Alternative to traditional high school for teens 14+
Enrollment Options for 2019-2020 Academic Year: Part-Time (2 days per week) or Full-Time (4 days per week)
Open: Monday-Friday 9am-4pm
Location: 64 Hancock Street, Auburndale, MA 02466
Symbiosis Learning Center’s Progressive Education Program is an alternative to traditional high school with an emphasis on empowering our students to learn and explore what matters to them. Our program is designed for students who are looking for a safe and nurturing environment to learn, socialize, and grow.
Students CAN go to college
We are student-centered in focus and offer many individualized academic and personal growth oriented courses and opportunities. Students can earn a GED, an official transcript, and be guided through the college application and transition process.
Our Mission, Values, & Goals
Symbiosis Learning Center’s mission is to provide a modern approach to education and holistic guidance. Through our Progressive Education Program, we are redefining the concept of ‘school’ by empowering our students with a mindful, nurturing space to explore their freedom and individuality.
The Progressive Education Program focuses on the following:
- Emphasis on learning by doing – hands-on projects, expeditionary learning, experiential learning
- Integrated curriculum focused on thematic units
- Strong emphasis on creativity, problem solving, and critical thinking
- Group work and development of social skills
- Understanding as the goals of learning, as opposed to rote knowledge
- Collaborative and cooperative learning projects
- Education for social justice, responsibility, and democracy
- Highly personalized learning accounting for each individual’s personal goals
- Integration of community service and service learning projects
- Offering content that is focused on skills needed in future society
- Use of varied learning resources
- Emphasis on developing a desire for lifelong learning
- Collaborative assessment of coursework and projects
- Creating a non-competitive, safe, supportive, and nurturing learning environment
- Developing one’s life path through a mindfulness based approach
- Supporting the development of: productivity; freedom of choice; independence; individuality; empowerment/self-advocacy; accountability; curiosity; self-determined definition of success; self-awareness, self-acceptance, and self-esteem
Our Students
We highly value diversity in our students and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, sexual identity, creed, or family status. The Progressive Education Program is an excellent fit for the following individuals:
- Those opting out of traditional high school
- Homeschool & self-directed learners
- Members of the ‘unschooling’ movement
- Those looking for a better fit than traditional high school
- Those who have diverse learning differences and needs
- Those who may have social and/or emotional challenges
- Those who are college commuter students
- Those who would like to take a gap year/semester from college
- Those who have not yet decided if they would like to attend college, or feel they are not yet prepared for college
What We Offer
Rooted in research and experience, our program is specifically designed to provide our students with a variety of opportunities and essential skills to assist them in achieving their unique academic, social, and emotional goals.
We help students master a rigorous, interdisciplinary college preparatory curriculum while also assisting students in reaching their social and emotional development goals. Our courses focus on the transition from our program in to adult life through collaborative instruction, both in academics and social skills.
The Progressive Education Program experience includes a variety of courses taught in an engaging, mindful, nurturing, and supportive learning environment. These courses include the arts and sciences, community service and leadership opportunities; as well as regular off-campus field trips ensuring engagement with the world beyond the classroom.
Coursesinclude (but are not limited to):
- English Language Arts
- Math
- Science
- Social Studies
- Art
- Foreign Language
- Social skills
- Study skills
- Diversity & Difference
- Cooking
- Psychology
- How to get a job and keep it!
- College preparation
- Public Speaking
- Independent studies (courses created by student with guidance by advisor)
We believe one’s self-worth should not be measured in a grade or score. We hope to engender a sense of achievement and satisfaction that comes from thoughtful work and collaboration, intellectual and personal growth, and the willingness to embrace and overcome academic and life challenges.
Social/emotional support is provided for students with:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- School avoidance/school phobia
- Bipolar
- Asperger’s
- ADHD
- OCD disorders
Additional Learning Opportunities
The Progressive Education Program includes a wealth of extracurricular and creative opportunities to explore new passions and discover new talents. These activities extend the experience of learning, encouraging students to develop new skills such as collaboration and leadership, and to inspire their compassion, creativity, and curiosity.
Experiential Learning:
Project-based learning and independent research are integral aspects of the learning process in the Progressive Education Program.
- Makerspace
We encourage our students to gain experiences in the world outside of our program and we will assist students with obtaining these experiences!
- Internships
- Courses at a local college or university
Field Trips:
- Apple picking
- Old Sturbridge Village
- Hikes
- Visit to local businesses
- Museums
- Rock Climbing
- and more!
