Welcome to The Kolburne School. I would like to take this opportunity to better acquaint you with our Academic Program.
The key to your child’s success at Kolburne is for us to work as a team in developing the best possible plan for their individual needs, with the ultimate goal of providing them the academic and life skills necessary to be successful. This is done through an ongoing collaborative effort between the school, parents, student, and the student’s Inter-Disciplinary Treatment Team.
As the parent, we look to you for help in better understanding your child’s individual needs, strengths and future goals. With your input, we will design a strong academic support program as requested in your child’s IEP, as well as provide them the opportunity to develop new skills and interests through our Life Skills and Pre-vocational programs. We will also focus on the goal of preparing your child for the future, whether that is a post secondary education, employment, supportive employment, or a sheltered workshop environment.
I look forward to working with you and crafting the best possible educational experience for your child and their future success.
Dominick L. Ferrusi, M.Ed., Principal/ Education Director
The Kolburne School
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About Our Academic Program
Kolburne’s Academic Program is designed around the needs of the student. We offer special education elementary and high school academic classes, a self-contained Life Skills program that supports independent daily living skills and a Pre-vocational program with a career counseling component designed to introduce students to work skills that support transitions into the real world for more independent living.
Students are placed in classrooms and programs based on their age, IEP goals, academic and social functioning, educational assessment, and presenting social, emotional and behavioral history. Inherent in all of our Academic programs is Character Education, a mission-focused component of our therapeutic milieu. We also provide such support services as Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Speech-Language Therapy, as outlined in the student’s IEP, to address developmental deficiencies and delays, and academic support services to strengthen reading and learning skills.
Students are supported in the Academic program by Certified Special Education Teachers, Vocational Specialists, Milieu Instructors, and trained Teacher Assistants, providing a classroom student-to-staff ratio of 6:1; 1:1 tutorial assistance is available for those students requiring more direct assistance.
Student performance is closely monitored and presented at each bi-weekly Inter-Disciplinary Treatment Team meeting to help inform the Team’s ongoing assessment of the student’s progress and success, with an even more in-depth evaluation conducted every quarter. Information on student progress is also shared with the student’s referring agency(ies) as required or requested.
The Kolburne School operates on a 221-day school year.
Learn more about our program:
Academics
Kolburne provides special education elementary and high school academic classes. The student’s IEP (Individual Education Plan) from their home school district dictates the student’s class, and the successful completion of the IEP goals leads to obtaining a diploma: High School students receive credit on their transcripts for successful completion of their classes. Graduating New York State students will receive an IEP Diploma (non-Regents based); Massachusetts students must have the required credits and pass the MCAS (the Commonwealth’s statewide testing program for public school students) to receive a High School Diploma from their home district school or can receive a Certificate of Completion.
All lessons are developed through the Kolburne Curriculum, which is based on the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. The Frameworks are a group of documents created to help teachers and schools design, implement, assess, and evaluate instruction provided to students.
The Kolburne Curriculum is based on a backwards approach to the Frameworks, meaning learning is built around a student’s areas of interest. Core academic subjects are tied back to student interests to keep them engaged and motivated.
Life Skills
All core academic subjects (English, Math, Science, History) are taught with a life skills focus. Students learn tasks such as how to read the newspaper, how to find entry level jobs, how to follow instructions, and how to work as a team member, as well as filling out job applications, banking forms, using a checking account, learning to count money, budgeting, and developing key social skills to prepare them for future employment opportunities.
Pre-vocational Training
Character Education
- Trustworthiness
- Respect
- Citizenship
- Caring
- Fairness
- Responsibility
Every month, the Kolburne community recognizes a different character pillar. Discussions take place in the classrooms throughout the month about the traits that exemplify that character, and the unit culminates in a special assembly where students are recognized and rewarded for modeling that month’s featured character trait.