The High Road School of Providence is a Type 1 educational program serving the instructional and behavioral needs of emotionally disturbed adolescents in a supportive and structured environment. Every day, our privatized facility puts over 20 years of experience to work for our student body, concentrating on a twofold prime objective: (1) implementing our innovative, effective, and time‐proven instructional and behavioral model to expertly address our students’ particular challenges; and (2) preparing our students for reintegration into the least restrictive environment possible, as quickly as possible.

To accomplish our mission, we custom‐design individualized education plans for each student, placing intensive emphasis on scholastics through the use of a tutorial‐based rotational system that ensures that each student receives challenging one‐on‐one instruction in all core academic areas; we augment our instructional model with numerous computerized curriculums that further reinforce newly acquired skills; and we make sure each of our students receives any and all supplementary services required to reach identified goals, like individual counseling or physical therapy. For our older students, we offer a wide array of on‐site and community based transitional “School‐to‐Work” services, designed to prepare them for post‐graduation employment. And throughout it all, our highly advanced rewards‐based behavioral management system is fully integrated into all aspects of our program, consistently motivating our students to ever‐higher levels of self‐esteem and success — in the classroom, at home, and in the community.

Performance and Reliability

A spotlight on Mr. Mac

Performance and reliability are necessary characteristics for any staff member to have particularly working in the field of special education.  Webster’s Online-Dictionary defines performance as the act of performing; of doing something successfully; using knowledge as distinguished from merely possessing it and reliability as Mr. Tim MacConaghy has been with the High Road School of Providence for over 2 years as a classroom teacher and is currently our Head Teacher.   Around the school, he is affectionately known as Mr. Mac. and you don’t have to be in the school very long to notice that he is clearly part of the fabric of the school.  He is well respected and relied upon by students and staff alike.  His balance of professionalism and humor make him a non-threatening but effective role model both for his colleagues and his students. 

When asked what he enjoys about working at High Road School, Mr. Mac discussed the constant support he gets from other staff members and the small class size which allows for more efficient teaching.   Most of all, he cited, “…the ability to have a direct effect on real change in the lives of his students”.  You can see the excitement on his face when he discussed examples of students who made significant improvement in subject areas such as reading.

Even in the face of dealing with the difficult behaviors that can sometimes occur in the school, Mr. Mac is highly regarded as one of the school leaders and role models.   He believes that the keys to his success in working with student behaviors is setting clear expectations, engaging in open and honest dialogue and maintain consistency and fairness. 

Mr. Anthony Clancy (School Director) shared that the impact that he has with the students in his classroom both academically and socially/emotionally is exceptional.  “I have amazing trust in Mr. Mac’s performance and reliability.  He is so willing to take on additional responsibilities such as the landscaping Program.  You never have to worry about anything he does, because, he always comes through in a big way.”

Undoubtedly, Mr. Mac is a perfect fit for the High Road School of Providence.  His impact on both his students and staff is clear.  We thank you Mr. Mac for all you contributions and hardwork.

The Comeback Kid

“I wish I was in 9th grade” is how the conversation started when Andrew V. was asked what grade he was in.  The implication was that he wished that he would never have to leave the school which has played such a role in his scholastic resurgence.  However, Andrew is an 11th grade student at the High Road of Providence and has been with our school program for his entire high school experience.

As an upper-class student, Andrew has set an example for his fellow school mates both academically and socially/emotionally.  Mr. Jason Caliri (his classroom teacher) shared that, “Andrew was always a student with a great deal of potential and it was just a matter of applying himself”.  In his own words, Andrew describes his freshman year as one with many ups and downs.  “I never went on a field trip (because of my behavior) until this school year”.  When asked what ignited the change in his outlook, Andrew noted that it was when he realized that his attitude and work ethic toward school needed to change.  “…watching the behavior of the newer students was like looking into a mirror”.

It was then, when he realized that he wanted more from himself.  From that moment on, Andrew went from a student who was consistently on Red and Yellow (lower behavioral levels) to one who is now Green and Blue (upper behavioral levels).  Ms. Suzanne Ford (his Social Worker) attributes much of his success to several factors including the positive working relationships that he has developed and maintained with several staff members.   She further noted, “This year, he has demonstrated an understanding of how his behavior impacts others, including himself”.

