At TGS, our daily schedule reflects thoughtful consideration of the learning needs of our students. We provide a balanced educational program to support students’ academic and social development. Guided by students’ strengths and interests, these two interrelated components create a strong foundation for future study and growth. The following components of this core socio-academic program are provided to all full-time TGS students.

Core Academics

Academic course groupings are determined by academic and social-cognitive needs for Science, Math, Social Studies, and Language Arts. Academic classes meet for 90 minutes, Monday-Thursday. Classes alternate on an A/B schedule, with two class sessions each morning of the academic week. Class sizes of no larger than eight students allow for academic instruction that is individually planned to accommodate each student’s strengths and challenges. Opportunities to broaden social understanding and perspective-taking are woven throughout the academic disciplines.

Personal Projects™

Students work on projects related to their area of interest, following a structured format that helps them learn and practice the executive function skills of planning, organizing, self-monitoring, and presenting a long-term project. Approximately every 7 weeks, students present their Personal Projects to the entire TGS community. Personal Projects™ was developed by, and currently in use at Orion Academy, a college-preparatory high school for students with neurocognitive differences.

Phoenix Period

As part of their daily schedule, each student has one Phoenix Period. This time is set aside for students, under the direction of a TGS faculty member, to plan and complete meaningful tasks. Phoenix Period is a flexible time which may include structured activities, planning for or working on assignments, consulting with individual teachers or meeting with support staff.

Perspectives

Perspectives, TGS’ social-communication program, provides the foundation for a school-wide shared language and culture of social understanding. Perspectives is offered weekly, often in collaboration with various community-based providers. The program integrates executive function with perspective-taking to provide students with opportunities to learn and practice adaptive responses in dynamic social situations.

Socio Groups

Socio Groups meet twice each week. Activities may include small group or school-wide discussion of current issues, instruction and activities to support continued growth and development of social competency, executive function support, and planning and executing school activities. High school students will also receive college counseling and guidance for post-secondary transitions during this period. For more information about transitions support at TGS, click here.