The Parent Advisory Council is a collaboration between parents and the Special Services Department of Cedar Grove. By working together, our goals are:

• To provide support and advocacy for families with children who have special needs.

• To develop more effective communication between parents and special services personnel in the schools.

• To provide programs and information for parents and professionals on current topics in education.

• To improve the educational, recreational, vocational and social programs for our children.

• To keep abreast of federal, state and local legislation that may affect the education of exceptional children.

By working together, we can help our children grow and help the community to better understand the special needs of our children.

R.E.A.L.I.S.E. (Realizing Excellence for Alternative Learners In Special Education) is a town-wide group that has been created to assist students with learning differences in Cedar Grove. R.E.A.L.I.S.E is under the auspice of the Special Education Department in Cedar Grove. Our goal is to ensure that children with special needs in Cedar Grove lead rich, active lives and participate as full members of their schools and community

WHAT DO WE DO?

Some of our activities include:

• Working with the Special Education Department in Cedar Grove to enrich existing programs Establishing programs within the community in which all children can participate

• Sharing information and resources to better serve families who have children with special needs

• Creating opportunities to socialize and celebrate our unique, exceptional children

• Planning and organizing activities and education for Autism Awareness month BE PART OF THE FUN!

R.E.A.L.I.S.E. coordinates fun activities for all members of the family to enjoy:

• End of ESY Celebration - join in on the end of Extended School Year celebration

• Family Fun Day - take part in a day of Family Fun in the Fall

• Coffee Talk – once a month parents gather to relax and chat over coffee & tea

• Parents Night Out – leave the children at home and socialize with parents

• Story Time – enjoy story time for children with special needs at the public library

Contact Suzanne Trupia via Email or Tami Grancagnolo via Email for more information on how to join.