Sierra School at Eastern: Lower School is a non-public, special education school that serves students ages 4 through 15, grades K-8. Sierra School utilizes a unique instructional model, positive behavior modification techniques, and mental health services to increase academic awareness, develop social skills and cultivate appropriate classroom behavior.  Sierra School students benefit daily from a state approved, standards aligned curriculum, highly qualified teachers and low staff to student ratios.

Sierra School at Eastern: Lower School supports students with diverse situations including, but not limited to, specific learning disabilities, emotional disturbances, autistic spectrum disorders, cognitively low functioning, and other health impairments such as ADHD.

Our students also have access to other services designed to meet their specific needs.  These services include occupational therapy, group and individual counseling, speech and language services, art therapy, independent living skills (ILS), and transition programs to name a few.

All the programs listed above, from our academic model to each of our related services, are designed and implemented with the ultimate goal of expediting our students’ transition back to their public school program and into the next least restrictive environment.

Saturday in the Park: Autism Awareness Fundraiser

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Halloween Fun

By Daniel B. 4th grade

The Halloween party was fun.  We got to get our face painted and drank spooky juice.  We got to listen to music from DJ Carlos.  We got to wear our costumes to school and even the staff dressed up.  I really liked Ms. Franklin’s costume.  She was a really scary witch.  We got to decorate masks and even got to take home a pumpkin.  I can’t wait for next year!

2010 – 2011 Sierra School Student Statistics

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Western Connection

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Critters at Sierra

by Daniel, 5th grade

0n February 9th Sierra School welcomed ‘natures critters’.  They’re a group of people who rescue animals. So all the animals we saw were rescued.

We saw a tarantula, a snake, two painted frogs, a legless lizard, and a bearded dragon. The bearded dragon had rough sand paper like scales on its back.  There was also a snake, it was a gofer snake and it had smooth scales.

 It was very fun and I hope it will happen again!

Classroom 8

Here at Sierra School classroom 8 loves our special events. From time to time we get appearances from different organizations. One such appearance we just had was a performance by the Capital Christian High School band. This was an incredible experience that can be summarized up by the words of my students:

On February 10th, 2011 classroom 8 watched a high school band. All of Sierra school was there. The visiting students played many instruments. The drums were loud and noisy. The stand-up bass was taller than the kid playing it. They played good classic music. I loved the performance and I’m glad they came. I wish I could play the drums when I grow up.

Archie, 4th grade

Each and every one of my students works hard and we do our best to play hard. In the coming weeks we will be attending a zoo field trip that is sure to be the highlight. The students are going to be making animal information booklets filled with the pictures they take at the zoo. I am teaming with anticipation to see the final product take shape.

- Mr. Claussen

Regional Newsletter

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Peer Tutoring 

The peer tutoring club brings out the best in all of our students! It allows our older students to share their academic and social skills with  younger peers. They work together on things like alphabet puzzles, basic writing skills, numbers and shapes. Although the academic aspect is important, the social aspect is just as beneficial for all the students involved.

The older students get to model appropriate and respectful behavior and the younger students get to look up to peers who provide them with friendship and learning opportunities. Both groups look forward to their time together and share a very special bond and it is an absolute joy for me to be able to facilitate this.  - Ms. van Loon 

The Art Club

The art club at Sierra School is a place where students are able to participate in fun and exhilarating new adventures. Students involved in the art club express themselves in artistic ways and are offered new challenges each time. The club has already practiced many diverse art forms, such as: drawing, painting, sculpting, 3D, and still life. Art Club members eagerly participate in the many different experiences, and are continually looking forward to more exciting adventures!

