Category Archives: Kids & Technology

Bloomfield SEPAC 10:26 am on March 8, 2021  

EARLY START – 5:45 PM -This Wednesday’s (March 10th) ONLINE SEPAC MEETING. TOPICS: SCHOOL RE-OPENING PLANS & TALK WITH SPECIAL NEEDS ATTORNEYS ON SPECIAL EDUCATION RIGHTS

PLEASE NOTE THIS WEDNESDAY’S SEPAC MEETING BEGINS EARLY AT 5:45 PM.

The first quarter of the meeting features Superintendent Salvatore Gonçalves & Assistant Superintendent Joe Fleres on the SCHOOL-RE-OPENING PLAN.

The second part features the legal team of MANES & WENBERG, LLP, Special Needs Attorneys talking about you and your child’s RIGHTS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION,

WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING ONLINE WITH YOU PRESS HERE FOR THE GOOGLE MEETING LINK

(US) +1 803-510-7198 (PIN: 225878420) <—-phone link
– YOUR BLOOMFIELD SEPAC TEAM

Bloomfield SEPAC 9:25 am on February 23, 2021  

Tonight’s (Feb. 23, 2021) Board of Education Meeting Topic Includes a Presentation About Planned In-Person & Hybrid Instruction in Our Schools!

BOE MEETING SCHEDULE PUBLIC OPENING – 7:30 PM (Tentative Time)
A) -Presentation: In-Person & Hybrid Instruction in Bloomfield Schools – With Superintendent Salvatore Gonçalves

BOE MEETING PUBLIC COMMENT PHONE LINE – 973-381-7200

PRESS HERE TO LINK TO THE LIVE STREAM

Bloomfield SEPAC 6:44 pm on February 11, 2021  

SURVEY ON POSSIBLE FUTURE ONLINE LEARNING, HYBRID SCHEDULES, CLOSES FEB. 16, 2021. Please Submit yours now!

Dear Parents:

Please fill in the Parents Survey- HERE

Let the School District and The Board of Education know your feelings about Online Learning, Hybrid Schedule etc., or offer your suggestions.

Information marked with a * needs to be filled in, but You can submit the Survey anonymously or make your name known, as you wish.

Thank you.

Your Bloomfield SEPAC Team

Bloomfield SEPAC 11:10 am on August 26, 2020  

Webinar on Dealing With Remote Learning in Conjunction With The Yellin Center – Sept 4, 12 PM. Registration Required.

From The Yellin Center:

Dear Friends and Colleagues –

Throughout the array of emotions I have experienced during this strange and difficult year, perhaps the one I have felt most acutely is gratitude. This might seem strange, considering we are separated from our loved ones and face the illness and loss of so many in our cities, towns, and circle of friends and family. But when we closed our doors abruptly in March we had no idea how we were going to move forward to help the students and families we serve, let alone whether we would ever be able to open our doors again.

Now, as summer winds to a close, The Yellin Center has been open for three months and we have worked with many students, both in-person and via remote technology. Our staff has done a really fantastic job of creating a safe space in our New York City office and in supporting the families with whom we work. For that, and for the continuing health of our team and my family, I am enormously grateful.

Remote Learning Webinar Next Week

As the school year begins, families face unprecedented challenges. Whether students attend school in-person (full or part-time), or are learning completely online, the pressure on families, students, and teachers is enormous. How can we help our children cope – and what can we do to make things better? 
Space Is Limited – Register Now
To help answer that question, I am delighted to report that I will be presenting a webinar on Observations and Opportunities: Supporting Your Child in Remote Learning, together with Kim Carter and Betsey Bradley, Executive Director and Community Director, respectively, of the Q.E.D Foundation, Inc. on Friday, September 4 at 12 p.m. EDT.

Kim, Betsey, and I will be offering a unique opportunity for parents to observe, understand, and support children as learners. We will provide strategies you can apply immediately to better understand your child’s learning needs and tools you can use to support their learning.

