Welcome to Kingsway Learning Center!

Transcription

1 Welcome to Kingsway Learning Center!

2 If a child can t learn the way we teach, we d better teach the way a child can learn. Welcome to Kingsway! Kingsway Learning Center is home to programs and services as exceptional and diverse as the students who come through our doors. We celebrate the individuality of each and every one of our students and treat them with understanding, respect and compassion. Our dedicated staff members bring a unique blend of talents to Kingsway and provide students with an extended family of committed professionals, whose goal is to help all students reach their greatest potential. As a private, non-profit special education school, Kingsway is devoted to meeting the academic and therapeutic needs of children with multiple learning and developmental challenges. Kingsway is an Approved Private School for the Disabled. Our Foundation, Our Future If a child can t learn the way we teach, we d better teach the way a child can learn. Those simple words, spoken by the founder of Kingsway in 1966, still guide our teachers, therapists and professional staff members over 40 years later. What began as a dream of a small group of devoted parents and professionals has blossomed into a leading center for private special education in southern New Jersey. Today, Kingsway has two beautiful facilities and three comprehensive programs, including the Early Intervention Program, Elementary Program (both in Haddonfield) and the Secondary Program, in Moorestown. The Elementary Program also includes the Building Bridges Pre-School, which opened in 2008.

3 About Private Special Education Kingsway is a private special education school, but families do not pay tuition for their child, ages 3 to 21, to attend Kingsway s elementary or secondary programs. Starting at age 3, all special education services in New Jersey including placement in a private school are funded through a combination of federal, state and local tax dollars. Using this funding, your local school district pays the costs of tuition and transportation for students attending private special education schools. Admission to Kingsway At Kingsway, we believe that parents are an integral part of their child s education. Working with members of your school s child study team, parents can request information on private special education schools to help make an informed decision regarding your child s placement and education. The final referral to Kingsway s Elementary and Secondary Programs comes from the child study team in your local school district. Kingsway s Early Intervention Program provides services for children once eligibility is determined by the New Jersey Early Intervention System. Please see the Early Intervention Program section for information regarding costs for children birth to 3 years old. For more information on Admissions, please call for Early Intervention Services, for the Elementary and Pre-School Programs, or for the Secondary Program.

4 Early Intervention Program Kingsway Learning Center s services for children begin as early as birth. Our Early Intervention Program assists families whose children have a developmental delay or a diagnosis that places children at risk of being developmentally delayed. Services are available until age 3 for eligible children and their families. Services and Family Supports At Kingsway Learning Center, we recognize that the family has the most important and influential role in a child s life and learning. Our staff of highly qualified professionals takes a team approach, working with families, family-designated caregivers, community agencies and the New Jersey Early Intervention System. Together we meet the needs of the child and family, promoting each child s individualized growth and development. Each family has its own unique situation, culture, values and goals. Therefore, each family has an individualized plan that describes the services provided to support their needs and priorities. Early intervention practitioners work together with parents and caregivers to increase the family s understanding and ability to guide their child s developmental progress. Sessions include various fun and creative activities that are also educational and therapeutic. Early Intervention Services are designed to be a part of a family s everyday routine. Services are provided in a setting typical and comfortable for the family such as the home, a childcare center or out in the community. Together, we work to meet the developmental outcomes identified by the family and included in the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). Supplemental programs may be offered including Music and Movement Group and Meet and Play sessions. These groups offer families the opportunity to receive extra professional support while exploring a community setting and expanding relationships to include peers and other individuals outside the home. The Professionals With Kingsway s Early Intervention Program The practitioners at Kingsway Learning Center s Early Intervention Program are highly trained and experienced professionals continuously learning to keep pace with the latest best practice information and recommendations. Each team member brings specialized skills as well as an impassioned commitment to helping families guide their child s growth and development. The Early Intervention Team includes physical and occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists and special education teachers. Additional specialized services we provide include feeding therapy, assistive technology, social work, behavioral intervention and sensory integration therapy.

