1. New Horizon School
“Where Children Come First”
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela
COMMUNITYCHALLENGE
No couple imaginesthatwhentheygive birthtooradopt a childthat theirchildwill have special
educational needs.Whenthisdoesoccur,itis challengingtofindaschool that providesanaccessible
curriculum, specialized instructional format,and aclassroomdesignthatsuitstheirstudent’sneeds.In
the greaterPugetSoundregion,there are veryfew optionsforstudentswithspecial educationneeds.
A 2010 studyconductedbythe CenterforDisease Control (CDC) determinedthatthe rate of Autism
SpectrumDisorderisone inevery68 children. Thatnumberincreaseswhenyouincludepeople with
otherdevelopmental disabilities, ADHD,andotherspecial learningneeds.Differently-abledpeopleneed
a customizedlearningexperience inordertogrow into productive,happy,andcontributingmembersof
society. AtNewHorizonSchool,we provide thatforeachor our students.
Differently-abledchildrenandyoungadultswhoare not providedequitable accessto an instructional
style thatmeetstheirindividualacademicandsocial needsare ata higherriskof droppingoutof school,
unable toattend post-secondary educationprograms,unemployed, relyingongovernmentsubsidies,
homelessness,incarcerated,orunable tocare for themselves.Researchhasfoundthatpeople with
learningdisabilitiesare more likelytobe victimsandperpetratorswithinthe criminal justice system
than individuals withoutalearningdisability.Childrenwithdisabilitiesare alsomore likelytobe abused
comparedto childrenwithoutdisabilities.
These childrenandyoungadults are eagerto be includedincreatingagoodquality of life forthemselves
and crave an inspiringeducationinaholisticenvironmentthatnurturestheirindividualgifts.
“NewHorizon School is a community where students, who have floundered and struggled on so many
levels elsewhere, can learn, mature, have fun, feel safe, lead, and grow into the unique and gifted
young people they were meant to be.” – Helen, Nathan’s mother

2. NEW HORIZON SCHOOL SOLUTIONS
“Ifa childcan’t learn the way we teach,maybe we should
teach the way they learn.” –Ignacio Estrada
Students,parents,andlocal school districtscountonNew
HorizonSchool (NHS) tobe a leaderinspecial educationin
the PacificNorthwest.We provide arobustanddiverse
educational environmentinwhichstudents’curriculumisdesignedannuallytosuittheirneeds.
Performance measures andlearningassessmentsare authenticindesignbydirectlymeasuringskillsthat
relate tolong-termeducationaloutcomes, technology isintegratedwithinstructional techniques,
childrencanexpressthemselvesthroughmanymeans, andprograms provide anextensionfromhigh
school learningtoa successful youngadulthood. Byprovidinginclusive,community-basedactivities,
opportunitiestopractice self-advocacyandself-determinationskills,studentsare betterequippedto
obtainsupportedemploymentoptionsthatmaximizetheirindependence.
Since 1995, NewHorizonSchool hasprovidedanefficacious learningenvironmentforstudentswith
learningdifferences.Byputtingchildrenfirst,NHS isrenowned forempoweringstudentstobe as
independentastheycan by nurturingstudentswithlearning disabilities,attentiondeficits,autism,and
otherlearningdifferences tobuildaviable life forthemselves.
We are guidedby values thatprepare our studentstobe contributingmembersof societyandlife-long
learners:
● Acceptance comesfromstudentsknowingthatthe staff,facultyandotherstudentswelcome
themrightwhere theyare.Each studentisrecognizedfortheirindividual academic,socialand
emotional growthandcelebrated.
● Opportunity Each studenthasthe opportunity totrydifferentactivitieswithoutfearof “not
beinggoodenough.”Maybe itis joiningarcheryordance drill team.Itcouldbe findingan
artisticside.Studentsare allowedtofullyexperimentwithdifferentactivitiesgivingthemideas
for careeror lifelonghobbies,aswell asexposingthemtosocial andrecreational activitiesto
buildself-confidence andleadershipskills
● Achievementisthe pride a studentfeelswhenhisor
hergrades reflecttheirhardworkat an appropriate level.
Each studentlearnstosee themselvesassuccessful and
capable.Theybegintorecognize theirunique abilitiesto
learn.

