Our teachers work with an extremely diverse group of students. Academically the students’ abilities are wide ranging, but the staff uses their knowledge and patience, and the support of the Child Study Team, paraprofessionals, guidance, parents and administration to help each student become successful and independent.
Maureen Ivers’ classes completed a project that focused on the use of math in future careers and her geometry classes completed architecture projects using lines, points, and angles. The Anderson family, whose son is a member of the Environmental Club, donated pots and 50 trees from the Arbor Day Foundation. In addition, Mrs. Vogt donated pots and soil needed for the project. Mr. Sullivan, the Environmental Club advisor, and several special education teachers, Mrs. Scaff, Mrs. Picciotto, Mrs. Kernan, and Miss Shaw, had their students plant the trees together. At this point the trees are planted in pots, but will eventually be planted outside by the students mentioned above and the Environmental Club.
Anna Curley, and her Juniors and Seniors are writing holiday letters to soldiers in Iraq for the holidays.
Cindy Vogt and Patti May, in honor of September 11th had their students send cards to the veterans at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, DC.
Melissa Stiesi, Anna Curley and Danielle Duffy will be reinforcing the concepts of acceptance and diversity by mutually participating in the Diversity Door Decorating Contest.
Brain Rasp engaged students in the Stock Market Game to simulate the Stock Market crash. In addition, his students will be researching Supreme Court cases that regard school law and student’s rights.
In a cross curricular activity, Alex Scaff had her students design climate organism graphs that included precipitation and temperature, and required research and mathematics to create the visual image.
Linda Picciotto and Dina Lau reinforced the concepts of adaptation and environment by having their students create a “critter” that would survive in the given biome.
Melissa Stiesi extended her Mythology lesson by having students become a god or goddess; which resulted in the class learning about their peers.
Kim Kernan and Nikki Shaw’s students have been participating in the Therapy dog Program.
The Special Education department includes special education teachers, paraprofessionals, child study team members, speech, physical and occupational therapists and a structured learning educator. Together, the members of the department work to provide a relevant and rigorous education that fosters independence and self-determination.
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The Special Education Department provides a structure that parallels the regular high school program, but is flexible enough to accommodate the instructional needs of the students' Individualized Education Plans. We provide individual instruction at the students' level, thus ensuring success in an understanding of the required high school academic subjects.
The Child Study Team personnel (LDTC, psychologist and social worker) provide services such as consultation, evaluation and program planning. The team also acts as a referral service for all students who are experiencing difficulties in school. Please contact your child's guidance counselor for information or to make a referral.
The students have access to a variety of settings designed to help students achieve their full academic potential.
The in-class resource setting, which pairs a content and a special education teacher, is beneficial to all members of the classroom. Using their knowledge and experience, the teachers prepare lessons that will meet the needs of the students. This setting is available in Mathematics, Language Arts, Social Studies and Science.
The pull-out resource setting is also available in the core subject areas. In this setting, the special education teacher exposes students to the core curriculum material and provides an environment that is most suited to the individual learner. The use of technology, manipulatives, and supplemental material is available for reinforcement and review which will result in the mastery of academic concepts.
For students with multiple needs, we have departmentalized classes available. In addition to teaching the core subjects, the teacher stresses life skills that will be needed after graduation. The day to day activities that the students in the developmental class engage in have made them an integral part of the community at South. The activities include mail delivery, organizing and working at the school store and the morning announcements.
In the Structured Learning Experience students are placed into work sites based on interest and individual needs. A strong work ethic is emphasized and maintained to insure the success of the students and the program.