Clinical/Counseling

The behavioral and social/emotional goal at Washington Academy is to help each student develop alternate strategies for coping with frustration, conflict, anxiety and anger.  Our six school social workers and three school psychologists all help students examine misbehaviors and assist them in developing more productive alternates for dealing with stresses.  Each classroom has an assigned social worker who serves as a case manager and meets regularly with the students and teachers.  Our social workers provide individual and group counseling as a forum for problem solving. Crisis counseling is provided by the social workers for students needing immediate assistance. 

Teachers at Washington Academy are trained and certified in crisis management through an internationally recognized program from the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI). Two Washington Academy staff members are certified trainers in this nonviolent crisis intervention training program. They are responsible for ongoing training for all staff members throughout the school year. In CPI staff learns how to respond effectively to warning signs that someone is beginning to lose control. The focus is always on prevention of behavioral incidents.

Medical

Washington Academy has the services of a fulltime school nurse who is responsible for health records and health services. These services are vital to the well being of our students.
 

Character Education/Social Skills

Weekly classes are held in each room to address the development of social skills and reinforce social and emotional learning. Nationally recognized character education programs have been used with students to help them develop appropriate social skills. 

Positive Behavior Supports

Washington Academy staff has been trained in using Positive Behavior Support to address behavioral problems in the classroom.  This nationally research based approach focuses on avoiding “behavior earthquakes” by teaching proactive strategies which support appropriate student behavior.  Problem solving strategies are used to solve social issues and teach new skills to the students.  

Speech and Language Services

Students receive speech and language therapy either in small groups or individually with a certified speech-language specialist.  Speech is provided as a related service according to the students’ IEP. 

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy is provided as a related service for students according to their IEP. A certified Occupational Therapist offers this program for individual students in need of specific skill development in this area. 

Transportation

Transportation is provided to student by the local sending school district.  It is considered a related service when student are placed out of district and is included in the IEP.  There are no charges to the parent. 

The school bus is an extension of our school and good conduct on the bus is considered important.