Sierra School is one of the oldest nonpublic schools in the greater Sacramento, California area, founded in 1968. Although Sierra School didn’t join the SESI, Incorporated family until the year 2000, Sierra School’s mission, like that of all SESI programs, is to build our students’ “confidence and competence through personalized academic interventions."

Sierra School believes in educating its students from a dual perspective. Integrating mental health services with special education classes addresses the students’ needs in a systematic and holistic fashion. With the safety that comes from providing good behavioral management supervision and structure, students are better able to focus and perform academically.

Sierra School follows all IEP (Individual Education Program) mandates in serving students, adheres to California State Standards for curriculum and scope and sequence of required subjects and areas of learning and is a California State Department of Education certified nonpublic school. We can issue both diplomas and Certificates of Attendance for our students with our goal being to transition as many students as possible to a less restrictive program individually prepared for each student, we also provide a comprehensive mental health program with a full-time therapist who meets with students in both group and individual settings to assist with behavior management, the building of self-esteem, and emotional self worth and well being for our students.In order to provide such important services, the staff at Sierra School is made up of a professional and strength based multi-disciplinary team consisting of credentialed special education instructors, licensed psychotherapist (LCSW/MFCC), and B.A. or B.S. level instructional assistants.

Sierra School also offers employment options for our students through a WorkAbility I Grant issued from the State of California Department of Education. This allows us to train, supervise, and place students in employment situations both on and off campus, providing valuable work experience opportunities.

We are proud of our school, our program, and the success we have with our students. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can answer any questions you may have about our school. It would be our pleasure to speak with you.

Save the Date

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Sierra School Human Resources News

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2010 – 2011 Sierra School Student Statistics

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Western Connection

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How About Some Olympics! 

Our summer here at Eastern Upper is in full swing and we are taking in all that the sun has to offer. Our theme for summer is “Highlighting History” and we are including events that are fun for all. Olympic Games Day was a great event including water games, and chariot races. Our chariots were wheel barrows, and students pushed one of their team members in attempt to race the other team to the end of the course. There was plenty of energy, and lots of laughs involved in this one. Our shot put event included water balloons, and students had to throw their balloon as far as they could.  There was some flying water, which was a nice way to cool off on this hot summer day. Everyone enjoyed getting outside and working on some friendly competition. We had Olympic medals for our winning team, and an individual medal for our shot putt winner, which was a whopping 89 feet!! This was an event where every single student fully enjoyed the activity, and really got to display their sportsmanship.

School Teaches Life Skills to Special Needs Students

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For ‘Special Needs’ Students at Sierra School Running a ‘Small Business’ Teaches Kids Self-Sufficiency

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Regional Newsletter

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School Accountability Report Cards

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Red Ribbon Week at Sierra School at Eastern: Upper
Keeping it Drug Free

Always a favorite for the students at Sierra School at Eastern: Upper, Red Ribbon Week rose to new heights this year in terms of sharing the Drug-Free message, not just on our campus, but throughout the entire community.  Each day of the week brought a flurry of learning activities.  Theme days let students know just how to participate in this fun, educational event.  This year, the days included: 
 
    Monday:  Wear Red Day
    Tuesday:  Lick the Drug Habit (Red Lollipop Day)
    Wednesday: Let’s Give Drug the Slip (Wear Slippers to School Day)
    Thursday: Sock it to Drugs (Crazy Sock Day)
    Friday:  Wrist Band Competition Day between Staff and Students

Decorations, selected by the Student Government, adorned the campus’ hallways and fences.  A red and white cup message proudly declared Sierra School at Eastern: Upper a drug-free campus.  As the students pledged their commitment to a drug-free lifestyle, it was evident to everyone that the message of Red Ribbon Week will ring loud and clear in the hearts and minds of our students for weeks and months to come!  

A Warm Welcome

If you should have a tour or visit scheduled with a staff member at Sierra School at Eastern: Upper, don’t be surprised if you are also warmly welcomed by a couple of our amazing students, as well!  These students, known on campus as the “Welcome Committee” have spent many hours with staff learning how to share with adult visitors all the wonderful components of Sierra School: Uppers’s program.  For example, one of the club members, Nick P. discusses our school’s levels system/token economy with our visiting guests.  He eloquently explains the value of earning points, how a student moves from level to level, the earning and spending of Sierra Dollars, and how, ultimately, the level system supports student in their quest to return to a less restrictive environment.  Another student, Yasmin C. is a specialist in the area of Sierra School’s unique academic rotation model.  She confidently explains to visitors the 30-minute work stations, the distinctive value of the station, and why the model works so well in terms of providing individualized instruction.  Yasmin is also a very creative student and willingly assists in the selection, design, and preparation of the small welcome gifts given to each visitor.  As you can see, these students are truly amazing and because of their efforts, Sierra School at Eastern: Upper is a very warm and welcoming place to visit!

