)
• Where: 210 East Broad Street in Falls Church, VA!
• When: camp hours are 9 am – 3 pm; aftercare is provided (for an additional cost) from 3 – 5 pm. Session 1: July 10-14 & 17-21. Session 2: July 24-28 & 31-Aug 4.
• Kate McClain is in the process of merging with a career development company. This spring/summer they’ll be launching an internship program with Roadrunners Sports, Doodlehopper Kids and others, for students ages 14-18.
• July 10th – August 4th, she will offer a concurrent kids camp/career services program for young adults, ages 18-26 to help them build their resumes and gain employment.
• www.katemcclainsocialskills.com / www.quistic.com

LCF, Life Changing Fitness  unable to attend.

Caroline Levy —Wrap up

• Invited attendees to sign the sheet for the SEPTA list serv. Membership is important for what we get done. Membership dues are $10 per year.
• Question: What other camps did you invite? Answer: GWU’s speech language pathology camp; a residential camp from NH. Katherine Harris mentioned the Camp JayCees, a parent-child camp in Southern VA which she recommends. And Unstuck, On Target has a Take 2 Executive Functioning and Social Skills Camp.

Meeting Adjourned.

Submitted by:

Karen Sosnoski, Secretary

Date minutes approved: _____