HIGH SCHOOL
About
HIGH SCHOOL
Village Glen High School students experience greater independence, more social and extracurricular activities, the juggling of classes, and the importance of positive peer relationships. Executive functioning skills play a central role in student success.
Village Glen High School students in grades 9 – 12 start their day in their homeroom class. Following their morning “priming activities” students then independently switch classrooms and teachers by subject. Village Glen High School students are provided with the knowledge and skills needed for a successful college experience. Our high school program is college preparatory and our academic standards meet University of California entrance requirements. Honors courses and advanced studies are offered for students who wish to pursue additional coursework in areas of special interest and abilities. For struggling learners, academic support is available and support classes may be offered concurrently with more challenging coursework in order to provide meaningful support. Core subjects and elective courses are taught by experienced teachers with extensive knowledge or experience in the areas being taught. As in the elementary and middle schools, rigorous direct instruction is integrated with structured project-based learning in order to promote critical thinking and to allow students to make connections with the world around them and to develop a deeper understanding of what they are learning.
Social skills instruction and the promotion of social development in our students is a fundamental component of the Village Glen experience. In the Village Glen High School, we reinforce social skills development by an emphasis on more role plays and projects, lessons target more of the “nuances” of social skills, and a “higher-order” social skills are the focus, and include skills such as executive functions (e.g., self-monitoring, organization). Social skills instruction takes place daily and the taught skills are continuously practiced and reinforced throughout the school day within the classroom as well as during recess and lunch time and social activities. High school students have numerous opportunities to use their social skills in a wide variety of activities including interest-based clubs, organized team sports, student council, Academic Decathlon, school dances, and much more.
High school students experience increased expectations including greater independence, more social and extracurricular activities, juggling several classes with different teachers, and the heightened complexities of peer relationships. Executive functioning skills play a central role in student success. The development of these skills is emphasized at Village Glen High School and includes both the explicit instruction of executive functioning skills and strategies, as well as the frequent and intentional use of other techniques that enable our students to improve in their executive functioning abilities and increase student achievement and learning. Foundational executive function skills specifically addressed include self-regulation, flexibility, attention, self-advocacy, task initiation, organization, planning and prioritizing, and time management.
For students in need of more intensive behavioral or social emotional support, Village Glen works collaboratively with students, families, and support staff on the development of supports to enable students to manage emotions and to access teaching and learning.
About
HIGH SCHOOL
Village Glen High School students experience greater independence, more social and extracurricular activities, the juggling of classes, and the importance of positive peer relationships. Executive functioning skills play a central role in student success.
Village Glen High School students in grades 9 – 12 start their day in their homeroom class. Following their morning “priming activities” students then independently switch classrooms and teachers by subject. Village Glen High School students are provided with the knowledge and skills needed for a successful college experience. Our high school program is college preparatory and our academic standards meet University of California entrance requirements. Honors courses and advanced studies are offered for students who wish to pursue additional coursework in areas of special interest and abilities. For struggling learners, academic support is available and support classes may be offered concurrently with more challenging coursework in order to provide meaningful support. Core subjects and elective courses are taught by experienced teachers with extensive knowledge or experience in the areas being taught. As in the elementary and middle schools, rigorous direct instruction is integrated with structured project-based learning in order to promote critical thinking and to allow students to make connections with the world around them and to develop a deeper understanding of what they are learning.
Social skills instruction and the promotion of social development in our students is a fundamental component of the Village Glen experience. In the Village Glen High School, we reinforce social skills development by an emphasis on more role plays and projects, lessons target more of the “nuances” of social skills, and a “higher-order” social skills are the focus, and include skills such as executive functions (e.g., self-monitoring, organization). Social skills instruction takes place daily and the taught skills are continuously practiced and reinforced throughout the school day within the classroom as well as during recess and lunch time and social activities. High school students have numerous opportunities to use their social skills in a wide variety of activities including interest-based clubs, organized team sports, student council, Academic Decathlon, school dances, and much more.
