The events during the NASP Convention in Boston were very exciting for MSPA Members. MSPA organized the Opening Irish Party on Tuesday evening for all attendees. MSPA additionally hosted a private party for all Massachusetts school psychologists. Our competent president Susanne Toomajian greeted the entire body of attendees at the Opening Ceremonies. MSPA manned the Information Booth for the entire week providing guidance for visitors to get them around the city and around the many hotels. Especially ‘hats off’ to the Boston school psychologists who really came through bringing their expertise to host visitors. Two additional very special events took place, an award was given to MSPA member Jen Reen and Dr.Lou Kruger presented his documentary film to a packed house. Finally MSPA was well represented with posters, papers, mini-skills presentations and workshops. We were blessed with great weather and a wonderful time was had by all.

Symposium 25 Symposium on School Psychology Supervision: Research from Experts to Interns.
Tuesday, February 24 4-5:20 PM
Maine Marriott (5th Floor)
Participants: Mike Curtis, Leigh Armistead & Alana Lopez; David Makin-Byrd; Paula Gill Lopez; Nancy Evangelista & Virginia Smith Harvey; Barbara Fischetti

Research reports on: The current status of supervision; What do school psychologists need and what do they get from supervision? Supervision and support for new practitioners; Does payment make a difference for internship?

Symposium 26 Symposium on Creating Collaborative Workshops: Improving Field Supervision and School Psychology Practice.
Wednesday, February 25, 8-9:50
Maine-Marriott (5th Floor)
Participants: Virginia Harvey (UMass Boston), Bob Lichtenstein (MSPP), Diane Cooke (Worcester State), David Gotthelf (Newton), Diana Finer (Tufts), Caroline Wandle (MSPP), Chei Li (NU), Joan Struzzero (UMASS and Northeastern and Scituate) and Andria Amador (BPS).

Adequate and appropriate supervision of interns is frequently identified as a significant problem by training programs while, on their part, field placement sites indicate that training programs have expectations for interns that are not “in synch” with district expectations of school psychologists (Harvey & Struzziero, 2008). This symposium will describe the development and provision of a supervision institute, a dynamic method to simultaneously synchronize expectations of training programs and field placement sites through collaboration between school psychologists from multiple school districts and trainers from multiple training programs. Participants will leave with concrete strategies for preparing, providing, and appraising the outcome of workshops in their local area. Ample time will be allowed for questions and answers.

Mini-Skills 049 The school psychologist as researcher and change agent using Participatory Action Research.
Thursday, 8:00 – 9:50
MIT-Marriott (3rd Floor)
Presenters: Hazel, C., Pearrow, M., & Shriberg, D.

Poster 448 High-stakes testing: Deciding to Whom and When to Target Interventions
Thursday 8-9:30 a.m.
Presenters: Denise R. Foley & Jill McConaghy

Poster PO147 Guided Report Writing
Marriott Grand Ballroom Salon E
Friday, February 27 8-9:30 a.m.
Presenter: Terry Bontrager

Mini-Skills 105 Addressing the Psychoemotional Needs of Abused and Neglected Children.
Friday February 27 8:00 AM to 9:50 AM
Marriot, Northeastern
Presenters: Norris M. Haynes and Joy Fopiano

Workshop 31 Workshop on Supervision and Long Term Career Development
Thursday, February 26 12:30-3:30 PM
Presenters: Virginia Harvey (UMass Boston), Joan Struzzero (UMASS and Northeastern and Scituate)

This workshop is designed for individuals functioning as administrators of school psychological services who typically delegate assignments, design service delivery, conduct formal personnel evaluations, design corrective actions, recruit and hire, and take ultimate responsibility for services provided by supervisees. Administrative supervisors also provide leadership, conduct program evaluations, serve as change agents, and promote effective educational practices at the district and state level. Knowledge and skills requisite for leading, managing, recruiting, conducting performance evaluations, addressing multicultural issues, attending to ethical dilemmas, dealing with impaired supervisees, and developing and implementing effective professional development programs will be addressed.

Poster 007 Youth empowerment programs with urban and high-risk youth. Participant information exchange session
Friday 2:00 – 3:30.
Presenters: Pearrow, M., Desai, S., McCabe, D., & Materrazo, J.

