New Hartford Central School District Special Education PTSA

It matters….

Improving the Lives of Aging New Yorkers with Developmental Disabilities Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

Please consider joining SEPTSA as an ally for children like Carson and Callie. The system is failing special needs children and there’s so much work to do. Signing up as a member and supporting SEPTSA is a great way to support special needs children. You do not need to live in New Hartford to join. You can also choose your level of involvement. You can only join to show support but don’t have time to be actively involved? That’s okay! You can’t make regular meetings but can help out at volunteer events? That’s great! You want to be fully involved? That’s amazing!

Meetings are held once a month and are an hour long. Can’t make the meeting but still want to be involved? Join the zoom link! Please reach out if you have any questions or are even slightly interested in supporting. Yearly memberships are $5-$10 and support an entire school district and beyond. No special needs child left behind.

This is something I’m extremely passionate about. I’ve watched Carson suffer for the last few years because the system has failed him. He has shattered my heart into a million tiny pieces by uttering the words “I hate my brain. I hate myself. I want to be someone else”. All because the system is failing him. For more information please to reach out to me.

To join SEPTSA go to https://newhartfordseptsa.memberhub.com

Ashley Sheaffer
SEPTSA President

Come join us!

https://newhartfordseptsa.memberhub.com

We’ll see you in two hours at the New Hartford Library!

Hope everyone had a happy and safe 4th of July weekend!

Reminder: There is a SEPTSA (Special Education Parent Teacher Student Association) meeting this evening at 6:30 at the New Hartford Town Library.

The meeting will be held in the Sammon room at the New Hartford Town library at 2 Library Ln, New Hartford, NY 13413. To easily access the Sammon room, park in the back of the library and enter through the back doors. Once in the library, take the steps down and the Sammon room is on the right.

Look forward to seeing you tonight!

What is SEPTSA?

“A Special Education PTA or SEPTSA is a unit organized for those interested in the issues of educating special needs and/or gifted and talented children.

A SEPTSA is designed to build strong partnerships amongst parents, teachers, administrators, existing PTA’s and the community, for the benefit of families and children receiving special education services.

SEPTSA’s bring awareness and information about special education services, educational laws and community supports to our members. Our hope is that children receiving special education services will be better understood, integrated, and embraced by schools and their community”

For more information regarding Special Education PTA’s visit https://nyspta.org or visit the local New Hartford, New York chapter at the next meeting on Monday July 8, 2024 at 6:30. The meeting will be located at the New Hartford Town Library in the Sammon room. You do not need to be a member of the New Hartford school district to join or be involved in the SEPSTA, you just need to share the same common goal.

The following slate is presented by the New Hartford SEPTSA's Nominating Committee for the 2024/2025 Officers for New Hartford SEPTSA

Ashley Sheaffer- President
Steve Gonyea- Vice President
Victoria Torres- Secretary
Carrie Corby- Treasurer

If you would like to run for one of the elected positions above – please send an email to: [email protected].

In the email please tell us your name, contact information, and what position you are interested in.

No other nominations from the floor will be accepted past midnight on June 29, 2024.

This by no means is the board for next year and ANY member of the SEPTSA can run for any of these positions which are open and can be contested.

The 2024-25 Executive Board election will take place on Monday July 1st at 6:30 PM via zoom link below:

Topic: New Hartford SEPTSA Meeting

Time: 6:30 PM

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84700049633?pwd=YjB3K2dBUlRPM3VKeTNLNmJPcEJXQT09

Meeting ID: 847 0004 9633
Passcode: SEPTSA33

to participate in the vote you must be a member:

to join SEPTSA
https://newhartfordseptsa.givebacks.com/store?limit=21&live=true

Our next SEPTSA meeting is Monday June 10th at 6:30 pm for SEPTSA.
New Hartford public library in the Sammon room.

Our agenda has been moved to a serious discussion and to discuss a plan for SEPTSA to be able to continue.

We don’t have enough members to continue as a PTA through NYS. If this does not change we won’t be able to continue.

We invited our regional director and the new regional director for 24/25 to our meeting to discuss the future of SEPTSA and if parents and teachers and students want this to continue we urge you to attend - join the committee and be part of it at the executive level.

Steve and I stepped up to run this committee because we were asked to by parents and it is important to us to build a community in New Hartford for parents and students to help facilitate advocacy and trainings and education.

At the start there were many parents who asked for this and wanted it and helped create it.

We are now at a place where this interest seemed to have changed and parent participation has declined. when a parent wants help we are here. Without invested school staff and parents to help us grow we don’t see how this can continue.

