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Watchung Hills Regional High School Watchung Hills Regional High School

Off-Canvas

Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG)

If you have any questions or concerns please contact:

Amita Sawicki, Transition Coordinator
(908) 647-4800 Ext. 2819
asawicki@whrhs.org 

Ms. Glorinete Laurentino Barnoski, Parent Liaison 
glorinete2003@yahoo.com

Mission Statement:

Our mission is to facilitate collaboration between students, parents, staff, the Board of Education and the community in order to promote inclusion, understanding of, respect for and support of all students with disabilities in our community.

Special Education Parent Advisory Groups are required for all school districts in New Jersey. The purpose of these groups is to provide opportunities for parents and community members to offer input to the district on specific issues. New Jersey Administrative Code 6A:14-1.2(h) states that:

Each Board of Education shall ensure that a special education parent advisory group is in place in the district to provide input to the district on issues concerning students with disabilities.

Watchung Hills Regional High School has established the Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG) as a forum for parents to provide input to the district regarding students with disabilities. We welcome and encourage the participation of all parents.

SEPAG obtains parent input by hosting meetings for parents, sharing information and other relevant topics. SEPAG will meet quarterly while school is in session to discuss these topics. Meetings can consist of presentations from knowledgeable speakers on a variety of topics, as well as offering informal gatherings to share ideas, network, and support each other.

SEPAG’s Purpose:

  • To offer input on the policies, programs and practices that impact services and supports for students with disabilities. 
  • To increase the involvement of families of students with disabilities.
  • To provide opportunities for parents to support each other and share resources in the community

WHRHS SEPAG Meeting - Parent Input Form - Click Here to Access 

Please complete this Google Form if you are interested in providing input for future meetings.

Step 1: Click on the link for the Parent Input Form - It will then bring you to a Google Form.

Step 2: Check that your answers are marked in each item and then click "Submit"

 

What to Look Forward to this Month

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WHRHS Events

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Click Here to Access the Zoom Link: https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/94096787889?pwd=lua7ahH33cmgbMxRjEL2ZtbaNsk5Vk.1#success

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BUDDY BALL

Buddy Ball Flyer

  • The Bambino Buddy Ball Division was established by Babe Ruth Baseball as a program for children with special needs. 
  • Gives everyone a chance to play, regardless of disability.
  • Players are matched with volunteer “buddies.”  
  • Over 30,000 players participate in a Buddy Ball type league nationwide.

Eligibility: Special needs children between the ages of 5 and 20, from Warren and any surrounding towns that do not already offer Buddy Ball, are eligible to play.

Game Information: Games will be held on Saturdays beginning April 27th, from 11:00 am - 12:00 noon.

Location: Warren Municipal Fields on Bardy Rd. No practices, just pre-game warm-up. Soft baseballs and bats will be provided. Please bring your own glove.

Volunteer Buddies:  Buddies in 5th grade, middle, high school, and college are welcome! Register as a Buddy using the link at the right. For more information email Terry MacConnell at tmacc2713@gmail.com

Click Here For More Information: https://watchunghillsbaseballsoftball.com/buddy-ball/

Click Here to Register: https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/463267

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Date: Thursday, April 10, 2025          Time: 6:00 am - 7:30 pm

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Planning For Adult Life: Free Online Webinars

PFAL

Starting transition planning? Get information, learn steps, and ask your questions at our monthly workshops. We host presentations on:

  • Planning is for Transition: Why It Is Vital For Your Student's Future
  • SSI and Medicaid for Access to Adult Services
  • Guardianship and Supported Decision Making: Just the Basics
  • Accessing Services and 'Natural' Supports
  • Yes, Your Child Can Work! Exploring Employment Options For People with IDD
  • Preparing Your Student with IDD To Attend College
  • College Options For Students with IDD
  • Preparing to Get The Most Out Of Your Student's High School Experience
  • State Services for Students with IDD
  • Housing 101: Exploring Your Options
  • SOS: Strategies Of Success For Parents of Students with Less Intensive Supports Needs *NEW*

Click on the link to access Planning for Adult Life Calendar for Future Events: https://planningforadultlife.org/calendar/

Visit their event calendar to view various dates and times throughout the year.

Check out The Arc of NJ - Planning for Adult Life website as they have a variety of topics and handouts to refer to with any questions on transition.

Here is the link for their Archived Webinars: https://planningforadultlife.org/we_offer/archived-webinars-20.html

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How Series: Guardianship and Supported Decision: Just the Basics

Hosted by Glen Ridge Public High Schools

Guardianship can be a valuable tool to protect individuals who don’t or no longer possess the ability to make appropriate personal or financial decisions for themselves. This workshop will help parents and caregivers understand the guardianship process, levels of guardianship and alternatives to guardianship.

Date: Monday, April 7, 2025          Time: 7:00-8:00 pm

Click Here to Register: https://planningforadultlife.org/calendar/calendar.html/event/2025/04/07/how-series-guardianship-and-supported-decision-just-the-basics-hosted-by-glen-ridge-public-schools/503653

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How Series: SSI and Medicaid: How to Apply And Why You Need to Do So

There are many different ways to initiate the Medicaid eligibility process and it is important to make sure you have all of the necessary information. This workshop will help parents and caregivers understand how to access health care services for their loved one with IDD from the current healthcare system.

Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2025          Time:  6:00-7:00 pm

Click Here to Register: https://planningforadultlife.org/calendar/calendar.html/event/2025/04/08/how-series-ssi-and-medicaid-how-to-apply-and-why-you-need-to-do-so-/514775

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Planning for Adult Life - Webinar Wednesday Series: Navigating Ways to Support Special Education Students with College and Career Readiness

Are you looking for strategies to help special education students successfully transition to college and careers? Join us for an insightful webinar where we will explore practical tools, resources, and approaches to empower students with disabilities as they prepare for their next steps beyond high school.

What You’ll Learn:
✅ Best practices for guiding students through college and career exploration
✅ Resources to support individualized transition planning
✅ Strategies to foster independence and self-advocacy skills
✅ Insights on accommodations, vocational pathways, and support networks

This webinar is ideal for parents, educators, transition coordinators, and anyone passionate about supporting students with disabilities on their journey to success.

Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2025          Time: 6:00-7:00 pm

Click Here to Register: https://planningforadultlife.org/calendar/calendar.html/event/2025/04/16/-pfal-webinar-wednesday-series-navigating-ways-to-support-special-education-students-with-college-and-career-readiness/519289

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How Series: Accessing Services and "Natural Supports"

Everyone has a right to be involved in their community. There are many supports for people with disabilities to help them do just that. This workshop will discuss supports for accessing the community and will provide hands—on tools for helping students to obtain natural supports in the community. It will also include a discussion on how to navigate some of the challenges associated with accessing services.

Date: Tuesday, April 22, 2025          Time: 6:00-7:00 pm

Click Here to Register: https://planningforadultlife.org/calendar/calendar.html/event/2025/04/22/-how-series-accessing-services-and-natural-supports-/514777

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How Series: Planning for Transition: Why It is Vital for Your Student's Future

The transition planning process includes evaluating the student’s skills, abilities, strengths, challenges, and preferences to envision their life after leaving school. Planning involves setting goals for the student to strive toward and identifying the need for supports. Carrying out the transition plan can begin and should be a part of the student’s Individualized Educational Plan (IEP). Students and families must be actively involved in the transition planning process as early as possible and keep it moving forward. This presentation discusses the importance of planning, the steps necessary to plan, and provides hands–on tools to put a plan in place.

Date: Wednesday, April 23, 2025          Time: 6:00-7:00 pm

Click Here to Register: https://planningforadultlife.org/calendar/calendar.html/event/2025/04/23/how-series-planning-for-transition-why-it-is-vital-for-your-student-s-future-/514776

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How Series: College Options for Students with I/DD 

Hosted by: Rumson Fair Haven Regional High School

his workshop will provide information about the different opportunities that college may offer your
student with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We will suggest steps to add to your
student’s IEP that can help orient him or her to the differences between high school and college,
and accessing supports offered to students with I/DD.

Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025          Time: 6:30-7:30 pm

Click Here to Register: https://planningforadultlife.org/calendar/calendar.html/event/2025/04/24/-how-series-college-options-for-students-with-i-dd-hosted-by-rumson-fair-haven-regional-high-school-/509740

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Division of Developmental Disabilities - Office of Transition to Adult Life & Employment

DDD
 Quarterly Welcome Sessions

1st Thursday: Welcome Sessions, Noon-1:00 pm

4th Thursday: Evening Welcome Sessions with Topic Breakouts, 6:00-7:30 pm

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Transition Thursdays Webinar Series

We are excited to invite you to our DDD Transition Thursday’s Webinar Series. These webinars are designed to provide you with essential information and guidance as you or your loved one transition from the school system to adult services through the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD).

Topic: Transition to Adult Services & Intake Process

Date: 2nd Thursday of each month           Time: 6:00-7:00 pm

You will learn:

  • Transition Preparation: Steps to take as you or your loved one approaches the transition from the school system to accessing services through DDD.
  • Eligibility Criteria: An overview of the requirements to be determined eligible for DDD services.
  • Intake Process: Guidance on completing the application, submitting required documentation, and completing the NJCAT assessment.
  • Interactive Q&A:  Opportunity for questions to be answered.

Please register at the links below:

April 10, 2025 - https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/d3fed761-5ad4-437a-a7b1-66eb6fa2b884@5711ee8f-5e83-4145-be03-c551134f4160

May 8, 2025 - https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/856d023e-63b3-4954-ac0c-9b8c1ee3d410@5711ee8f-5e83-4145-be03-c551134f4160

June 12, 2025 - https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/f21c5e7e-fe5f-4a9a-877f-4a35047dca8a@5711ee8f-5e83-4145-be03-c551134f4160

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NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities (NJCDD):

  • provides a platform for individuals, family members, advocates, and public/private agencies to develop a coordinated social policy for advancing the rights and opportunities of NJ residents with developmental disabilities. 
  • offers Family Support Councils, Youth Leadership programs, and Partners in Policymaking program,  website for more information:  https://njcdd.org/

Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities: