Willard School

Willard School serves students from preschool (age 3) through fourth grade. The major focus of the Willard School program is to promote American Sign Language and English literacy skills. The curriculum follows the Indiana Department of Education Academic Standards in the following subjects: language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, visual arts, and physical education and health.

Philosophy

The major goal of Willard School is to provide linguistic, social, and intellectual experiences to enable the students to develop literacy in two languages - American Sign Language and English.

Culturally, the students are offered experiences, which will enhance the acquisition of the behaviors, attitudes, and values of both Deaf and hearing communities. Caring adults, who are licensed teachers, provide these Bilingual-Bicultural experiences, which support each child's self-esteem and pride in family, community, ethnic and linguistic heritage.

We view ourselves as members of a world community with a variety of values and traditions. We feel that educational opportunities to learn and value other cultures and traditions are important to the understanding and respecting of one's individual culture and traditions. Each student is afforded the opportunity to engage in active learning which forms the foundation for the positive development of cognitive, physical, and social abilities while establishing his/her identity in the world today and an opportunity to learn about the many diverse cultures of people in our world community.

Andy Alka is the assistant principal of the Willard School.