Who are your staff? How many staff work with my student?
Our staff are trained to work with students diagnosed with learning disabilities and attention deficit disorders. The Administration includes a mix of professionals with a wide range of experience working with this unique population. Campus and Field Instructors work with students on a day to day basis, helping to implement student achievement plans, and facilitating the expedition planning, independent living skills instruction, and daily hygiene and community living. Click here for our Staff Bios.
What is the staff / student ratio?
Staff to student ratio is 1:4. Groups of up to 8 students will have two primary staff with them throughout daily activities. The average class size is 8, with a student to teacher ratio of 4:1.
How do I communicate with my student?
Our goal is to help students develop independence, and while that can mean limited communication, it provides the students the opportunity to engage fully in their current experiences. Please see the parent handbook for our communication policies and procedures.
Does my child need Spending Money?
Students will learn fiscal responsibility by managing their own private debit account. Spending money will be used for laundry, to replace gear and toiletries, souvenirs, and additional purchases as necessary.
My child is on medication. How do you handle this?
A majority of our students are on medication. Medication administration is handled by our staff, and is tracked to ensure proper dosing. Parent will need to send medication in a timely manner as it is refilled by their pharmacy.
What does a typical day look like?
The school day begins at 8:30 am and ends at 3:30 pm, with one hour for lunch and one hour focused on life skills. Classes typically run for 50-55 minutes with a 5-10 minute break in between. Expedition days will vary depending on location and activities planned.
What will my child be eating?
The Academy at SOAR promotes healthy food options for our students. In keeping with our philosophy of developing independence and life-skills, students plan menus for the group as well as purchase and prepare the team’s food while on expeditions. During campus phases, meals will be prepared and served on base by the school’s chef. We will accommodate vegetarian and non-orthodox kosher diets; however, students are ultimately responsible for their own food choices.
What if my child gets sick?
The Academy at SOAR staff will utilize local doctor offices for students with unexpected medical issues and will notify parents if their student needs medical attention.
What about hygiene?
Maintaining hygiene is an important life skill. Students will be taught how to maintain hygiene in both residential and remote settings, and will learn how to do their own laundry.
Do you have a dress code?
Yes. Clothing that depicts violence, drugs, alcohol, or sexual references are unacceptable. Students are not permitted to wear: provocative clothing, pants exposing underwear, clothing with rips, short-shorts, tube tops, or clothing exposing cleavage or the midriff. Significant appearance changes while at the Academy are not permitted (drastic changes in hair style or color, piercings, and henna/tattoos).
Can I visit my child while on course?
Visits can be scheduled by contacting the head of the Academy. Students
Can my child bring electronics? (Cell phone, Ipod, etc)
Students can bring electronics; however, when they are able to use them is based on their performance.
ACADEMICS
What about the “quality” of your academics?
The Academy at SOAR is SACS-CASI accredited by AdvancED. Click here to learn more about this prestigious accreditation.
Will my child fall behind academically?
No, your student should not fall behind academically- provided they complete all of the coursework. We work with parents and schools to determine the correct course load for each student, using the North Carolina Standard Course of study for each grade level.
What is differentiated instruction?
Differentiated instruction means we can make accommodations for our student based on their learning style. This would include offering different teaching tactics, extending testing time, etc. Click here to read more.
What courses do you offer?
We use the North Carolina Standard Course of Study to determine appropriate course offerings per grade level. You can find our Course Catalog in our Student and Parent Handbook.