Description

The Secondary Hearing Impaired Program (SHIP) for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, located in Hackensack High School, educates deaf and hard of hearing students, ages fifteen through twenty-one, from 9^th to 12^th grades. SHIP/ Hackensack provides a unique program offering education for students using a Total Communication approach, a combination of sign language, speech, and audition. Students are mainstreamed with a teacher of the Deaf using a Teacher Consultant Model. All course options are available with the additional support of Educational Interpreters and a full Child Study Team. Students in the program are eligible to participate in school clubs and after-school sports. SHIP/Hackensack follows the Hackensack High School General Education curriculum and grading procedures.

  Students participate in all mainstream classes while benefiting from the assistance of a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing and a Hackensack High School general education teacher. The teacher of the deaf is a Teacher Consultant offering a continuum of support services in mainstream classes depending on students' needs. Each teacher brings an area of expertise to the program that accommodates all students. The regular education teacher brings experience of content knowledge, while the teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing provides strategies and instructional methods that assist all students. Student note takers and Educational Interpreters work to ensure that all students are well served by this teacher consultant model. All options are discussed with prospective students and their families. Mainstream class levels are decided with respect to the needs, language abilities, and strengths of each student.

Principal Message

Bergen County Special Services District provides a complete continuum services for students who are deaf and hard of hearing. We carefully consider each student\'s candidacy and the placement that is most educationally sound. Review all our program options in this website to better acquaint yourself with our services. We look forward to working with you!

Program Highlights

In September 2007, Bergen County Special Services and the Communication Continuum initiated a pilot program for high school deaf/hh students at Hackensack High School.

BCSS Valedictorians

Seniors Nayricele and Lissette earn nominations for BCSS Valedictorians.