Dear Colleagues,
A new school year has dawned and we are excited to see our campuses bustling with students once again. We had a highly successful Kids Like Me Summer camp program on our Sherman Oaks campus and look forward to continuing to offer after-school enrichment to ensure that there are a host of opportunities for the broader community of students with special needs.
Over the years, you have entrusted us to provide specialized educational programming to the students of our community. The partnership we share with providers, parents and allies is deepened by the continual and important feedback you provide. We use it continually to ensure that we are meeting not only the needs of our individual students and families, but also the current needs of our shared communities.
Those of you who know us well can continue to count on the highly specialized and unique schools and programs that we offer. For those just getting to know us, we are always delighted to invite you to visit any of our campuses to see what we are doing up close. Below you will discover overviews of all our schools. We hope that they give you the basic understanding of the programs we offer but nothing beats seeing our schools in action.
Please do not hesitate to contact me to schedule a time to visit and please join me on our Webinar on September 21 when I will be sharing an overview of our school programs. I look forward to seeing you, and again, thank you for your continued support of The Help Group.
Dr. Jason Bolton
VP of Community Partnerships & Admissions
jbolton@thehelpgroup.org
Learn About The Help Group’s Schools ...
Upcoming Webcast:
Learn About The Help Group: A Virtual Tour And Overview Of Our Schools
DATE: September 21st
TIME: 10am-11am
Bridgeport School
Bridgeport School educates students in grades K-12 with mild cognitive delays and challenges with social communication and/or language development and focuses on connecting students with their futures.
- Vocational educational curriculum that stresses function- based jobs skill awareness, career exploration and classroom/individual positive behavior support. Career Technical Education (CTE) include:
- Agriculture
- Arts Media
- Child Development
- Construction/Woodworking
- Fashion Merchandising
- Hospitality/Tourism
- 21st Century Social Skills certification for students from a collaboration with Los Angeles Valley Community College and West Los Angeles Community College.
- Workability and on-site work locations such as Lulu’s Café.
- K-8th grade academic remediation in ELA and Math.
- State-of-the-Art multimedia Lab where students learn photography, graphic design, cartoon animation, student led-media outlet (digital newspaper) and broadcast production.
- Dedicated career counselors for senior transitions to postsecondary education institutions.
- Physical education program (K-10) with participation in CIF for high school aged students (flag football, track and field, basketball) and Special Olympics events (K-12).
Bridgeport Vocational Center
The Bridgeport Vocational Center serves young adults, ages 18-22, focusing on education/training, community participation and employment that help students reach their full potential toward independence during the transition to adulthood.
- Individualized Career Technical Education (CTE) include:
- Agriculture
- Arts Media
- Child Development
- Construction/Woodworking
- Fashion Merchandising
- Hospitality/Tourism
- 21st Century Social Skills certification for students from a collaboration with Los Angeles Valley Community College (LAVC) and West Los Angeles Community College (WLAC)
- Sixteen different on-site and off-site Job Site Readiness Workability, Apprentice and Internships Program options
- State-of-the-Art multimedia Lab where students learn photography, graphic design, cartoon animation, student led-media outlet (digital newspaper) and broadcast production.
- Dedicated career counselors for senior transitions to postsecondary education institutions.
- Behavioral support is provided by an experienced behavioral team comprised of a Director of Behavioral Services, BCBAs, and BIs.
North Hills Prep
North Hills Prep (NHP) is fully-accredited by the WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges), as a therapeutic school serving special education students grades 1-12 with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. NHP recognizes students’ unique capabilities and encourages them to explore their varied interests.
- NHP uses a humanistic, relationship-centered approach built on Dr. Bruce Perry’s evidence-based Neurosequential Model of Education, NHP teachers, therapists, administrators, and support staff form rich connections with students that provide a crucible for developing important self-awareness and interpersonal skills. Concurrently, academic development is made enjoyable with challenging curriculum, lively discussions, and an emphasis on Project-Based Learning.
- Teachers, parents, and administrators work together to inspire students to be well-balanced, caring, informed, and prepared young adults with 21st Century skills including communication, collaboration, and critical thinking.
- NHP’s Student Learner Outcomes (Capable, Confident, Responsible) highlight development in the cognitive, emotional, and moral realms. This is supported by the upper school’s unique Transition Planning classes.
STEM3 Academy
STEM3 Academy is unique in providing a STEM-focused education to a neurodiverse student body, including students with autism, ADHD, high anxiety and major depression. The school’s educational approach is experiential and project-based. The primary focus is on the interests, passions and strengths of our students rather than their deficits. This approach has resulted in a transformation in their sense of self, and their sense of what they can achieve.
- 7-9 AP classes are regularly offered and have very strong outcomes with students being accepted to UC Davis, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, University of Chicago, as well as many of the Cal States and two-year colleges.
- Both STEM campuses have Innovation Labs, state-of-the-art Maker Spaces for the creation and development of robotics, electronics, and more.
