62°
VALHALLA, N.Y. The Valhalla School District Special Education PTA (SEPTA) held a tag sale fundraiser at the middle school/high school parking lot Saturday, which is one of five fundraising events held by SEPTA throughout the school year, according to organization president Rita Sullivan.
We only have 14 percent special needs kids in the school district so were not servicing thousands of kids but for the small percentage we have, were trying to raise money and help them and help the teachers get the materials that they need, Sullivan said. They cant get that from the school because of the budget and bad economy.
All items at Saturdays tag sale were donated by Valhalla community members. Each of the SEPTA board members has a child with special needs and the community has been a major part of SEPTAs success since its inception four years ago, according to Sullivan and Valentina Belvedere, former SEPTA president.
I cant tell you the satisfaction to see, after four years, the community finally supporting the Special Education PTA, Belvedere said. In the beginning people just thought, Well my kids not in special ed, but its not just for kids that are in special ed, sometimes kids that are in regular classes might get pulled out for services like additional time in a resource room.
Sullivan noted the importance of SEPTA to be in contact with special education teachers to make sure they have all the tools necessary.
Its also about helping the school district and teachers and district to teach the kids at the pace and level that they need to be taught in order for them to succeed in the school district so that they progress every year, Sullivan said. All of their disabilities lessen over time and they function better in the classroom.
Next Saturday afternoon Oct. 15, SEPTA will hold its first annual fall festival for children near the high school baseball field as part of homecoming weekend festivities.
The event will be $10 per child and each will get to decorate a pumpkin, learn Halloween activities taught be a teacher, apply temporary tattoos, have their face painted, etc.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Armonk and receive free news updates.