If you are interested in being part of helping SEPTSA continue and grow we ask you to join here -

https://newhartfordseptsa.givebacks.com/store?limit=21&live=true

And please attend the meeting Monday.

If you are interested in an executive position on the SEPTSA please let us know at the meeting or send a message at [email protected]

The President, Vice President, treasurer and secretary seats are accepting nominations and will need to be filled for the 24/25 year if we do continue.

Steve Gonyea and Carrie Corby

My upcoming PODCAST partner Heather Ash Burroughs is fearless and I can’t wait to continue advocating with her across this state for our disabled population and our children and our families across the autism and disability and mental
health spectrums…. It’s time the families of this state’s VOICES are truly heard. Stay tuned as we start recording our “FINDING COMMON GROUND” Podcast in Rochester next week. And find us on Facebook… at “FINDING COMMON GROUND”…

Gov. Hochul is leaving developmentally disabled NY-ers behind Nearly five years ago, a nonprofit-run group home with room for six young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) made plans to open in Westchester County, N.Y. With group hom…

Coming soon…

We have a little over a month for the fundraiser for SEPTSA which ends June 30th: We chose Crayola Flowers.

This helps us in many ways! We will be able to provide activities at school PTA events such as Zen Dens and have sensory and self care/coping activities as we did at Myles Elementary's Multicultural night this year. Fundraising also helps with paying required state fees for PTA dues and insurance so we can continue to provide advocacy and parent and student support.

Without support from membership and fundraising, we wont be able to continue to function.

The trainings and support we are able to provide to the school district and community could not happen without members who invest in SEPTSA. If each of you could share this throughout the month on your social media and with teachers, friends, colleagues, it would help.

Please consider ordering from Crayola and support our New Hartford Central School District Special Education PTSA, We appreciate your support as you purchase flowers for upcoming holidays and occasions.

Our fundraiser runs until June 30th so we have you covered!

To renew or share membership or become a member of SEPTSA, here is our membership link:

https://newhartfordseptsa.givebacks.com/store?limit=21&live=true

To learn more or become more involved in SEPTSA- contact Carrie at [email protected]

New Hartford Special Education PTSA Welcome to New Hartford Special Education PTSA's very own webshop. Make someone smile and help raise funds. Your generous support is greatly appreciated. Please spread the word...

It was such a pleasure to be in Albany the last two days, fighting for changes in the systems our children and families have to fight for and go through to get supports with their disabilities . Five NYADD regional and statewide leads AND two spouses attended the proceedings at the Capital for N.Y. State Assembly Disabilities Day. The children and families in this state dealing with issues with disabilities and autism and foster care and mental health issues deserve better. And we will continue to be their voices.

Welcoming NYADD Family Stakeholders to the Assembly (5.22.24) Assembly Member Seawright, Chair of the Committee on People with Disabilities, welcomes members of the New York Alliance for Developmental Disabilities Famil...

New Hartford Public Library and Literacy CNY have decided to have appointment-based technology help.

Starting Tuesday, June 4th, the tech help on Tuesday mornings will be on an appointment-basis ONLY and Tuesday morning drop-ins will be asked to signup for an appointment.

You can sign-up for a 45-minute appointment by calling the library (315)733-1535.

Questions can be directed to LiteracyCNY's Digital Literacy Coordinator, Lydia Torres, (315)643-0282, [email protected]

Super great disability and autism event. Our NYADD booth for families had hundreds of people taking the sign up flyers. The DSP sign generated at least 20 business cards to call me so that I can navigate them to local agencies and self direction etc…. So many flyers picked up on FSS, CCA, NYADD, Newsletters, NYADD sign up sheets, etc… I even handed out some NH SEPSTA info and actually have already gotten several calls to join.
Our children and families won today.

Our next Special Education PTSA meeting will be Monday May 13, 2024 at the New Hartord Public Library at 6:30 pm

Our zoom link for those who cannot attend in person is:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84700049633?pwd=YjB3K2dBUlRPM3VKeTNLNmJPcEJXQT09

Meeting ID: 847 0004 9633
Passcode: SEPTSA33

SEPTSA agenda:
SEPTSA business followed by the presentation of the school budget and board of education candidate meet and greet.

We are excited to have the candidates meet our association of parents and students to learn about New Hartford SEPTSA which is the first special education PTSA in the leatherstocking region something we are proud of!!

Thank you to the candidates for making the time for us. We are looking forward to meeting you so you can learn about us as well.

