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Show VA 4, I . , rf , r 5 V - Bdld ffiStoroy the hop and though homemaking programs. making masks. Some were learning to lace their shoes. Their ages ranged from 3 to 18. All were students at the Monte Vista School at Farmington. Monday. No one in the class could achieve the skill at the beginning of the year since jumping rope requires timing and rhythm, Mr. Smith said. Progress charts are kept on all students who are learning physical skills. RULON SMITH, principal Monte Vista, explained that the school is many-sideThe regular program provides an education for children, five to 18, who are mentally handicapped. Some of the students, who are more STUDENTS in the regular elementary school stay with the same teacher for two to three years to learn reading and develop physical skills. The physical therapist provides help in teaching large and small muscular ac- enrolled in a special program. The Development Center provides work training for the handicapped, while the Diagnostic Clinic, also housed in the building, is available for testing any child in Davis School District. The Early Childhood Program, a preschool financed by a state and federal grant, is also housed in the building. taught the alphabet and learn to read their names. Blake Haskell and Russel Hardmen, in the 6 age group, were making masks, supervised by their teacher Jane Higginbotham. Some students were learning to jump rope, others were d. severely handicapped, are EIGHTY students are enrolled in the regular program. In the secondary school, students move from room to room in a program not unlike that in regular high schools and junior highs. Subject areas are reading, math, gym, shop, music, home economics, and seminary. Older students in the gym were learning to skip rope. Lex Marcusen, physical the therapist, breaks movements down into steps, Mr. Smith said. After learning the steps, students are able to skip, jump rope and throw balls. Some of the older students were playing basketball with Mr. Marcusen and a teacher aide. THE FIRST step in teaching a student to jump rope is to lay the rope on the floor and teach the student to jump over it. Each step in the jumping process shows the student has acquired more skill, Mr. Smith said. Tracy Patterson and David Decore were jumping rope on tivities. Children are first IN THE 8 year program, Robbie Swan, who just lost his 6-- was teeth, practicing swan. Laura Brughton, teacher, and Marjorie Page, aide, were helping students cut and make skelepronouncing, tons. One boy in the class was lacing a wooden shoe, learning the skill so he could lace his own shoe later. The teacher-studeratio in the elementary grades is one teacher to five students. nt frisbie is a The game. AT RECESS, popular playground area also includes a track and field area, which is used when children with learning disabilites come from all over the state to participate in a special Olympics for the handicapped. Bowling, gymnastics, track, and field are events in the Olympics. Also in the regular program, are the severely retarded students. They learn to express themselves either by learning to speak or by signs, Mr. non-verb- Smith said. They are p skills to enataught ble them to care for themselves. Some of the older students learn work tasks self-hel- SUCH WORK task skills as rolling newspapers to make fireplace logs and packaging and sorting objects by color and size acquired through this program, Mr. Smith said. At 16 these students either acquire limited employment or are picked up in a work training program in the Development Center. The Early Childhood Program, funded by federal and state grants, seeks to teach motor skills and preceptual skills to 20 children from 3 to 5. Parents, teachers and high school aids work with the children, teaching such self help skills as dressing, feeding, and toileting. MR. SMITH said the DiagClinic nostic provides complete medical, psychiatric, hearing and speech analysis to any child needing testing in these areas. Children are referred to the clinic from all schools in Davis School District. A psychologist, audiologist and speech analyist are available at the Diagnostic Clinic at specified hours. Mr. Smith has been at the Monte Vista School for 15 years. The program for the retarded originally began at Stoker in Bountiful. The first wing of the Monte Vista school at Farmington was built by donated funds and partially staffed and run by volunteer help and money. When Mr. Smith first became the administrator, four teachers staffed the school. THE NEWER wings of the school have been built with federal funds in accord with HEW specifications. The school has ramps for wheelchairs and is fireproof. Four buses with elevators bring students to school each morning and take them home at night. An aide rides the bus to attend to the students needs, rk I |
