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Program Coordinator: Mr. Wayne Varney Department Chair: Ms. Adrienne James

Overview:

Special Education at Princess Anne High School offers a wide variety of educational options for students who have disabilities ranging from mild disabilities to those students with disabilities that require significant support.

Special Education Moderate to Severe Professional Staff:

• 24 Significant Support Teachers and Teacher Assistants
• 1 Full Time Registered Nurse
• 1 Adaptive Physical Education Teacher and Teacher Assistant
• 1 Art Teacher
• 1 Music Teacher
• 1 Work Experience Program Coordinator and 2 Job Coaches
• 3 Speech Therapists
• 1 Secretary

Who Are We? Moderate to Severe Disabilities:

The Special Education Department at Princess Anne High School offers both a departmentalized and a self-contained model for students with moderate to severe disabilities. Emphasis is placed on preparing students to function as independently as possible in the heterogeneous community in which they live, whether it be vocational sites, domestic living situations, recreation and leisure activities, or the use of community facilities.

The Program

• Different teachers for each area of instruction (with the exception of a few classes).
• Block Scheduling
• Collaborative Teaching in special education as well as regular education classes
• Functional Academics
• Inclusion, where appropriate, with the regular education program
• Hands-on experience in the community and various job sites
• Transition Services

The Curriculum: Community-Based Instruction

Students: Our students use actual sites in the community to develop skills in shopping, dining out, transportation, and communication. Speech therapists use a collaborative model to promote effective communication skills for all students regardless of their disability.

Vocational: Production skills are taught, i.e., bulk mail processing, which includes labeling, collating, stuffing envelopes, sorting, following directions, eye-hand coordination and appropriate work behavior. Emphasis is also placed on developing stamina. Our students work for the following businesses; Ruby Tuesday’s, Central Library, Bayside Library, Tidewater Collections Association, Providence Elementary School PTA, Thalia Trinity Presbyterian Church, Applebee’s, Virginia Reading Council, BJ’s Wholesale, The Diversity Youth Advisory Council, and the Cheerleading Squad at Princess Anne High School.

Domestic: Classes emphasize skills necessary for indoor/outdoor housekeeping/ maintenance skills, food preparation, menu planning, shopping and budgeting, health, safety, and personal hygiene skills. The domestic classes are responsible for laundering uniforms and other items for the Work Experience Program.

Recreation/Leisure: An adaptive physical education teacher provides instruction in lifetime skills, physical fitness and nutrition. Art and music are also a part of this course and a Music Therapist and an Art Specialist provide instruction. When appropriate, students are integrated with their non-disabled peers.

Integrated Activities: Each year our students participate in a theatrical/musical performance in conjunction with Very Special Arts. Our last show was "Broadway Bound." This is a very positive experience for both disabled and non-disabled students. We have student volunteers from Princess Anne High School and other Virginia Beach High Schools that participate as shadows.

School-Sponsored Activities: Our students participate in all school- sponsored activities that are offered during the instructional day, such as pep rallies, assemblies, the Cavalier Showcase, and holiday programs with their non-disabled peers. Each year, the Interact Club sponsors a social event for our department. This has been a rewarding experience for everyone involved. Last year, the SEA Club sponsored an Easter activity.

• West Tech Computer Club
• Peer Tutoring
• Team Teaching (Art and Music Teachers) joins community-based instruction teachers to enhance cultural opportunities available in the community.