3. Acceptance
One of the beliefsthat guide ourapproach isthat we honor everymemberof ourschool community
withdignity,hope,andrespect.We create aninclusive environmentwithdedicatedteacherswhotake
the time to understandhoweachstudentlearnsandcraftlessonplansdesignedforindividuals’learning
styles. Some of ourteachers,staff members,parents,andboardmembersexperience learning
challengesthemselves,sotheyunderstandfirsthandthe strugglesthatourstudentsmustovercome in
orderto thrive. Forschool admissionswe encourage applicationsfromstudentsof all social and
economicbackgrounds.The school valuesandactivelypromotesdiversityandacceptance of varied
backgroundsinits studentandstaff population.
Opportunity
At NHSwe create opportunitiesandaccesstolife-longlearningforindividual learners.Engaging
studentsinan interactive learningenvironment thatsupportstheirdevelopmentaslearners provides
studentsthe opportunitiestogrowbothmentallyandphysically.Onsite andinpartnershipwithother
organizations, we offerathleticprograms, social clubs,andopportunities tobuildcommunication,
teamwork,andleadershipskillsthroughparticipationinassociatedstudentbodyandotheractivities.
Elective coursesare availableonarotatingbasisincludingmusic,dance,anddrama. We pride ourselves
on providingaunique andcreative educationprogramwithpersonalizedandeffectiveinstructional
methods,givingall of ourstudentsthe opportunitytoreachan accessible educationthatsuitstheir
needs.
Achievement
We assisteachstudentin reachinghisor herfullestacademic,social,andemotionalpotential. We open
the doors forsuccessand achievement. Inadditiontoourstudentsearning state highschool diplomas,
we pride ourselvesonthe triumphsof our TransitionExtensionProgram. TransitionExtensionprovides
real life,community-basedactivitiesandexperiencestosupportstudentswithDevelopmental
Disabilitiesages18and beyondtoactivelyengage inthe community,self-advocate,attainsupported
employment,andmaximize independence skills.We partnerwithAntiochUniversity, Northwest
Language & LearningServices, andPROVAILtoprovide ensurethatstudents withthe opportunityto
complete jobshadows,jobinternships, receivejob
coaching,and acquire real jobs.
“Drew is now able to look to the future with goals in
mindand has expressed interested in post high school
education. The environment at NHS has fostered
within Drew a sense of success.” – Aimee, Drew’s
mother.

4. COMMUNITY SUCCESSES
For overtwodecades NewHorizonSchool hasbeencontinuallyprovidingandcoordinatinglearning
supportservicestomeetthe unique learningneedsof students.Asaresult,thousandsof PugetSound
area youthand youngadultsare accepted,have opportunities,andachieveeducational successesthat
theymightnot otherwisehave beenable toachieve. AtNew HorizonSchool,we have manysuccessesto
highlight:
 In 2006 our Administrator/CEOMarlaVelizwasnamed OutstandingAdministratorof the Year
by the WashingtonFederationof IndependentSchools,andthe followingyearwe increasedthe
numberof classesofferedwithasecondarytransitionemphasis.
 In 2010 NHSpartneredwithAntiochUniversitytoprovide apart-time mental healthcounselor
and Highschool studentsbegananew communityexperience program, “JobSkillsthrough
Service”togive back to the communitywhilelearningwork-readyskills.
By the year 2020 we aimto be recognizedasthe growingleaderinspecial educationinthe Pacific
Northwestandincrease ourcapacityto teachmore studentsinourregion.Ourtriumphsoverthe last 20
yearshave resultedinequitable andchallenginglearning
experiencesthathave provided over430 studentswith
sufficientopportunities todeveloplearning,thinking,andlife
skillsthatleadtosuccess inlife.
COMMUNITYSUPPORT
Withyour support we can expandourteaching resources
capabilities andserve upto65 students peryearin the
region. NHSis eagerto partnerwithour supportersto
provide:
 Real paidor unpaidworkexperiencesthatempower ourstudents
 In-kinddonationsof technologyandteachingsupplies
 Volunteer,be amentor,etc.
 Professionaldevelopmentforourteachers
 Advocate fordifferent-ablededucationand share oursuccess storieswithothers
Please joinus andlearnmore aboutour community. We invite youto tell yourfriendsandfamilyabout
NewHorizonSchool,“Where children come first,”andjoinusfor a tour to see how we provide
equitable andchallengingeducational experiencesforstudentswithunique learningneeds.