Program Overview
Mission Statement
To educate secondary students with NLD, Asperger’s Syndrome and other neurocognitive disorders in a program that equally emphasizes academics, social competency and pragmatic language development.
Orion Academy is a day school designed to provide a quality program for secondary students whose academic success is compromised by a neurocognitive disability. Orion students are bright young people with a potential for success in the world at large, but as a result of their disorders, historically fail to realize that potential. As a group, these students suffer profound difficulty with information processing and integration, coupled with significant social skill problems, often making it impossible to function and succeed in existing high school programs. Without the necessary program modifications and social skill training, their future has been uncertain.
Expected Schoolwide Learning Results - ESLRs
Orion Academy students, will have completed a college preparatory curriculum and upon graduation, will:
- Show competence in organizational skills that reflect the ability to function independently in social and academic settings.
- Exhibit competence in reading comprehension, specifically shown in the ability to identify main idea, make inferences and integrate disparate ideas.
- Demonstrate improved social competency including skills in self-advocacy, independent living and social collaboration.
- Demonstrate improved skills in the appropriate use of language in a social context by applying a variety of communication skills.
- Be prepared for a variety of post secondary and career opportunities.
Overview
The student to staff ratio is 1:8 to start in certain subjects, with increasing independence as the years progress. Details of the program and the staffing needs follow. The school provides a 180-day full academic curriculum and has been approved as a Nonpublic School by the State of California and is accredited by WASC (Western Association of School and Colleges).
The Program
Our school is dedicated to educating students with neurocognitive disorders, targeting both individual social needs and academic excellence. The program is designed as a safe learning environment with a specific focus on social, organizational, and visual-spatial deficits. The opportunities and tools for success are an integral part of every class, group, and volunteer setting. The program includes grade-level academics in small classes to allow for individual attention and increased opportunity for success in those courses. This is a unique program specifically planned with these students in mind.
Program organization that
includes frequent feedback
In an effort to provide a unique educational experience suited to the
needs of our students, the Orion Academy operates in six-week sessions,
rather than the traditional quarter, trimester, or semester system.
Students and their parents will meet with faculty to review progress at
the end of each six-week session. The students learn in small
groups that remain consistent over the year. Students will have the
opportunity to interact and learn with the entire Orion community in
social skills group, activity classes and P.E., yet the bulk of the
educational day will be with the same core students. This is
designed to maximize the development of social competency in a
controlled and less anxiety-provoking environment.
This
system provides students with an opportunity to have a concentrated
learning experience leading to mastery and the ability to move on to
new subjects with a sense of success. The program teaches to the
California Standards and Benchmarks and strives to prepare students for
college entrance.
Orion uses a state-of-the-art Student Information System (SIS) called PowerSchool. In addition to the scheduling, grading and attendance features used by Orion teaching staff, PowerSchool provides parent and student access to this information on a login protected web page. This level of access allows parents and students to view all class assignments and attendance history via the Internet at any time.
The program hours are Monday –Thursday from 8:50 AM – 3:45* PM and Friday from 9:00AM – 1:30 PM. (*Seniors are dismissed at 3:30 every day, all other students have 15 minutes of chores).
Academics Plus Social and Life Skills
Orion strives to offer coursework that is both college preparatory and
unique to the needs of NLD and Asperger’s students. In
addition
to offering basic academic courses needed for graduation, Orion offers
a trademark course in pragmatic language skills and specialized
programming for:
- Training in social skills – an integral part of the Orion program
- Independent living skills through the Transitions courses in 11thand 12th grades
- Empathy development through the unique Orion program of dog obedience training
- Community involvement through volunteer opportunities
- Homebridging program that supports the academic, social skills, sensory integration and physical education programs
- Unique to Orion and designed with our students in mind, all students are required to complete a “Personal Project” for each six-week session. The projects are individual learning experiences that are developed by the students with the help of a mentor teacher. As a team they will collaborate on the project and produce a finished product that can be presented in some format to the Orion community. This program is developed to augment the regular course material.
Technology as an
Organizing Tool and a Unique Focus for Learning
While Orion Academy provides a full academic program leading to a high
school diploma, the program provides a highly structured learning
environment; the daily schedule is highlighted by the integration into
every aspect of the curriculum of both technology and social learning.
Students will be required to provide their own laptop computer
(currently an Apple iBook)
and use that computer in class each day. Class work and homework
utilize the laptop computer and students are taught a specific system
for information storage and transfer that improves their ability to
keep track of information. In addition, the school uses the Webster
board system, allowing information from the whiteboards to be directly
transferred to the student’s computers, reducing the note
taking requirements in certain classes.
Family Involvement/Events
The relationship between the home and school is vital and central to
the Orion student’s success. Parents also serve a
crucial
function. Parents are expected to attend the Parent Teacher
Organization meetings as often as possible, especially during the
student’s first year at Orion and are required as a condition
of
admission to have one parent (or parent representative, i.e.
grandparent or other adult) at every Community Meeting /Personal
Project presentation. All parents are required to attend the September
Mandatory Parent Information meeting. At the end of each school year
Orion Academy conducts an Annual End of the Year Awards Dinner, at a
local restaurant or Country Club. This is a very special event and
attendance is required for all students. Most families also
attend and extended family is welcome.
In addition, families of Orion students will be asked to contribute their time and talents to the success of the program. Opportunities for volunteer activities or fundraising are presented at the beginning of each session.
Tuition and Fees
Information on the annual tuition can be found here.Application Process
Information on the application process can be found here.