Anyone who wants to learn more about each candidate-

Click below

https://www.newhartfordschools.org/five-candidates-seeking-two-open-seats-on-the-board-of-education/

If you cannot attend the meeting, Any questions about how to join SEPTSA or if you want more information prior to the meeting can be emailed to:
[email protected]
We hope to see you there!

On teacher appreciation day we are hoping today every teacher felt appreciated and knows how important their job is.

As Brene Brown says, "No one does anything important by themselves today. Having a team to support you and a community to surround you are both critical". Through successes and mistakes, continue to learn and grow- knowing that the impact you make each day is huge and you are appreciated! Thank you teachers!

Saturday art show!
Check out these baskets!!

They will be raffled off at the Art Show and Tickets may be purchased at the art show, cash only. This will be a fantastic fundraiser for the NHCSD PTA Council, which supports the yearly district art show and various other programs through the district!

Myles students FYI

FIELD DAY IS COMING!
The Myles PTA is again proud to offer field day shirts for every student. There is NO cost to families. Please fill this form so your child receives the correct size shirt. The shirts does need to fit appropriately, as the students will engage in physical activities in them.

Deadline for these forms is Wednesday May 8th! Let’s get on it!!!
Fill out the form for your student(s) here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScKleJokMr9X_vqQilFhc0MV3BaThZEcX1GSRZacXxiqwhuRA/viewform

Reminder for our next meeting for SEPTSA is Monday April 29th at 6:30 at the New Hartford Library, Sammon Room.

Zoom is also available

New Hartford SEPTSA is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting-

Topic: New Hartford April SEPTSA Meeting
Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84700049633?pwd=YjB3K2dBUlRPM3VKeTNLNmJPcEJXQT09

Meeting ID: 847 0004 9633

Passcode: SEPTSA33

Alisa O'Hagan will be presenting on Diploma and Credential options for individuals with disabilities.

We hope to see you there!

Summer Camp resource! Check it out!

Now is the time to get a jump on your summer camp search using the Community Resource Tool. Search by city, county, or zip code.
https://lifeplanccony.com/community-resources/

The New Hartford District Art Show is coming up soon on May 4, and PTA Council would like to have two raffle baskets full of art supplies to raffle off at the event! PTA Council sponsors the art show every year, among other contributions. The council has very limited fund sources, so we are hoping to introduce this fun and easy fundraiser.

Please consider donating an item or two for the baskets to be raffle off at the event. We are hoping to have a basket designed each for both elementary and secondary student artists.

Most of the items below have links to make shopping easy.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F084BA4AB23A3FD0-48902983-artshow #/

Additionally, there is an option to donate gift cards, in any amount, for craft supplies.

Please bring your donations to any of the New Hartford Schools by Monday, April 29th. We appreciate your support!

Please reach out to Maggie Tallman at 315-525-6720 with any questions.

New York State - you need to do better for all of us. As a community we will continue to advocate to keep you accountable.

We advocated fiercely for two investments in the New York State Budget: A 3.2% COLA to meet rising costs and sustain programs, and a $4,000 Direct Support Wage Enhancement to meaningfully address our dire workforce crisis.

Unfortunately, the Health and Mental Hygiene budget bill includes only a 2.84% COLA.

New York has again failed to meet the needs of New Yorkers with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

New York has again failed to correct the crisis caused by deeply undervaluing our skilled workforce.

The 2.84% COLA will provide some funding to support the rising cost of operating programs, and stipulates that agencies use some of those funds to provide at least a 1.7% wage increase to most staff. It is something, but it is far from enough.

We are disappointed, and we are angry, but The Arc New York will not be discouraged by this budget. We will be invigorated.

Thanks to your passion and commitment and the voices of our Champions in the legislature throughout budget negotiations, the final budget nearly doubled the meager 1.5% investment proposed by the Governor in her Executive Budget. After a decade with no investment, we have conveyed our crisis, and seen small victories in the last few years.

Our fight has made a difference. But our fight is far from over.

The inclusion of the COLA makes it clear that state leaders heard the needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Now we need to make it clear a 2.84% COLA does not adequately meet those needs, or correct the damage done by a decade without investment in our services or workforce.

Our Chapters and families have been an incredible force this year. We traveled to rallies, raised our voices in the media, met with representatives, made thousands of phone calls, and sent more than 37,000 messages through our one-click campaigns.

