Page Avenue School

C.A.R.E.

Commitment, Achievement & Respect in Education

Committed to helping students develop and reach educational, personal and social goals toward gaining a self-fulfilling future.

Focused on academic achievement to help students think critically, reason intelligently, solve problems, make appropriate decisions, accept diversity in relationships and contribute positively to the community.

Grounded in a philosophy that teachers respect for self and others, and the belief that:
All students can learn
Learning is a life-long adventure
Learning builds knowledge
Knowledge grants choices in life.

The Page Avenue School is the location of the special education program offices, alternative education programs for secondary level students and GED classes.

ALP teachers

Dorothy Colletti-Schwartz
dcollett@cohoes.org

Kristinna Blanchard
kblancha@cohoes.org

Select Studies teacher

Bill Sheldon
bsheldon@cohoes.org

Mission Statement

Page Avenue School teachers and staff strive to help students develop educational, personal and social goals that allow them to make realistic connections between what they learn in school and their options in life. We provide a safe and supportive environment that establishes clear and consistent expectations for quality achievement and responsible behavior.

Referrals

Referrals to Page Avenue School come from Cohoes Middle School and Cohoes High School administrators and Child Study Teams. Page Avenue School administrators and staff determine acceptance after completing classroom observations, a review of records, and interviews with the student and his/her parents or guardians.

Purpose

Alternative education programs meet a variety of student needs. Some students may be at risk of school failure due to a history of poor attendance and/or behavioral concerns that have interrupted their learning. Other students fall behind in skills and credits due to illness or frequent moves from one school to another. Some students simply do not adapt well to a traditional school setting that serves hundreds of students, and demands fast-paced instruction in multiple courses, interaction with several teachers in large classes and schedules that require an ability to make quick transitions throughout the school day.

Description

Page Avenue School offers a quiet setting with a small student-staff ratio. Each student concentrates on the courses and skills s/he needs to be on target with grade-level expectations. The ALP (Alternative Learning Program) is a full-day program serving students in grades 7-9. Select Studies offers two afternoon sessions for students in grades 9-12.

Upon enrollment, each student works with the school principal, guidance counselors and teachers to develop an educational plan that addresses academic, personal and behavioral goals. Each student continues to receive support from middle school or high school guidance counselors and social workers, along with outside agency personnel as needed. Page Avenue students are eligible to participate in all grade-level appropriate school district functions including sports programs, social activities, academic intervention services and community service events.

Page Avenue School students who successfully complete eighth-grade expectations participate in the Cohoes Middle School graduate ceremony. Those who successfully complete New York State diploma requirements participate in the Cohoes High School graduation ceremony.