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Elementary Program Overview ·
Deaf Infant Program ·
Preschool Program ·
Elementary News Page
Patricia Velocci
Elementary Principal
pattyv@smsdk12.org
Hello, Everyone!
The St. Mary's School for the Deaf Summer School Program was a wonderful success. A good majority of our students attended and, thanks to good weather, were able to participate in many outdoor fun activities. Their classroom time was spent maintaining and increasing learning in all of the academic subject areas. Every Friday afternoon throughout the summer program, various creative classroom projects were on display in the Assembly Hall for everyone to experience and learn from.
The 2007-2008 school year will begin September 5th, and we are eagerly looking forward to another successful program. We also look forward to welcoming a few new students into the High School and Elementary programs.
Some of our most anticipated annual events are:
- The 5K Fun Run/Walk and Homecoming
- The gift of a holiday concert from the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
- Parents’ Night
- Annual Elementary School Music and Dance Shows (to which we welcome parents and siblings to see and enjoy)
Please visit this Web Page often throughout the 2007-2008 school year for updated information on these events and others.
If you would like information about St. Mary’s Elementary Program, please contact me at 834-7200, extension 119. I would be very happy to speak with you and explain our program, or give you a tour of our beautiful Elementary School.
For our returning students and parents/guardians reading this…
Welcome Back to Fall 2007!!
Regards,
Patty Velocci
Elementary Principal
ELEMENTARY PROGRAM
The Elementary Program at St. Mary's School for the Deaf is comprised of the Deaf Infant Program, Preschool Program, and Kindergarten through Fifth grade.
Language development is an integral part of all Elementary Program curricula. It is uniquely combined with the New York State Curricula for Math, Reading, Social Studies, Science, English/Language Arts, etc. In fact, all related subject areas including Art, Music, and Physical Education are also designed to enhance a language-based program. Our students participate in the rigorous New York State Assessments, and we are accountable for their success.
We offer two Special Needs Achievement Programs (SNAP) at the Elementary level. These classes are specific to children with multiple needs, geared toward addressing the individual differences of each child through a comprehensive, on-site program. These children receive Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Adapted Physical Education classes, all housed within our campus.
All students attending our Elementary Program are offered Speech Therapy services as mandated by their Individual Education Plan(s) or IEP's.
Overall, our Elementary Program looks to the individual needs of all the students to prepare them for their move into our Middle School and High School areas.
If you would like additional information about our Elementary Program, or a tour of our wonderful school, please contact:
Ms. Patricia Velocci
Elementary Principal
E-mail: pattyv@smsdk12.org
or
call (716) 834-7200, Ext. 119
Deaf Infant Program
A Deaf or hard of hearing child does not receive the same auditory stimulation that a hearing child receives every day. St. Mary's Deaf Infant Program is expressly designed to address a child's auditory loss through a curriculum that is entirely language based.
Our Program combines on-site and home-based instruction, as well as social/community experiences to enhance the child's overall growth and development. St. Mary's Deaf Infant Program classroom provides a home-like environment so our young learners feel comfortable and eager to participate in the learning process.
In addition, parents and family members also gain a knowledge and understanding of their child's deafness through participation in a variety of programs or experiences, such as:
- Understanding what they can do for their baby
- Fostering the development of their child's communication skills
- Becoming aware of the steps in a child's development
- Developing parenting skills
- Understanding deafness
- Becoming aware of and able to communicate with their child through Total Communication
The Deaf Infant Program is open to any child from birth to three years of age who is suspected of having a hearing loss. Referrals may be made by the parents, the child's pediatrician, nurses, social workers, audiologists, hearing and speech centers, or through a hospital's infant hearing screening process.
Preschool Program
The Preschool Program is divided into two levels of three- and four-year old students. These two-year levels are curriculum-based to hone students' readiness skills in order for them to be on par when beginning a successful school-aged Kindergarten Program. Deafness has a serious impact on language development. Our Preschool levels permit us the extra opportunity to emphasize language development at age-appropriate levels.