The North Star program is an alternative placement option for high school and middle school students in need of small group instruction, individualized programming, and a caring, relationship-based approach to education that promotes personal accountability and progress.
North Star offers both a half-day and a full day program, with two available sessions each, convening Monday through Friday.
Each room is staffed with one licensed teacher and one Program Assistant. Class size is limited to 10 students.
Students who complete the North Star program can receive either a standard or a modified diploma.
Serendipity’s Instructional Coordinator facilitates the IEP process for special education students, as well as annual academic assessments for all students and participation in statewide and/or district testing.
Behavioral intervention and support is provided through a trained Behavioral Intervention Specialist assigned to the North Star program.
In addition to three academic blocks, each classroom has one assigned break during the school day. Our weight room is available during these times, as well as a second recreation room for use by the North Star students. In the recreation room, we offer structured games (pool, air hockey, etc.), as we believe supervised play offers powerful therapeutic and social benefits. Snacks are available for purchase during break as well
Curriculum Objectives:
The curriculum of the North Star program is organized to meet the following objectives:
To integrate essential learning across content areas, so students maximize their learning time.
To align with state benchmarks, thus preparing students for academic success in future (and possibly more traditional) learning settings.
To allow flexibility and individualization, so that students with a range of skills, learning styles, and interests can all experience successful achievement.
To maintain a balance between rigorous academic expectations and the opportunity for students to find personal relevance and practical application in the content presented, to address students’ often heightened need to see purpose and meaning in an academic setting in order to stay engaged and motivated.
To foster competence in all areas -- academic, behavioral and social.
Content areas are organized to allow students opportunity to earn credits in all areas required for graduation.
Serendipity Center is both an accredited school and a certified mental health agency.
