| Classes
at Mt. McKinley School
Self
Contained
The Assessment Center
School-to-Career
ACE (Adolescent Counseling Education)
Girls Classroom
Tamalpais I
Tamalpais II
Monticello
Summit Center
Chris Adams Girls Center
Rotational
Health/ Physical Education
Science / Math
Language Arts/ Social Studies
Support
Title 1
Special Education
Self-Contained
Classes
The Assessment Center
The goal of the Mt. McKinley School Assessment Center is to provide
Mt. McKinley and Delta Vista High School instructional staff with
current and useful information that will maximize a student's learning
potential and to provide the student with insight into tangible education
and career options. The staff is provided with an Individual Learning
Plan (ILP) for each student, determined by observing, analyzing and
assessing the students. A prognosis of the student's vocational success
is created based on behavioral information, life-skill assessments,
career awareness inventories, occupational interests and development
of an ongoing student portfolio. In addition, during the students’
3-5 day stay in the Assessment Center, they become familiar with Mt.
McKinley School policies, procedures and services.
Each student is tracked through Assessment Center Phase I, Phase II
and Phase III, so they complete the phases on the proper timeline.
An Assessment Center tutor is responsible for generating the results
of testing and distributing this information to the teaching staff
so it may be used in the classroom to target instruction.
School-to-Career
This class is for 17-year old students working specifically towards
their graduation requirements. If they are running out of time to
earn enough credits, they may pursue specific subjects of study which
will help them pass the GED. Another component of the School-to-Career
class allows students to work on skills that will help them in the
world of employment. Health and Physical Education are also taught
in a block schedule format.
ACE
Adolescent Counseling Education (ACE) is a 9-week course designed
for students who have issues with substance abuse and anger management.
Students who are court mandated for this class are placed in ACE.
Since many students here deal with these issues, the class is valuable
for almost any student at Mt. McKinley.
This
class focuses on substance abuse issues, anger management, family
and relationship issues and responsible sexuality. High school academic
subjects are also taught. In Language Arts, students participate
in a character-based literacy program. They contribute to a class
magazine, “Let Me Holler!” in which they share their writings
with the Mt. McKinley community.
Girls
Classroom
This program is designed to deal with issues that are relevant to
teenage girls as they prepare for their future. Class content mainly
focuses on female and teen-age issues through language arts, math,
health, and physical education classes. A student who spends time
in this program will be presented with ways to improve/ develop
her confidence, self-esteem, social skills, problem solving skills
and resiliency. She will be presented strong role models in person,
on videos, through use of the Internet, literature and history.
She will have a chance to develop/improve her skills and creativity
in math, reading, GED prep (if appropriate), creative writing, poetry,
art , music, drama and dance. If she needs specific units for graduation,
individualized work is available.
Tamalpais
There are two Tamalpais classes that are completely separated from
the general population. Special assignments are provided for students
working towards graduation requirements.
Tamalpais II
The Tamalpais II teacher works with 12 students on the living unit.
The class, with its smaller population allows more attention to
be given to each student. This classroom runs in parallel to the
larger Tamalpais classroom with students tested on all subjects
each Friday. As with all classrooms at Mt. McKinley, students who
are studying for the GED are given appropriate assignments.
Monticello
The self-contained Monticello class has 20 males, ages eight to
seventeen. Because of the varied ages and academic levels of our
students, an academic program is provided that addresses elementary,
middle and high school curricula. Recognizing that students are
placed in this unit because they are in need of a more nurturing
environment, a partnership with the probation counseling staff has
been created to ensure that the students have positive school experiences.
All subjects are taught and special assignments are provided for
students working towards graduation requirements. To encourage students
to have academic and behavioral successes, they participate in an
incentive program that includes daily points, Student of the Week,
‘highest points students’ and time outs.
The Monticello teacher works with students individually and in small
groups, offering encouragement and assisting students with their
assignments.
Summit Center
The goal of the Summit Center is to assist adolescents and their
families in developing personal skills promoting trust, mutual respect,
and responsibility in their relationships at home and in the community.
Its primary aim is to help adolescents reunite and live with their
families, attend school regularly and become productive members
of the community.
After
graduation from Summit Center, adolescents and families must participate
in the aftercare program. It lasts for one year and consists of
both counseling and case management services in the form of Child
Family Teams. Depending on the student’s individual or family
needs, a combination of individual, group or family therapy may
be required. As with other programs for juvenile offenders, participation
in the program is expected as per the child’s court order.
The
goal of the Summit Center is for the child to return home. Therapeutic
treatment focuses on helping each student reunite with his family
and also help him to avoid any further involvement with the law.
The
Summit Center boys are occasionally treated to assemblies. Recent
speakers have included Willie Mays, Jeff Garcia and Pete Escovedo.
Chris
Adams Girls Center
Chris Adams is a fairly new residential treatment program, serving
20 adolescent girls, ages 12-18. Mt. McKinley School at Chris Adams
offers a full curriculum including GED preparation for all students.
In addition, the program offers family therapy, group therapy and
individual therapy, with the goal of treating the entire resident
to prepare her for success after she leaves the program.
Tony
LaRussa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) offers the girls hands-on
work with cats and dogs. The girls are able to bond with these animals
and prepare the pets for adoption. Individuals receive treatment
goals and are on a level behavioral system in addition to receiving
therapy.
Rotational Classes
Each day contains three 90-minute blocks. Students rotate through
each of three class blocks daily.
Health/P.E.
Physical Education is taught to each of the classes except Monticello,
Tamalpais, Summit and Girls Programs. During physical education,
students participate in team sports, weight lifting or other P.E.
activities. Health education classes are provided on alternate days.
Science/
Math
In Science, students study earth science and biological sciences.
Students learn about earthquakes, volcanoes, weather patterns, animals
and more. During math, students work in text books focusing on life
skills and applications.
Language
Arts/Social Studies
In social studies, students study history and English. They read,
spell, write stories, poetry and essays. Students learn about the
political, social and economic history of the U.S. and other countries.
They also explore the many different cultures of the world. Literature
selections are consistent with the themes of the Character Based
Literacy program. Instruction is based on the 9th and 10th grade
Language Arts Standards.
Support
Title 1
The Title 1 Tutor works with students one-on-one to help them prepare
for the GED, work on their regular schoolwork or learn English.
Special
Education
The Instructional Support program works with students who are identified
as needing Special Education. A Resource Specialist works with students
individually, in small groups or in the regular classrooms, consulting
with teachers concerning the student's needs. When the students
are referred, it is here that they are tested. All reports, goals
and objectives and IEP’s are completed. The Resource Specialist
also works with parents, probation and the regular classroom teachers
regarding the students. All IEP’s are forwarded to the student’s
next class placement, whether in a facility or in the community.
Students with immense needs are assisted during their stay at Mt.
McKinley in all classroom subject areas and with their social skills.
The students receive individualized instruction through inclusion-style
teaching, with tracking that is the responsibility of both the teacher
and the student. Different learning techniques, including haptic
and holistic, along with increasing the vocabulary in each subject,
aid the student in seeing how all subjects are related and hopefully
offer immediate results. Motivational techniques (speaking, rewards,
and positive reinforcement) are used to help raise spirits and self-esteem,
so all can feel better about themselves and the learning process.
A
Resource Assistant conducts all intakes and releases, contacts all
the districts for IEP requests, updates the Special Ed list and
distributes each day to the Probation Staff and Teaching Staff.
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