Success Stories from the North Country Region
White Mountains Regional School District Collaboration
provides Parents Information and Support
This year WMRSD and the Parent Information Center have offered several workshops about the Special Education Process—from Individual Education Plans to Resolving Conflicts. The participants in the workshops have been both special education staff and parents. The interactions between the two parties have encouraged trust between the two parties with both understanding more about the feelings of the other.
“These events have been so successful that the times and dates have been extended so that more information is exchanged”.
“These workshops have been excellent for both WMRSD and the parents of the District”. (one these quotes will be chosen to “pop” on constant contact message)
Through a grant from the Tillotson Foundation WMRSD has worked collaboratively with White Mountain Community College, Weeks Medical Center, Family Resource Center, Watch Me Grow, and Mental Health to present workshops in the areas of language, health and nutrition, behavior, motor skills, literacy, real play. Our first workshop focused on the benchmarks that were developed for each of the above areas for children birth to 6. These workshops target preschool parents in both private and public facilities, and are held each month in Lancaster and Whitefield with a new presenter each month. We provide a meal for the parents and children as well as childcare. We seem to have a consistent number of parents who attend and it appears that the preschool parents feel more comfortable coming to school and talking with staff. It is so nice to hear parents comment about trying some of the activities that are being presented and how these activities are working positively with their children at home.
Another series of workshops being offered from December, 2010 to March, 2011 is with David Freshi, our consultant for the students with autism. David is presenting a series of workshops with the first two focusing on social stories for home. He will continue those for a second month and then focus on other workshops addressing parent concerns at home. The first workshop was extended another month because of all the questions that the parents had regarding writing social stories along with behaviors that David did not cover all the material for that workshop.
Marie Fay, Director of Student Services at White Mountain Regional School District SAU# 36
