St. Rita School for the Deaf

Birth – 3 years old

Language Opportunities for Tots (LOFT)

The LOFT program is designed to meet the developmental needs of young children, hearing and deaf, from birth to 3 years old. It strives to provide experiences that enrich and enhance each childs language, cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and creative development. Staff provide care that is warm, supportive,nurturing, and responsive to each childs needs.

Within LOFTs daily schedule, each child will be exposed to opportunities to create, explore, and influence their environment, with an emphasis on developing communication and problem solving skills. A balance of child-centered and adult-modeled activities promote interpersonal interaction and provide the opportunity to develop a positive self-concept.

Montessori Preschool

LOFTs preschool program is built upon the Montessori philosophy and led by a Montessori-trained and certified teacher. Small class sizes and low teacher-child ratios create an environment that is conducive to every childs growth and development.

Mission

We are a Catholic day/residential program whose primary mission is to educate infants and students who need special methods of communication and technological support. We are committed to providing a safe, value-oriented environment which facilitates the educational, social and spiritual development of each student.

Comprehensive Communication Philosophy

We continue to believe that the best way to educate deaf and hard of hearing children is through Comprehensive Communication. This philosophy offers a child every available stimulus for human interaction, including sign language, lip-reading, assistive listening devices, visual aids, and technology.

Every student is different and has his or her own way of learning and communicating. Through the philosophy of Comprehensive Communication, teachers and students are able to choose which method of communication works best for them. This approach to communicating promotes an accepting and positive classroom environment, allowing students to focus their attention on what is really important, learning.

Speech therapy and auditory training are major parts of the comprehensive communication philosophy, as well as using sign language and speech simultaneously. Each student at St. Rita School for the Deaf receives therapy from the staff of certified speech therapists. In addition, unless a child has a cochlear implant, he or she is offered an auditory trainer through the sixth grade to take advantage of any residual hearing.

Child Ages:

3 weeks - 17 years

Special Needs:

deaf, apraxic, and hard of hearing

Preschool:

Yes