Prospective Spire students, for various reasons, are not realizing their academic and social-emotional potential. Oftentimes, this is due to ineffective coping skills or difficulty regulating emotions as a result of anxiety and/or depression. These students may also be experiencing low self-confidence, self-competency, and self-worth that may be resulting in school avoidance or refusal. To promote a healthy and secure sense of self, The Spire School supports these students through an emphasis on self-care: effective coping skills, exercise, nutrition, and academic empowerment
Spire Life Coaching
The Life Coach is a unique aspect of The Spire School. Life Coaches are clinical professionals who hold at least a master’s degree in fields related to school counseling and social work. Life Coaches each manage a small caseload of students and meet individually with their students weekly. Throughout the school day, Life Coaches are also available to help reinforce skills through executive function support, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). In addition to leading groups, Spire’s Life Coaches actively collaborate with each student’s Community of Allies: parents, teachers, therapists, psychiatrists, tutors, or other professionals.
Know Thyself
Know Thyself is an original program designed and taught by the Life Coach Team. Groups are differentiated by grade level and cover topics related to:
- Coping skills
- Self-esteem
- Recreation
- Exercise
- Creative pursuits
- Self-care
- Academics
- Transition planning
- Social life
Our goal is for our students to achieve a better self-understanding and to pave the way for a more fulfilling and productive life.
Executive Function
Valuable Executive Function (EF) skills are taught by Spire’s Life Coaches in a weekly group setting determined by grade level. EF skills are further reinforced with students through practical application and experience in the classroom and include:
- Time management and planning
- Task analysis, initiation, and completion
- Materials management
- Study strategies
- Memory techniques
- Organization
- Note-taking skills
- Goal setting
- Problem-solving and decision-making
- Self-advocacy and self-regulation
Process Group
Each week, students participate in process-oriented groups led by a Life Coach. Sessions are guided by topics of student interest and may include discussions of interpersonal relationships, emotional regulation, self-advocacy, and confidence-building. Discussion-based activities have included:
- Coping skills
- Self-esteem
- Recreation
- Exercise
- Creative pursuits
- Self-care
- Academics
- Transition planning
- Social life
Health & Wellness
Exercise
The Spire School reinforces the cognitive, emotional, and physical benefits of exercise through instruction in personal fitness. Each student works with Spire’s Physical Education teacher to develop an individualized plan and goals. PE classes are small, allowing students to maximize their time with their instructor and to help motivate life-long habits for active, healthy lifestyles.
Nutrition
Nutrition education is approached collaboratively by Spire’s Life Coaches, PE/Health Instructor, and Culinary Arts Instructors. Students learn about the physiological and psychological impacts of food and discuss holistic approaches to eating. From learning to read labels, to planning healthy menus, to preparing specific recipes in a Culinary Arts class, students are encouraged to take ownership of their eating habits and to make positive choices for a healthy body and mind.