To request an application packet, please read this page.
Orion Academy Courses
| English – 4 years required | |
| 40 Units required for graduation | Units |
| * Literature I | 10 |
| * Literature II | 10 |
| * Literature III | 10 |
| * Literature IV | 10 |
| Mythology | 10 |
| Language Arts and Pragmatics – 2 years required | |
| 20 Units required for graduation | Units |
| * Language Art I | 10 |
| * Language Arts II | 10 |
| Journalism | 10 |
| Computer Programming and Website | 10 |
| History and Social Science– 3 years required | |
| 30 Units | Units |
| * Western Civilization – freshman | 10 |
| * American History – sophomores | 10 |
| * Government and Economics – senior | 10 |
| Advanced Topics in American History | 10 |
| Psychology | 10 |
| Current World Topics | 10 |
| Mathematics – 2 years required | |
| 20 Units | Units |
| *Intro To Algebra – 1A (two year course) | 10 |
| *Algebra 1B (must be taken w/1A) | 10 |
| * Algebra 1 | 10 |
| Geometry | 10 |
| Algebra II | 10 |
| Calculus | 10 |
| Science – 3 years required | |
| 20 Units | Units |
| * Physical Science | 10 |
| * Biology | 10 |
| * Botany | 10 |
| Physiology and Anatomy | 10 |
| Electronics | 10 |
| Forensics | 6 |
| Robotics Club | 2 |
| Physical Education – 2 years required |
| 24 Units |
| Each year, P.E. is taught in one 2-hour block with Homebridging as the component to complete 108 hours/year. Homebridging is required for 9th, and 10th graders only |
| * O.T – ALERT Program (1 session for Freshmen only) |
| Miscellaneous Courses and Electives | |
| Units | |
| Digital Art | 10 |
| *Art I | 6 |
| *Drama I, II | 3 each |
| *Transition/Health | 3 |
| *College and Career Transitions | 3 |
| * Dog Training (required 2 years) | 1 unit per semester or 4 units |
| Independent Study – Online UCCP courses: Physics, AP Spanish, AP Biology, AP Calculus, Honors Psychology | |
| Units vary (extra fee for these courses) | |
| Study Skills (by teacher recommendation only), | 10 |
| Languages | |
| 10 Units | Units |
| Latin I | 10 |
| Latin II | 10 |
| Personal Projects – 6 units/year |
| * Personal Projects are required for each session in attendance at Orion Academy |
Clubs and Activities
Orion offers lunchtime and after school activities for students. The clubs vary each year depending on student interest, but the current offerings include:
- Mediation Club – student train with the school psychologist and offer conflict resolution mediations between students.
- Chess Club
- Girls’ Club
- Junior Classics League – required for Latin I and II students
- Student Council
- Robotics Club (required teacher approval and receives credits)
*In the past we have also had Animae Club, D&D Club and Art Club.
In addition, students who are interested can join a Track Club and participate in local track meets – if they so desire.
Other Activities and Opportunities
Student Store
Student run store at lunchtime allows for job skills and raises money
for the science department.
The Sarah Ruvolo Organic
Garden
The organic garden at Orion is an ongoing and growing
project
that is maintained as part of the curriculum of the two Botany classes
at Orion. Food from the garden is prepared and eaten at the school.
Winter Travel Program
Student in the 11th or 12th grade can apply to participate in the
Winter Travel Program. Students must maintain a specific GPA
and
have teacher recommendations to be considered. During 10 days of winter
break, a few faculty members take a group of students abroad.
The
past two years the trip has been to Greece and it has been highly
successful. There is an additional cost for this program.
Volunteer and Internship
Requirements and Opportunities
During the senior year, all Orion student must complete 30 hours of
volunteer activity and complete the necessary forms and writing
requirement. In addition, an increasing number of
“internships” are offered to juniors and seniors to
allow
them to prepare for post high school choices and explore career
interests. These internships include settings like
– the
Oakland Zoo, Kaiser Hospital and local retirement homes. More
internship sites are being developed.
Admission Standards
Orion Academy seeks students whom:- Have a primary diagnosis of a neurocognitive disorder by a respected clinician
- Seek a secondary program that has an emphasis on organizational skill development, social skill development, and pragmatic language.
- Have above average Verbal I.Q, as measured by a standardized assessment instrument (i.e., WISC-III or WAIS-R)
- Have a decoding reading level at or above the 8th grade level and a comprehension reading level at or above the 8th grade level
- Demonstrate motivation by the student and his/her parents to become part of the Orion Program
- Present no significant, current behavior problems that can not be controlled with verbal intervention
- Have no attendance problems
- Are able to comfortably interact with various animals
- Are physically capable of self grooming and maintenance of mobility in the program
- Have no history of violence at school or expulsion from previous programs due to violence or threats of violence
Areas of concern:
- These issues would warrant a more detailed interview process
- and possible denial of admissions
- History of mild physical aggression, but only under particular circumstances (as a result of environmental triggers) that is related to the neurocognitive diagnosis
- Intermittent behavior problems, but a long history of success in alternative classroom or setting
- Poor ability to self regulate, need for intensive 1:1 attention
- History of school refusal or many absences
- Limited ability to work independently
- Unable to keyboard or use technological advances
- History of drug abuse or addiction
- Suicide attempts
- Reading ability does not meet criteria
- Academic level does not meet level of classes taught
- History of physical or verbal aggression towards others that is not directly related to the NLD/AS diagnosis
- History of bringing a weapon to school
- Current drug or alcohol use
- Fear of dog
