The Grow School
The Grow School is Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Approved Public Therapeutic Day School. The primary population has a diagnosis of a Communication, Developmental Delay, Emotional, Health, Intellectual, Neurological or Specific Learning disability. The school provides Counseling, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Adaptive Physical Education (APE), Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Vision Services, and Hearing Services to those needing the services.
The school operates a 180 day program along with a 25 day, 5 hour daily summer program.
The Grow School services students in grades kindergarten through twelve in small, structured, therapeutic and academic learning environments, paced to meet the needs of each student on an individual basis. The Grow School program offers a strong academic component, with vocational opportunities for upper grades, designed to accommodate the learning needs of students and to encourage their motivation to achieve. Instruction, based on MA Curriculum Frameworks, consists of specialized instructional practices delivered by highly qualified staff members utilizing a differentiated and multi-modal approach to meet student needs. Students learn self-control, social skills, and to become more confident to challenge themselves to achieve academically. Grow School students learn how to navigate their own learning, and identify a path to achievement. The Grow Career Development Program provides a comprehensive transition program for high school students, providing a strategic career pathway from job readiness to career exploration to emergence.
Grow Middle/High School
Ages Served: 10-18 Grades Served: 7-12+
Location: 185 Southbridge Road, Dudley, MA 01571
Principal: Mr. Anthony Cacace
Parent Support Program: Parent Advisory Council, Liaison with wrap-around services
Program Description:
The Grow School services students’ grades six through twelve in small, structured, therapeutic and academic learning environments, paced to meet the needs of its students on an individual basis. The Grow School program offers a strong academic component, with vocational opportunities for upper grades, designed to accommodate the learning needs of students and to encourage their motivation to achieve. Instruction, based on MA Curriculum Frameworks, consists of specialized instructional practices delivered by highly qualified staff members utilizing a differentiated and multi-modal approach to meet student needs. Students learn self-control, social skills, and to become more confident to challenge themselves to achieve academically. Grow School students learn how to navigate their own learning, and identify a path to achievement. The Grow Career Development Program provides a comprehensive transition program for high school students, providing a strategic career pathway from job readiness to career exploration to emergence.
Grow Elementary School
Ages Served: 5-12 Grades Served: K-6
Location: 121 Ashland Ave., Southbridge, MA 01550
Principal: Mr. Eric Glazier
Parent Support Program: Parent Advisory Council, Liaison with wrap-around services
Program Description:
The Grow Elementary School services students’ grades kindergarten through six in small, structured, therapeutic and academic learning environments, paced to meet the needs of its students on an individual basis. The Grow School program offers a strong academic component designed to accommodate the learning needs of students and to encourage their motivation to achieve. Instruction, based on MA Curriculum Frameworks, consists of specialized instructional practices delivered by highly qualified staff members utilizing a differentiated and multi-modal approach to meet student needs. Students learn self-control, social skills, and to become more confident to challenge themselves to achieve academically. Grow School students learn how to navigate their own learning, and identify a path to achievement.
Career Development
The Career Development program provides high school and post graduate students with community-based and onsite job opportunities as well as core content instruction, functional academics and life skills. Students are provided the fundamental skill acquisition opportunity necessary for entry level employment. The program is designed to develop student experience, skills and confidence in a work setting. Students also explore college and career transition options as part of the program.
SWCEC is a proud recipient of the 2017 Janet Malser Grant. The Janet Malser Humanities Trust established in 2009 as a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation awards grants for the purpose of educational, cultural, historic, and charitable causes in the towns of Dudley, Oxford, and Webster, Massachusetts.
RISE Academy
A general education alternative placement for grades K-12 is co-located within The Grow School. This program design provides a tiered support placement for public schools where students can access Educational Supports, as indicated in the new discipline law, with this placement. Students access instruction based on MA Curriculum Frameworks utilizing a differentiated and multi-modal approach to meet student needs. Students learn self-control, social skills, and to become more confident to challenge themselves to achieve academically. RISE Academy students are eligible to earn a diploma from their sending schools.
Specialized Developmental
The Specialized Developmental programs service students from 3 to 22 years of age in self-contained classrooms located within the general education population. The programs consist of classrooms specializing in a variety of developmental disorders including moderate/intensive special needs as well as mild/moderate behavioral needs. They are educational day programs providing academics, activities of daily living as well as supplemental therapeutic services. These programs have a multi-sensory environment, which can service students with moderate/severe developmental, cognitive and physical disabilities. Many students may also require close medical supervision due to seizures, respiratory issues, GI tubes, etc. The programs are staffed with a nurse to address medical needs. The programs also have monthly brace and wheelchair clinics to ensure all students and families are obtaining the appropriate durable medical equipment.
Many therapeutic services occur throughout the day for students such as Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Adaptive Physical Education (APE), Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Counseling, Vision Services, and Hearing Services. The academic and clinical staff actively partner with families and community stakeholders to provide wrap-around services to students.
The school operates a 210 day program. The students attend 6 hours a day for 180 days and 5 hours a day for the remaining 30 days in the summer.
Medically Fragile
The Specialized Developmental Program – Medically Fragile students address the curriculum through entry/access skills, which also addresses daily living skills, sensory integration techniques, oral motor skills, communication skills including augmentative programs and assistive technology, fine/gross motor activities and pre-readiness socialization skills in behavior management. Social Communication may be practiced through oral and augmentative communication. Many students may also require close medical supervision due to seizures, respiratory issues, GI tubes, etc. The programs are staffed with a nurse to address medical needs. The program also has monthly brace and wheelchair clinics to ensure all students and families are obtaining the appropriate durable medical equipment. The program is all inclusive for nursing, OT, PT, SP, Music, Adapted Physical Education and Art.
Type of Program: In host school, Grow Middle High School
Location: 185 Southbridge Road, Dudley, 01571
Director: Mr. Dennis Todd
Primary Population/Disability:
Communication, Developmental Delay, Intellectual, Multiple Disabilities, Neurological, Physical, Sensory: Deaf-Blind, Sensory: Hearing, Sensory: Vision
Parent Support Program: Parent Advisory Council
Autism
The Specialized Developmental Autism Program integrates an attitude of unconditional acceptance and meeting students where they are in their learning process with the evidence-based methods of Applied Behavior Analysis that have proven effective for individuals on the autism spectrum. The program is socially engaging with powerful teaching methods, custom-designed to enable each child to develop to his or her fullest potential. A combination of individualized instruction, discreet trials, social thinking instruction and functional experiences shape programming to meet the need of students. Teaching methods include pre-vocational, life skills training and practiced socialization, as well as pre-academic/academic programs that are aligned with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks/Common Core. Social Communication may be practiced through oral and augmentative communication, such as Picture Exchange Card System (P.E.C.S.), Speech Generating Devices, and Sign Language. The program is all-inclusive for nursing, OT, PT, SP, Music, Physical Education, Art with BCBA oversight and consultation.
Type of Program: In host school, Grow Middle High School
Location: 185 Southbridge Road, Dudley, 01571
Director: Mr. Dennis Todd
Primary Population/Disability:
Autism, Neurological
Parent Support Program: Parent Advisory Council
Assessment Program
SWCEC provides an opportunity for districts to facilitate an extended evaluation placement for students as a part of the TEAM process. This evaluation placement is our Assessment Program and can be individualized to meet the needs of the student and district for up to eight school weeks. The evaluation placement can occur within either The Grow or Developmental Program. Whether it is data collected in a more structured environment or a full psychological or therapeutic evaluation, we can customize services for your student. More information is available through the referral process.
