Private Schools

Brite Horizons School - 1-12

The mission of Brite Horizons School is to provide students with individualized educational services to address each student’s unique strengths and deficits in a manner that allows the student to be successful daily and reach their overall full potential. Through the use of scientifically proven methods, students are provided with tools to make meaningful progress and valuable connections with others. The Brite Horizons School strives to provide each student with a supportive community and the skills necessary to successfully transition into a public school setting.

OUR SCHOOL

The Brite Horizons School is a nonpublic school (NPS) located in Scotts Valley, California serving grades 1 to 12. Students are provided with ongoing assessment, educational services, and behavioral intervention based on the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA). The Brite Horizons School provides an individualized and comprehensive educational placement for students with a variety of specialized needs.

THE DIFFERENCE

• Brite Horizons School is a nonpublic school (NPS) that was developed by the directors of The ABRITE Organization.
• Brite Horizons serves students grades 1-12 with a variety of specialized needs.
• Brite Horizons is designed for students who are in need of a more restrictive placement such that the student's educational and/or behavioral goals cannot be adequately addressed and met in a public education setting.
• Brite Horizons School provides students with the skills and necessary supports to return to the public school setting.
• Brite Horizons serves students who qualify for special education services under a number of different categories including but not limited to autism, intellectual disability, and social-emotional disorders.
• Students receive highly individualized academic instruction while receiving intervention designed to treat their behavioral needs.
• Brite Horizons School model involves a concentrated focus on strengthening communication, safety, social, executive functioning, and school/community readiness skills.
• Brite Horizons School has an extensive and collaborative team including certified special education teachers and behavioral support staff and offers speech therapy, occupational therapy, and counseling services.

We pursue our values and mission through the integration of Academic Excellence, Creative Self-Expression and Positive Character Development. These principles permeate all we do, and bring depth, meaning and enthusiasm to learning at Mount Madonna School.

Academic Excellence

We offer a balanced academic program that is developmentally appropriate and prepares students to become life-long learners. With the understanding that children learn best by doing, the Lower School provides a stimulating, secure environment where students build a strong foundation of skills through exploration, critical thinking, inquiry and problem solving. The Upper School builds student independence by providing opportunities and challenges that develop initiative and discipline, preparing students for college and beyond.

Our multi-faceted curriculum engages students through:

• Cognitive learning – critical thinking, reading, writing and speaking skills; scientific and mathematical investigation; research and problem solving
• Experiential learning– outdoor education; performances; science life labs; service projects; personal interviews; domestic and international travel
• Reflective learning –  self-inquiry; journaling; dialogue; presentations; collective problem solving; creative projects

These processes encourage curiosity and help students develop a personal commitment to learning. We want our students to know that trial and error and mistakes are essential to growth and new understanding.

Creative Self-Expression

Creative self-expression is part of all academic coursework. We integrate creative arts and academics with the belief that they are mutually reinforcing. This allows students to discover new gifts and talents and overcome self-perceived limitations.

All students study acting, voice, dance, art, creative writing, and participate in the performing arts program. Our productions demonstrate and encourage the collaborative process. Here, individual effort and a willingness to contribute to the greater whole results in an inspiring and fulfilling experience. Performance builds self-confidence, and collaboration prepares students for effective working relationships well beyond their school years.

Positive Character Development

We recognize that each student’s character is influenced at school by the interaction of the explicit and implicit curriculum. The explicit curriculum is found in the choice of content, activities and materials that shape our program. The implicit curriculum is expressed in our school culture through relationships, teacher modeling and classroom practices. These dynamic processes create a context that promotes learning and positive character development.

We encourage relationships that build trust and safety between teacher and student, peer to peer, and all members of our school community. We focus on learning that brings forth thinking and discussions of ethical relevance. We strive to create opportunities for students to engage in open and honest communication. We work closely with families to encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas around the many issues that confront youth in our modern society.

We create opportunities for older students to mentor and care for younger students through school-wide activities including theater productions, buddy programs and athletic events. We teach and model responsible citizenship through service projects, civic participation and environmental stewardship.

We offer techniques to support healthy living, reduce stress, enhance physical fitness, and increase personal reflection using yoga and other awareness practices.

Our faculty and families are dedicated to values such as empathy, honesty, forgiveness, respect, cooperation, generosity and kindness. We work together as a community to take responsibility, to practice self-reliance, exercise leadership and integrity, and to assist and care for one another.

admissions@mountmadonnaschool.org

Santa Cruz Montessori School - Preschool-8

Our Mission - As a Montessori learning community, we inspire life-long learning and a peaceful world by nurturing the natural development of the whole child.

Why Santa Cruz Montessori - Children gain strong academic skills and become self-motivated, caring individuals who make positive contributions to the community.

Springhill School

Spring Hill School provides an individualized learning environment in which each child’s unique gifts are recognized and nurtured, enabling them to reach their highest potential. Located in Santa Cruz, California, Spring Hill is an independent private school serving preschool through sixth grade students and sending graduates well prepared to middle school. Spring Hill School is the only independent design thinking elementary school of its kind on the Central Coast of California.

The education we provide is challenging and dynamic. It leads to students enjoying learning through both structured and unstructured activities. Our tenets are to foster a community of tenacious learners and compassionate humanitarians who approach life with humble confidence. We do this through a variety of individual and group experiences within and across grade levels.