Mr. Anthony Clancy (Director) beamed with pride when speaking about Andrew’s progress and the kind of student he has become.  “Andrew has progressed dramatically since he first walked through our doors a couple of years ago.  Andrew is now realizing the potential that we all knew he has as long he believed in himself.  Andrew also has an extremely supportive family who has played an instrumental role in his progress.”  Recently, his mother shared how happy she was that Andrew is attending High Road School and went on to say, “…if it wasn’t for High Road, I am not sure Andrew would still be in school”.

Andrew takes tremendous pride in being a student at the High Road School.  He is very active in school wide activities and programs. As a result, just this January, he took first place Most Spirited Individual during Spirit Week.  

Andrew is a perfect example of how a supportive environment can provide motivation to get the most out of one’s high school experience.  He has high aspirations for life after high school including attending college, playing baseball and having a career in Sports Broadcasting.  With the maturity and focus that he has shown, there are no limits for the amount of success Andrew will enjoy.

High Road Support for Haiti

Successful Fundraiser Event raise $700 for aid to the suffering people in Haiti

It was hard for the staff and students of the High Road School of Providence to just watch the devastation and suffering that was occurring in Haiti in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake in early February.  As a result, that quickly decided to put together an event that would include not only the students and staff but the community as a whole.

On February 3, High Road School opened its doors to the community for a Spaghetti Dinner and Bake Sale.  Led by Ms. Sousa and Ms. Hixon, the staff and students prepared delicious spaghetti and meatball dinners with garlic bread and baked some amazing sweet treats for the bake sale. 

For $10 ($5 for children) or $7 ($3 for children) if you also brought in a canned good, approximately 50 guests (including staff, students, their families and members of the local community) enjoyed the scrumptious dinner.  As a result of the hard work and dedication this thoughtful event raised over $700 for the people of Haiti.

Walk Walk Walk

Ms. Penny Souza (Teacher) thought one day that it would be great for the staff and students to support each other in health and fitness.  As a result, she started the Club.  At 12:30 each day (Monday through Thursday) interested students and staff meet in the lobby to walk through the immediate surroundings of the school. "This is not only a great opportunity for us to get exercise and enjoy the warm spring weather, but, it also gives the staff and students a chance to come together as a school community."  Penny Souza.

Pirate Pride

Recently, the staff and students showed their school pride as they celebrated their school name, The Pirates with decorations and events in the name of the High Road of Providence Pirates.  The school is decorated with everything pirarte including balloons and hanging ceiling decorations and of course student artwork.

Spirit Week 2010

The students and staff of the High Road School of Providence demonstrated their school pride during our Annual Spirit Week 2010 (January 24 - 29).  Each day, the students and staff dressed up based on the daily theme.

Monday - Hat Day
Tuesday - Decade Day (1940-1990)
Wednesday - Mismatch Day
Thursday - Halloween Costume Day
Friday - Athlete/Celebrity Day

For More pictures, please check out our photo gallery.

A Model Student

The High Road School of Providence is proud to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of Alan K.  As a 10th grade student, in his third year at our school, Alan has been consistently on GOLD LEVEL.   However, it wasn’t always that way.  Alan had to work hard and commit himself to his academics as well as develop and hone decision making skills. As a result, he is a role model for his fellow classmates academically, emotionally and socially.  

In his first year at the High Road School, he was consistently on Yellow Level. 

 Clearly his behavior patterns, study habits and listening skills were not as strong and fine tuned as they are today.  However, through commitment, focus and hard work, Alan proved the cliché, that anything can happen, if you apply yourself.

With his strong work ethic and very positive attitude, Alan seems to be Mr. Everything around the school.  He is a member of the Landscaping Program and a leader in the Transition Department.

In addition to all of his responsibilities as a student, Alan also plays football for his neighborhood school, Central Falls High School.  He plays Varsity as a special teams player and back-up running back and is the starting full back, middle linebacker and special teamer for the JV (Junior Varsity) squad.

With his plate pretty full these days, Alan is getting the most out of his high school experience. Those educational and social responsibilities will certainly prepare Alan for life after graduation.  When speaking about Alan, Mr. Clancy shared, “Alan has worked tirelessly to improve academically.  In his time at our school, he has really come a long way.  We are proud of his hard work and accomplishments.  He is a great guy to be around and we see nothing but the best for him in the future.”

