Academics
The Lake Drive Program provides New Jersey's most comprehensive continuum of educational opportunities for children with hearing loss, from ages 3 to 21, empowering them to fulfill their individual academic, communicative, social and personal potential. Lake Drive School is also the home of Sound Start Babies, Mountain Lakes Early Intervention Program.
Programs
Mountain Lakes Early Intervention
Preschool
Lake Drive Program has works with families and their districts to provide the appropriate preschool classroom for each individual student.
Listening & Spoken Language
Ivy Hall Preschool
Ivy Hall Preschool offers integrated preschool classrooms combining community children and children with hearing loss in the Lake Drive building.
Lake Drive provides a listening and spoken language classroom for students with hearing loss. The preschool is dedicated to the development of listening, speech, language, literacy and communication. Daily classroom instruction consists of academically and linguistically rich lessons specifically designed for the level of the students. The students are taught to maximize the use of their residual hearing through the utilization of hearing aids or cochlear implants while utilizing spoken language.
All classrooms in Lake Drive school provide the conditions necessary for optimal listening environments. Each classroom is equipped with a DAI (Direct Audio Input) DM system as well as a portable sound field system. The Lake Drive audiological diagnostic testing center has the capacity to program cochlear implants as well as provide onsite audiological assessments.
The school has a comprehensive academic program that is enhanced by allied subjects including art, music, and physical education, which the preschool students attend. All classrooms in the Lake Drive Program, including the preschool classrooms, have SmartBoard technology.
Services Available to Preschool Students:
- Speech Language therapy - 4 times per week/30 minutes sessions
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Classes taught by Teacher of the Deaf
- Summer Program
- Diagnostic and consultative services in: clinical audiology, psychology, occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech/ language/ listening intervention
Total Communication
The total communication preschool is dedicated to the development of listening, speech, language, literacy and communication. Daily classroom instruction consists of academically and linguistically rich lessons specifically designed for the level of the students. The students are taught to maximize the use of their residual hearing through the utilization of hearing aids or cochlear implants while utilizing spoken language, sign language or a combination of both.
All classrooms in Lake Drive school provide the conditions necessary for optimal listening environments. Each classroom is equipped with a DAI (Direct Audio Input) DM system as well as a portable sound field system. The Lake Drive audiological diagnostic testing center has the capacity to program cochlear implants as well as provide onsite audiological assessments.
The school has a comprehensive academic program that is enhanced by allied subjects including art, music, and physical education, which the preschool students attend. All classrooms in the Lake Drive Program, including the preschool classrooms, have SmartBoard technology.
Services Offered to Preschool Students
- Speech Language Therapy - 4 times a week/30 minute sessions
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Classroom taught by Teacher of the Deaf
- Small group instruction based upon the student's Individual Educational Plan
- Diagnostic and consultative services in: clinical audiology, psychology, speech and language, occupational therapy, physical therapy and social work
- Summer program
Elementary School
The Lake Drive Programs offer families with elementary age children educational options that enable each inpidual to most effectively develop the listening, speech, language, communication, literacy and academic skills necessary to function competitively within the community.
Instructional Choices
Auditory Oral
The auditory/oral program is dedicated to the development of listening, speech, language, literacy and communication so that students can function competitively within the hearing community. Daily classroom instruction consists of academically and linguistically rich lessons specifically designed for the level of the students. The students are taught to maximize the use of their residual hearing through the utilization of hearing aids or cochlear implants in order to learn spoken language.
A team of trained paraprofessionals and other support service providers compliments our highly qualified professional staff. All staff receives comprehensive training in the latest developments in technology and strategies for enhancing children's listening, speech and language development and learning. Staff has up-to-date knowledge and skills for working with children with hearing aids and cochlear implants. The auditory/oral classrooms are of sound structure and provide the conditions necessary for optimal listening environments. Each classroom is equipped with a DAI (Direct Audio Input) FM system as well as a portable sound field system. The Lake Drive state of the art audiological diagnostic testing center has the capacity to program cochlear implants.
The school has a comprehensive academic program that is enhanced by allied subjects including art, music, library, physical education, as well as extracurricular sports and activities. All classrooms in the Lake Drive Program have Smartboard technology and a high ratio of computers to students with access to computer-assisted learning opportunities.
Services Provided:
- Intensive auditory intervention and auditory learning
- Occupational therapy
- Counseling
- Physical therapy
- Auditory/Verbal Intervention
- Summer Program
- Intensive speech, language and listening intervention 4-5 times per week/30 minute sessions
- Inpidual and small group instruction based upon the child's Inpidual Educational Plan
- Diagnostic and consultative services in: clinical audiology, psychology, occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech/ language/ listening intervention.
