CPSE Chairperson: Shemaiah Villani-Lowe School Psychologist: Dr. Monica Ojeda The Connetquot Alternative Preschool (C.A.P.S) is a thematic language based program, which facilitates communication and learning within natural contexts. The program services children aged two to five years old, who have been evaluated and found to have developmental delays in one or more areas. Our school includes both self-contained, as well as inclusion classrooms. Our inclusion program integrates with a general education preschool program run by SCOPE. C.A.P.S provides related services within the areas of speech and language, occupational therapy, physical therapy and psychological counseling. In addition, support groups are offered to parents to increase home-school connections and to encourage skill development for all of our children. We believe in promoting collaborative partnerships between the school, home and community. As a result, we follow a multidisciplinary approach to instruction. Program planning includes active participation of general educators, special educators and related services providers. If you are a parent or caregiver in the Connetquot district and have concerns regarding the development of your child (between the ages of two and four) please contact us and we would be happy to assist you.
It is essential for all children to be able to communicate, play, explore, socialize and meet their own basic needs! Sometimes children require help to gain the skills they need to be successful in kindergarten. Our special educators at CAPS are highly trained professionals who adapt and develop materials to match the learning styles, strengths, and special needs of each of our preschool students. They use a variety of teaching strategies to ensure that each student reaches their own learning potential. At CAPS our staff uses a monthly thematic-based curriculum to focus on the following areas of child development: language/cognitive development, fine motor development, gross motor development, perception development, social/emotional development, reading readiness skill development, pre-mathematical skill development and pre-science/social studies awareness. In order to keep our parents up-dated we will be including special events and reminders on this page in the future so please remember to check back here periodically! Pre-K Smarties: Parent's resource for preschool education, teaching phonics, family freebies.
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Speech and Language therapy is provided to students who qualify (as per their individualized education plan). This service is implemented through both a push-in and pull-out model. Children receive therapy on an individual or small group basis depending upon their IEP. Speech-language pathologists are specialists in human communication, its development and its disorders. These problems include disorders of articulation, cognition, hearing, language, fluency, swallowing, and voice. Areas focused on within the preschool setting generally include improving the following areas of speech and language development: receptive language understanding of what is said expressive language ability to talk in words, phrases and sentences speech sound development the clarity or intelligibility of speech pragmatics the ability and desire to communicate in an appropriate [for their age and culture] friendly, sociable, playful and interested way oral motor skills muscular coordination and strength necessary for both speaking and eating The speech pathologist works closely with the classroom teacher. Vocabulary and concepts addressed in speech sessions are related to classroom themes and activities. This benefits carryover of skills obtained in therapy. For more information your child’s speech and language development please refer to the link below. Speech and Language Development
Occupational and Physical therapy are provided to all students within the program during weekly thirty minute whole class lessons. In addition those students who qualify (as per their Individual Education Plan) receive individual and small group instruction. Occupational Therapy (O.T.) helps children improve their fine motor performance related to classroom activities, process sensory information necessary for learning and develop self-care abilities to become more independent. In addition, a strong emphasis is placed on use of the proper grasp, pre-writing skills, using scissors and manipulation of toys. Physical Therapy (P.T.) involves improving children’s larger gross motor skills such as walking, jumping, climbing stairs and crawling. The physical therapist helps to build endurance and strength, as well as, improve coordination and balance to enhance performance of daily living activities.
Weekly 30 minute groups are led by Dr. Ojeda within the classroom in order to promote acquisition of play and coping skills. Students are challenged to identify and appropriately express their own emotions, while learning skills such as turn-taking, ways of solving peer conflict, and sportsmanship.