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From the Tools of Recovery
Overcoming Barriers & Fulfilling the College Promise
John W. Lavelle Preparatory Charter School to Open on Staten Island in September
The John W. Lavelle Preparatory Charter School provides a rigorous college preparatory education that equips and empowers students to go to college and succeed in life. Lavelle Prep welcomes all students, including those living with emotional disabilities. Full integration in all classes and activities enables each student to develop the academic skills, emotional fluency and confidence required to be successful students today and thoughtful, open-minded leaders tomorrow.
Lavelle Prep has high expectations and unique benefits for all of its students. This includes an outstanding college prep program, small class sizes, superior educational technology and instruction, a visual and performing arts curriculum, a Wellness curriculum that addresses students’ emotional and social needs, and an environment that breaks down barriers and promotes understanding, acceptance and growth.
Lavelle Prep fully integrates students living with mental or emotional illness through dually certified teachers, supported by school assistants who follow students through all of their classes and work with students individually as necessary. All students benefit from a behavioral management system and an on-site mental health clinic.
From the Arts of Recovery
Coming to South Beach June 13:
The Arts of Recovery Retrospective
From Women by Beatrice Exelberth
Presented by The Verrazano Foundation in collaboration with Snug Harbor Cultural Center, South Beach Psychiatric Center, and the Art Lab, the Arts of Recovery 2007 is made possible in part by an Encore Grant from the Council on the Arts & Humanities for Staten Island, with public funding from the New York State Council on the Arts. Additional support is provided by The Staten Island Foundation, Independence Community Foundation, Richmond County Savings Foundation, Verizon Foundation, and Councilman Michael E. McMahon.
From the Tools of Recovery
The Verrazano Foundation Spearheads Charter School Planning
VF President Ken Byalin with Hughes
Hubbard attornies. Photo courtesy of
New York Lawyers for the Public Interest.
From the Business of Recovery
Verrazano Careers Offers Mentoring Workshop:
Verrazano Careers, sponsored by The Verrazano Foundation in collaboration with the New York City Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD), presents seminars for people living with mental illnesses interested in exploring career options. Previous workshops have focused on careers in mental health and human services and in visual arts. Planning is now underway for a workshop for people interested in business careers.
From Bearing Witness
Deborah Max's I'm not angry, but sometimes I forget that
Most days I don’t feel like a mental patient. In itself that might not seem like an odd statement, but when you examine my history or simply the fact that it’s my predisposition to insanity that pays my bills, you might expect that I’d wear crazy year round.
From the Spirit of Recovery
"By practicing awareness, by being aware of feelings without reacting, just being aware of fear or anger or the tendency to energetic action, I found over a long period of time, that I could ride the wave of fear without reacting and without re-focusing."
Pushing the Envelope!
2007 was a year of challenges and a year of progress both in our arts initiatives and in our development of a charter school that will provide an arts-focused, college-preparatory education.
The John W. Lavelle Preparatory Charter School will be located on Staten Island, will serve students in grades 6 through 12, and will eventually serve 450 students a year. Without the option which Lavelle Prep will provide, many of these students will be forced into hostile educational environments where they face intolerance from peers and discouragement from faculty. Not surprisingly, these young people often fail to realize their potential, leave school without graduating, and are unable to find appropriate employment. By providing a secure and supportive environment in which to learn and by equipping students with the tools they need to self-manage the potentially disabling challenges they face, Lavelle Prep will enable students to succeed in high school, college, and beyond.
To make Lavelle Prep a reality is a daunting task. While the idea of recovery, -- that people living with mental illnesses can learn to self-manage their disabilities and become constructive members of society, -- gains wider acceptance annually in mental health programs for adults, the idea of recovery remains virtually unknown among providers of children’s mental health services and unheard of in education. As we brought this idea forward, designing a school around it, we faced resistance from educational bureaucrats anxious to minimize the failures of Special Education programs for young people living with emotional disorders. We also found some wonderful support. Staten Island’s elected officials, both Democrats and Republicans, have rallied around our concept, supported our initiative, and helped to open doors. Although initially skeptical of our vision, the New York City Center for Charter School Excellence is now an important source of support and has given us a $50,000 planning grant. And we are winning over the New York City Department of Education which has reviewed our program concept and invited us to submit a charter application.