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STUDENT Life services

Stages of Character Development

The character development program is structured into developmental phases with cumulative curriculum designed to build on lessons learned in an earlier phase. Every student must progress through these phases and participate in the character development curriculum and activities which the student makes into a portfolio. The Student Enrichment Team assists the student in portfolio reflection and progress..

Phase Descriptions and Responsibilities

Orientation phase

The initial phase is designed to create a sense of safety by orienting students to the daily routine and introducing agreements for program participation. Students all begin by completing an orientation workbook containing a set of tasks that assists them with learning about our school, agreements and program.

Discovery phase

In the Discovery Phase, students begin to identify and work through key issues and life patterns that led to their current circumstance. With program expectations as a guide, they begin to learn and apply coping skills while internalizing the self-control and motivation to maintain the new behavior over time.

Community Life & Character Development

• Develop trusting relationships with adults
• Beginning to assume responsibility for behavior and relationships
• Relationship development: friends, family, peer group, school
• Be respectful towards peer and staff
• Recognition of qualities and values of real friendships
• Learning to set boundaries in relationships
• Beginning acceptance of actions and consequences
• Identification of personal issues and related feelings
• Initiate expression of thoughts and feelings in a more open and honest manner
• Complete one adventure education experience
• Gain understanding of Core Values and expectations
• Increased participation in school community
• Testing of agreements and boundaries
• Participate in healthy play
• Complete Discovery Character Development Portfolio

challenge phase

Students who reach Challenge phase have demonstrated an increased investment in their own personal growth. As they gain freedom, they also gain in responsibilities.

Community Life & Character Development

• Participate as a Big Brother/Big Sister
• Participate as a Dorm Head
• Participate as a Crew Leader
• Be accountable for yourself and overall safety of program
• Increase personal investment in groups
• Begin work on post-NWA plans
• Be respectful towards yourself, peers, staff and others
• Complete your Challenge Phase Character Development Portfolio
• Develop leadership skills
• Increase sense of self-efficacy

summit phase

In the Summit Phase students have an opportunity to apply and practice their newly acquired skills and achieve final resolution of personal and family issues. During this phase, students act as supports, role model to peers in earlier phases and are "in-service" to them as a way of giving back to the school. Students are eligible to move into the Summit Phase after incorporating consistent healthy behaviors that are characteristic of mature and healthy young adults, actively working through their primary issues, demonstrating motivation and leadership.

Community Life & Character Development

• Demonstrate a shift of accountability, taking ownership over daily decisions
• Preparing for transition to college or the next step in their life
• Create a continued recovery plan and identify support systems to assist with a smooth transition
• Identify areas in their life where they need continued support
• Complete Post-NWA agreements with family
• Further increase leadership skills by adding to responsibilities and privileges
• Identify development, gaining a "sense of self"

 

As they develop responsibility, students are challenged to accomplish tasks they once thought were beyond them, both intellectually and physically. they begin to model appropriate behavior to younger students and to assume an active leadership role on campus.

 

Challenge

Each daily experience can be seen as a transformative opportunity. As they progress through the program we begin re-introducing greater levels of freedom and responsibility, offering opportunities to apply their new coping skills. We believe this environment should be a place where students can celebrate and learn from their mistakes. Each failure and success is a learning opportunity which can aide in the development of new tools and skills. The reality is that your child has struggled before coming to Northwest Academy and they will struggle again at some point in the future. Our primary objective is not to reach unattainable perfection, but rather, to better equip each student with the life skills and tools they need to face difficult life situations.

 

 

 

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