Transition Difference

The High Road Schools are committed to providing students with exposure to a variety of careers and skill sets for preparation beyond their high school years. With that in mind, the students of the High Road School of Providence have 2 unique opportunities to acquire skills and experiences that will be sure to open career doors.  The Landscaping and Culinary Programs are two distinct initiatives that have both been developed as in-house career options for students.

Mr. Tim Maconaghy, one of our teachers,  developed the Landscaping program for students who have an interest in nature and working outdoors. The program is designed for teach students the basics of landscaping while executing projects around the school.  Over the last several months, the students have cleared out areas around the school, cleared weeds, cutback trees and even cut down a small tree.  They also plan on installing a decorative fence along with some planning beds.  The students have learned to use such gardening tools as a rake and a sickle.

Our Culinary Program was originally created by Jesse Simms, the grandson of Jackie Robinson. Mr. Simms was a graduate of the College of Culinary Arts at Johnson and Wales University.  Along with his degree, Mr. Simms also brought his knowledge and experience as a restaurateur to our students.

Currently, our Culinary Program is overseen by the general manager of a very popular local restaurant.  In addition to his direct instruction, the students benefit from the expertise provided by local chefs and restaurant cooks.  As a result, our students are able to learn a variety of culinary skills and food dishes.  Through a well-paced three tired program, the students are walked through a culinary journey that includes:

• school preparation 
• supported internships
• job placement

This unique program presents our students with excellent real life training in all aspects of food preparation.   In addition, the Culinary Program offers Safe-Serve certification enabling them to secure employment in restaurants in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Moreover, the experiences gained in both the Landscaping and Culinary Programs will build the confidence and competence of each participating student.  The skills and knowledge gained will help provide endless possibilities for independence and success beyond their years in high school.

A Great Snapshot

The behavior program at the High Road School of Providence fosters maturity, sound decision making and peer support.  As great as it sounds on paper, there is nothing more inspiring that watching it in practice.  

Recently, the students and staff convened for a Gold Level Meeting (the school’s highest standard). The purpose of this particular meeting was to discuss the application of a student who qualified for gold level. At this meeting were the two students currently on the gold level along with several staff members including the student’s teacher, social worker and the school’s director.

What made this meeting awe inspiring was the manner in which the students and staff (including the applicant) interacted and discussed the merits of the student’s application.  There was honesty, constructive criticism and praise.  The maturity demonstrated by the three students in the room was just astounding.  The student applicant was able to state his case as to why he believed he had earned gold level status.  He also was able to acknowledge the areas where growth was still needed as well as articulate how he would go about making those behavioral adjustments. In fact, there are many adults that could have learned by observing this interaction.

While, the student’s application was accepted, the highlight here  was how the students exercised the perfect balance of empathy and accountability. This meeting was just a snapshot of the growth that occurs at the High Road School of Providence on a daily basis.

The Transition Programs of the High Road Schools of Southern Maryland (locations in Beltsville, Capitol Heights, Lanham & La Plata) are designed to provide students an opportunity to prepare for independent living after graduation.  To achieve these objectives, there are many components of our Transition Programs.

Students learn a variety of occupational skills such as interview techniques, resume writing and career exploration.  To achieve maximum success, students are exposed a variety of careers, jobs and skill sets.   In addition, orienting our students to the world of retail sales and customer service provides valuable experiences that will benefit them in any future career.
Each of our schools, offer as part of our program a Promotional Items Department.  Students have at the fingertips several technical machines which can customize a wide variety of items such as mouse pads, t-shirts and tote bags.

In an effort to promote the great work of our students, the High Road Schools of Southern Maryland are proud to introduce our region-wide Production Catalog.  At affordable prices and great quality you can purchase personalized t-shirts for your upcoming high school reunion or tote bags commemorating your family picnic.  With the holidays coming, you may need to be stocking stuffers such as key chains, mouse pads or coffee mugs.  Our schools even offer gift baskets containing an assortment of our products.

The students are preparing for a very busy holiday season so please don’t delay in placing your order. Please feel free to download a copy of our 2010 Brochure or contact our Customer Service Center at (301) 210-4860, our Mr. Kevin Mattison, Transition Coordinator of the High Road Upper School of Prince George’s County, will be able to direct you to any one of our Customer Service Representatives.

