Mardan School - ProgramDescription

POPULATION SERVED
Mardan serves from 80 to 100 students each year from all over Orange County. The students at Mardan include boys and girls from ages three and one-half (3 1/2 ) through eighteen (18) years old who have average to gifted intellectual potential, but whose emotional, behavioral, and/or learning difficulties impact their ability to profit from a regular education setting or a special education program on a public school campus. Many of our students have been diagnosed by their physicians and/or psychiatrists with:

Academics are aligned with California State Standards, with differentiated instruction designed to meet specific learning needs and IEP goals. Concurrent with academic instruction, students learn organizational skills, study skills, social communication skills, problem-solving and coping skills. Social skills development is integrated into the program and addressed throughout the day in a variety of ways.

Other support services include Physical Education (P.E.), which is provided for each class in the gymnasium three times per week. The P.E. Director and staff offer a structured program of sports activities and games designed to help student learn skills, develop good sportsmanship, and have opportunities to enjoy interactions with peers.

Each class also spends 90 minutes per week in the school library, where they receive guidance in using all the resources available in the library. They may select materials and/or search the internet for information to assist with assignments and research, choose books for their personal reading enjoyment, and access various computer applications for learning and practice.

On a bi-weekly basis, each class experiences a group art session with the Art Coordinator. The art projects are often coordinated with classroom curriculum, and promote art skills, appreciation, and experiences. The art classes are guided, but conversation and the sharing of ideas are encouraged, providing additional opportunity for students to engage in positive social interaction.

PRE-SCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN
Mardan's preschool and kindergarten classes provide early intervention for high-risk young children who have already experienced difficulty in regular programs. Most of these students have been excluded from other schools and preschools for impulsive or aggressive behavior. They may show signs of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and may be falling behind in developing appropriate pre-academic and social skills.

The preschool/kindergarten classrooms are limited to a maximum of 10 children with two teachers – an experienced, credentialed master teacher and a full-time assistant teacher. The program is highly structured, with clear expectations and firm limits. Students are given opportunities individually and in small groups to practice communication and social skills. The emphasis is upon helping them learn to be responsible for their own behaviors, express their feelings verbally rather than acting them out physically, and experience successes in their day-to-day interactions.

During the school day, students participate in “circle time" and problem-solving discussions, phonics and other language arts activities, early math skills, science, social studies, cooking, and music. Time is also spent each week in the library, art room, and gym for organized activities that not only teach additional skills, but encourage generalization of social and communication skills in other settings. Teachers maintain daily communication with parents to ensure skills learned at school are being generalized to home and community settings.

EXTENDED DAY PROGRAM
Extended day program services are offered to Mardan students who require it due to their parents' work situations, up through age eight (8). The program starts at 7:30 a.m. until the start of the regular school day at 8:15 a.m. The afternoon program starts immediately after school at 2:45 p.m., and operates until 6:00 p.m. The structured program includes arts and crafts projects, story-time, music, organized outside games, snack time, etc. Social skills and behavior management principles used during the school day are implemented in the extended day care program as well.

HOURS AND MONTHS OF OPERATION
Mardan regular school hours for preschool through 12th grade are from 8:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., Monday through Friday. Mardan operates on a traditional school year, September through June, with a two-week break for winter holiday, a one-week Spring break, and a one-week break in June before summer session starts. The 5 to 6 week summer session (mid-June to the end of July) supports the educational goals of the regular school year, helps prevent regression of skills learned during the regular school year, and provides continuity of structure. In August, 3 weeks of day care can be provided for those students who are enrolled in the extended day program, and any pre-school/kindergarten students who need the continuity and structure.

1 Osborn, Irvine, California 92604 • (949) 733-1500 FAX (949) 733-9234
info@mardancenter.org