High school students experience increased expectations including greater independence, more social and extracurricular activities, juggling several classes with different teachers, and the heightened complexities of peer relationships. Executive functioning skills play a central role in student success. The development of these skills is emphasized at Village Glen High School and includes both the explicit instruction of executive functioning skills and strategies, as well as the frequent and intentional use of other techniques that enable our students to improve in their executive functioning abilities and increase student achievement and learning. Foundational executive function skills specifically addressed include self-regulation, flexibility, attention, self-advocacy, task initiation, organization, planning and prioritizing, and time management.
For students in need of more intensive behavioral or social emotional support, Village Glen works collaboratively with students, families, and support staff on the development of supports to enable students to manage emotions and to access teaching and learning.
A Letter From Village Glen's
HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER
Kamlin M. Borgwardt
Educational Specialist, M. Ed
I have been an Educational Specialist at Village Glen High School for eight years as a teacher of English. I have twenty-five years of teaching experience at various high schools; Village Glen High School has been my most challenging, yet most rewarding teaching position. I love that every day brings new opportunities to influence young people in a positive way. As I am teaching students to improve their reading and writing skills, I am also modeling social skills and encouraging students to interact with each other with respect and justice in my classroom. Teenagers with autism and other special needs have so much to learn and so many challenges to overcome, but the programs that I and my fellow educators implement here at The Help Group do make a difference
I have seen so many awkward and unsure freshmen grow into confident and assertive seniors ready to graduate and move on to pursue their passions in the world. I have had the honor and the pleasure of educating singers, actors, musicians, game developers, and filmmakers to name a few of the unique talents that these teenagers possess. My job is to discover what each student’s special talent or passion is and to help that student develop into the amazing person he or she is meant to be. Each student has a special gift, and I love being a part of the team that helps the student grow and flourish.
I also enjoy that the staff works as a team to achieve a common goal—to assist students in improving their academic, behavioral, and social skills. The teachers, administrators, therapists, and teaching assistants communicate and support each other daily in order to deliver the best possible educational experience for our young learners. I know that I make a meaningful difference every day that I am working with my students and my team.
A Letter From Village Glen's
HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER
Kamlin M. Borgwardt
Educational Specialist, M. Ed
I have been an Educational Specialist at Village Glen High School for eight years as a teacher of English. I have twenty-five years of teaching experience at various high schools; Village Glen High School has been my most challenging, yet most rewarding teaching position. I love that every day brings new opportunities to influence young people in a positive way. As I am teaching students to improve their reading and writing skills, I am also modeling social skills and encouraging students to interact with each other with respect and justice in my classroom. Teenagers with autism and other special needs have so much to learn and so many challenges to overcome, but the programs that I and my fellow educators implement here at The Help Group do make a difference
I have seen so many awkward and unsure freshmen grow into confident and assertive seniors ready to graduate and move on to pursue their passions in the world. I have had the honor and the pleasure of educating singers, actors, musicians, game developers, and filmmakers to name a few of the unique talents that these teenagers possess. My job is to discover what each student’s special talent or passion is and to help that student develop into the amazing person he or she is meant to be. Each student has a special gift, and I love being a part of the team that helps the student grow and flourish.
I also enjoy that the staff works as a team to achieve a common goal—to assist students in improving their academic, behavioral, and social skills. The teachers, administrators, therapists, and teaching assistants communicate and support each other daily in order to deliver the best possible educational experience for our young learners. I know that I make a meaningful difference every day that I am working with my students and my team.
High School
CURRICULUM
Village Glen’s high school curriculum is based on the California State Framework and Content Standards and combines strong academics, social skills, career readiness, and positive behavior structures and supports to meet the diverse needs of our students.
