Hello,

This is it! School-year 2017-2018 is here. I hope you and your family carved out some time to relax and renew.  As always, summer flew by and while I wish I could extend it a few more weeks, I am looking forward to the fresh start that each September provides. As September quickly approaches, I would like to share some important information with you.

After 12 years of working as a Learning Disability Teacher Consultant (LDTC) for Haddon Heights School District, our own, Kathy VonThaden is retiring! Kathy has been working with Kelsey Thompson, our new LDTC, to pass on her knowledge. We wish Kathy the best in her retirement and welcome Kelsey as well as the new special education teachers and aides. 

The district continues to strengthen the Special Education Parent Advocacy Group (SEPAG) and the relationship with the Haddon Heights, Barrington, Lawnside, and Merchantville communities. I invite you to join us for a meeting and/or to celebrate an event. All are always welcome! On the district website, will soon be a list of the Ability Awareness Events and the SEPAG meeting dates, under the Child Study Team, Parent Advisory Tab. A Haddon Heights parent started a SEPAG Facebook page. This Facebook page is not affiliated or monitored by the school but can be accessed by searching for Haddon Heights Special Education Advisory Group.

This year the Haddon Heights School District is embarking on the 7th year of their Ability Awareness Initiative. The primary focuses of the initiative are to raise awareness and to work to build a world of inclusion. Although this is a constant frame of mind that the district promotes, new events to increase acceptance and raise awareness continue to be organized. Since its inception, Abilities Awareness has not only been embraced by the school community but also by the Haddon Heights Borough as a whole. We appreciate your support as well as the support of the community leaders and local businesses as you have been active partners in spreading this positive message with the goal of creating an accepting and inclusive town-wide environment. This year’s theme will be “Dream, Believe, Achieve!”

I look forward to collaborating with you. As I say to my boys (who need reminders often), “Teamwork makes the dream work!”

With high hopes,

Jocqueline Renner
Director of Special Education