NOTE:  If you would like to schedule a tour of Sierra School at Eastern; Upper, please contact the main office at (916) 488-2515.  We would love to have you visit! 

The Hot Spot Café’ Deliver’s Tasty Treats! 

Twice a month, a delicious (and educational!) event happens on the campus of Sierra School at Eastern: Upper:  The Hot Spot Café!  Students from Classroom 14, along with their instructor, Mrs. Davis, select a recipe, shop for ingredients, and then prepare tasty treats for the student body to purchase with their Sierra Dollars.  Throughout the preparation process, Classroom 14 students generalize many of the functional and independent living skills they learn in the classroom including reading, math (measuring: addition, multiplication, fractions), hygiene, budgeting, and social skills (peer interactions, customer relations.)  The event is always something the students look forward to and staff and students agree that an academic lesson never tasted so good!

Sierra School at Eastern Upper Plans for a Winter Harvest

Now, everyone is very familiar with the Fall Harvest:  corn, pumpkin, apples, and other delicious foods we gather each autumn from the Earth’s incredible bounty.  However, not everyone considers a Winter Harvest – but that is exactly what the students of Sierra School at Eastern: Upper are doing this year.  Students from the Garden Club have planted many types of vegetables, flowers, and herbs that grow abundantly in the cooler climate experienced throughout the fall and winter.  A few of the items planted include:  leaf lettuce, chives, onions, broccoli, spinach, and cabbage.  Flowers that grow terrific during cold weather include honeysuckle, jasmine, new roses, heather, and winterberry.   As the students tend to their winter garden and learn how to keep their plants healthy during the chilly winter temperatures, Sierra School at Eastern: Upper will eagerly await the wonderful harvest that is sure to come.

Director’s Note

People seem to be talking a lot lately about the importance of “neighborhood schools” and the critical role they play in the life of a student.  As a nonpublic school, we often enroll students who must travel outside their area of residence in order to participate in our specialized programs.  However, by building student pride and developing a sense of community between our students, Sierra School at Eastern: Upper believes we create our own “neighborhood” right on campus.  We accomplish this feat by offering our students various, and highly creative, activities, opportunities, and choices. 

One way in which we build school pride is by holding a Spirit Day every Friday.  Students who wear their Sierra School t-shirts earn a Sierra Dollar for proudly demonstrating support for their school.  The school mascots are proudly displayed throughout the campuses (Upper: Grizzly and Lower: Owls), as well.  To further encourage a sense of belonging, students participate in Responsibility Clubs including: Auto Club, Sports League, Student Government, Garden Care, Peer Tutoring, Newsletter Club, The Welcome Committee, Random Acts of Kindness Club (RAK), and Yearbook.  These clubs meet twice per month and keep the school atmosphere feeling very much like a small community, working together for the ultimate greater good of the school.

Other events adding to Sierra’s “neighborhood feel” include monthly Sierra STAR assemblies, monthly Big Events (such as Mix it Up at Lunch Day, Math Day, Science and Art Fair, and the Winter Festival), our intensive Workability 1 Program which runs our on-campus small business called Sierra Works, and multiple after school special events which allow our student to practice the coping and social skills they learn in both the classroom and in their therapeutic setting.

So, although being geographically close to home is a nice thing, is also important to remember that home is also where the heart is.

Compass Learning Odyssey information

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Sierra Graduation Information

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Sierra School at Eastern:  Top 5 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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Workability Article

Sierra Works Order Forms

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Sierra Works Engraving Items

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Sierra Works Cut Out Maker Items

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Sierra Works Price List

Engraving
The cost of the item + tax & shipping

    Examples of items we have:
    Dog Tags                  $10.00 each
    Make-up mirrors         $10.00 each
    Money clips               $10.00 each
    Pens                        $  4.00 each
    Various Key Chains     $5.00-10.00 each


Cut-Out Maker
    .10 cents per page
    (Multiple cut-outs are available)

Poster Maker
    Banners       $12.00 each
    Posters        $8.00 each
(Lamination available for an extra fee)


Copies
    Black & White     .06 each page
    Color                 .28 each page
(Cover Stock, Glossy Paper, etc will be an extra charge to cover the higher cost of the paper)
 

Sublimation
   
Cost of the item + $2.00 per sublimation page = Total Cost

Example: Mug cost $2.50 + $2.00 sublimation page = $4.50



Please contact DeDe Cooper
916-488-2515 ext 11 or dcooper@sierra-school.com

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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-Upper 2008-2009 SARC