5 Funding for Early Intervention Services When a child is first referred to the Early Intervention System in New Jersey, an evaluation is completed to determine eligibility. Once eligibility is determined and an IFSP is developed, a family may have a responsibility to pay a cost share toward some of their services. A sliding scale is used to determine the cost share and is based on family size and income. A New Jersey Early Intervention System, Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS) Service Coordinator is assigned and will do a confidential review to determine if there may be a cost share responsibility. Kingsway Learning Center s program does not have any direct involvement in this confidential determination and the NJDHSS billing to families. Additional supplemental activities such as a music group may be offered by Kingsway s Early Intervention Program at no cost to families. Supplemental activities are funded by the New Jersey Department of Human Services (NJDHS), Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) and private donations. Getting Started with Early Intervention Services If you have concerns about your child s development, contact the New Jersey Early Intervention Single Point of Entry (SPOE) Referral Line at A free evaluation is available to determine if your child is eligible for Early Intervention Services. Families of eligible children have the option to develop an IFSP and receive services. Eligible children with an IFSP who live in our service area may be referred and assigned to Kingsway s Early Intervention Program. Building Bridges Pre-School Program The Building Bridges Pre-School Program, located at Kingsway s Haddonfield campus, is a full-day preschool for children ages 3 to 5 years old with learning, communication, sensory, motor or medical challenges. Our program embraces play-based learning in an environment that addresses educational and therapy goals and encourages self-initiated exploration. Through engagement and meaningful interactions, children can achieve sensory regulation for sustained attention. Individual differences are respected and considered when developing programming for each child s needs. Our highly trained and experienced staff work together to facilitate academic, developmental and social/emotional growth. Our team includes teachers, teaching assistants, speech pathologists, and occupational and physical therapists. An optimum staff-to-child ratio assures individual attention. Other related services include feeding therapy and pediatric nursing.

6 Elementary Education Program Kingsway s Elementary Education Program takes place at our Haddonfield campus and is designed for students with multiple learning or developmental challenges, from ages 5 to 13. The program focuses on developing academics, functional daily living skills and social skills, with related services provided according to each child s Individualized Education Program (IEP). Related services available include human services, speech-language therapy, occupational and physical therapy and nursing services. Small classes and a staff-to-student ratio of one-totwo ensure that all our students get the personalized instruction and attention they need. Our family-like atmosphere promotes a comfortable environment where students strengths and abilities are nurtured and accentuated. Growing and learning together, students develop close relationships with teachers, staff members, and of course, other classmates. Academics Primary special education classes follow a traditional elementary curriculum, based on the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards. Programs are tailored specifically to meet the child s individual needs and abilities, as directed by his or her IEP. Whether they are learning their letters or their multiplication tables, Kingsway students enjoy a full range of academic subjects and functional daily living skills. Students also have use of the latest computer technology in their classrooms. Enrichment Activities Like all school-age children, Kingsway elementary students need positive outlets for their energy and enthusiasm. We provide our students with numerous activities and special events that expand their learning experiences such as adaptive physical education, music classes, assemblies, field trips and, of course, daily recess on our special needs accommodated outdoor playground. Developing social skills is a vital part of a child s educational experience. Students are encouraged daily to interact with their classmates and friends during lunchtime. They also enjoy participating in dances, student art exhibits, a special Symphony Program from Symphony in C and other educational and entertaining assemblies. These activities enable students to enrich their educational experience beyond the classroom walls. Also, please see the Special Olympics section to see how Kingsway students combine fun and fitness. For students ages 11 to 13, our Experiential Academics program is structured so that a portion of each school day is spent in a traditional classroom setting, and another part is spent learning functional life skills. Practical hands-on experiences provide students with lifelong academic, social and behavioral skills. For example, a trip to the grocery store not only teaches them how to handle money, purchase items and travel safely to the store, but it also gives them self-confidence, putting them on a path toward independence and self-sufficiency.

