Valley View School located in Brookfield, MA has opened its six-week mandatory summer program, running July 11 through August 20, 2016, to include "summer only" students. The summer program is ideal for students who may require a short period of structure and support while being fully engaged and having fun with peers and staff. Students are introduced to activities that they may not otherwise participate in at home. The VVS summer session is a great way for students to be a part of a school community and to get a feel for boarding school life.
Valley View firmly believes that continuity and structure within the overall program is paramount to the success of its students. The summer session provides many summer camp-type activities as well as an academic component that includes Math and Reading. The program is structured to be a fun and dynamic experience for students by including a wide variety of daily activities along with numerous field trips. The program is very hands-on and experiential and students are physically and mentally active throughout each day. The structure and support of the program continues throughout the summer to include individual therapy and group counseling sessions.
Summer Academics
Each student selects a summer class during the summer session. This class does not carry the formal role of a traditional academic class and the grade evaluation is based on participation and class projects. Field trips, hands-on activities, documentaries, interactive lessons, etc. are included in the daily curriculum. The goal of the class is for students to learn while having fun. Classes run Monday through Friday for the entire six-week program. Classes offered include History of Baseball, Nature/Ambient Photography, History of Film, Astronomy, "Curious" Historical Facts About New England, Arts & Crafts, Animal Investigation/Studies, Oceanography, Meteorology, Music & Art of a Generation, History of Rock N Roll, Painting.
Accelerated Reader Program
Each day during the summer session, students spend an hour reading. As students complete a book, they will use the Accelerated Reader (AR) program to demonstrate their level of comprehension. There are Junior High and High School AR points that the boys receive. Jr. High students must complete 6 AR points and High School students are required to complete 10 AR points by the end of the session. For the full-time VVS students, summer AR points are carried over and applied to the first Mid-term AR requirements.
Summer Activities
The daily program begins with structured group activities, which operate simutaneously and all students are required to participate. Activities are assigned on Monday morning and run for the duration of the week. Each group participates in one activity per week, rotating through each activity by the end of the session. Activities include Tennis, Art, Rocketry, Soccer, Golf, Fishing, Gardening, Current Events.
All students are required to participate in physical activity each day. Activity options include Hiking, Tennis, Pickup Incrediball, Dodge Ball, Golf Chipping/Putting, Lawn Games, Basketball, Disc Golf, Frisbee, Archery, Football, Softball, Running, Capture the Flag.
Students enjoy the late afternoon while engaging in selected outdoor activities, which may include Sailing, Fishing, Hiking, Tennis, Skateboarding, etc. Most evenings, activities take place off-campus and may include miniature golf, fishing, swimming, eating ice-cream, bowling, movies and visits to local bookstores. Students enjoy quiet time after a very active day by reading, playing board games, watching movies, playing pool, ping pong or just relaxing.
Summer Weekends
Weekends during the summer session are designed for longer adventures and fun. Activities may include beach trips, canoe camping, day hikes, backpacking, fishing and trips to Boston.
Valley View School is a small, therapeutic boarding school serving boys in grades 6-12 since 1970. The campus is situated on 215 acres of forests and rolling hills in the heart of New England just 75 miles outside of Boston. Valley View is a therapeutic community within a traditional boarding school setting that fosters the growth of its students through a well-developed, integrative program where supportive interventions and high expectations are balanced to create a structured and supportive learning environment.
Please contact Dr. Tony Gonzalez, Executive Director at 508-867-6505 and a.gonzalez@valleyviewschool.org for more information.