Academics

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.

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

The Music Program addresses children's diverse hearing abilities through a variety of tactile and kinesthetic activities that allow children to enjoy music through different modalities. Children experience music through song, dance, creative movement and rhythm.

From primary grades to middle school, students develop the basic motor skills to enjoy team sports in a spirit of camaraderie and competition. Project Adventure games stress thinking, team tasks and cooperation.

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.

The Lake Drive arts program brings art to life through multimedia resources teaching art history, criticism and process using a variety of materials with an emphasis on personal expression.

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.

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

A Lake Drive Program staff member accompanies the students in each program at the vocational school. The staff member is dually certified as a teacher of the deaf and an educational interpreter.

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 teachers receive in-service preparation regarding the deaf/hard of hearing students in their classrooms. The Lake Drive high school counselors remains in contact with staff regularly to ensure academic success.

Deaf/hard of hearing students in mainstreamed classes may request, through the classroom teacher and the academic interpreter, to have a hearing classmate serve as volunteer note-taker. Copies of class notes are usually ready before the end of the school day.

A variety of support services are available to all deaf/hard of hearing students in the Lake Drive secondary program. Students can take advantage of some/all of these depending on their individual needs and IEP.

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.

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.

Students may also receive occupational and/or physical therapy provided by trained and certified motor therapists. The number of inpidual and/or group sessions provided to a particular student is based on inpidual needs.

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

Full-time audiologist on staff at Lake Drive School. Each student receives an annual evaluation completed at Lake Drive School. When appropriate, students have access to a FM system as well as maintenance of hearing aids and earmolds.

Interpreters are available for mainstream classes. With sufficient notification, an interpreter may be available for extra curricular activities including sport teams and clubs.

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.