7 Secondary Education Program Located at our Moorestown campus, Kingsway s Secondary Education Program is available for students with learning or developmental challenges ages 14 (grade 9) to 21. This bright and modern facility (opened in 2004), provides students with the academic requirements, therapies, life skills curriculum and career sampling activities that help prepare them for life after high school graduation. Secondary School Curriculum Kingsway s secondary curriculum complies with the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards and New Jersey High School Graduation Requirements. We provide a multidisciplinary team approach toward education that integrates therapies with academics. Career assessment and exploration are also key components of our curriculum. Additionally, social and communication skills are developed through school and after-school activities. Exploring Careers and Post-Graduation Activities Students in Kingsway s Secondary Program participate in a variety of programs and activities designed to prepare them for life after high school. These include: Employment Orientation. A number of hands-on career clusters are introduced to develop basic interest and understanding. Functional academic skills are infused to bring relevance to everyday life. Career Exploration. Through school-wide simulated vocational areas, students practice money management, problem solving and customer service skills. Career Sampling. Students have the opportunity to work with local businesses to gain real world experience in a field in which they are interested. A job coach is available to offer support. Career Assessment. This option helps create profiles of interest and abilities and provides practical experiences.

8 Community-Based Instruction Program Kingsway s Community-Based Instruction (CBI) is an educational program featuring school- and community-based structured learning experiences in four domains: Vocational, Community, Recreation and Leisure and Domestic. Within the Vocational Domain, Kingsway places students with a job coach in authentic job sites providing real-world responsibilities and realworld expectations. Students work, unpaid, one to five times per week, one to four hours per day. The Community Domain provides students with opportunities for experiential learning that promote independence, engagement, responsibility and problem-solving. Experiences include learning to use public transportation. Students experience a variety of communitybased activities in the Recreation and Leisure Domain in order to promote a healthy and happy whole-life experience. Parks, art exhibits and other enjoyable pastimes are explored. In the Domestic Domain, students learn a variety of domestic skills in the school building and related community tasks typically necessary to support them, such as grocery shopping. Behavior Analyst Enrichment Activities Although preparing students for the workforce is a vital part of Kingsway s mission, we also know that teenagers like to have a little bit of fun. Kingsway offers a variety of electives such as drama club, sign language, art appreciation, pottery, scrapbooking, pep club, games and leisure, yoga, sewing and yearbook just to name a few. Electives and after-school activities give students an outlet with which to express themselves and to develop a sense of pride in their talents and achievements. Home and School Association-sponsored dances and an annual off-site prom offer students an opportunity to polish socialization skills and have a great time together. Kingsway also nurtures the students athletic side. (See the Special Olympics section later in this brochure.) After-School Programs When the dismissal bell sounds at the end of the school day, the halls of the Moorestown campus do not always fall silent. The day continues with two once-weekly programs. The After-School Enrichment Program runs as two 10-week sessions of after-school club activities, including sports and crafts. The Adult Recreation Program aims to provide a safe, supervised environment for young adults 18 years and older for socialization, arts and crafts, physical fitness and fun. Kingsway has added a behavior analyst to its staff to better address behavioral issues. The analyst conducts functional behavior assessments, develops and implements behavior intervention plans, teaches social skills and provides professional development training for teachers and staff members.

9 Human Services The Elementary Program staff includes a psychologist, social worker and school nurse and the Secondary Program staff includes a social worker, school counselor and nurse, giving students the emotional, psychological and medical support they need during their school day. Technology at Kingsway As the first private special education school in New Jersey to have an approved technology plan, Kingsway is a recognized leader in successfully integrating technology into the classroom setting for improved learning performance and communication skills. Through our unique and progressive KITE (Kingsway s Initiative for Technology in Education) program we are able to provide our students with the latest educational technology to optimize learning. Assistive Technology Assessments These assessments determine the best means of technology for the students skill sets and how they can be applied successfully in the world. Every classroom at Kingsway is equipped with computers, and our wireless mobile laptop labs combine technology with mobility. All students at Kingsway have access to wireless mobile laptop computer labs, advanced assistive technology devices and software, internet usage for research projects, and distance learning equipment for virtual field trips. Thanks to our dedicated committee of educators, parents and community members who donate their time and knowledge to Kingsway, the KITE vision enables students to soar to new educational, therapeutic, vocational, communication and recreational heights. Services include: Individual counseling for school-related issues Consultation with staff regarding social, emotional and behavioral issues that may arise with the students Sessions with parents about questions they may have regarding social, emotional and behavioral issues as they relate to home and/or school Crisis intervention with students and crisis intervention training for staff Facilitating parents litigation for petition to the courts for guardianship Facilitating Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), Social Security Administration (SSA) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) applications for adult disabled students Consulting with administration, staff, parents, and community regarding education and career planning, including post-graduation plans for DDD day-care placement for disabled adult students Nursing Services Nursing Services at Kingsway includes hands-on care and supervision to both children who are well and children who have complex medical issues. Nurses actively work to teach students about their own medical status. The nursing staff also acts as a liaison between home, school and healthcare practitioners.

