|
The Partnership Campus of The Willie Ross School for the Deaf
provides deaf or hard-of-hearing students the opportunity to attend
school with hearing peers, while providing services to help Willie Ross
School's deaf or hard-of-hearing students benefit optimally from these
educational experiences. This unique academic setting allows our
students benefits that can only be achieved by integrating the
advantages of being enrolled in a school for deaf and hard-of-hearing
students with those of a mainstream setting. There are few, if
any, other schools that can provides such an array of academic
alternatives.
The Partnership Campus, located within the East Longmeadow Public Schools, as
part of the dual-campus model, offers many opportunities for mainstreaming for
Willie Ross students. The partnership is a well-established entity, which
offers vital advanced academics for students.
 The
Elementary School of the Partnership Campus is located
in one of three elementary schools in the town of East Longmeadow.
It is staffed by Willie
Ross School’s
certified teachers of the deaf and support staff, including
on-site audiology services, physical education instruction,
and counseling as needed. The curriculum is drawn from
the Massachusetts Curriculum Framework guidelines and is adapted
for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. The full range
of academic subjects is available to students
within the Willie Ross classrooms. Mainstreaming into
academic classes, sponsored by the host public school is available when
appropriate. Decisions regarding mainstreaming are determined by a student’s
team. Opportunities exist for informal and planned interaction with public
school students on a regular basis, and they include but are not limited to
lunch, recess, and assembly programs. Students in the Elementary School are
ages 8 – 12.
The Middle School of the Partnership Campus is located
in two classrooms of the Birchland Park Middle School. Willie Ross students have the opportunity to participate in
mainstreamed academic classes with age-appropriate hearing peers. Willie Ross
staff
provides required mainstream support for students whose team has concurred
in the decision to mainstream. Opportunities for higher level class inclusion
or mainstreaming are numerous. There may be instances where a student will
attend and participate in a class without an interpreter. Those decisions also
are made through the student’s team.
The High School of the Partnership Campus is located in
East Longmeadow's Public High
School These classes operate in a manner similar
to that of the Middle School, and advanced academic classes are available depending on
interest. Student schedules are planned according to individual need. Advanced
Placement classes provide opportunities for students planning post-secondary
education. Accessibility to elective courses and ancillary types of instruction
is ensured through needed support personnel.
|
