Philosophy

Providing specialized support in order to reach students’ academic and social potential. We believe that students with a variety of learning profiles can be successful when instruction is tailored to address their academic strengths and struggles.

Special Education Needs (SEN)

Students who have neurological learning differences are as intelligent as their peers but may struggle in academic subjects if taught in conventional ways. These students may require modifications, differentiated instruction, or support and intervention from a learning specialist.

SEN offers up to two periods of services weekly to provide accommodations. Services include some subject area support in the upper grades, remediation at the lower elementary level, but our accommodations do not involve replacement of curriculum. All SEN students are required to have gone through a referral process and received an external educational evaluation prior their entry in the ASB SEN program.

Autonomous Learning and Acceleration (ALA)

ALA students are independent, self-motivated students in need of additional challenges (independent study, acceleration) not offered in the broader grade level programs. In secondary, ALA identifies those portions of students’ regular academic day best suited to “compacting,” that is, compressing whatever time possible from the regular curriculum, to make room for individualized work meeting the student´s challenge level and interests. Students have ALA time an average of two periods per week, divided between self-paced individual work and group problem solving challenges.

Counseling

Students who require counseling include those who are struggling due to social, emotional, adaptation or family-related issues. The counseling department offers individual and group counseling according to students’ social and emotional needs. It organizes support groups for different issues, develops social skills training sessions, assists students in their transition to ASB, organizes parent discussion groups, brings guest speakers for the parents and students, and meets with health professionals in the community. The school counselor teaches Teen Issues in grades nine and ten once per week. Support is also offered to parents who have concerns regarding their child’s well-being.