High Road School of Wallingford
High Road School of Wallingford is a small structured individual student focused program which helps students learn at their own pace and instructional level. Our Behavior model encourages socially appropriate behaviors and teaches to regulate themselves not only in the school setting but outside of it in the their own communities. Our students come to us from all over the state with diverse and unique backgrounds. Our highly trained dedicated and caring staff builds strong bonds with our students through the use of our behavior model and by holding our students to a higher standard academically, behaviorally and personally. Our goal is for our students to leave us with the not only a quality education but also to have the skills and abilities necessary to make a difference not only in their own lives but in their communities as well.
Our Students
Students are referred by their school district to attend High Road School and are generally in grades K–12. They face disabilities in a variety of areas, including but not limited to Emotional Disability, OHI-ADD/ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Intellectual Disability.
Our Staff
We are proud to employ certified special education teachers, school social workers, a full-time consulting BCBA, a consulting psychologist, a speech-language pathologist, and an occupational therapist.
High Road School of Wallingford is a state approved outplacement special education program serving students with social, emotional, behavioral and academic challenges. Our individualized educational program for primary, middle and high school students features individual and small-group interactive learning, complemented by a self-adjusting computer program used for academic reinforcement. We offer in-depth social skills training that teaches students to recognize social cues, communicate effectively, interact with a group, and build healthy and positive peer relationships. Additionally, our school-wide PBIS behavioral support model equips students with learning strategies to control their impulses, accept responsibility for their actions, and self-monitor their behaviors.
To supplement our school’s regular 10-month school year program, we offer an extended school year (ESY) program for eligible students. This summer programming provides academic support with a focus on preventing regression of skills and maintaining academic and behavioral skills development through such means as subject area tutorials, behavioral instruction, recreational activities, and cultural experiences.
Academic Rotation Model:
By focusing on key areas — academics, behavior modifications, support services, and transition/life planning services — we are able to meet the individual needs of our students through individualized approaches to instruction. Through collaboration with a student’s IEP team, we are able to choose the most appropriate learning plan based on each student’s present levels of performance, social capabilities, motor coordination, and ability to learn in a group setting.
Utilizing our structured instructional rotation model, students are assessed academically, gain self-regulation skills, learn with district-aligned academic curriculums, and utilize integrated technology.
Transition Program:
The High Road School of Wallingford offers a comprehensive transition program for our students in grades 9-12+. These students participate in an active and exploratory curriculum that combines classes required for graduation with vocational experiences and a work readiness program that provide instruction and support in developing the basic skills needed to succeed in today’s workplace. Each student’s transition program is individualized per their specific talents, interests, skill levels, and needs, and may include targeted areas of instruction and coaching such as professional hygiene, job interviewing skills, taking on-the-job directives, and appropriately responding to both common and unexpected scenarios.
Our transition coordinator works closely with the community in order to develop partnerships that align with student interests and abilities. High Road School’s ever-expanding vocational opportunities give our students specific training in areas of their interests. The concentrated hands-on work experience also gives our students more options with future paid employment opportunities.
By focusing on key areas — academics, behavior modifications, support services, and transition / life planning services — we are able to meet the individual needs of all students through these varied approaches to instruction. Through collaboration with a student’s IEP team, we are able to choose the most appropriate learning model based on a given student’s present levels of performance, social capabilities, motor coordination, and ability to learn in a group setting.
Utilizing four specific instructional rotations, students are assessed academically, gain self-regulation skills, learn with district-aligned academic curriculums, and utilize integrated technology.
The High Road School of Wallingford offers a comprehensive transition program for students in grades 9–12 and age-out students.
These students participate in an active and exploratory curriculum that combines classes required for graduation with vocational experiences and a work readiness program that provide instruction and support in developing the basic skills needed to succeed in today’s workplace. Each student’s transition program is individualized per that student’s specific talents, interests, skill levels, and needs, and may include such targeted areas of instruction and coaching as professional hygiene, job interviewing skills, taking on-the-job directives, and appropriately responding to both common and unexpected scenarios.
Our content-specific trade tracks include culinary arts, horticulture, building maintenance, and industrial arts.
Culinary training entails teaching the students all about food safety and handling, portion control, baking, and cooking meats and seafood, among many other skills that prepare them for employment in the food services industry, as well as for independent living. Students also have the opportunity to become a ServSafe certified food handler. Under the guidance of our staff chef, the students venture out into the community to practice smart shopping, to become familiar with available kitchen appliances and equipment, and to explore multicultural food items. The Culinary Department not only makes delicious and nutritious lunches and snacks for our staff and students, but it also provides catering services in the community upon request and for special events.
In our building maintenance and trade/industrial vocational clusters, students learn the safe and proper use of common tools—miter saw, drill press, table saw, cordless drills, and other power tools—in our newly renovated production room. They start the interactive curriculum by building their own classic toolbox; each time they master the use of a particular hand tool, they get to add it to their box! Once skills are adequately acquired in the classroom, they are put into practice in the community on actual job sites including: Orange Fence, Re-Store (Habitat for Humanity), Choate-Rosemary Hall, Carpenters Union Local #24, Gateway Community College, City of West Haven, and numerous other local and small businesses in the area.
Our horticulture students can be found on the school grounds, caring for our abundance of plants. They learn all about gardening and landscaping, turf management, plant identification, and basic landscape architecture and design, enhanced by coordinated visits to local businesses for vocational and educational opportunities. Small business management even comes into play when students line up residential homes for season activities like leaf raking and lawn mowing. Stay tuned for more news on the addition of horticulture sites as the year progresses!
High Road’s ever-expanding vocational opportunities give our students specific training in areas of their interests. The concentrated hands-on work experience also gives our students more options with future paid employment opportunities.
The High Road Schools of Connecticut help students make the most of learning opportunities by employing certified specialists to give each student additional support as needed.
Our Speech & Language Therapy features a coordinated and individualized approach. In group work as well as in individual sessions, our certified speech therapists work with students to correctly produce the sounds in words, increase speech intelligibility, develop vocabulary knowledge and understanding, and utilize appropriate conversational skills. Emphasis is placed on pragmatics, such as turn taking, topic maintenance, asking appropriate questions, and socialization. Grammar, syntax, and written expression are also addressed.
Our occupational therapists support students with sensory, perceptual, and motor problems in better meeting the daily demands of their environment. OTs use directed play as the primary method of treatment; however, classroom consultation directly with teachers and assistants regarding the student’s abilities is also key to their success. Directed play includes such activities as mazes and target games to develop hand-eye coordination and ball games to increase coordination between two sides of the body. Through the use of movement, touch, and other functional activities, the student more effectively develops the responses needed to function in the classroom, home, and community environments. As the child ages and his or her needs change, the focus is on the acquisition of specific skills used in daily life. These can include learning to measure baking ingredients, personal care, or crossing busy streets, depending on the student’s abilities.
Our social workers guide students through emotional and social growth issues. They focuses on helping the student develop age-appropriate skills and behaviors for the classroom and beyond. Through the use of recreational and other activities, they assist students in building self-esteem, applying social skills, and practicing leadership and team participation. The students are seen individually and in small-group sessions. It is also not unusual to find social workers in the classroom leading social skills activities.
Our BCBA is regularly visible in the classrooms. She provides consultation and support as needed, and works closely with other school staff to collect data, develop FBAs and BIPs, and identify effective strategies to support student behavior.
A consulting psychologist is available on an as-needed basis.
At High Road School, all related services personnel work closely with classroom teachers to assure integration of learned skills into all classroom activities.
