Welcome and CAC Appreciation Fiesta Dinner

Welcome to the FIRST post of our San Joaquin County CAC blog. I hope you enjoy this site and learn a lot. I also hope that you will feel comfortable to post comments, suggestions and participate in this blog as it helps all of us. This isn't JUST for San Joaquin county or the Small schools I represent but for all and all are welcome to come to our sessions.
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We had our CAC Appreciation Fiesta last night. Being it was Cinco de Mayo, we had the theme Mexican based. Mexican food, decorations, drinks. It was a success! The kids seemed to have fun at the game booths we had set up and of course LOVED the Balloon Man!! WOW were there some GREAT creations tonight! I saw a BUG hat, a RAINBOW hat, I saw Fishing pole balloons with fish on the ends and lots more.

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The game booths we had were a fishing game, wiffle ball toss, ring toss over water bottles and pin the tail on donkey game. Each child got 5 tickets when they first arrived to play the games and each game they won a prize. The sticky wall climbers were the MOST LOVED!! Noah's wall climber got stuck up on the ceiling!! We tried the rest of the time to get it down but it wouldn't come down. Matter of fact, I think two more got stuck up there by the time the night was up. lol


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Then it was time to start the main part. Margaret St.George and Jody (Former Chairperson) spoke of those who won awards for nominations and the ones who spoke thru the year.

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We had a DELICIOUS dinner of beef and chicken fajitas, rice, beans, salad, nachos. They had drinks and Horchata. We had a delicious desert of churros and ice cream
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We then announced the winner of the Logo contest. The logo is in upper corner of this blog. ALLLL the drawings were GREAT!! It was HARD for us to decide to pick JUST ONE!!
CONGRATULATIONS to the winner!!

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I (Gina Marie) then announced next years topics and dates for the 09/10 year for CAC.

Next years topics will be:

Autism:
* Social Structures
* Strategies for appropriate community interactions
* Parental support (respite services, parent's well being, sibling interactions, family relations)

Behavior/Discipline:
* How to work towards lasting behavior change

Socialization
* How to make opportunities for your child to interact with peers
* Participation in community social activities
* How to model social skills
* Bullying/Teasing

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2009-2010 CAC Meeting Dates

Mondays (EXCEPT for Feb)

9-14-09 Mon AM - Burwood 1 (Encore 9-28-09 PM Justice Rm)
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10-5-09 Mon PM - Chartville 1 (Encore 10-19-09 AM Justice Rm)
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11-2-09 Mon AM - Greenwood 3 (Encore 11-16-09 PM Justice Rm)
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12-7-09 Mon PM - Chartville 1 (Encore 12-21-09 AM Justice Rm)
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1-11-10 Mon AM - Burwood 1 (Encore 1-25-10 PM Justice Rm)
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2-9-10 TUES PM - Burwood 1 (Encore 2-23-10 AM Justice Rm)
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3-8-10 Mon AM - Burwood 1 (Encore 3-8-10 PM Justice Rm)
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4-5-10 Mon PM - Burwood 1 (Encore 4-19-10 AM Justice Rm)
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5-10-10 - PM - Burwood 1 Appreciation Dinner

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We then ended the dinner and that was it for the 2008-2009 CAC year. It has been a GREAT, LEARNING year and I HOPE to see MORE teachers, educators, therapists, administrators AND PARENTS this coming year!! There is always MORE to learn!! So plan on coming and bring a friend.
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I have ideas already for NEXT years dinner and suggestions for making it easier.

Like:

1. Name tags for the Parent Reps so everyone and visitors especially know who we are.
   
   
2. Having high school students and possibly Tracy High cater the dinner and games so staff and parent reps can visit and mingle more with guests and spend time with our families.
   
   
3. Please leave your suggestions and comments on any ideas for next yrs sessions AND Appreciation Dinner!! We would LOVE to hear them!!!
   
   God Bless,
   Gina Marie
   (Chairperson and Parent Rep for New Jerusalem, Banta and small schools)