Making An Impact

The Culinary Program which begain in 2009 has proven to be a training ground for future chefs and restaurateurs.  Two students in particular Robert and Jason have been intregral to the success of this vocation program.  In addition, the two young men have found their future career thanks to the support of Mr. Steven Hixon and Mr. Rick.
Please read the entries below to see how the two students have been affected by the Culinary Program and Cafe in their own words.

How Cooking Has Helped Me

My name is Robert Rebello and I participate in the High Road School Culinary Program. I am having the best time of my life.  I have been cooking for a year and a half so far and it has been great. I like working in the kitchen with the cook staff, especially Big Rick. He is my mentor. He is always there to help me and teach me something new. This year I learned how to do the preparations for all the meals in the kitchen.

The culinary program has taught me how to be a hard-worker. It sent me to two restaurants, the Hearth and Kettle and Spumoni’s. I work at the Heath & Kettle on holidays, where I prepare salads and entrees in the kitchen. I can see myself working in other restaurants in the future. The reason I joined the culinary program was because I wanted to make delicious food for people and to be a successful chef someday. The culinary program is giving me the experience I will need to get into the Johnson and Wales culinary school after I graduate high school.

Rob Rebello

What Culinary Means to Me

Culinary has taught me a great deal. I learned how to prep cut safely and cook on a grill.  Being a part of the culinary program has given me knowledge beyond cooking. It is a privilege I enjoy and have become a better person because of it.

I was able to go and work at actual restaurants. The names of them are Hearth n Kettle and Spumonis.  This real life experience has helped me learn the how to act in a kitchen cooking for the general public. I’ve managed to maintain positive behavior in a hectic atmosphere. Demonstrating a calm attitude is hard to do in stressful situations.

This year, the school has provided us with our own café in which I have learned to focus in another fast pace environment. In the past, stress would cause me to act out inappropriately, by not focusing on my work and disrupting the class. Having the culinary experience has helped me learn to focus on my task no matter the situation.  I am more able to listen to direction in culinary and as a result I am able to do better in a classroom environment. It has helped me to decide that this is what I want to be in my life. I plan on expanding my knowledge of the culinary profession, so that one day I will become head chef in a restaurant.
I would like to give a special thanks to Big Rick for all his help and support!

Jason                                                                                         

Grand Opening

The High Road Cafe is now officially open for business.  So far, it has been an unbelievable success serving 25-30 customers per day in addition to serving the students and staff of our school.  More information including our menu and pictures will be coming soon.

In the meantime, please come and stop by for lunch!

Cafe Menu

Last year, our school launched the Culinary Program for interested students to gain exposure to the wide range of skills and experiences associated with the culinary arts.  This year under the direction of Steve Hixon (Manager Hearth and Kettle) and Jason DeLawrence (Transition Coordinator) the program is being taken to the next level with the development of the High Road Café.

Opening  in April, this venture will become the epicenter of the building which houses the school, Goodwill and ProMail.   Once opened, the café will be opened every day (Monday through Friday) from 11:30am to 1:00pm for the students of the High Road School as well as local business and organizations within our community.  When discussing the café, Mr. Delawrence shared, “We are so excited about the café for so many reasons, among them is that students will be exposed to the various components of working in a restaurant.”  The café will be the perfect opportunity for our students to gain experience in the many aspects of the restaurant business.  Under the supervision of both Mr. Hixon and Mr. DeLawrence, our culinary students will have a wide range of responsibilities including:

•    Food Preparation
•    Customer Service
•    Cashier
•    Bussing Services

In preparation for the Grand Opening, the school has a purchased a new griddle/grill and are in the process of making some cosmetic changes to the café area.  Mr. Anthony Clancy (School Director) was eager to share some of his thoughts , “This is such an exciting time for both the students and staff of our school.  I am so proud of our students as they have progressed through our Culinary Program.  The opening of the High Road Café will be a crowning achievement for our school as whole.”

Currently, the students and  Mr. Hixon are working on the development  of the menu which will be sure to include some of the High Road Classics such as Pizza and Burgers.  Once complete, the menu will be available for download on this site.  Down the road, Mr. DeLawrence is also hoping to develop a delivery component to the café. 

The true stars of this program are the students.  For almost two years, they have dedicated themselves to learning all the tricks of the culinary trade, among them are Robert R., Josh D., Helder B. and Tyrque R.

Stay tuned, as more details regarding the Grand Opening for the High Road Café will be forthcoming.