Adventist GlenOaks Therapeutic Day Schools
Opened in 1995,the Adventist GlenOaks Therapeutic Day Schools have grown to include three campuses with a combined daily enrollment of approximately 200 students, ranging from 3rd grade through senior year of high school. Admission to the Therapeutic Day Schools requires a referral from the student’s home (local) school district.
Some students attend the Therapeutic Day Schools for a short term; others stay here for the duration of their elementary or high school education. Our staff partners with parents and students to determine the optimal school environment for each student’s progress. When your child is ready to return to their home school, we will coordinate closely with the school district to assure a smooth transition.
Blending Curriculum and Treatment
The Therapeutic Day Schools offer grade-appropriate academic curriculum, combined with a diverse plan of treatment options. Through teaching and therapeutic activities, our focus is on giving students the best chance for success in school and in their personal life.
Curriculum:
Students follow a grade-appropriate curriculum that includes math, English, social studies and science. They also participate in P.E. classes. High school and junior high students move to different classrooms and teachers for different subjects such as math. Students at these higher grade levels are taught by teachers with focused expertise in the subject area.
High school students also can choose electives that fit their interests, such as Spanish, literature, photo-journalism, advanced biology, child development, drawing, and other options.
View our High School Course Catalog.
Treatment:
We engage a wide variety of therapeutic methods to promote confidence, independence and socialization among our students. In a fun and non-threatening setting, these activities help students build social skills, understand personal boundaries and interactions, overcome anxieties, express themselves, take risks, improve communication skills, practice leadership and caretaking roles, and gain confidence.
Depending on the child’s needs, he or she may participate in:
- Group therapy
- Individual therapy
- Recreational therapy
- Art therapy, run by a masters-level art therapist with a degree in counseling
Art offers a creative form for expressing inner feelings and for tactile and sensory exploration.
Music therapy: Playing instruments, singing, exploring rhythms and discussing lyrics offers an outlet for students to express their feelings, try new activities, enhance relaxation
Play therapy: For younger students, play therapy offers the freedom to gain skills, role play, and build confidence.
Movement/dance therapy: New for the 2008-09 school year, movement therapy employs creative movement and dance techniques that help students relieve tension, explore boundaries and personal space.
Pet and Equine (Horse) therapy: Many students thrive through interactions with certified pet-therapy dogs, rabbits or horses. Children who feel uncomfortable opening up to peers or adults may feel more comfortable talking to an animal. They also can take on care-giving roles with the animals, which builds their independence. Pet therapy activities also may strengthen teamwork skills, as students work collaboratively to take care of the animals.
Extracurricular Activities
Just like a ‘regular’ school, the Therapeutic Day Schools offer students a range of choices for extracurricular activities.
Sports: Through the Chicago Area Alternative Education League (CAAEL), boys and girls at the Therapeutic Day Schools have the same opportunities to participate in athletics as students in traditional public schools. CAAEL activities include:
- Basketball
- Bowling
- Chess
- Flag football
- Soccer (grades 6-8)
- Softball
- Volleyball
Clubs and other activities: Additional extracurricular options include:
- Art club
- Boys group
- Choir
- Fishing club
- Games club
- Girls group
- Performing arts
- Poetry group
This is a flexible, dynamic school where we’re always looking at new enrichment opportunities to help our students flourish. From time to time, we add new extracurricular options and therapeutic activities. We also take field trips designed to help students overcome anxieties and gain confidence in social and community settings. For example, a trip to a restaurant may help a child learn to take charge of his or her own preferences (by selecting and ordering their own meal) or to feel comfortable within a crowded public setting.