New Directions

Root-cause analysis, mediation, and mentorship are used by New Directions to help pupils who are distracted and disengaged due to concerns like low self-esteem, bullying, or personal trauma. 

The New Directions room, once the registration office, has been renovated with a grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency into a warm, pleasant, and welcome setting under the direction of licensed counselor Mary Wakefield. It has a maximum capacity of 15 learners.

“We work with folks here who just need some extra assistance. It allows us to dig deeper and really listen to the students,” Mary Wakefield, School Counselor

Vision

New Direction is a student-driven approach to addressing students’ academic, behavioral, social, and emotional development and growth.

Environment

Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs is the foundation of the New Direction environment. The room promotes a safe, nurturing environment for all individuals.

Focus

The New Direction Room provides a holistic approach to behavior, academic, and social emotional wellbeing of students. It includes a cohesive system to support behavioral concerns.

Purpose

Restorative Justice practices are utilized to support students with processing, reflecting, and understanding negative choices that lead to assignment of New Direction. These practices promote safer choices and ultimately a safer school community while decreasing recidivism rates of negative behavior.

“We really immersed ourselves in major reform to treat the actual problem and not just focus on punishment. As a result, there’s been a drop in suspensions, expressions of aggression, and administration can now be directly involved in helping to enrich.” “All these pieces have been combining to improve the culture, and now that we have the culture in check, we can handle the academic side.” Dr. Nancy Hines, Superintendent