 
As some of you may know, The Yellin Center grew out of the work of All Kinds of Minds, where I served as National Director for Clinical Services until I launched The Yellin Center as an independent organization in 2007. QED Foundation acquired All Kinds of Minds in 2012, and has proudly continued the work of bridging the science of learning with learning design based on the recognition that all students are good learners. QED and The Yellin Center share the philosophy and commitment to these Guiding Principles. QED and The Yellin Center have been close collaborators for the past decade in advancing their shared values and principles, continuing to develop the NeuroDevelopmental Framework for Learning (NDFL) and other resources, and working to increase accessibility to these resources for everyone who works with learners of any age.

Registration for this webinar is limited. To register, please email Betsey Bradley at bbradleyakom@gmail.com.
Bloomfield SEPAC 2:35 pm on July 19, 2020  

A Helpful App for Hearing/Speech Problems

GOOGLE LIVE TRANSCRIBE   Can be a very helpful APP, for your phone for aiding communications with those who are hearing impaired, deaf or have trouble processing speech. Basically, when opened it gives live closed captioning to the words you say, which come up on your phone screen and the other party can read what you have just said. They can respond with spoken words or type.  You can also switch between languages.

” Live Transcribe was made in collaboration with Gallaudet University, the premier Deaf and hard of hearing university in the US.”

Bloomfield SEPAC 3:17 pm on May 11, 2020  

Please Submit Your Questions NOW for the Virtual SEPAC Meeting on Wed. 5/13.

Our Virtual SEPAC Meeting will take place online on Wednesday, May 13, 2020, at 6 PM.

The future ways that upcoming Special Education may be happening will be outlined.  Please submit your questions by email now to:  greggo1685@gmail.com

How Do I Join the Online SEPAC Meeting on 5/13 at 6 PM?

Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2020
Place: Google Meet Virtual Session with Community
Meeting ID: meet.google.com/stn-tuhq-kcu
Phone In: (US)+1 208-843-1103
PIN: 557 948 145#
Live Stream: https://stream.meet.google.com/stream/d4e707f3-4add-494f-867a-b63ff1a08368

Bloomfield SEPAC 3:17 pm on April 29, 2020  

Upcoming Webinars for Our Members

TRANSITION

“The following is from The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities:
Here is another webinar that transition educators and families may be interested in.  It will be relevant to anyone graduating this year or next, or anyone already in the adult service system.
The Family and Support Coordination Partnership: Making Choices, Becoming Empowered, and Supporting the Life Your Family Member Wants

May 18, 2020 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

As the service delivery system changes, all people with developmental disabilities receiving services through DDD will be able to choose a support coordination agency along with the services they receive. This training will provide families with the information they need about support coordination. Participants will also learn how to help their family members select a support coordination agency that will best meet their needs, work in partnership with the support coordinator throughout the person centered planning process, and identify service providers to help their family member achieve the life he or she wants.
Click on the link below for more information and to register.
https://rwjms.rutgers.edu/boggscenter/training/dd_families.html

Family Resource Network

The Family Resource Network is coming to you! To show you we are still here for you, we have created FRN Connect, a free
3-month webinar series that will provide interactive opportunities to stay healthy and connected while practicing social distancing. Connect with us today!

GET FIT – May 4, 2020, Mon- & Thur. @ 4-4:30 PM

Each class will feature a certified trainer and a model participant to demonstrate each exercise. We will focus on improving muscle building, full body flexibility, balance, motor skills and mobility through these fun exercises.  Register HERE

 

YOGA – May 5th 2020, Tues.@1-1:45PM

This 45-minute yoga class offers a combination of breathing exercises, chanting, yoga postures, relaxation techniques (yoga Nidra) and other self-regulation tools that bring participants a sense of peace and well-being. Useful but not necessary props to have: yoga mat, access to wall space to lean against for standing balance poses. We encourage participation from parents, family members and caregivers. Take it together! Register HERE

