Dear Parents/Guardians,

On behalf of the Child Study Team and the Special Education Department, I would like to welcome all students and their families to the 2021-2022 school-year! 

Check out the Special Education Department's gift to you, our "3 Words" project!

This year we welcome a few new teaching staff members and Jane Lemon as a Learning Disability Teacher Consultant to our team. I remain eager to begin my 11th year as the Director of Special Education for the Haddon Heights School District. I am proud of our team and their commitment to the students. As we move closer to a normalized school-year, I hope you keep in mind our theme, "You are enough." This is inspired by Sofia Sanchez. Check out this video to listen to the book inspired by her! You are Enough

This year, we continue to focus on several initiatives! Social Emotional Learning and Mental Health continues to be a top priority to us! See the Techniques to Build Resilience and Manage Emotions. We also have some exciting news about our REACH Plus, 18-21 Program. In the 2020-21 school year, I along with Reach Plus program teachers, Kirby Goold and Chelsea Fagely, created a proposal for an accessible college program for our 18-21 year old transition students. The goal of this proposal was to create an accessible college experience for our neurodivergent population in Haddon Heights. After multiple correspondences and meetings with the Rowan University College of Education team, we have entered a collaborative partnership. The Haddon Heights Reach Program in Partnership with The College of Education at Rowan University will enter a phase of planning and development throughout the Fall 2021 semester, in preparation for the implementation of a pilot program in the Spring 2022 semester. The team at Rowan University is in alignment with the Reach Plus core values and philosophies, and is dedicated to helping us create wholly inclusive educational opportunities for our students at a collegiate level.

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, Ability Awareness Events and the SEPAG meeting dates are updated as events are organized, under the Child Study Team, Parent Advisory Tab.

As we prepare for the school-year, we want you to know that we are committed to providing you and the students with the support needed to be successful. We will continue to work to identify ways to overcome challenges and celebrate successes! Please log on to PowerSchool to identify the Case Manager/s for your child/children. This year's assigned Case Manager will be updated and listed in August under your address at the top, left side of the screen. We are here to help!

Thank you for continuing to share your encouragement and support of the Child Study Team and Special Education Department. The team wants you to know that we, more than ever, are here for you and your child/children!

Sincerely,

Jocqueline Renner