Counseling & Advising Counseling & Advising

Guidance
Students have access to private school, vocational and college planning. Parker Academy will help families in choosing the next appropriate placement for their son or daughter. Educational testing and interest inventories are used to focus the search and appropriate schools, colleges and job opportunities are explored as students plan for the future. This may include teaching interviewing skills and resume preparation. Given the small and unique nature of Parker Academy, we expect to take an active role in helping students to take the next step which will include making personal contact with potential schools.

Psychological Services
Regular counseling is part of our day-to-day programming. Opportunities for intervention, reflection and problem solving present themselves daily and our experienced staff takes time to talk with students. Weekly social pragmatics classes address common adolescent themes. If students need individual therapy we can arrange for regular counseling with local therapists. These therapists will maintain regular contact with our Principal to ensure that issues are addressed not only in therapy, but in daily programming. Therapists will be required to meet monthly at our school with appropriate staff. The cost of individual psychological services is not covered by tuition.

Social Pragmatics
We assume that all adolescents need help making decisions. We also have learned that as adolescents experiment, they need to discuss their decisions with people they trust. Weekly social pragmatics classes address a wide range of issues related to making proper decisions and understanding the results of choices and behaviors. Following a specific curriculum, we also leave time for current topics of a personal nature or issues that affect our community. In addition, daily morning meetings with the full day school and staff provide opportunities to discuss issues of concern.

Parent Involvement
Parent involvement and support are directly related to a student's success in school. Parents are expected to take an active role in their son or daughter's program. This includes attending an orientation session, attending quarterly portfolio evaluation sessions and taking responsibility for their son or daughter's schedule when they are not in school. Regular monthly parent sessions will explore topics of interest to parents and offer advice in parenting teens. Parker Academy will work with parents to offer guidance and advice in managing non-school activities and learning opportunities. Inherent in this type of program is sharing and problem solving. Seasoned professionals will assist Parker Academy staff in presenting topics of interest. We encourage parents to attend classes and tutorials, assist with activities and field trips and offer additional learning opportunities for students. We believe that active parent involvement is essential to encourage life skills and values that go beyond the academic environment. We also believe that parents can offer more than support services and can direct and initiate programs and activities.

Wilderness Retreats
Students and families need to remove themselves from the pace and rigors of day-to-day life and seek environments that encourage peace, reflection and good health. Wilderness retreats serve this purpose. Designed to remove students from their telephones, CDs and TV's, wilderness retreats range from one day to a week. Hiking, backpacking, walking the beach, canoeing and cross country skiing are some of the activities. Themes that deal directly with adolescent issues and emotional growth are focused on during these retreats.

Behavior management and disciplinary code practices
Every student has an individual behavior management plan that is part of his or her Individual Education Plan (IEP). This plan is written with input from a student's team once the student has been accepted.

Minor rule violations are written up by a staff member and submitted to the Director. The consequences will be determined at that time. A student's behavior plan and prior violations will determine the severity of the consequences. Minor rule violations include tardiness, inappropriate language or dress, disrespect, littering, inappropriate physical contact, an unwillingness to engage in learning and any activity which interferes with another student's ability to learn.

Major rule violations may result in termination, suspension, referral to another school, program, agency or isolation from other students. Major rule violations include the possession of an illegal drug, or violence toward a staff member or another student. If the staff has any indication that a student might be using drugs or alcohol we reserve the right to have them tested.