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Happy International Dot Day!
VDS celebrated International Dot Day, in honor of the book, "The Dot" by Peter Reynolds. It’s the story of Vashti, a girl who became upset in art class because she didn’t think she could draw. Her teacher challenged her to “Just make a mark and see where it takes you.” VDS Library Media Specialist Megan Mercogliana had students participate in a STEM activity by creating structures using dot candies and toothpicks. They made their own "mark" by coloring circles and using an app to make them 3d. Click this link above to learn more about Dot Day!
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Fresh From Our Garden
Our ESY students continue to tend to our organic garden, sponsored by Snipe's Farm and Entertainment Center.
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Valley Day Experiences Blizzards!
Our ESY students cool off with some delicious ice cream at the end of another great day at Valley Day.
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Brain Based Research
Brain science teaches us that behavior is not categorized by being good or bad; it is a question of being healthy or unhealthy.
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Trauma Informed Care
We treat the whole student while taking into account their past trauma and the resulting coping mechanisms while attempting to understand their behaviors.
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Cutting Edge Technology
We believe that the effective use of instructional technology is vital to teaching today's students.
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Clinical Support
Clinical and behavioral support is critical for the personal and academic growth of our students.
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OUR MISSION
To teach students the tools they need to lead a healthy lifeWe pursue our mission by incorporating evidence-based best-practices throughout our organization so that VDS-enrolled students receive FAPE and IEP-fulfilling education in a safe, structured, and supportive trauma-informed learning community.
Each day we blend trauma-informed care, an understanding of neuroeducation, and cutting-edge educational technology to provide students with the skills, tools, strategies, and experiences they will need to make healthy choices and to lead healthy lives both inside and outside of school.
We provide VDS students with a secure environment in which they can feel physically, socially, and emotionally safe while learning to understand their own experiences and how to productively change the way they respond to these experiences.
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S2SS is designed to help students and school staff recognize risk factors and signals of those who may be a threat to themselves or others. From a student perspective, S2SS teaches students to treat every warning sign seriously and to act quickly to get help by talking to a trusted adult and/or by reporting it anonymously to the Pennsylvania S2SS Crisis Center via telephone, mobile device, or website.
