TORCH (To Reach Children) Therapeutic Preschool
    
         

 

  

Frequently Asked Questions

What special education services are provided?

  • We have 43 special needs children who are mild to severely speech and language impaired.
  • The children are in a full-day class (8:30 AM – 2:00 PM).
  • We run a 10-month program (September - June) and a 6-week summer program (July - August). The length of the child’s program is determined by his/her needs.
  • There are five classrooms with one teacher and two assistants in each room.
  • The size of the class depends on the needs of the children (15:1:2, 12:1:2, and 6:1:2).
  • Each child receives speech therapy with a licensed speech pathologist.
  • Some children receive counseling, which is provided by the psychologist or social worker.
  • Some children also receive occupational therapy, which is provided by a licensed occupational therapist.
  • Transportation for eligible students.

What services are provided for Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) children?

  • We are a Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) site that services 8 children.
  • The children are in session for a full day (8:30 AM – 2:00 PM).
  • We are different from other UPK sites in that the 8 children are integrated with 7 special needs children in one classroom.
  • We are also a registration site for UPK parents.

Does TORCH provide related services?

  • Children who attend a regular preschool setting, but need outside special needs services, are seen at our site.

What are related services?

  • Related services are counseling, occupational and speech therapy.

What are the mandated evaluations for suspected disabilities?

  • Each child receives a comprehensive assessment, which consists of a Social History, Speech and Language, Psychological, and Education Evaluation.
  • Some children also receive Occupational Therapy and/or a Physical Therapy Evaluation.
  • Each child needs to have a medical.  Most parents have their own doctor perform the examination.  In cases where parents cannot afford a doctor, St. Dominic’s Home provides a medical.

Who determines where the special education children will be placed?

  • The school districts’ Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) decides the children’s placement.

What are the goals of the curriculum?

  • TORCH uses a multi-disciplinary approach to foster age appropriate skills across all developmental domains.Thus TORCH adapts the Creative Curriculum for Preschoolers to meet the needs of the children.

How does TORCH help families?

The administration at TORCH recognizes the need to work with the families of the children attending the program.  To fill this need, we have set aside a room to be used for parent meetings/training and we have a full time social worker that coordinates these activities.

How do we measure our success rate?

  • Many of our parents visit us and tell us how well their children are doing in school-age programs.
  • The number of children that move to a less restricted environment. 
  • Of the 30 children that moved on to kindergarten 30% moved onto a less rest or mainstreamed.
  • Of the 20 children that remained moved into a less restricted environment

What are the Comprehensive Services offered?

Comprehensive services such as health services, counseling, referrals, and nutrition services are offered to the children and families.  We also have a school nurse, psychologist, occupation therapist and speech therapists.  Services are provided in the child’s home language

The following is a summary of the activities developed for and with the parents of TORCH:

  • Bilingual Parent Orientation
  • Celebration of special events such as Thanksgiving, Birthdays, Multicultural Activities, the Week of the Young Child and End of the Year Celebrations.
  • Bilingual monthly workshops on such topics as child development, reading to children, language development, discipline in the home and nutrition
  • Individual conferences between parents/teacher, parent/teacher/therapist or parent/therapist.
  • Counseling and referrals are made to help parents with other family matters.
  • Communication with families occurs daily in the form of a home/school notebook.
  • Report cards are issued to parents twice a year – January and June.
  • Monthly newsletters with special activities to involve parents in their children’s literacy development.
Materials for families who are English Language Learners are provided in English and Spanish. Also the Director, Education Supervisor, Teacher and Teacher Assistants are native Spanish speakers		  

TORCH Statistics

People Served: 59

Many are first generation immigrants.

A New York State approved
preschool program

Saint Dominic's Home TORCH earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children