Wide Horizons Ranch School - Oak Run, CA Kindergartens

Wide Horizons Ranch School
27442 Oak Run To Fern Rd
Oak Run, CA 96069
Shasta County
Phone: (530) 472-3223

Grade n/a
Private school
11 students
Nonsectarian, special education, all male
180 school days per year
6 hours per day
Library: yes

School Philosophy
At Wide Horizons we have a full academic schedule, and give the students a well rounded look at the world, making sure that each student has a strong foundation in reading, writing, and arithmetic. We teach a phonetic approach to reading, a practical application approach to mathematics, and stress good command and use of both written and oral English. We teach a working knowledge of computers, science through discovery, history and geography, current events, arts and crafts, and have a strong daily P.E. program. Field trips are frequent and are related to cultural or historical portions of the curriculum.

The key to our psycho-educational program, as well as all programs here at Wide Horizons, is building a positive self-image through positive reinforcement. Praise and reward is our lifeline to helping the child establish his self worth. We have found that we can provide success in the academic area in a very short time, so we use academics to start the child thinking in a positive direction. We then use these good feelings of success to help the child work on his emotional problems.

Children's Educational Needs
The psycho-educational program is based on a highly structured, individualized educational setting, based on therapeutic concepts learned in traditional settings. It is designed for children above, at, or below grade level, with or without learning handicaps or behavioral problems. The program is geared toward those children whose performance in other school situations may not have been up to their potential, whose emotional trauma has not allowed full academic participation, and whose feelings of inadequacy may have hampered their learning process. Each child starts at his functional level and goes as far as he can in each subject. A child may be working at several grade levels in different subjects. Students are not compared to each other, and the only direct competition that each student has is with himself.

Team Approach
The entire extended IEP team, which may include the parents, teachers, childcare staff, therapist, administrators, placement workers, mental health worker, court advocate, social worker, and the student, monitor progress through the program at Wide Horizons with input from the extended team members, quarterly reports, parent feedback, time lines, etc. Goals and objectives, both academic and behavioral, as well as emotional, in both school and home settings are considered when monitoring progress through the program.

Elementary Level
Wide Horizons elementary school classes follow the guidelines set up in the California Department of Education Framework. Teachers maintain detailed scope and sequence charts on student's progress in math and language arts to facilitate transition at the end of their Wide Horizons treatment. Core curriculum is provided to students in small classes of 1 to 4 students, depending on need. The curriculum is delivered using an eclectic approach, all senses, all learning styles, taking learning disabilities into account. Remediation is provided at all levels through differential repetition and varying the method of delivery. Students may require differential accomodations such as having printed materials read to them, extra time allowed for completion of work, or using manipulatives to aid understanding.

High School Requirements
At the high school level, students receive much the same delivery system as in the elementary grades. The graduation requirements for each student are solicited from the student's district of residence, or from the funding school district. Courses given to meet those requirements can be given in small group or, if necessary, by independent study. During the transition phase of treatment, communication with the home school takes place to insure that the student has met all requirements for the grades/semesters of attendance at Wide Horizons. Successfully completed high school classes earn 5 credits/units each, for both regular and summer school. Transcripts are provided upon request to the placing school district or to the parents. Monitoring of requirements/classes is done at the annual IEP meeting.

School Behaviors
Behavioral treatment goals as well as academic goals are stressed in the classroom. All goals are discussed regularly with the student, with goal tracking daily. All members of the staff discuss the students' behaviors and their goals daily to maintain consistency of behavior and academic progress between home and school. Following school and ranch rules will lead to positive reinforcements, such as extra field trips, free time with educational games, and computer time.

Educational Facilities
The main school house contains the school's audiovisual equipment. This includes a 35-inch television, a VCR, tape decks, a video camera, a multi-size laser disc player, a karaoke machine and disc collection, a boom box, and a large video collection (about 120 videotapes of Hollywood and educational productions). There is also a light board, which is used in art class for cooperative projects and also for working on math skills such as graphing and enlarging.

In the science room, there are 2 multimedia computers, a collection of mostly science based CD-ROMs, and computer printers. The science class also has access to various hands-on kits that cover topics such as circuit logic, electricity, rockets, and other science-related subjects. There are items that teach consumer math skills, such as calculators and banking software for use on the computers, as well as games that reinforce math skills.

The language arts building houses the school's reading- and writing-related materials. This includes a library collection, audio tapes (including books-on-tape), a tape player/recorder, and several computers with spelling and writing software. Students are taught to use the internet as a resource tool and are encouraged to earn "free time" to contact family or investigate a subject of personal interest.

Vocational Classes
In addition students may participate in several vocational classes. In the kitchen skills class, students learn to prepare a meal, follow a menu, and use a variety of utensils safely. In shop class, the boys learn the use of hand and power tools. They help perform maintenance tasks necessary for the ranch or work on personal projects. We have instituted a ROP setting with the local store that allows students to experience the thrill of an actual work environment. The boys are also eligible to be training cadets at the Oak Run Volunteer Fire Department, which is next door.

Other specific treatments are available such as occupational or speech therapy when required by other members of the treatment team.