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Education Programs Key To Future
Springfield Republican | 1/23/08
Not only does the Children's Study Home help strengthen families through services and support, it is dedicated to ensuring that each special needs child receives an education to help shape his or her future. The agency mainly works with students with emotional and behavioral issues who have been referred to it by Springfield and neighboring public school districts.
The agency supports several educational programs. The first is the Kathleen Thornton Elementary School, created in 1965, where 6- to 12-year-olds attend first and second grade. The classroom's student-to-teacher ratio is much smaller than regular public schools so each student can receive personalized attention. Along with an educational program, students receive individual therapy provided by the clinical services department. Nursing staff also is on duty. Although the school is a day program, students living in the Cottage Residential Program also attend.
The Mill Pond Middle School and High School was started in the 1970s as a day program. The middle school handles 12- to 16-year-old students for grades seven to nine, while the high school handles 15- to 19-year-old students for grades 10 to 12. Each student has an individualized educational program detailing his or her needs and goals to be met during that school year. In addition to being academically based, the school offers extracurricular activities. The therapeutic department offers the students different ways of coping with their issues through individual, family and group counseling. They also learn a variety of life skills, such as anger management, socialization, communication and self-esteem building tools. Both schools have access to a woodwork shop, weight lifting, a gym, and a gardening program to help students develop new interests and relieve stress. At the high school level, the students have an opportunity to take driver's education and to attend early college courses at Springfield Technical Community College.
The agency also supports a residential program, The Cottage, in Springfield for males from 6 to 13 years old. These students deal with many emotional and behavioral issues. It is a group living situation where students stay in the program for 12 to 18 months. In addition to regular everyday activities, they receive intensive counseling using different techniques such as individual, group and family therapy.
In conclusion every child deserves to receive an education that allows them to reach their goals and live to their fullest potential. Carrie Barrepski, a native of Livonia, Mich., lives in Western Massachusetts. You can learn more about Carrie at her Web site, www.carriewrites.net She can be reached at cbarrepski@carriewrites.net