10 Therapeutic Support and Related Services Therapeutic programs go hand-in-hand with academics at Kingsway. Students in our Pre-School, Elementary and Secondary Programs receive therapy services as determined by their IEPs. Therapy services at Kingsway are described in detail below. Speech-Language Therapy Sometimes children know what they want to say, but have trouble expressing their thoughts or have difficulty pronouncing certain letters or sounds. Speech-language specialists at Kingsway work with students to help them express themselves and communicate their thoughts and feelings. Therapists use techniques such as oral motor, articulation and language therapy. If these techniques are not enough, other methods such as sign language, augmentative devices and assistive technology may also be used. Our goal is to help students take what they learn in their therapy sessions and apply their knowledge to everyday life. Occupational Therapy Whether it s learning how to position one s body correctly to read a book or learning more complex activities such as writing and typing, occupational therapy focuses on improving fine motor and sensory processing skills. Our therapists use a variety of therapeutic methods such as modifying the school environment, providing adaptations to learning materials and lessons, and direct therapy intervention. They also work directly with teachers and staff to enhance the student s learning experience and encourage their participation in both school and community functions and activities. Physical Therapy School-based physical therapy sessions are provided by therapists who work in collaboration with Kingsway s educational team. Our highlytrained staff uses special exercises, techniques and adaptive equipment to help students move safely and efficiently throughout the building and in the community. Treatment sessions may include teaching compensatory strategies and positioning, increasing stamina, strength and endurance.

11 Our Dedicated Staff Special Olympics Fitness, teamwork, self-confidence and fun are all results of participating in Kingsway s Special Olympics program. Students can participate in softball, soccer, floor hockey, volleyball, bowling, tennis and track and field. Our teams enjoy competing in state games, and a few have been chosen for the National Special Olympics Games! Participation does not end when students leave Kingsway. The Kingsway Cubs (elementary) and Kingsway Cougars (secondary) are now joined by the Coyotes, former students who enjoy the thrill of competition in an adult Special Olympics program. At the heart of all our services are the dedicated and creative Kingsway staff members. Kingsway is proud to have had three of our teachers nationally recognized as Teachers of the Year. Additionally, several of our teachers, teacher assistants and therapists have been honored with state and regional awards. All of our state certified special education teachers, therapists, nurses, psychologists, social workers and teachers aides work together as a team to help each student succeed. Their experience and continuing professional development in their respective fields allow them to share the most up-to-date strategies and techniques with their students and each other. Most importantly, when their passion for their jobs shines through, students receive the compassion and encouragement they need and deserve. Extended School Year An extended school year is also available for qualifying students in our pre-school, elementary and secondary programs. This extension of the traditional school year allows students to attend Kingsway for 30 additional school days during the summer months. These extra days allow them to continue their regular therapy sessions and also provide a more continuous flow for learning which lessens the regression of skills learned during the regular school year. Community Outreach Whether they re attending shopping excursions at local stores as part of an assignment or cleaning up the area parks as part of a community service project, Kingsway students are a visible and integral part of the local community. It takes a village to raise a child. Community members show their involvement through their generous corporate support and by providing learning and work activities for Kingsway s students. The experiences that our students share with area businesses and community organizations allow mutually beneficial relationships to grow and flourish.

12 144 Kings Highway West Haddonfield, NJ West Route 38 Moorestown, NJ KingswayLearningCenter.org