The New Jersey School for the Deaf
"For a Lifetime of Learning" 
Early Childhood Center - KOALA KLUB

Katzenbach's Oral Aural Language Academy

Early Childhood Center
 



KOALA KLUB information..


Debbie Solimando
Head Teacher
Telephone: 609-530-3185
TTY: 609-530-3185
FAX: 609-530-3187

Program Highlights

  • Cochlear Implant Habilitation

  • Individual and Group Speech Therapy

  • Music and Movement Activities

  • Auditory Training

  • Audiology Services

  • Collaborative Planning with Medical Implant Teams

  • Parent and Guardian Education

  • Montessori Program 

  • Daily Parent and Guardian Communication

  • Physical Education

  • Sign Language by all Staff and Students

  • ASL Story Time with Katzenbach’s Deaf Culture Specialist

  • Toilet Training

  • Full-Time Infirmary Services

For Katzenbach
Programs and Services Information click here... 

  Mrs. Margaret Provost
Enrollment Coordinator

Telephone:609-530-3156
TTY:609-530-3156
FAX:609-530-3162 

The primary mission of the KOALA KLUB program is to provide children with cochlear implants the opportunity to participate in an academic Preschool Program with their hearing peers. Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing children with cochlear implants come together with hearing children in a language-enriched environment using Total Communication. The program is located in the Early Childhood Center on the park-like 110-acre campus of the Katzenbach School for the Deaf in Ewing.  Katzenbach serves children from all parts of the State of New Jersey and the nearby areas of Pennsylvania.  

Katzenbach’s philosophy of Total Communication involves the manual, oral, auditory, and written method of communication depending on the particular needs of the child and their family. Participation in the KOALA KLUB program allows flexibility without eliminating any of the options.  The program is designed to meet the unique communication and speech development needs of children with cochlear implants.

Staffed by two certified Teachers of the Deaf, with one full-time and one half-time teaching assistant,  the program has a low student to staff ratio. The children with hearing loss attend the full day program, 5 days a week.  Hearing children come 2 full days.  The modeling of language by the hearing children is vital to the success of the program. 

KOALA KLUB STAFF

Certified Teachers of the Deaf who are also certified in Early Childhood Education
American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) certified Speech and Language Pathologist
Deaf and Hearing Teaching Assistants
Educational Audiologist
Certified Physical Education Teacher
Occupational and Physical Therapy provided by the school districts through the IEP process

Daily Routine

Circle Time

Morning Snack

Music and Movement

Montessori

Speech Therapy

Physical Education  

Exploration of Classroom Interest Areas  


Group Activity

Lunch

Recess

Rest Time

Story Time

Afternoon Snack