Providing Hope for Families
When a child is struggling in school, their struggles are not only theirs, but they become the whole family’s. It may look like the 10th phone call from the nurse in the middle of the day because your child is having stomach pain, with no real explanation. Or, maybe you have just received an email, that is similar to many others you have received, from your child’s teacher stating that they cannot maintain focus for more than 5 minutes. Perhaps, it is the nightly homework battle that takes 3 hours to complete, but you clearly remember the teacher telling you at the beginning of the year that homework should take no more than 45 minutes each night.
A child’s struggle in school turns into long talks, frequent meetings with school members, and frustration throughout the whole house. You often feel you are alone in navigating how to help your child be successful.
A Different Approach at Hope Hall
As you enter a classroom at Hope Hall, you will find small class sizes, with no more than 12 students in grades 3-8, and no more than 15 students in grades 9-12. You may be surprised that the teacher is not in the front of the classroom lecturing students. Instead, students may be working on creating a marble run to learn about geometry and angles. Next door, students may be building a trench to better understand how World War II was fought. As the students move to their special classes, a frisbee game in physical education may include an element of mathematics.
We know that, given the right supportive environment and enough time, all students are able to learn and thrive. This is why we offer smaller class sizes and provide ample opportunity to master content. Teachers at Hope Hall teach lessons with a multi-sensory approach that allows our students to better grasp and understand what is being taught.
This approach has been so successful that we consistently have a 100% graduation rate.
Community
The classroom is not the only place you and your child will experience something different. Walking through the halls, your child will be greeted with a smile by both adults and students. You will be able to witness a high school teacher ask a 6th grade student who is taking a break in the hallway how they are doing. Every day begins with a school-wide community gathering where positive values such as cooperation and collaboration, hope and hospitality, perseverance, respect and empathy are shared and instilled.
Many of our students have not only struggled academically, but have had difficulty with making, and maintaining, friends. During his graduation speech in June 2021, Aaron Jeffers, shared, “Hope Hall… means a lot to me because the kids were nice and accepting. I felt like I could be myself at Hope Hall, and I didn’t have to try hard to be someone I’m not. Hope Hall made me feel accepted for who I am.”
In her graduation speech, Cettalyn Leverantz revealed, “Teachers at Hope Hall wanted to get to know me as a person and they helped me when I struggled. I finally believed there were teachers that really cared.”
When asked if he would like to change schools for his final year of High School, 12th grader Nevin Snyder, told his mom, “Please do not take me from my family.” as he thought about leaving the friends he made at Hope Hall.
On the soccer field, or basketball court, you will witness another sense of community through the school’s sportsmanship. Being a school that offers “no-cut” sports teams, there are varying levels of athletic ability on our teams. However, the sports teams are supportive of each player and foster their growth both on and off the field.
Life-Long Learners
So often, when a child is struggling in school, a family is not only worrying about their current struggles, but what that will be once their child nears graduation. Questions about whether she will be able to go onto college or what type of job he will be able to obtain are questions we frequently hear.
Starting in the 3rd grade our teachers work to build children’s independence for success after high school. Throughout the school we utilize numerous methods that focus on and teach organizational skills such as color-coded subject binders. All of our teachers start their lesson off by filling out homework planners as a group which will match up with a homework folder that goes home daily. Students become familiar with how to utilize graphic organizers and checklists to monitor their own work and responsibilities. Many of these tools and systems are invaluable to the student once she or he has graduated and moved on to a career or college.
As students move into their 9th grade year, and beyond, they begin taking career courses to explore job opportunities and develop skills that would be necessary in the workforce. We work with students to identify potential job shadowing opportunities and explorer posts to get hands-on experience in a field they may be interested in. Within Hope Hall, starting in 10th grade all students participate in a woodworking course. Led by a team of teachers, the students design, draft and build a series of projects, including book cases, chests, and Adirondack chairs. This hands-on experience not only opens the door to career opportunities, it reinforces math and science skills.
A Lasting Impression
If you walk through the doors of Hope Hall, you will immediately feel the difference. We provide Hope to families, when so often that Hope has been lost.
Click Here to Learn about more about Hope Hall’s Culture.
Click Here to Learn about Sister Diana Dolce’s Learning Mastery Program.
Click Here to Explore Hope Hall as an option for your child.