Over the years, I have heard some teachers refer to students who struggle as “unintentional learners.” I have always confronted and fought this attitude. Unfortunately, many teachers do not understand learning disabilities and the problems faced by students in their classroom everyday.

The public school system is geared to serve the student who does not have any significant challenges. Teachers are not trained in how to help students who struggle. Even some special education teachers lack the knowledge and skills when dealing with students who have disabilities. Most districts and schools are waking up and beginning to understand the importance of meeting the needs of these students. I was able to observe many positive changes that help these students over my thirty year tenure in the public schools.

We are fortunate at Maple Lake to have teachers who are sensitive to these learning disabilities and who continually train and learn about them. Class sizes are low at our school but it is a great challenge in meeting the individual needs of every student in the class. With the help of house staff, and the student’s therapist, we are able to develop and carry out a positive educational plan for our students.

It is very rewarding for the teachers to watch the students grow over a period of time at Maple Lake. As the students work on their treatment and school work, the teachers literally watch them change and grow in their executive function skills, social skills, vital behaviors, academic knowledge, and other areas as well.

I would just like to thank the teachers at our school for all the hard work and effort that they put in on each student’s behalf. It is awesome to work with a group of educators  and others who are so committed in helping students grow.

The short video clip below is a touching look at how things might be seen from the student’s point of view.

School for both the girls and boys locations began on Monday, August 24. All students have received a schedule of what classes they are taking. These classes were determined by what each student needs to graduate from high school. Or if they are younger, which courses national standards require for that particular grade.

We have had new students join our school in the past few days and they will be given their schedule upon arrival at the school. The Educational Director met with students at both schools as a group. The purpose of the meeting was to motivate students about their educational and career prospects and also teach them how to become successful through using Vital Behaviors and Executive Functioning skills.

Students learned that education was the golden ticket to a better life. They learned that the more education they obtained and the more certifications and skills they mastered; the more opportunities for success they would have. In today’s world, it is important to have several skills that students can fall back on.

Students will be evaluated on a regular basis on the Vital Behaviors and Executive Functioning skills. Students will be given feedback by teachers and staff on the Vital Behaviors and Executive Functions and suggestions will be given on how they can improve each skill.

A list of Vital Behaviors and Executive Functioning Skills is provided below:

Information About The Class

By: Wendy Magrath

Personal Development focused on skills that students need in order to transition successfully from high school into work, college, and life in the community. The students demonstrated knowledge and skills for daily living, social skills and recreation and leisure skills within the community and on field trips.

Highlights included managing personal finances including savings, checking and credit and visiting a bank. The girls explored career options as well as living expenses. We also discussed renting and utilities as well as home maintenance. We went to a drug store and heard from a pharmacist and talked about managing personal prescriptions and obtaining health care. Shelley, our nurse gave some simple First Aid instruction and we discussed when to call 911 and other emergencies. The girls learned how to iron, thread a needle and sew on a button, made emergency kits and bookmarks.

We prepared some simple recipes, measuring ingredients, and learned how to pipe icing on cupcakes. We also learned about food labels, planned meals and visited a grocery store. Chris, one of our staff, instructed us about car maintenance and the girls picked out a dream car, discovered expenses associated with it and how to get a driver’s license. We practiced tipping at a restaurant and rode a city bus. They also planned a dream trip and presented it to the class. We just discussed needs of children, safety and environmental birth defects. We finished with instruction on personal safety by our new educational director, Joe Kelly.

We covered material quickly, but we all had fun and learned some valuable lessons too. It was fun to watch them participate in new things. Many of the girls had prior experience in some of the skills and added valuable insight into the class. We urge them to continue practicing these skills with their families.

Students at both schools will present projects that they have been working on all summer. Each project is individualized and was picked by the student. Projects range from performances to books that they  have written. These projects have been beneficial in helping students develop several different executive functioning skills. Additionally, students have improved research and writing skills. The various projects that students are presenting are listed below:

“That Asperger’s Kid Book”

Dance Routine To Music

Making Bracelets Demonstration

Mythology Poster

Breeds of Horses Powerpoint

Chemotherapy Prezi

How To Learn German

How Animals Help People

Coal Exporting

Writing and Expanding Horizons

Cooking Skills

Basic Backpacking Lesson

How To Make Cats Happy

Comics

August 3 will be Wendy LeFevre’s last day at Maple Lake Academy.  Wendy has been the Educational Director at Maple Lake for the past several years. During that time, she was responsible for improving the educational program at the school for girls and opening the school for boys. Wendy has been responsible for building the quality educational program that currently exists at Maple Lake. She has been innovative in insightful in creating a program that addresses the unique issues that Maple Lake students face. Under her direction, students have thrived in their educational experience. Many of these students had not experienced a great deal of educational success prior to coming to Maple Lake. Wendy has integrated an approach of using Executive Functioning Skills in the school program. Teaching students these skills and how to apply the skills to a school setting has contributed to overall student success at Maple Lake. Wendy has accepted a position teaching math at Spanish Fork High School located in Spanish Fork, Utah. Her experience and expertise will be missed by the students and staff at Maple Lake. Maple Lake has hired Joe Kelly to replace Wendy as Educational Director. Joe has always been the Principal at Maple Lake and has consulted part time with the educational staff concerning the program and curriculum. He helped Maple Lake earn its initial accreditation to be a specialized private school in 2005. He is excited be working in an organization that is so committed to changing and improving the lives of young people from across the entire country. He has always specialized in working with hard to reach students who are struggling with their school experience. He has just completed his 30th year of education. During that time, he has been a history teacher, psychology teacher, weight training coach, fitness coach, track coach, soccer coach, football coach, and wresting coach. After his teaching and coaching career, he was a school counselor for four years. He then became an assistant principal at a junior high school. He has also served as the Nebo School District At-Risk Coordinator and principal of Landmark High School. Joe retired from this position on July 1, 2015. Joe is also an author and recently published a book on how schools can reach “at-risk” youth. The title of the book is “Whistling In The Graveyard.” It is centered around the dropout problems facing our students and lists several ways to address the problem. Joe is also a 4th Degree Black Belt in the art of Tae Kwon Do. He loves Dutch oven cooking, and on any Sunday afternoon he can be found cooking a favorite Dutch oven recipe for his family. Joe is proud of his family. He is married to a beautiful wife and has five children. He also has three grandchildren who he loves to spoil.