Relaxing at Sierra School

Life can often be overwhelming and lends itself easily to a fast paced lifestyle, full of split second decisions.  Our students also feel the effects of being weighed down with life, life choices, and most importantly, life experiences.  In a child’s world that can often seem hopeless and full of negativity, it can be refreshing to find a sense of calm.  Teaching students to utilize relaxation methods to find harmony, balance, and safety is an ongoing intervention.  Therapists and students work together to identify emotional triggers that can be targeted and managed by relaxation techniques.  We hope the end result reflects students’ ability to contribute a peaceful presence to our world.

California Maps 

In Classroom 9, we were learning about California and its different region’s.  My peers and I were taught about the desert, valley, coast and mountains.  My favorite part was when we learned about the central valley. Our teacher made the California cut-out on cardboard for us.  We all worked very hard on labeling the cut out with the different regions. We also created legends to go along with all of our maps.  I thought the California maps weren’t going to be very cool, but I had a lot of fun doing it.  Now I know not to judge something by its cover and to give things a try.

- By Rozco, 7th grade

Compass Learning Odyssey information

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Responsibility Clubs Resume - Bigger and Better than Ever!

Student Government, Auto Club, Art Club, Lawn and Garden Care Club, Yearbook Club, and Sports League make up the list of Responsibility Clubs offered at Sierra School at Edison.  After taking the summer off, the clubs resumed this fall with higher participation levels than ever before!
Responsibility Clubs provide Sierra at Edison students a great opportunity to learn new skills in an area of personal interest while getting to meet and socialize with students outside their own classroom.  Students can belong to a maximum of two clubs at one time and must be on green or blue level in order to attend the bi-monthly meetings.  All clubs are interactive and designed and planned to accommodate the needs of our specialized population.
Responsibility Clubs also build a sense of community within the student body.  Student Government, for example, is responsible for planning our monthly "BIG EVENT" while the Art Club might be responsible for providing the decorations.  The two clubs work together to accomplish one goal, which provides limitless -- and priceless! -- opportunities for the students to learn and grow.
Overall, the Sierra School at Edison Responsibility Clubs provide Sierra student a chance to participate in enriching activities while joyfully exploring their own personal strengths and preferences.  A win-win situation for everyone involved!

Project Help!

Select students at Sierra School at Edison participate in a unique group titled "PROJECT HELP!"  This group, which is advised and led by Sierra School at Edison's Mental Health team, is a specialized activity in which students learn the intrinsic value of helping another person or group of people.  For example, students offer assistance to the campus classrooms by offering to straighten their rooms or make copies for the teacher.  They assist in the front office by organizing, cleaning, and occasional plant watering.  But the most important aspect of this group is that they receive NO EXTRINSIT REWARDS FOR THEIR SERVICES!  No Sierra Dollars, no bonus points, no free time.  In fact, the only reward these students receive is the best kind of all…..the warmth you feel in your heart after you've done something kind for someone else.

Community Based Instruction Trip to Chevy’s Mexican Restaurant – A Delicious Way to Learn!

The students at Sierra School at Edison took a terrific, education-filled, community-based instruction field trip to Chevy’s Mexican Restaurant on September 30, 2009.  Fifteen students attended the trip accompanied by their teaching staff.  While at the restaurant, students learned the “ins and outs” of how this type of business works.  For example, they learned about making reservations, how patrons are seated, how the wait staff takes orders and how the kitchen fills those requests.  One of the highlights of the trip was that the students were allowed to cook their own lunch!  First, they made their own flour tortillas and then constructed their own individual bean and cheese burrito. 
While the students ate their lunch, they enjoyed the beautiful view of the Sacramento River and visited with their classmates.  The trip was a wonderful experience for all involved and many of the students have expressed in interest in learning more about the restaurant business.  See – learning IS fun (and if you’re lucky – it can sometimes even be delicious!)

School Accountability Report Cards

Sierra School is pleased to announce that our School Accountability Report Cards (SARC) are available for review.  Sierra School has made their SARC available to you in two different formats: 1) you may review the document via the link below or 2) you may request a paper copy by contacting your school office.

Sierra School at Eastern Lower 2010 - 2011 SARC