Dr. Judith Belk
Malachi
Graduate, Class of 2018
Park Academy offers a unique experience for students in grades 6-8 whose learning styles are not complimented by a traditional academic setting. Our students are highly capable, but may struggle with:
We are dedicated to providing a safe and supportive atmosphere for all students. Our low student-to-teacher ratios allow us to create a family-like environment among students, which, in turn, creates a supportive network among peers. Our on-site school counselor provides responsive counseling services, such as social and emotional coaching, problem-solving and organizational skills.
Park Academy’s curriculum mirrors the Oregon State Standards with scaffolding and differentiation that make learning accessible. Students have their core classes and electives throughout the day, allowing for mental breaks from academics that are so important for this age group. Core classes include:
We offer a range of electives for our middle school students, and some of these change from year to year to provide variety. Some of our electives include robotics, art, music, theater, stage production, podcasting/music production, yearbook, videography, gardening, and forensics. Electives meet either M/W/F or T/Th so students can have multiple electives each year. All electives are year-long classes. In addition, all students have an academic support class three days per week. During this time, they have access to all of their core teachers to get extra help, work on their limited homework, or finish up assignments.
Most of our students remain in our intensive reading program throughout middle school. Students have their reading class 5 days per week in small groups. We use the Orton-Gillingham methodology as the basis for our program and all of our reading teachers have completed at least 80 hours of training in this method. Once students are fluently decoding, they move into a comprehension and morphology (word study) class and then finally into academic writing. Our reading classes are limited to four students in the lower-level classes and ten students in the comprehension class.
Here is a sample schedule:
Assistive technology is integrated into all of our classes, along with other necessary differentiation that supports learning, growth, and measures of proficiency. Typical assistive technologies used in the Middle School classrooms include:
We do not participate in statewide or other standardized academic testing programs. These are historically poor measures of achievement for students with learning differences. Families can request state-wide assessment participation through their local school district.
When surrounded by supportive teachers and peers, students begin to regain their self-esteem and confidence, boosting their overall academic performance. Park Academy’s highly adaptive, strengths-based curriculum allows students to better understand their challenges, advocate for their needs, and ultimately reach their full potential.
For more information about who we serve, scheduling a tour, or the application process, contact Lucy Davis, Admissions Coordinator at 503.594.8777 or via email. You may also visit the How to Apply page of our website. Some questions may also be addressed on our FAQs page, or this blog post by Craig Lowery, Head of School.