July 2011 Newsletter - Extended Articles Only
(original emailed newsletter here)
Nominations for the NH Parent Involvement Awards Open Until September 9
Do you know of a parent, educator, volunteer, parent-teacher group, or community organization that has made an extraordinary contribution to promoting parent involvement in education? Help them get the recognition they deserve while advancing the cause of strong family-school partnerships in NH. Simply download the Nomination Form here, complete, and return to us by September 9 by fax 224-4365, email frontdesk@picnh.org, or mail to the office.
Finalists (and their guest and nominators) will be celebrated at the NH Parent Involvement Awards on the morning of October 3 in Hooksett. The Awards are organized by the PIC to coincide with October as Parent Involvement in Education Month in NH. Governor Lynch has signed a proclamation to promote family engagement in education, both at school and at home.
Further details will be posted! For more information, call PIC at (800) 947-7005.
Apply Now! PIC’s Volunteer Advocates for Special Education Training Program Being Offered in Penacook, NH
Do you or someone you know want to learn more about the special education process? Do you or someone you know leave IEP meetings with more questions than answers? If you're answering yes, PIC's free Volunteer Advocate Training program is for you! PIC's Volunteer Advocate Training program, a nationally recognized training program since 1982, is only offered twice each year. This session is being held in Penacook on Tuesdays, October 4th through December 13th from 5:00 to 9:00 pm.
This 44-hour course is for parents and others who want to gain the knowledge and skills to support parents of children with disabilities in the special education process. The training program includes up-to-date resources and information that can help you learn to be an effective member of an IEP team. As a PIC Volunteer Advocate, you'll have access to information about additional trainings, receive statewide updates and e-newsletters, and be informed about networking opportunities to increase your parent leadership role.
Please pass the word along to anyone who you think might be interested. For more information on the training program and how to apply, please visit PIC on Special Education's website, call 1-800-947-7005 or email va@picnh.org .
2011 Maneuvering Through the Maze Update
Maneuvering Through the Maze is a resource guide formatted to take the reader from birth to adulthood with listings of state health and human services agencies, educational resources, private associations and organizations that serve people with physical, developmental, mental health and chronic illnesses and their families. Many organizations and services that can be accessed by all state residents, such as housing, childcare, etc. have been included. A new feature of the online guide is the hyperlink of all websites.
This guidebook is also available in hard copy (a $15 donation is suggested to enable us to continue with print copies) or downloaded free from the website. For more information contact NH Family Voices (800) 852-3345 X 4525 or www.nhfv.org.
NCLB Online Course for Parents – The Class is Free, Plus Earn a Free Video or CD!
Have you ever wondered just what the No Child Left Behind law means for your child and your school? Are you curious about why so 
many schools in NH are "failing" under this law? As a parent do you want to know more about this law and your rights?
NH State PIRC has created a free online course to answer these questions and more. The course covers such topics as:
- NECAP Testing
- Your School's NCLB Report Card: Where to Find It, How to Read It
- Title I Law and the School's requirements to involve and help parents
- Parent Options: School Choice and Supplemental Educational Services
- How Parents Can (and Are) Partnering with Schools in NH
- Why More and More Schools are "Failing" under No Child Left Behind
When you complete the course, you will be eligible for one of four free DVD or CD products, each aimed at helping you prepare your child for a lifetime of successful educational experiences. For more information about this course or to get started with it, please visit
http://tinyurl.com/NH-NCLB-Course.
This course does NOT address issues related to special education and No Child Left Behind. For such questions, please call PIC on Special Education at 224-7005.
Padres Activos de Hoy: Today’s Active Parent
Padres Activos de Hoy, a program designed to bring awareness and alternative methods of parenting skills to Spanish-speaking parents was held at Dr. Norman Crisp Elementary School, in Nashua. On three consecutive Wednesdays, parents attended 90 minutes of discussion, video and instructional activities in the PIRC parenting room the school has for parent’s use.
Discussed topics included giving children choices, confidence in their abilities to do things under supervision, self-esteem, and logical consequences. Logical consequences are used as teaching tools for the child to understand the connection between their behavior and the aftermath of that behavior.
Parents were asked on their thoughts of the difference between discipline and punishment. How are they different? Which one is more effective? These were some of the issues raised.
Reared in different cultures, these parents expressed their gratitude on how they will work toward raising their children differently. Speak and listen more to their children instead of yelling, stimulate their independence instead of making choices for them, especially as the child gets older, and encourage learning.
Because a child’s success at school reflects the home environment where he or she lives, and parents play an active role in making the home environment a loving and safe place for their children.
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