Mainstream Program
When appropriate a mainstream educational program for allied and academic subjects are available for our Lake Drive students. This program is implemented, monitored and supervised by Lake Drive personnel.
- Mainstream education with comprehensive support services is available throughout the Mountain Lakes school district when appropriate.
- Lake Drive offers a team of itinerant teachers of the deaf who provide support and in-service education to students in their home school districts.
Organization of Mainstream Program
- Lake Drive School plans and organizes IEP in conjunction with student's home district case manager, parents, and staff at mainstream school.
- Students spend a portion of the day in mainstream with support services of teacher of the deaf as needed.
- Orientation and In-service training for teachers of mainstream classrooms.
- Team approach for monitoring student progress.
- Sensitivity and awareness sessions with hearing pupils.
Service to Parents
- Evening family education meetings
- Individual parent counseling
- Home-school communication log
- Social worker-led group parent information meetings
Staff
- Principal
- Supervisors of Instruction
- Fully certified Teachers of the Deaf
- Classroom teacher paraprofessionals
- School Psychologist
- Consulting Clinical Psychologists
- Occupational Therapists
- Physical Therapists
- Art Teacher
- Computer Specialist
- ASHA certified audiologists
- Music Teacher
- Certified Listening and Spoken Language Specialists
- Consulting specialists in other areas, as needed
- MSW certified social worker- bilingual services available
- ASHA certified speech and language pathologists with specialization in language, speech and auditory habilitation.
Total Communication
The total communication program is dedicated to the development of listening, speech, language, literacy and communication so that students can function competitively within the hearing community.
A team of trained paraprofessionals and other support service providers, including sign language interpreters, complements our highly qualified professional staff. All staff receives comprehensive training in the latest developments in technology and strategies for enhancing children's learning. Staff has up-to-date knowledge and skills for working with children with cochlear implants. We offer applied academic programming for students who need direct application of skills for reinforcement and comprehension.
Services to Students
- Simultaneous sign and verbal communication
- Small group instruction
- Educational audiological services
- Mainstream program
- Music
- Individual Education Plan developed in conjunction with sending school district's Child Study Team
- Full academic curriculum with emphasis on English
- Interpreter services
- Note-taker services
- Counseling
- Art
- Physical Education
- Computer instruction
- Intensive individual speech, auditory and language therapy 3-5 times per week (Speech pathologist ratio 1:12) with emphasis upon listening, speech language and literacy
Our program provides a comprehensive academic program that is enhanced by allied subjects including art, music, library, physical education and extracurricular sports. All classrooms in the Lake Drive Program utilize Smartboard technology as well as a high ratio of computers to students with access to computer-assisted learning opportunities. The Lake Drive state of the art audiological diagnostic testing center has the capacity to program cochlear implants.
Mainstream Program
When appropriate, mainstream education for allied and academic subjects, with comprehensive support services is available throughout the Mountain Lakes School District. This includes mainstream opportunities within the Wildwood Elementary School, Briarcliff Middle School, Mountain Lakes High School and the Morris County School of Technology.
Lake Drive also staffs a team of itinerant teachers of the deaf who provide support and in-service education to students in their home school districts.
Organization of Mainstream Program
- Lake Drive School plans and organizes IEP in conjunction with student's home school district, parents, and staff at mainstream school.
- Students spend a portion of the day in mainstream with support services of teacher of the deaf in mainstream, as needed.
- Orientation and in-service training for teachers of mainstream classrooms.
- Team approach for monitoring student progress.
- Sensitivity and awareness sessions with hearing pupils.
- Interpreter and note-taker services.
Services to Parents
- Reference Library: Books and videotapes
- Evening family education meetings
- Individual parent counseling
- Social worker-led group parent information meetings
- Sign language class
- Home-school communication log
- Evening parent education program
- Written progress reports 4 times per year
- Parent conferences and visitations twice annually and more upon request or need.
- Home and School Association
Staff
- Principal
- Supervisors of Instruction
- Fully certified teachers of the deaf
- Classroom teacher paraprofessionals
- ASHA certified audiologists
- School Psychologist
- Occupational Therapists
- Consulting specialists in other areas, as needed
- ASHA certified speech and language pathologists with specialization in language, speech and auditory habilitation
- Art Teacher
- Computer Specialists
- Music Teacher
- Certified Auditory/Verbal Therapists
- Audiological Technician
- Consulting Clinical Psychologists
- Physical Therapists
- Physical Education Teacher
- MSW certified social worker- bilingual service available
Middle School
The Lake Drive Middle School Program's focus is to help children develop their individual intellectual and creative potential. It is also a focus of middle school program to support children in their continued development of social skills, communication skills and interpersonal skills. The program allows children to gain an increased sense of responsibility, respect for others as well as for themselves. As the students build their academic knowledge and skills, they learn to work cooperatively and responsibly which helps them to increase and positively build their self worth and self-esteem. This will help prepare our students for the responsibilities, challenges and activities of a high school program.
