Assisting The Pilot Student
Specific Skills Program
The daily Specific Skills Program is designed to present each child with a progressive continuum of concentrated training to alleviate weaknesses in basic skill/academic areas that will remove impediments to future progress in learning. Instruction includes the teaching of compensatory strategies as well as guided practice to strengthen and improve skill areas ranging from gross motor, fine motor, visual and auditory perceptual skills, written expression, study skills, therapeutic mathematics, organization, plus advanced levels of writing, comprehension, and critical thinking classes.
Occupational and Physical Therapy
The combined efforts of occupational and physical therapy within the school environment are to provide assessment, intervention, and education to enhance a child's mastery of their occupational role as a student. Strategies are chosen to improve their ability to manage daily school activities. Adaptive strategies such as T-stools, weighted vests, seat cushions, and pressure garments are among the tools used to provide support and feedback for self awareness and attention, as well as to challenge motor abilities. The occupational and physical therapists each work with the Pilot School staff to promote an optimal educational experience for the student.
Adaptive Physical Education
Adaptive physical education is provided to individuals and small groups to improve a child's movement capabilities through directed practice in gross motor and perceptual motor areas. Dance, relaxation training, and other activities are utilized to build body awareness, physical skills, and confidence.
Speech and Language Therapy
Speech and language pathologists work with individuals and small therapy groups to provide specific remediation and compensatory strategies in phonology, articulation, language, pragmatics, fluency, voice, and hearing. Some therapists have an additional degree in special education and are full time classroom teachers.
Reading Specialists
Reading specialists and support faculty provide instruction for those students who need or would benefit from additional reading instruction outside the classroom. The children receive individualized or small group instruction in specific approaches and programs in addition to programs already in place for them. Some reading specialists are also full time classroom teachers.
School Psychology
The school psychologist provides services to individual students, parents, and staff. Each student is administered a psycho-educational evaluation during the final year of Pilot School to assist in our recommendations for the next school, and to identify any ongoing areas of support that should be in place for the child.
Assistive technology awareness and implementation when needed, as well as media literacy, health, and mental health issues are taught at developmentally appropriate levels.
School Counseling
The school counselor provides supportive guidance and education to all students and their families. Working closely with staff and administration to address the students' academic, personal/social, and career interest/development needs, the counselor teaches social skills programs, provides preventive and/or intervention services, coordinates small focus groups, and offers parent education opportunities.
Choices
Choices is a social skills and life skills program that is part of the school guidance curriculum for every Pilot School student. Structured lessons and activities are designed to help students grow and develop into responsible citizens and to teach and practice skills necessary to build healthy, positive relationships. Independence, self-reliance, and responsibility are emphasized.
School Nurse
School nursing is performed individually to maintain the health of each student by preventing illness and promoting good health. Injuries and medical emergencies are given immediate attention and follow through with parents is excellent.