At Kinzie Elementary School, we provide educational services to deaf and hard of hearing students ranging from preschool through 8th grade, (ages 3-14), using a Total Communication approach.
Our program services students with hearing loss ranging from mild to profound; students with hearing aids and/or cochlear implants as well as having various speech abilities. Students may have hearing loss as their only disability or they may have multiple disabilities. Our program allows Deaf/Hard of Hearing students who are capable of learning in a general education classroom to be placed with their grade level, hearing peers with a sign language interpreter. Others benefit from being in a small self-contained classroom with Deaf peers or a mixture of some classes in the regular education class and some in the self-contained room. Each child is taught in every curriculum area with a strong emphasis on language and reading. We believe any child can learn when they are in the most appropriate placement that will help them reach their fullest potential.
Services include:
Instruction in all academic areas by a highly qualified, caring, certified teacher of the Deaf
Student support services including speech and language therapy, audiology, physical therapy, social work and/or vision, as stated on their IEP
Parent support services such as parent sign/English classes
Team evaluation and collaboration to develop an appropriate IEP/program for each student
Certified interpreters at all school functions, including after school programs
Phonic FM system, when appropriate
Open communication with parents
International Baccalaureate Programme
Kinzie is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School – Middle Years Programme (MYP). As an IB school, we share a common philosophy – a commitment to high-quality, challenging, and international education. Our aim is to teach students to be thinkers, knowledgeable and reflective through collaborative and rigorous learning experiences.
Bilingual Program
Kinzie Elementary School provides our English Learners with rigorous, standards-based instruction within a Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) model as well as a Transitional Program of Instruction. Currently, our TBE program serves over 70 Spanish speaking students. Our TPI program serves students from various language backgrounds including Polish, Lithuanian, Arabic, Vietnamese, and Tagalog. Our instructional program provides students in both the TBE and TPI program with content-based ESL instruction as well as native language instruction/support in our TBE. English Learners are assessed annually using ACCESS for ELs to determine their English proficiency in the areas of Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing.
Counseling & Related Services
Kinzie's social worker, Ms. Paris Wimberly, provides services to students who need social-emotional support in order to improve their ability to be more successful in the classroom.The social worker sees students individually, in small groups, and provide services within the classroom setting. The social worker is also available to speak with students during a time of crisis and/or needing outside resources. The social worker collaborates with teachers and the team to provide interventions and additional strategies when working with students. Parents are welcome to contact the social worker when they feel that their child needs additional support in order to continue to thrive in an academic and social setting.
