The New Jersey School for the Deaf
"For a Lifetime of Learning" 
Lower School Program

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Visit the Art Show

Ms. Jody Caseiro, Head Teacher

Telephone: 609-530-3154
TTY: 609-530-3155
FAX: 609-530-3150

Enrollment Information
Mrs. Margaret Provost
Telephone:609-530-3156
TTY:609-530-3156
FAX:609-530-3162

Lower School Art Display
Superintendent's Office


Clock Tower - Circa 1922

The Lower School program serves children between 5 and 11 years of age in grades K – 5. The Lower School program offers either a day or residential placement. The Campus Life Program is four nights a week. We follow the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards, with modifications made through the IEP process to meet the unique learning needs of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing children.  

Specialized programming is available for students with additional disabilities. All classes are taught by appropriately certified instructors who have special training in working with Deaf students with multiple disabilities. The program meets the distinctive needs of students by providing individualized instruction through direct communication and a low student to adult ratio. Our Campus Life program for these students is unique, as it meets the needs of our students with multiple disabilities within the regular residential program

Classes are self-contained with children attending special classes in Deaf Culture, Library, Technology, Visual and Performing Arts, Health and Gym.. Students participate in enrichment opportunities through the Katzenbach Academically Talented Students Program (KATS).  Lower School students  eagerly participated in the  National Science Foundation's three-year grant program . 

All of our students participate in a Montessori program three times a week. The Speech and Language program includes: auditory training, speech reading, speech production, articulation,  and communication skills.

Our goal is successful language development.  Our philosophy of Total Communication in instruction exposes our students to all aspects of education through both the visual and auditory learning channels.  There is an intense focus on providing our children with opportunities to acquire sign language, communication, and written English skills. Cognitive, linguistic and social abilities then develop in an integrated fashion.  


Lower School Students present 
their experiments in the annual Science Fair
Students participate in the National Science Foundation's Program in the ITV Room

The Deaf Culture class provides our students instruction in the grammatical features of American Sign Language in comparison with those of English. The class also provides the students with the skills to advocate for themselves as Deaf individuals.  Students receive instruction in the appropriate use of assistive technology that includes the TTY and the New Jersey Relay System. Deaf history is included as an important part of self-esteem building for our students.

The Computer Technology program enables the students to interact in written English text and is an integral part of  literacy and expressive language skill development for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students.

All 4th grade students participate in the state required assessments of student achievement through the ESPA or the New Jersey Department of Education's Alternative Assessment.  All student's. ages nine and over, are assessed through the Stanford Achievement Test (SAT).  The SAT compares our students with both the Deaf and Hearing populations throughout the country.

Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities such as, safety patrol, storytelling, assemblies and field trips, provide our students with additional learning opportunities. At the end of their 5th grade year our students are ready and eager for the challenges of Middle School.