Where students come to master the skills needed to thrive in school, at home, and in the community.
At Summit School at Nyack, we believe every day is a fresh opportunity to start anew and develop stable, gratifying relationships with adults and peers. By working with staff across many disciplines, students master the skills needed to thrive in school, at home, and in the community. Our task is to inspire motivation and help develop new patterns of behavior that will put each student on the path to successful adulthood.
We Meet Our Students Where They Are
We understand that students may be coming to us after years of repeated setbacks. Guided and supported by special education teachers, social workers and residential staff, students learn to take risks and open themselves to new experiences, responsibilities, and relationships that will enrich their lives.
Day & Residential Programs
The Summit School at Nyack has two distinct but integrated programs, day and residential. While day and residential students attend the same classes and have similar schedules and support throughout the school day, each program has its own referral and admissions processes. Students are referred to the day or residential program by their home school district CSE in accordance with the level of structure and supervision that the student requires. While day students leave campus at the end of the school day, students in the residential program continue structured programming.
A Place to Unplug
The ascent from childhood to adulthood is riddled with challenges. To students with social and emotional difficulties, the potential pitfalls may seem impossible to overcome. These students deserve the support of a specialized school and community to offer comfort, instill confidence, and deliver consistent support during these difficult times.
A Safe & Supportive Community
Our students have struggled to succeed in more traditional school settings and need an individualized approach to help them feel confident and comfortable as they embark on this next chapter in their lives. While some of our students’ needs can be met within the day program, others require a more wrap-around approach. Our residential students continue to need a therapeutic milieu during non-school hours and benefit from structured activities, a built-in structure to non-school hours, and support to navigate their social worlds.
Clinical Support
The Summit School at Nyack’s New York State licensed clinical professionals offer the support and expertise required to guide students towards their strengths and potential. Clinical staff focus on individual work with students and maintain strong contact with the staff working with each student to provide a coordinated therapeutic effort.
Animal Care Program
The Summit School animal care program, also known as “Pets for Purpose” is a work program during the school day where students take on responsibilities such as caring for the animals, cleaning the barn area and just spending time outdoors. We have 2 dogs, 2 goats, 4 chickens, 2 ducks, a bearded dragon and a pig. This program also continues into a recreation program during after school hours. The students take the animals on hikes and also visit other schools, hospitals and nursing homes as well. The goal of the program is to try and be a positive force in the community and has been met with huge success. The animal program also motivates children to spend time outside and away from electronics. This is where every child is welcome and can experience success!
Life After Graduation
The Summit School at Nyack maintains an ongoing commitment to cultivating job readiness skills, providing effective transition planning, and supplying preparation for post-school employment for all of our students. Through the years, we have found that many students enter Summit lacking many of the essential tools necessary in today’s modern work world.
TRANSITIONAL / VOCATIONAL SERVICES GUIDANCE & COLLEGE PLANNING
It is humbling and inspiring to stand with children as they learn how to navigate the challenges of life.
Veronica Fellman, D.O. - Child, Adolescent & Adult Psychiatrist
Summit School provides a caring atmosphere with a deep commitment to the betterment of the students in our care. To create this atmosphere, we integrate:
Academic Services
The Summit School at Nyack operates under a charter from the New York State Board of Regents as a special education secondary school. We collaborate with school districts throughout New York State to provide special education services to emotionally fragile young adults.
Recreational Programming
Many students come to the Summit School at Nyack after long periods of unsuccessful school and social experiences. We believe that teaching students how to recreate in socially appropriate and productive ways is key to helping them gain confidence and independence. For that reason, we have created a dynamic and exciting recreational program designed for students to have fun and learn at the same time.
Intensive Individual Psychotherapy
The Summit School at Nyack’s New York State licensed clinical professionals offer the support and expertise required to guide students towards their strengths and potential. Clinical staff focus on individual work with students and maintain strong contact with the staff working with each student to provide a coordinated therapeutic effort.
Constructive Parent Communication
We partner with parents to learn more about what has and hasn’t worked for their child. We have supportive conversations with parents and the student about setting up behavioral expectations for home visits, and provide weekly updates to parents about their child’s functioning within the program.
Psychiatric Supervision
Our staff psychiatrist meets regularly with Summit’s residential students to investigate the appropriateness of psychopharmacological interventions and carefully monitor the student’s progression if medication is prescribed. Summit’s psychiatrist is an integral part of the students’ care as they provide ongoing support and knowledge to clinical staff and families.
Nutritional Counseling
A registered dietician is available for students to provide nutritional counseling and works with the Food Service Director to offer a variety of healthful eating choices – accommodating all alternative diets options that students may need.
Vocational Counseling
The Summit School at Nyack maintains an ongoing commitment to cultivating job readiness skills, providing effective transition planning, and supplying preparation for post-school employment for all of our students.
College Preparation
Summit students work with their families, clinical staff, teachers, and transition team to ascertain suitable colleges, vocational training programs, and/or supportive housing opportunities.
Transition Planning
We have developed both a hands on-job training program and classroom based coursework to teach necessary life skills. These practical experiences expose students to the skills required to search for, apply for, and maintain employment.