Executive Functioning Strategies for Your Child

Ages and Stages: Understand the Development of Executive Functioning Skills

Thursday, March 7, 7:00 p.m., Darien Library Community Room

Please RSVP: dariensepac@gmail.com

Please join us for a parent presentation on supporting your child’s development of executive functioning skills. Kit Savage, an Executive Functioning Coach, will explain the neuroscience behind executive functioning skills and provide realistic parenting strategies, goals and resources to help your child.  Understanding age-appropriate expectations empowers parents to collaborate with their teachers to improve their child’s school performance. 

All children struggle at times in school, but your child may need support if they regularly:

–          Avoid getting started on homework

–          Resist checking their written work

–          Use cramming as their #1 (or only) study habit

–          Get lost navigating in Google Classroom and miss due dates

–          Struggle with the steps of the writing process

–          Become emotionally dysregulated when you discuss schoolwork

Kit Savage is a certified Executive Functioning Coach and Special Education Advisor to families of children with disabilities and neurodiverse learning profiles.  Her mission is to empower parents to ensure their child reaches their educational potential.  She is a certified teacher of body-based practices of yoga, meditation and breathwork, which is embedded in the EF instruction for students up through college and into the workforce.

This presentation is co-sponsored by Darien Library and Darien SEPAC

Understanding CT’s New IEP

Monday, April 25

7:00 PM, Webinar

Hosted by Darien SEPAC & Darien Library

Please RSVP: CLICK HERE

Connecticut is implementing a new IEP template beginning this Fall for the 2022-23 school year. Please join attorney Anne Treimanis and Special Education Advocate Barbara (Babs) Distinti via Zoom to learn what the major changes are and how to make sure your child’s IEP is formulated to give them what they need to succeed. We will help ensure that this new and improved document assists your planning and placement team (PPT) in navigating the special education process, leading to the development of high-quality IEPs for your student.

Anne Treimanis is an attorney whose law practice is limited to special education, 504, and discrimination issues. She is also an adjunct professor for special education law and the author of several books including Do Not Tweet at an IEP Meeting. Her daughter Eva is an adult with Down syndrome and Type 1 Diabetes. Check Law Office of Anne Treimanis, LLC

Babs Distinti is an advocate for families who know from personal experience how critical it is for ALL students to have appropriate services and supports. She is a member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) and a Special Education Advocate with Advocacy Allies, LLC. Babs is the president of Special Education Equity Kids of Connecticut (SEEK), the first and only organization made up of parents, educational professionals, special education advocates and attorneys created to influence policy discussion and shape legislative efforts on behalf of students with disabilities in Connecticut. Check Advocacy Allies. 

Co-sponsored by Darien Library and Darien SEPAC. 

Understanding the PPT Process

Tuesday, December 15th, 9:30-10:30

Tokeneke School Common Room

Shirley Klein, Assistant Superintendent for Special Education and Student Services

Dr. Scott McCarthy, Darien’s new Program Director for Special Education and Student Services

Laura Straiton, Interim Program Director of Early Childhood SESS Preschool through 2nd Grade

Administrators will demystify the PPT process and explain:

• Referral to — and eligibility for — special education
• What is an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and a Planning and Placement Team (PPT)
•  Who are the team members and what is their role in your child’s PPT – updates to district policies
• Parent’s role in the PPT process

Attendees are encouraged to submit preliminary questions by Friday, December 11th.  Please RSVP and send questions to: dariensepac@gmail.com

Sponsored by SEPAC and the Tokeneke PTO

Is My Child Making Progress?

Understanding Progress Monitoring

Monday, October 5th, 11 am, Royle Common Room
Please RSVP: dariensepac@gmail.com

Dr. Susie Da Silva, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, K-12 will discuss the purpose and components of a strong Scientifically Research-Based Intervention (SRBI) model. She will outline how an effective program supports students in the most meaningful way.

Find out the answer to your questions including:
What are the assessment tools the district currently uses?
How will I be notified of my child’s progress in SRBI?
How do I know if my child is reading on grade level?

From Darien Public Schools Special Education and Student Services Department:

Web Posting, Email Blast, Letter to Parents: Elementary SESS Scheduling (6-Day Scheduling)
(Revised Draft, 5/11/15)

For the 2015-16 school year, the Darien Public Schools will implement a consistent 6-day schedule across general education services and special education/related services.

To support effective implementation, the Interim Assistant Superintendent for SESS has presented the implementation plan to the Board of Education, and reviewed the plan with Principals and SESS Facilitators. Following these presentation/discussions:
• The Interim Assistant Superintendent reviewed the plan with Case Managers, teachers, and service providers at the Professional Development Program on Monday, April 6, 2015.
• The Interim Assistant Superintendent is sharing it with parents at school-based informational sessions that started on Tuesday, April 7, 2015.
• SESS Facilitators and Case Managers are in the process of preparing new IEP service delivery grids through IEP amendments, Annual Reviews, Triennial Evaluations, and other PPT’s starting on April 7, 2015.
• Elementary Principals will supervise the shift to the 6-day SESS schedule to start at the beginning of the 2015-16 school year.

Please refer questions and comments to the SESS Facilitators in the schools, and/or Deborah Farber, Interim Assistant Superintendent for Special Education and Student Services.