Summit School at Nyack– A New York State Special Education School

Transforming Lives Through Personalized Support
At Summit School 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.

Meeting 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.

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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.

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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

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.

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.

WHO WE SERVE

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

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ANIMAL CARE PROGRAM

Pets For Purpose

This program provides students with hands-on animal care responsibilities during the school day. The program continues into a recreational activity after school, where students take the animals on hikes and visit local schools, hospitals, and nursing homes. The program aims to be a positive force in the community while encouraging students to spend time outdoors and away from electronics.

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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

What our staff has to say:

I find it rewarding to build character within my students and develop genuine relationships with them. I’ve learned that every student comes from a different background, and they all have different struggles. From a socio-emotional standpoint, it’s my job to figure out how to best break through their tough exterior and show them that I am here to support them and then academically, I need to figure out how to tailor my teaching style to meet the learning needs of that student.
Nicole Kuhlmeier, Special Education Mathematics Teacher
We really want all sorts of options to be open to our students once they either transfer back to district or they graduate from here, our goal is to open as many doors for our students as we can.
Jennifer Robertson - LMSW - Director of Care Coordination Nyack
Once a student is able to see that they are truly supported by you and how successful they can be when they learn to embrace that support, is what drives me because it is so incredible what strides you can make with that student from that moment forward.
Kelly Cignarella - Special Education English Teacher
We create a world here that protects them, allows them to fall and pick themselves back up as many times as they need. Sometimes that creates a false sense of reality but for many it provides them the opportunity for growth and perseverance.
Jacqueline Kinsley - School Counselor & CDOS Coordinator
If you look at how the students enter Summit and leave it’s been a complete change for most of them. From maturity to respect a lot of my former students have changed. I’d like to believe that we all have had our input in helping these struggling students become young adults.
Jon Neiderman - Physical Education Teacher

We are a student run news source that exists to deliver positive news and stories happening at our school.

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During the month of March, we aim to inspire our community to BE SPIRITED. Being spirited means having an infectious energy, courage, and enthusiasm for life that never fades. It’s like having a little party inside you that’s always ready to have fun and make memories.

The BE Campaign brings together Summit staff & students in various ways throughout the year to both reflect on and reflect to each other qualities that are considered important tools for personal wellness, happiness and success.