Mini-Skills 010 Taking Strides to Strengthen Children’s Capacities to Regulate Emotion
Friday 2:00-3:50
Tufts-Marriott (3rd Floor)
Presenter: Gayle L. Macklem

PA035 Combining Skill and Performance Class-Wide Interventions to Enhance Mathematics Fluency
Friday, Feb 27, Time: 3-3:50
Grand Ballroom A-Marriott (4th Floor)
Presenters: Robin Codding, Lisa Chan-Iannetta, Molley Palmer, & Gracia Lukito

Jillian’s on Lansdowne Street is the place that school psychology students will gather Friday evening of the NASP 2009 Boston Convention. Jillian’s, is located behind Fenway Park. It is a multi-domensional entertainment megaplex. There are two restaurants (Tequila Rain and the Southwestern restaurant is on the first floor), 30 tournament caliber pool tables, darts, table tennis, foosball, great bowling, a dance floor, and plasm screen televisions. Best of all – it is only one ‘T’ stop from the convention hotels. Casual dress is recommended for the games floor and a little nicer dress for the dance club. This locale is considered ‘awesome’ by Boston students.

Stroll down the cobble stone streets, wind your way past open-air cafes, smell rich cappuccino brewing as you nibble on a fresh made canoli. No you are not in Italy but in the wonderful and historic North End of Boston. This Italian village nestled in the heart of Boston is teeming with over 87 restaurants, cafes and bakeries. From the “world famous” Mike’s Pastry on Hanover Street to the generous serving sizes at Ls Famiglia Giorgio’s located at 112 Salem Street, there is something for everyone. You can’t miss the Eggplant Rollatine served at Mother Anna’s Restaurant. Thinly sliced pieces of eggplant lightly fried, and then stuffed with a blend of cheeses and baked in a delicious red sauce. It is worth the trip to this quaint restaurant located on Hanover Street at the entrance to the North End. Come and visit. You will not be disappointed. Manga!

Andria Amador, NASP in Boston Committee

Boston Restaurants

Legal Sea Foods and Other Boston Restaurants

Legal Sea Foods restaurants are popular among visitors to Boston. There is a Legal Sea Foods restaurant at Copley place near the NASP hotels. The specialty of the house is clam chowder but the menu is also features crab cake, shrimp dishes and sea scallops. Although this restaurant is popular with tourists, there are many others to try.

Haru Restaurant

Haru at 55 Huntington Street, is an exciting modern Japanese restaurant located in the Back Bay area of Boston, centrally located below the Prudential building (55 Huntington Ave). This restaurants’ elegant and tranquil decor is perfect for unwinding and enjoying delicious food! They have a large sushi and sashimi selection that is both phenomenal and extremely fresh. There are numerous options for vegetarian sushi as well as cooked entrees that are generous in portion and full of flavor. Great appetizers include their Edamame, Shrimp Shumai and Tempura. The Chilean Sea Bass is a great cooked entrée option. For sushi, Haru’s menu includes white tuna as well as more than thirty other types of fish. Specialty Maki rolls are both unique and fun to try if you are feeling adventurous.

Samantha Paris, NASP in Boston Committee

Joe Tecce’s Restaurant

One of Boston’s popular destination restaurants. For over 50 years, Joe Tecce’s has been serving its customers great food for a great price. It specializes in traditional Neapolitan cuisine and a memorable dining experiencEach of Joe Tecce’s six dining rooms captures the essence of authentic Italian dining, allowing guests to not only taste but feel the ambiance of Italy’s culture. Some call the décor tacky, but it is definitely interesting. For example, Joe Tecce’s Grape Room has been called one of the most ornate and beautiful dining rooms in Boston’s North End. Hundreds of thousands of grapes adorn the walls, surrounding diners with the authentic feel of an Italian vineyard on a warm summer night. In addition, some of the walls of Tecce’s landmark restaurant are covered with photographs of celebrities who dined there. The late House Speaker Thomas P. ”Tip” O’Neill, along with Massachusetts governors and legislators, were regulars. Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Nancy Reagan, Jimmy Durante, Don Ameche, Al Pacino, Nat King Cole, and boxers Rocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler, as well as many of Boston’s sports figures, have eaten there. Fridays and Saturdays Tecce’s has live music in the cafe from 5:30pm to 8:30pm where a light menu is served.  Complimentary hors d’oeuvres are offered on Friday evenings.

Barbara Miller, NASP in Boston Committee

Lala Rokh Restaurant

For something really unique, visit Lala Rokh. Lala Rokh is located in Beacon Hill and is the only Eastern Mediterranean restaurant of its kind. The chef uses staples from Azerbaijan to recreate Persian cuisine. Dishes are tasty, artistic, authentic and unusual. Featured dishes include Chelo Kabob and Ash. The restaurant has been positively reviewed by Gourmet Magazine, as well as all of the local papers. Reservations are recommended.

Gayle Macklem, NASP in Boston Committee