College-prep programming and enriched activities support the needs of more advanced learners and have helped many Village Glen students progress successfully into both 2- and 4-year college programs. Village Glen High School students benefit from access to UC-Approved a-g courses as well as a range of College Board Advanced Placement courses, the latter of which have earned many of our students both high school and college credit. Through targeted, research-based interventions and remedial support in English Language Arts and Mathematics, students with learning challenges are given the skills to strengthen and support their learning. ELA and math labs provide students with structured support designed to work in combination with grade-level, standards-based instruction.
Daily instruction includes a variety of learning approaches including didactic instruction, project-based learning, blended learning, and peer collaboration. Ongoing professional development ensures our teachers use up-to-date methodologies and technologies that are infused throughout lessons to facilitate learning and to keep older students interested. Village Glen has integrated e-textbooks into our curriculum to further provide students with a dynamic and engaging learning experience.
In order to increase learning opportunities, Village Glen High School students also have access to a rich variety of elective courses, as well as creative and performing arts opportunities, extra-curricular activities, clubs, and organized sports.
Village Glen’s high school curriculum is designed to prepare our students for post-secondary life, whether it is furthering their education or pursuing their goals for the workforce. Whatever their personal aspirations, our mission is to prepare our students for increased independence and to take their learning well beyond high school.
English
Math
History
Science
World Language
Arts
Physical Education
Athletics Program
High School
CURRICULUM
Village Glen’s high school curriculum is based on the California State Framework and Content Standards and combines strong academics, social skills, career readiness, and positive behavior structures and supports to meet the diverse needs of our students.
College-prep programming and enriched activities support the needs of more advanced learners and have helped many Village Glen students progress successfully into both 2- and 4-year college programs. Village Glen High School students benefit from access to UC-Approved a-g courses as well as a range of College Board Advanced Placement courses, the latter of which have earned many of our students both high school and college credit. Through targeted, research-based interventions and remedial support in English Language Arts and Mathematics, students with learning challenges are given the skills to strengthen and support their learning. ELA and math labs provide students with structured support designed to work in combination with grade-level, standards-based instruction.
Daily instruction includes a variety of learning approaches including didactic instruction, project-based learning, blended learning, and peer collaboration. Ongoing professional development ensures our teachers use up-to-date methodologies and technologies that are infused throughout lessons to facilitate learning and to keep older students interested. Village Glen has integrated e-textbooks into our curriculum to further provide students with a dynamic and engaging learning experience.
In order to increase learning opportunities, Village Glen High School students also have access to a rich variety of elective courses, as well as creative and performing arts opportunities, extra-curricular activities, clubs, and organized sports.
Village Glen’s high school curriculum is designed to prepare our students for post-secondary life, whether it is furthering their education or pursuing their goals for the workforce. Whatever their personal aspirations, our mission is to prepare our students for increased independence and to take their learning well beyond high school.
English
Math
History
Science
World Language
Arts
Physical Education
Athletics Program
I felt broken down before, but now I’ve broken through. I feel like I can be me!
– Darrien A.
I like that we come together and build a better world because we celebrate our differences; to bring people together by helping and comforting others all over the world
– Alana J.
The school is helpful at assisting students accomplish goals.
– Khari J.
Mr. Espinel, I am going to Glendale community college and I had an assignment where I had to make a video. I immediately thought of you because you taught us last year to make a video for ethnic studies last school year. That skill came in so handy and I was able to complete my college assignment without any difficulty. I knew how to do all the technical parts of it. Thank you so much. I hope your current students appreciate your teaching. I know I do.
– Armand B.
Virtual Tour
OF THE HIGH SCHOOL
Village Glen Sherman Oaks Campus
Village Glen Sherman Oaks Campus
Village Glen Sherman Oaks Campus
Village Glen Sherman Oaks Campus
Village Glen Sherman Oaks High School Hallway
Village Glen Culver City Campus Classroom
Village Glen Culver City Computer Room
Village Glen Sherman Oaks Computer Room
