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 Mercy Centre provides
comprehensive educational and employment training opportunities for
students with developmental disabilities, mental retardation, sensory
impairments, auditory processing, and/or physical challenges combined with attentional, communication, motor, medical and/or
behavioral involvement. It is designed to maximize a student's independence
with the goal of full participation in his/her community in accordance with
each student's IEP. It operates full-day sessions
during regular school days, 180 days a year. A very low student/staff
ratio allows for a high degree of individualized programming. Class
sizes average 3-6 students per class.
At Mercy Centre, it’s more than just a classroom! In keeping
with our philosophy of educating the whole
child, focusing on the social, emotional and physical needs of students is
an integral part of the program as well. Fun and friends are part of
learning too! Numerous activities (including Young Women’s club,
Young Men’s Club, Big Music, Big Dance) are designed to foster social
skills, increase peer interaction opportunities and build
friendships. Mercy has its own basketball team and regularly competes
in the Special Olympics. For interested students and parents, there
is an optional religious education program, including First Communion and
Confirmation classes and well as training for Eucharistic ministers and lay
readers.
 In order to maximize
independence according to each student’s needs, services may include any or
all of our comprehensive services. The goal is to prepare students
for the greatest amount of independence in adulthood. Learning about
physical and emotional changes that occur during adolescence and applying
this information to our daily lives is an important life skill. This
process often occurs step by step, and sometimes even inch by inch,
culminating in a more confident student both in school and at home.
Our School
to Work Component integrates functional academic learning
with vocational training. Students learn more advanced independent
living skills as well as acquire greater community awareness and social
maturity. A significant amount of time is spent on employment and
training, on and off site. Our School to Work Component, from
orientation to job placement, is key to future independence.
Community class is unique in that the application of independent living
skills is practiced directly in the community.
Published research in addition to our own experience has proven
to us that the link between home and school is crucial to our students’
success. That is why our school psychologist, in conjunction with our
Home-School Liaison,
works closely with families so that consistency and carry over can
regularly occur.
To request information about the Educational Program please
email us today. mcdirsped@ccworc.org
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Comprehensive Services are offered to each student by
integrating total communication, occupational, sensory integration,
physical, and music therapies, psychological and home - school liaison
services with functional academics, socialization, community awareness,
independent living skills, human awareness skills, adaptive physical
education and employment training.
Mercy Centre’s Education Program provides collaborative
services for students ages 6-21 in preparation for future greater
independence. Interwoven into the academic curriculum is the
learning of important new skills essential for self- sufficiency – how to
control behaviors and emotions, safety in the community, and getting
along with others. Functional academic classes include science,
math, reading, health, transitions, and community access, integrated with
therapies and our school to work component (for students ages
14-22). This approach creates the foundation for the “whole person
education” that traditionally has been Mercy Centre’s mission for over 45
years. This is accomplished by using a team approach, where all
staff, classroom, therapies, and school to work, collaborate to use the
most effective strategies for each student.
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