West Essex Offers Pathways Program to Help Students With Multiple Disabiltiies

Pathways, a dynamic integrated program that fosters creative thinking and independent living skills for students with multiple disabilities, is expanding and is accepting more students at West Essex Regional Schools in North Caldwell.

This educational program welcomes secondary-level students who may require services until the age of 21 from the northern New Jersey area.

In Pathways, differentiated instruction is applied to meet the needs of all students regardless of developmental age. Teachers use a variety of strategies designed to give students ample opportunities to initiate activities resulting in a greater mastery of reading, language, math, and science skills.

Several learning centers are prepared daily through visual, auditory, and tactile lessons. Differentiated instruction is easily applied with this approach because students, on any developmental level, are empowered and can make a contribution to the learning process through problem solving and brain-based learning.

Pathways also features experienced and creative staff, including occupational, physical and speech therapists, as well as seasoned teachers who have extensive experience with special education students. This allows for differentiated instruction for their individual needs.

A typical day for a student features real-life experiences which help prepare students for the work force and financial independence. Structured learning, job coaching and community-based instruction are part of the daily curriculum. Students are involved in gardening and landscaping techniques on our beautiful 74-acre campus with nature trails, outdoor classrooms and gardens nestled among the hills of North Caldwell in suburban western Essex County. The campus features a football stadium, track, baseball, soccer and lacrosse fields and tennis courts, all within walking distance from the two main buildings.

Students are involved in community-based projects, such as a food pantry, school events and fundraisers, all of which promote and strengthen communication skills. They also learn food preparation, woodworking, technology, nutrition, organization, personal hygiene, personal finance and computer usage.

During activities such as cooking, students are reading, measuring, preparing and serving meals. This incorporates language arts, mathematics, spatial reasoning and critical thinking all within a single activity. This is precisely the philosophy behind this program.

English and math skills, which meet New Jersey’s Core Curriculum Standards, are reinforced throughout the day. Pathways also expands into the community, getting the students involved in community service projects where they have the opportunity to be integrated and experience team building with various groups.  In addition, the program’s location fosters extended opportunities to interact with the local community easily and many field trips are taken.

The Pathways Program is now accepting new student registration for the 2012-2013 school year. The West Essex Regional School District serves more than 1,600 middle school and high school students from North Caldwell, Roseland, Essex Fells and Fairfield and is located at 65 West Greenbrook Road, North Caldwell, NJ.

For information, contact West Essex Superintendent of Schools Barbara Longo at 973-228-1200 ext. 100 or at blongo@westex.org.