We will build on that momentum to strengthen our advocacy moving forward. We will educate and advocate year-round. We will enhance our partnerships, improve our advocacy network, better leverage our size, and mobilize the entire Arc New York family with a united voice. Every one of you will be part of that work. Every one of you will help us be

New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities
Governor Kathy Hochul Andrea Stewart-Cousins Carl Heastie Honorable Speaker of the New York State Assembly Carl E. Heastie

Self advocates who are interested in working with individuals with disabilities and their families meeting one or more of these criteria:

Currently enrolled in a master’s program in one of the LEND disciplines at an affiliated university
Accepted to complete a pre-doctoral internship or a post-doctoral fellowship at WIHD
A self-advocate with demonstrated readiness to develop leadership skills and share disability perspectives with the trainee cohort
A family member of a child or adult with a disability with demonstrated interest in developing leadership skills and sharing family perspectives with the trainee cohort
Able to participate in a hybrid model from 8:45 AM to 5 PM on Thursdays from early September to early May (monthly in person at WIHD in Valhalla, NY and remote via Zoom)

Check out link for more information!

Apply to LEND Applying to the LEND Program Applications are now being accepted until March 31, 2024. REQUIREMENTS Demonstrated interest in working with individuals with disabilities and their families meeting one or more of these criteria: Currently enrolled in a master’s program in one of the LEND disciplines ...

A total solar eclipse is truly a once in a lifetime experience, occurring in the same place only once every 400 years. New York State will be at the center of it all in only a week on April 8, 2024. Learn more about here: https://www.iloveny.com/events/eclipse-2024/.

It’s not to often that so many of the people who our children with disabilities work with and support are in the same room. We have families coming and legislators and politicians and agencies like Kelberman and LIFEPLAN and HMHK and UCD and we even have parent support groups like NH SEPSTA but also a statewide group NYADD. The Governor is sending a representative. And many state agencies including OPWDD are attending. We need you parents and your children need their parents listening to this free event on April 6th, 2024.

New Hartford SEPTSA had our first Zen Den at Myles Elementary PTA Multicultural Night this past Friday night which was a fantastic event!
Thank you to Myles PTA and the event committee for the opportunity to provide this space and be part of your event!

All the kiddos loved our space. We are looking forward to providing this again and participating in more school events.
Thank you to one of our student PTSA members, Ella for all your help!

To get involved in New Hartford SEPTSA- and be part of creating our fun activities please join here!!

https://newhartfordseptsa.memberhub.com/store?limit=21&live=true

Survey time again!

New Hartford School District Special Education Parent Teacher Student Association (SEPTSA) would like some help in getting a survey completed by families, teachers, staff and anyone who would want to let us know what YOU feel is important to provide and train students, parents, teachers and community members who work with our students and schools.
Here is the link for the training survey developed by Alisa O'Hagan, School Age Professional Development Specialist at
The Central Regional Partnership Center and Family and Community Engagement Center. Please complete and share! Thank you for helping us help families and students in the district!

Family Information Sessions at SEPTSA Meetings Please select which information sessions you would consider to be the most helpful for the families of New Hartford Central School. You can select more than one. Thank you!

Last call for feedback:

We at New Hartford SEPTSA would like some help in getting a survey completed by families, teachers, staff and anyone who would want to let us know what YOU feel is important to provide and train students, parents, teachers and community members who work with our students and schools. This is really important. If we don't know what our families want, we cannot plan and schedule it.
Here is the link for the training survey developed by Alisa O'Hagan, School Age Professional Development Specialist at
The Central Regional Partnership Center and Family and Community Engagement Center.
https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSfSn8mVeN5.../viewform
We appreciate any feedback you would like to provide to us!

Information Sessions/Trainings Please select which information sessions you would consider to be the most helpful for the families of New Hartford Central School. You can select more than one. Thank you!

We at New Hartford SEPTSA would like some help in getting a survey completed by families, teachers, staff and anyone who would want to let us know what YOU feel is important to provide and train students, parents, teachers and community members who work with our students and schools. This is really important. If we don't know what our families want, we cannot plan and schedule it.

Here is the link for the training survey developed by Alisa O'Hagan, School Age Professional Development Specialist at
The Central Regional Partnership Center and Family and Community Engagement Center.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfSn8mVeN5_hYHyXmpy1JeVnCksSu_aZp7X84u4wJvs42Wsaw/viewform
We appreciate any feedback you would like to provide to us!

Information Sessions/Trainings Please select which information sessions you would consider to be the most helpful for the families of New Hartford Central School. You can select more than one. Thank you!

Due to the holiday and parents asking for another date for the meeting - our next meeting has been rescheduled to October 30th!