Ken-Ton SEPTSA

„         Ken-Ton SEPTSA is a PTA unit in the Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda school district that strives to bring people together so that all children with special needs have an equal opportunity to develop to their full potential.  We provide a system for uniting persons involved with children of any age throughout the entire district and around Western New York in cooperation with individual school PTA units.  Ken-Ton SEPTSA is a unit in good standing with New York State PTA, National PTA and Ken-Ton PTSA Council. 

„         Ken-Ton SEPTSA is in our 19^th year.  The current President is Karen Proy, Vice President is currently an open position, Secretary is Debbie Jacob, Treasurer and Co-Fundraising Chair is Aimee Levesque, Co-Fundraising Chair and Ken-Ton PTSA Council Representative is Lisa Finn and Council Alternate is Lynette Hameister, Membership and Publicity Chair Debbie Jacob. Our membership fee is $6.00 for Adults and $4.00 for Children.

„         SEPTSA gives two scholarships each year to graduating seniors, from the Ken-Ton School District, who have been identified by the Committee on Special Education.  These scholarships recognize educational achievements and community service and are available to assist the students in further educational endeavors.  SEPTSA also gives out transition backpack awards, a community service award and in 2009 will embark upon a literacy initiative that will put books into classrooms with special needs children.

„         SEPTSA has a web site and updates it regularly. http://www.kentonseptsa.com/

„         SEPTSA’s e-mail address is   kentonseptsa@gmail.com

„         At each monthly meeting, SEPTSA brings in a guest speaker that is of interest to our membership.  If there is a topic or speaker you are interested in, please let us know.  SEPTSA promises to give voice to the concerns of parents and also to keep up-to-date on current special education issues within the District as well as across Western New York, Erie County, New York State and Nationally.

„         Ken-Ton SEPTSA is a member organization of Western New York Parent Groups.  Through this organization, we have sponsored parent nights in conjunction with the appearance of nationally known speakers presented by Parent Network of WNY.

„         In an effort to support the inclusion of special needs children in extracurricular activities, SEPTSA  cooperates with groups like Erie County Special Olympics, CAPS-Challenged Athletes Participating in Sports, and the Town of Tonawanda Youth Parks and Recreation Department.

„         SEPTSA assists parents in attending conferences in an effort to further their knowledge on special education and disability–related issues.

„         A lending library is maintained in room 122 of the Philip Sheridan building which contains books, films, and articles for parents and educators on a wide variety of special education topics.  A bibliography is available on our web site.  Members may borrow on a month-to-month basis.  We keep this library current and welcome donations of materials as well as funds to purchase new items.  Please Contact Aimee @ 876-3019 if you would like to borrow an item.

„         SEPTSA has done several fund raising ventures over the years.  Early on, the Buffalo Bills gave a grant; also, the Ken-Ton Friends of Youth gave SEPTSA two sizeable grants for the lending library as well as for SEPTSA’s scholarship fund.  Initially, the main fundraiser for SEPTSA was a craft show which raised money for our operating costs.  This has been replaced by a fish fry dinner and theme tray auction. A community cookbook was also created and sold.  SEPTSA parents have held garage sales, hot dog sales, and sold Bon-Ton Community Day booklets to benefit the scholarship fund, the agency fair, teacher of the year awards, and transition backpack awards. 

„         This year SEPTSA was awarded a 2009 National PTA Health Lifestyles Award for The Second Annual Northtowns Family Agency Fair, an event that unites organizations from around the Western New York community with Special Needs children, their families, and educators to provide timely information on services that are available to them and also to answer any questions they may have.  Agencies that attend provide services that range from medical to educational to recreational - so there is something for everyone into the future!  SEPTSA also received a National PTA Unit Achievement Award and a National PTA Healthy Lifestyles Award in 2008 for their hard work and dedication to the community in which they serve.