| Thank you, SENIA Friends.
While another school year comes and goes, your commitment to the individuals we support remains true and strong. We will be taking the month of July off to rest and rejuvenate, and we encourage you to take this time to take care of yourself. Do whatever it is that makes you the awesome people you are: exploring nature, going to the beach, spending time with friends or family, gardening, reading...ah... so many options!
We do have one request beforehand, however. Explore this newsletter and make a plan for your professional development for the 2022-2023 school year. We hope you'll join our virtual conference AND come to an in-person conference in either Europe or Africa. We are so excited to meet you in person, network, and learn from all of you.
Once that's planned, go and do all those relaxing things you love to do, and always know we appreciate you! Lori Boll SENIA International Executive Director Friendly Reminder: We have lots to share in our newsletter. When you see 3 dots, be sure to click "see more" so you don't miss out on anything. |
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Level Up Your SENIA Connection |
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Have you looked into leveling up your connections with SENIA? We have two types of memberships to choose from: Member School and Individual. -
SENIA Member Schools enjoy SENIA leaders' support no matter where you are on your journey to a more inclusive school.
- All (School and Individual) members receive discounts to SENIA in-person events, a badge for resumes, websites and email signatures, and entry into our confidential networking platform.
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Europe - Just 13 weeks to go! |
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It's June and this school year is coming to the close. Are you planning on attending SENIA Europe in Bonn, Germany? Then be sure to register soon (before August 1st) so you can receive a lifetime membership to SENIA. |
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Individual Registrants: save $50 USD if you register before August 1st. You know it's going to be awesome, so why not register today?
School Flat Rate: Last year we had many schools and school districts worldwide who signed up to bring their entire staff. At less than $99 USD per person, this is a fantastic deal. Sign up before August 1st, and you'll save $1,000 off of this already incredible rate. Groups of 10 or more from your school save over 50% off the individual price. - Bring 10-24 pax and come for just $125 per person.
- Bring 25-60, and it's just $99 per person.
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We are excited to once again offer the opportunity to present at the virtual conference. Join some of the most influential people in the Inclusion Revolution and send in your proposal today! Presenters will be given free admission to the conference. Please view our presenter expectations here, and then submit a proposal today! Submissions due July 1, 2022. |
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South Africa
Save the Date: February 16-18, 2023 |
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SENIA Certification Program Next Course Begins July 4th |
We've had over 80 individuals participate in our coursework, and in July, our first cohort will receive their Level One certification. Our courses are perfect for the beginning to intermediate level Learning Support teacher or general educators who want to learn more about supporting students with learning differences. Take one course or all six. Educators who take all six earn a SENIA Level One certification and badge for their resume and email signature. In July, we'll be offering "Implementing Inclusion Systems." Sign up for all 6 course now and get one course free. Enrollment is on a rolling basis; start at anytime. |
Need a Little Financial Boost? |
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Congratulations to Hajime Chiba as June’s World Changer Award recipient.
Hajime is a voice of self-awareness, acceptance and inclusion. Hajime is a 9 year old boy, who currently attends Concordia International School, in Hanoi, Vietnam. He was diagnosed with ADHD in grade 2 and strategies were put in place to support him at home and at school. Hajime raises awareness and inclusion around ADHD in his community through education. He does this by delivering video presentations educating the students and teachers at Concordia International School about ADHD and the needs, challenges and successes that goes along with it. He sees his difference as a superpower and inspires others to do the same. He allows an accepting space for others to relate and identify with their own learning needs. He aims to be an influence of acceptance to a wider community in the future. Congratulations Hajime on sharing your superpowers with others!
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SENIA Youth Board Are Recruiting!
Looking for a way to get more involved with providing resources and support for differently-abled individuals? Get involved with SENIA Youth! Built by a network of youth around the worldwide we offer a wide variety of positions to get involved.
To inquire about joining the core team, please complete the follow form: https://forms.gle/rbT2KWJ1LtKPhrPg8 .
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Hajime Chiba is this month's SENIA World Changer Award winner. Listen to his presentation to his fellow students explaining his ADHD brain! |
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Local Chapter Highlight: SENIA Beijing |
Words of Gratitude
How to describe SENIA Beijing? For me it is more than voluntary work. It is an “invisible place and time” where people come together building dreams for a better society. Based in the capital of China, here everything is intense. As a foreigner, many of us coming from across the Pacific Ocean, China is indeed a place full of challenges and opportunities.
Those who come to SENIA Beijing create a multicultural group, where human rights, different abilities, western and eastern cultures intertwine. This fascinating city depicts SENIA Beijing as a unique and special place - our true north. Based on the mission and vision of SENIA, We Dream Big. Over the years, SENIA Beijing initiatives have diversified and intensified the city scene. Free and reputable resources, partnerships, job advertisements, webinars/workshops, movie time and discussions, newsletters, external expertise lists, youth projects, pre-conferences, and conferences have made SENIA-Beijing the go to resource inside and outside of China.
The 500 member strong SENIA Beijing community, always rises up to help each other, especially when we face challenging times. As we’ve witnessed in the recent past, these times bring us countless opportunities to be there for those who are in need and share the diverse strengths and expertise of the SENIA Beijing chapter. Our aim is to provide support and opportunities for all to thrive not only in school but in life. Being part of the board is an honor and privilege. Our compassionate team is the energy force that ignites actions for change. Gratitude! This word expresses what it means being part of the SENIA Beijing community. More than a chapter, we are strengthening and broadening out friendships. By Juliane Karlsson- SENIA Beijing Media Chair |
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The Effective Teaching Assistant: A Practical Guide to Supporting Achievement for Pupils with SEND, by Abigail Gray and Melanie Wright has just recently hit the shelves. This book is a deep dive into the inner workings of those that work as assistants to support multi-sensory approaches as well as differentiation in the classroom.
I really appreciate that the book includes many checklists and audits such as the Pupil Participation Audit and an Intervention Grid. All the checklists and audits included can be downloaded as editable documents which helps serve so many! While the book is written by two British practitioners and references British SEND law, it will still be beneficial for teaching assistants working in international schools. This book is beneficial not only for those working as teaching assistants, but those that are managing teaching assistants.
Reviewed by April Remfrey, SENIA Director of Finances | |
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This month, host Lori Boll speaks with Dr. Jack Naglieri. Some of you may recognize that last name. Yes, he is the creator of the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test. Jack and Lori speak about how traditional IQ tests do not measure how students think. Rather, they measure what they know - which is an inherently biased and unfair practice. Today’s conversation is eye-opening and hopefully gets us all thinking about changing the traditional system and the benefits of doing so.
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