February 2010

Vol. 19, No. 4

When I take a look back at the beginning of this school year, I am encouraged by the breadth of our workshops and the member participation.  The Legal Guidelines and Emotional Disturbance workshops were well attended and received.  We also had a great turn out for the Munchausen’s by Proxy workshop.  Dr. Mary Sanders’ presentation was very interesting and her conversational style helped us understand this form of child abuse a little better.  We also hosted a School Psychology Week and holiday social.  Both were not very well attended, but hopefully in the future, more people will know about them and want to attend.  I hope that in the coming year we continue to meet your expectations and provide workshops that are both informative and promote professional development.

The next workshop, Autism Spectrum Disorders: Best Practices for School Psychologists, will be on Friday, February 5, 2010.  The speaker, Michael Slone, is the Director of Student Services for Cambrian School District.  See attached registration form for more information.  It is an all-day workshop.  The Emotional Disturbance workshop was extremely well attended and we did not have space for everyone who wanted to participate.  Registration is on a first come-first served basis, so please sign up early to guarantee your space.

The 2010 CASP Convention is Thursday, March 4 through Saturday, March 6 at the Hyatt Regency in Santa Clara.  The theme is “Helping Schools Invest in All Students.”  The convention includes a great line-up of keynote speakers, including Michele Borba, Ed.D., who is an internationally renowned educator and award-winning author who is recognized for her practical, solution-based strategies to strengthen child’s behavior, self-esteem, character, and social development, and to build strong families.  Another speaker, Kristine Grant, LMFT, CPC, is a School Psychologist who has designed a user-friendly, anti-bullying and self-empowerment 10-week program for children.  As usual, there were is a wide range of paid workshops, panel discussions, paper and poster presentations, and free workshops and sessions.  If you have not received a registration packet, visit the CASP website at www.casponline.org for more information.

Just a reminder, the American Psychological Association (APA) is still in the process of considering the revision of the wording of their proposed Model Licensure Act (MLA).  NASP leaders and staff have carefully analyzed the revised wording.  NASP and CASP strongly opposes a number of the proposed changes and the language that would seriously undermine services to children, families, and schools, as well as school psychologists’ professional identity and practice.  By attending the CASP convention and being a member of this association, you are supporting the organization that is the voice of all school psychologists in the state.  Please support the organization and your fellow school psychologists.

Thank you again to all of our members and their ongoing support of SCCASP.  Thank you also to Raquel Rey for volunteering as President Elect.  Raquel, I think I speak for all of us when I say, your time and energy is very much appreciated.

Best Regards,

Sarah Rodriguez, President