Group dedicated to students receiving special ed. services

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - The Parent Advisory Council for Excellence (PACE) has been established for the Freehold Township K-8 School District.

The primary goal of PACE is to help involve parents in their child's educational experience. The group is dedicated to the families and children receiving special education services. This includes self-contained, resource rooms, in-class support, inclusion in general education classes and out-of-district placements.

According to a press release, the group's mission is to develop a strong network of parents that can share information, experiences and concerns in a positive and supportive environment. PACE wants to keep the lines of communication open with school administrators and foster a proactive working relationship. The group's goal is to have periodic meetings consisting of guest speakers, an open forum to discuss concerns, and an occasional get-together in the community to talk and provide support.

The PACE board is comprised of parents of children receiving special education services. The co-presidents are Cathie Georges and Barbara Carter. The group's treasurer is Rita Reilly.

PACE will host a meeting with the topic of "How Parents Can Help Their Children Develop Better Social Skills" at 7 p.m. April 11 in the conference room at the school district offices adjacent to the Early Childhood Learning Center, 510 Stillwells Corner Road.

The guest speaker will be Kathleen Cable, the director of Camp Excel, a specialized summer camp for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder, Asperger's disorder, learning disabilities, and others with social skills challenges. Cable has taught as an adjunct professor at Georgian Court University, Lakewood. She maintains a private practice and specializes in the treatment of ADHD and social skills groups for children.