- The Robotics team regularly competes regionally in First Robotics and attended the World Championship multiple times receiving a Judge’s and Safety Awards.
- The school’s Advisory Board consists of representatives from Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, Skydio, and Kaiser, among others, and guides the school toward new trends and directions that benefit students.
- Each year the school puts on a STEM Innovation Fair with Microsoft, Raytheon, Skydio, Teredyne, BioRad Labs participation.
Summit View School
- Based on each student’s learning profile, an individual instructional plan is designed to maximize learning and incorporates participatory, interactive, hands-on multi-sensory instruction.
- With small class sizes and teachers holding California credentials in the area of mild/moderate learning disabilities, Summit View strives to create self-reliant learners.
- From the elementary program that emphasizes the fundamental areas of reading, writing and mathematics through the upper grade curriculum that focuses on study skills and critical thinking, students are prepared for a successful transition to a post-secondary setting.
- Creativity, self-expression and an understanding and appreciation for our diverse society are promoted through electives such as drama, art, music, debate, law and global studies.
Sunrise School
- Fostering generalization of functional skills are achieved by students practicing their skills in weekly real-world settings through Community-based Instructional opportunities.
- A state-of-the-art Vocational Lab hones student vocational skills and explore various career opportunities, while specialized rooms include a Sensory Room, a Music room, and an Art room.
- Dedicated LAS and OT services are available (if IEP-designated) and integrated daily. Our multidisciplinary team works together to maximize each child’s potential
- The behavioral team comprised of a Director of Behavioral Services, BCBAs, and BIs who work closely with administration and teaching staff.
- Realistic practice and generalize social skills include school wide dances, the Prom, a Talent Show and much more.
- The LINKS curriculum is designed for the older students focusing on developing functional skills.
Village Glen School
- The school has a dedicated College and Career Counselor who is familiar with the specific needs of the student population and works directly with high school students and families to enable post-secondary success.
- Curriculum includes A-G Courses, Honors Classes, and AP Courses including:
- AP US History
- AP English Language and Composition
- AP Music Theory
- AP Environmental Science
- Specialized remediation programs and support for English Language Arts and Math
- High-level academic, social and athletic participation, including:
- Academic Decathlon.
- Membership in CIF (touch football, basketball, and track and field)
- Daily classes for all grades focusing on Executive Functioning and Organizational skills.
- Daily Social Skills instruction for all grades and opportunities to practice learned skills in school functions including school dances, the Prom and Knight’s Days.
- Innovation Lab.
- Vocational opportunities.
Westview School
Westview School of Arts offers a comprehensive, college preparatory middle and high school program. Westview offers its rigorous, innovative curriculum in conjunction with a wide range of clinical services provided by highly professional, licensed, and credentialed staff. High school core classes meet the A-G course requirements for UC and CSU admissions. An innovative and integrated program features:
- Small class sizes: adult/student ratio averaging 1:6.
- Daily emphasis on executive functioning including organization, study and test-taking skills integrated throughout the curriculum and extra-curricular activities.
- Mindfulness program to benefit cognitive outcomes, stress reduction, and overall well-being.
- An emphasis on critical thinking, reasoning, problem solving for real-world application with practice in oral presentation, debate, and public speaking.
- Elective programs including art, music, foreign language, and athletics.
- Dual/Concurrent enrollment opportunities at local public schools and community colleges.
- Speech and language therapy, counseling, and occupational therapy (per the students’ IEPs).
Young Learners
Young Learners is an intensive six-hour per day, five day per week comprehensive, evidence-based early intervention program for children between 2.9 and 5 years.
The curriculum utilizes a highly-individualized mix of research-based, clinically validated intervention strategies. Naturalistic and structured ABA strategies include DTT, Pivotal Response, Natural Environment and PECs. The program fosters growth in language development, communication, socialization, adaptive skills, behavior management, academic readiness and fine/gross motor skills.
- Enrichment is provided through Music, Art and Technology.
- The Early Ed Center features a state-of-the-art Sensory Room and a computer lab.
- Specialized LAS and OT services are available (if IEP-designated) and integrated daily. Our multidisciplinary team works together to maximize each child’s potential.
- The behavioral team comprised of a Director of Behavioral Services, BCBAs, and BIs who work closely with administration and teaching staff. Their roles include leading staff trainings, modeling within the classrooms, and working on positive plans to shape individual student behaviors.
ABOUT THE HELP GROUP
The Help Group is the largest, most innovative and comprehensive nonprofit of its kind serving children, adolescents and young adults with special needs related to autism spectrum disorder, learning disabilities, ADHD, developmental delays, abuse and emotional challenges through its wide range of specialized education, therapy and outreach programs. Recently, The Help Group launched programs to serve LGBTQ+ youth. At the heart of its efforts is the commitment to helping young people fulfill their potential to lead positive, productive and rewarding lives.
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