Our Mission, Philosophy, and Objectives

Mission and Philosophy
Introduction:  New Vistas School is an independent, non-sectarian, non-profit institution open to students in grades 3-12 of all races, creeds, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds.
Mission of the School: Given the belief that each child deserves the opportunity to reach his or her full intellectual and emotional potential, New Vistas School provides a safe, nurturing, and individualized educational environment that fosters academic and personal growth necessary for life-long, productive citizenship. The school serves students with learning, attention, and social-emotional challenges.

Philosophy:
Acquisition of the skills needed for successful transition to post-secondary environments begins in early grades.

Students with learning, attention, and social/emotional challenges learn best from a variety of educational approaches aimed at meeting their individualized needs.

Students make progress if they are taught to build on their strengths and address weaknesses.

Mastery of both academic and social-adaptive knowledge has positive effects in terms of psycho-social, intellectual, and life-functional outcomes.

Problem-solving, critical-thinking, and organizational skills are essential to the fostering of lifelong learners.

As learning problems know no economic bounds, so, too, economic status should not be a barrier to attendance at NVS.  Therefore, community outreach and fund raising are an integral part of our school.

Student- and Family-Based Objectives:

• To remediate and/or provide compensatory strategies for deficiencies in basic, essential academic skills.

• To teach knowledge and skills that lead to personal growth and positive self-esteem, self-determination, and self-advocacy.

• To teach problem-solving, critical- thinking, and organizational skills, in an attempt to build on strengths and to compensate for weaknesses.

• To prepare students for successful transition into traditional school settings, further study at the college level, and/or other post-secondary opportunities.

• To provide opportunities for families to be involved in the full range of  NVS opportunities, including its academic and transition programs as well as social and extracurricular activities.

Institution-Based Objectives:

• To provide strong school leadership.

• To maintain a staff with appropriate credentials and expertise.

• To provide a well-structured, logical curriculum that ensures appropriate student-based outcomes.

• To promote, implement, and evaluate evidence-based practices in the areas of assessment, instruction, curriculum adaptations, classroom management, and behavior management.

• To provide ongoing opportunities throughout the year for staff professional development.

• To maintain financial sustainability that supports excellent educational programs.

• To provide funds for financial aid and scholarships for those students whose families are unable to pay the full tuition.

• To increase the visibility and reputation of the School in the community.

• To work collaboratively with public and private schools when students are placed at NVS by those entities.

• To maintain and enhance the facilities and grounds so that they may contribute to the welcoming and nurturing environment.

New Vistas serves students identified with a specific learning disability including Dyslexia, AD/HD, and high-functioning Autism Specrrum Disorder (formerly known as Asperger’s Syndrome). Emotional Disturbance or ED often accompanies learning difficulties.