Martial Arts- Fighting & Fitness – Mon. May 5th 2020, Tuesdays @12-1:00PM

Build fitness and character with the time-honored methods of martial arts training in the comfort of your own home. Sensei Damien Wright, a 7th Degree Japanese Jujitsu Black Belt and long time professional instructor, will conduct each class with beginner-friendly workouts and lessons designed to build important skills, cultivate a healthy and positive mindset, and provide each student with the opportunity to meet the best version of themselves. All workouts and lessons are highly adaptable to suit all body types,  restrictions, and situations. All participants will have access to this class specifically for them as well as the full schedule of Virtual classes provided by Sensei Damien’s academy, Wright Fight Concepts. Excellence awaits. Let’s find it together.  Register- HERE

The Loss, Grief and Coronavirus Toolbox -Wednesday, May 13th 2020 4:00pm -5:00pm

This work shop will enable you to: identify the losses impacting you and your family; define loss, grief, mourning, coping, self-care and resilience; identify what gets in the way of self-care; discover new coping skills and become more resilient.  REGISTER _ HERE

Weathering the COVID Storm: Strategies for Engaging in Virtual Classrooms and Telehealth Sessions -Friday, May 15th 2020 1:00pm -2:00pm  REGISTER _ HERE

Special thanks to Kelly Reer, MA, LDT-C
Structured Learning Experience (SLE) Coordinator
Bloomfield High School for this information.

Bloomfield SEPAC 6:42 pm on March 22, 2020  

NJCIE is Helping Parents Online

The New Jersey Coalition For Inclusive Education, NJICE is continuing helping Parents with its online presence, while in person assistance remains suspended. They are beginning a series of “Lunch & Learn” via ZOOM or via telephone.

FROM: NJCIE:

“We will be covering different topics each day, but please feel free to ask any questions and we’ll try to answer them.

MONDAY, MARCH 23 @ 1:00 P.M.

Weeding Through the Web: Virtual Tours, Sing-Alongs, Story Time and Fun for All Ages

with Jessica & Katherine

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25 @ 8:00 P.M.

Learning Beyond Your Kitchen Table: Finding Opportunities for Learning in Your Daily Life

with Kristy & Kim

FRIDAY, MARCH 27 @ 1:00 P.M.

Friendly Support Friday

with Michelle & Jessica

To join a Lunch and Learn session:

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE MEETING

Meeting ID: 237 730 1823

Dial one of the numbers below to phone in:

+1 253 215 8782 US
+1 301 715 8592 US

The meeting ID and phone numbers are the same for each session.

Have trouble reaching us? Contact Grace at grace@njcie.org for support.”

Bloomfield SEPAC 8:07 pm on November 5, 2019  

Bloomfield SEPAC Meeting- is Wed. Nov. 13, 2019, from 6-8 P.M. at BHS. TOPIC- SOCIAL AWARENESS FOR STUDENTS

Our next Meeting  (Nov. 13, at BHS, from 6-8 P.M.) is not  aimed at only Special Ed Students. Any student or parent may benefit from this very helpful and informative Forum. So please spread the word among your friends and school families.  You will have the opportunity to ask your questions of our Presenters following their talks.

Our topics will be overview of Suite 360 and the Wingman initiative.

Assistant Superintendent of Bloomfield Schools, Joseph Fleres, will give a presentation about Suite 360.

“Suite360 provides students with information and techniques to support self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationships skills, and responsible decision-making. In addition, the program addresses specific topics such as cyberbullying, academic success, substance abuse and many other challenges students and communities face. Finally, the program provides behavior intervention support for students who experience common conduct issues.”

Bloomfield Schools Supervisor of Guidance, K-8, Michael Bruno, will give a presentation about The Wingman Program.

The Wingman Initiative-  “Wingman is a unique youth leadership program from Dylan’s Wings of Change that develops social and emotional skills through team bonding and trust building activities. Wingman inspires children to be more empathetic, courageous and inclusive young leaders. The Wingman program is being used in schools, dance studios, running clubs, summer camps and after school programs to promote accepting and inclusive environments around the world.

We look forward to seeing you on what is bound to be a most informative evening.

 – Your Bloomfield SEPAC Team Members