PAC Meetings and Coming Events…. Join us monthly and keep up to date on issues and concerns facing parents and students.
The Worcester Special Education Parent Advisory Council provides information and education to parents and the community on Special Education issues and services. Along with parents and caregivers we welcome all teachers, administrators and community partners to attend any presentation.
Most events listed are held at Worcester Technical High School, 1 Skyline Drive unless otherwise specified. Meetings start at 6:30pm and run for approximately 2 hours. For the majority of events no registration is required, meetings are open to all.
**Look for meeting location changes below.
PLEASE LISTEN FOR CONNECT-ED MEETING REMINDER MESSAGES
Click here to open a Map to the school: http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Worcester&state=MA&address=1+Skyline+Drive
***Occasionally registration may be requested in advance for a specific event. Please see the descriptions below for details.
**Sign Language and other foreign language translation services are available with a two-week notice to the office of Special Education by calling 508-799-3056. You may also email us at worcspedpac@worcesterspedpac.org and we will help to arrange translation services for you.
October 13, 2010
Welcome to the SPED PAC & Meet You’re School Department
Join us for our annual open forum with the School Committee and Dr. Marco Rodrigues, the new Manager of Special Education and Intervention Services and other WPS Department members. Bring your questions and learn more about the Worcester schools and what they can do for your student receiving special education services.
This is going to be an exciting night for the SPED PAC and all parents.
We will have with us:
Dr. Melinda Boone, Superintendant of Worcester Schools
Dr. Jeffrey Mulqueen, Chief Academic Officer
And will be introducing
Dr. Marco Rodrigues, Manager of Special Education and Intervention Services
Also joining us this evening will be several members of the Worcester School Committee.
Don’t’ miss this chance to meet the administration, talk with others, and ask questions.
November 10, 2010
Bullying and the Special Education Student
As parents we understand that a child with a disability could become a victim of bullying or harassment but we may not know how to intervene in order to resolve problems. This seminar will educate us, address our questions and provide some helpful resolution techniques.
District Attorney Joseph D. Early, Jr.'s office will present a workshop for parents of Children Receiving Special Education on what constitutes bullying/harassment, and cyber bullying, the applicable criminal laws that address these issues, suggestions on how to prevent or stop a child from being bullied, acting as bully, or active bystander.
Real life scenarios will be discussed to provide examples of positive resolutions to a harassment situation involving students. Every day throughout Worcester County, District Attorney Early's Outreach Unit staff conducts workshops to empower students on how to recognize and respond to bullying behavior to make their school a safer place to learn. Parents will be given materials that will help them to understand the dynamics of bullying and how to address it with their children.
January 12, 2011
Teamwork: Successful Partnership between Teacher and Parent
We are bringing together a panel of classroom teachers and parents of children receiving special education services. We will discuss strategies for creating effective partnerships to ensure that your child has a successful school experience.
Open and positive parent and teacher participation is the key to success for this event.
Please join us, bring your experiences and questions.
March 9, 2011
School Testing and Assistive Technology, MAPs, DIBBLES, MCAS
From kindergarten to senior year in high school your student will be taking school and statewide tests. Find out about your school and state averages and where your student stands within their guidelines. Cathy Salerno will address Assistive Technology in the Worcester Public Schools and answer questions from parents.
April 13, 2011
Autism Awareness and Resource Night
A representative from the Autism Awareness Center in West Boylston will give a presentation on Autism and answer questions from the parents. Also learn about the Son Rise Program with Mary Finnegan-Rosselli. The Son Rise focus is a home-based program for children on the spectrum and other developmental disabilities.
May 11, 2011
Reading Programs in the Worcester Public Schools
Peggy Iandoli-Cole will explain the different reading programs offered in the Worcester School system and how they help a special education student. Find out more about the current and successful ways to assist your student.
Also join us for the Special Education Parent Advisory Council board member nominations and elections. **Would you like to get more involved in SPED PAC, Volunteer, attend a meeting or just learn more about what we do? If you have any interest in learning more, volunteering for the SPED PAC or would like to be nominated for a board or co-chair position please just let us know. To keep SPED PAC going we need new volunteers.
The Worcester Public Schools is not responsible for, or connected with, any aspect of this program and participation in this program is the sole decision and responsibility of the parent/guardian.
If you have any questions or concerns about the dates/meetings listed about please email us at worcspedpac@worcesterspedpac.org Or call Lisa Brown at 508-864-4582 if you have questions about upcoming meetings. | 
