Special Education Services are provided for students that have
an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Some of the therapists
and clinicians are on site at Groveland and others may come only when working with a particular student. The IEP
Team Leader is the best resource for questions about a child's annual
instruction goals and his or her Individualized Education Program.
Occupational Therapy
– Occupational therapy services are available at Groveland. The
Occupational Therapist is shared with other SPPS schools and is on
approximately 2 days each week. The OT works with students on their
fine motor, sensory and visual skills as it relates to a student’s
classroom performance. The OT can also provide support to the
classroom staff when needed. Scheduling therapy time during the school
day is done in consultation with the student’s IEP team, classroom
teacher and parents. Occupational Therapy services are ideally
provided within the classroom but on occasion the student will work
individually with the OT in a resource room. The OT works closely with
parents and all members of the IEP team to work toward achieving the
goals on the student’s IEP.
Speech and Language Services
– Speech and Language services are available at Groveland. Currently,
the Speech and Language Clinician serves Groveland and  | | Marge McGown, Occupational Therapist |
Nativity schools
and is on site 3 days a week. The Speech and Language Clinician will
address concerns regarding communication disorders, such as
difficulties with: speech articulation, understanding and use of
language, voice disorders and fluency (stuttering).
Students eligible for services may work with the Speech and Language
Clinician individually and/or in a small group in the speech resource room
or in the classroom, as appropriate. Scheduling speech and language time
during the school day is done in consultation with the student's IEP team,
classroom teacher and parents. The Speech and Language Clinician, working
with parents and all members of the IEP team, will assist the student in
achieving the goals outlined in his or her IEP.
Learning Disabilities
– Groveland has one Learning Disabilities teacher on staff. Students
with identified LD concerns may work with the Learning Disabilities
teacher in the classroom, in a small group, or individually.
Scheduling LD time during the school day is done in consultation with
the student's IEP team, classroom teacher and parents. The LD teacher,
working with parents and all members of the IEP team, will assist the
student in achieving the goals outlined in his or her IEP.
Other services –
Numerous other services are available to eligible SPPS students,to help
them work  | | Kim Smith, Speech |
to the best of their ability and achieve the goals set out in
their IEP. Specific services will be determined by the student’s IEP
team. Some of these other services may include: Physical Therapy,
Developmental Adapted Physical Education, and services for Visual
Impaired and Physically Impaired. See the IEP team leader to discuss
the needs and goals outlined in your child’s IEP.
Social Work
Groveland offers social work services to both regular education and
special education students. Currently we have a full time social worker.
Our social worker provides a variety of supports including; assisting
students with developing emotional management skills, providing support to
staff with crisis intervention, assisting with developing appropriate
responses to stress and assisting with building strong social skills.
These supports are facilitated in a variety of ways, through friendship
groups, family change groups, lunch bunches, and one-on-one support
provided both within and outside of the classroom setting. Additionally
our social worker partners directly with our families, staff and outside
agencies to build strong communication and to better assist in the
development of our student's social and emotional growth.
Self-Contained Classroom
Groveland
Park offers a single special needs self-contained classroom for
students with Developmental  | | Christine Durocher, Social Worker |
Cognitive Disabilities. This program is for
students in kindergarten through third grade. Classroom staff
includes a special education teacher, and paraprofessionals who assist
both in the classroom and on the bus. Students may also receive
services from other staff as specified in their Individual Education
Plan in the areas of Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical
Therapy, and Adapted Physical Education, which may include swimming in
the therapeutic pool at Bridge View School. This program shares the
services of Groveland Park's social worker and nurse The
program focuses on functional skills, school behavior and
communication. A part of that means encouraging independence in all
areas from the minute the students walk in the door until they board
the bus in the afternoon. The typical elementary school subjects of
reading, writing, science, math and computer are taught using a
modified curriculum and materials at the students current level of
ability. The students eat in the lunchroom and attend school
assemblies. We also have had peer tutors from the mainstream classes
come to our room and assist our students. The goal of our
classroom is to provide a nurturing, caring environment in which the
students can develop to their full potential thereby giving them a
greater number of choices when they leave our program.
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