The Lake Drive middle school program is housed within the Lake Drive building as well as the Briarcliff building. Programming within each building helps prepare the student for the opportunity to choose a high school placement based upon their individual academic, communicative, social and emotional progress and ability.
In the Lake Drive Program continuum, the middle school students continue to expand their intellectual, academic and creative potential in an environment of cooperation and responsibility building self esteem during the critical development period of pre and early adolescence.
Allied Subjects
Through allied subjects, students develop creativity, problem solving, computer skills, team building, self-esteem and an enduring appreciation for art, music and literature.
Music
Physical Education
Technology
Today's students require proficiency in computer technology to compete in school and business. Various types of technology are incorporated into the curriculum from preschool through graduation. The goal of computer instruction is to add to and improve their technology skills focusing on skills they will need now and in the near future.
Visual Arts
High School
The Lake Drive Program for Secondary Deaf/Hard of Hearing Students is housed at Mountain Lakes High School in Mountain Lakes,New Jersey. The curriculum is designed to foster academic and social skills,which are prerequisite to a successful post secondary education in an academic or vocational/technical setting. The program offers a wide variety of educational options and support services for deaf/hard of hearing adolescents in grades nine through twelve.
Academics
An Individual Educational Plan is developed for each student in the program. Both mainstreamed and self-contained classes are available in all academic areas. Decisions concerning class placement, academic program, and related services are the result of collaborative planning. Input from the student, the family, the educational team, and the sending district is considered when devising the student's IEP.
College Prep
Students will meet all academic requirements needed to pursue entrance into a two or four year college. All students will be given an opportunity to take the ACT (American College Test) in their junior and senior years with appropriate accommodations which generally include extended time and testing over multiple days.
Vocational School
Students have an opportunity to apply to the shared time program at Morris County Vocational School. Students who attend will pursue an elective in a career program. Students spend a half-day (AM) at Lake Drive Program in MLHS where they complete academic course work and may take advantage of social and athletic activities and the other half(PM) at the Vo-Tech School.
Morris County Vo-Tech Shared Time Programs
- Auto Body/Collision Repair
- Building Construction
- Building/Grounds/Maintenance Services
- Food Services
- Retail & Supermarket Careers
Services
- In Class Support
- Interpersonal Communication Classes
- Mainstream Staff
- Note Taking
- Support Services
- Academic Support
- Speech/ Language Therapy
- Motor Therapy
- Social/Emotional Support
- Audiological
- Interpreting
- Sign Language Classes
In Class Support
Interpersonal Communication Classes
Each student participates in a communication skills class designed to encourage the development of interpersonal skills, which will facilitate communication between the student and others in the home, school, community and world at large. More specifically, the class provides deaf/hard of hearing adolescents in a mainstream high school program, the opportunity to discuss and learn how to handle the social and educational challenges, which accompany a loss of hearing.
Mainstream Staff
Note Taking
Support Services
Academic Support
Certified teachers of the deaf are available to offer support services to students. Support might include preparatory teaching of vocabulary or concepts, reviewing textbook material or class notes,discussing written work, instruction in the use of study skills, or any additional work needed to teach missing concepts or skills. Students who wish to seek extra help directly from their mainstream teacher can arrange for interpreting services.
Speech/ Language Therapy
Each student may receive individual and or group speech and language therapy provided by fully trained and certified speech and language pathologists who are specially trained in deafness and are continuously updated in the latest educational trends and techniques, including auditory-verbal strategies to enhance speech, language, and listening. Speech and language pathologists are knowledgeable of both self-contained and mainstream course content and design therapy sessions to collaborate with vocational, academic and/or college preparatory requirements.
Motor Therapy
Social/Emotional Support
The Lake Drive Program counseling office has an "open door" policy so that any student in the program that is seeking a counselor may schedule an appointment, or to be seen urgently, if that is necessary, to facilitate the student's return to learning.
On-going counseling is also available to:
- increase self-awareness
- facilitate the development of positive self-concept
- facilitate the development of problem-solving skills
- develop a greater capacity for managing feelings
- enhance communication and social skills
Audiological
Interpreting
Sign Language Classes
Students, both hearing and deaf/hard of hearing, who wish to learn signed English have the opportunity to earn credit by enrolling in Sign Language I or Sign Language II. These classes are part of the Mountain Lakes High School curriculum. They are taught by a certified and experienced teacher of the deaf and include exposure to deaf culture and history.