Programs and Specials
Art Therapy
The Therapeutic School provides a comprehensive visual arts education through standard art instruction, special education and art therapy. The school's art instruction includes all the basics of visual art: drawing, painting, sculpting, and computer graphic.
Art therapy covers the 4 standards provided in the NJ core Curriculum Content Standards for the Visual Arts.
The TSPS special education program provides the necessary modifications to standard visual arts instruction to meet each students' cognitive, behavioral. and emotional needs. It's art therapy approach provides each student psychological, and emotional support and affirmation through the creative process. A healthy atmosphere of creativity is fostered which leads to positive outcomes. The end result is smarter, happier, and healthier students producing beautiful works of art.
Life Skills Program
The Life Skills program at TSPS is designed to help students develop good work ethics and useful skills for employment such as stamina, socially acceptable behaviors for a workplace, and problem solving skills. This program offers students the opportunity to be productive and acquire self-esteem and pride, knowing the feeling of a job well done.
Music Therapy
At the Therapeutic School, students have 30 minutes of group music therapy a week with their class. Each class is differentiated for the students’ individual needs. We explore the elements of music (rhythm, melody, etc) and the students learn Kodaly rhythms and syllables (Ti/Ta, and Do-Re-Mi). We sing songs, improvise, drum, write songs, and learn about concepts through music. We also offer a string program to teach violin, viola, and cello to students interested. Technology is used in classes with iPad and programs like Garage Band and Band Lab to create music. There are 2 performances a year; the Winter/Holiday Show where each class performs, and the Spring Concert where the orchestra and chorus perform. There are 3 to 4 school dances a year that are held during the school day for TSPS students. TSPS music therapy also is a training program for students from Montclair State University, who come to work with some of the classes each year.
Physical Education
Physical Education is an important component of each student’s school experience. Our School Physical Education curriculum is a sequential educational program. It is based on physical activities undertaken in an active, caring, supportive and nonthreatening atmosphere in which every student is challenged and can succeed. We aim to provide every student with a wide variety of physical activities and challenges that will contribute to the development and maintenance of their physical, cognitive, and emotional well being.
