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therapeutic boarding schools

20 years ago

I'm trying to find out any information I can about a therapeutic boarding school called Discovery Academy in Provo Utah. If you know anything good or bad about it I'd appreciate hearing from you

Thanks

Vern

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Comments (4)

iowajewel
20 years ago
I don't know about this particular school, but I sent my daughter to one in LaVerkin, Utah..........and it saved her life. She wasn't even half as bad as most that went there, but I just couldn't handle her and she was pushing all the limits and had undesirable friends. THey were intensely theraputic.....and VERY rigid.
She was there for almost a year........when she was 17. She is now 21, doesn't drink.....owns her own house and is working with troubled kids. She did go to college but is not now......just couldn't seem to be happy there. She loves to work and loves her job.......at times working a TON of overtime.
She was engaged to be married this summer, but three months out, decided she needed to grow up more beforehand. And she is.....and I am very proud of her.
I hope you find what you need!!! There are tons of schools out there to help you and to help your child!!!
Julie
vern1
Original Author
20 years ago
Iowajewel,

Thanks, I'm glad to hear it was successful for your daughter. I think I've read too many horror stories on the internet about bad schools that it's reassuring to hear a success story.

Vern
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Trying copy again I attended boarding school for my high school years. I was quite young (11) when starting my freshman year. I recall that I was very homesick the first couple of weeks. The nuns were very kind --they baked a birthday cake for my September birthday. Once I recovered from homesickness I joined the routine of the school. Although there were a few private rooms most of us slept in a large dormitory room with our 'cells' separated by curtains which could be drawn open and shut. Furniture consisted of a bed, a chair and a washstand with a pitcher and bowl. Our closets were lined up at one end of the room. To the best of my recollection our weekdays started at about 6:30 when the nun in charge of the dormitory went up and down the aisles ringing a small bell. We went to the communal bathroom to fill our pitchers with warm water which we used for our washing up, We filled a glass with cool water for tooth brushing. When we were washed and dressed we went to the chapel for daily Catholic mass. Following that we had breakfast in the refectory (dining room.). We had some time to ourselves before we assembled in the study hall before classes began. Bells were rung when classes were over and we moved from room to room in orderly lines. At noon we had lunch in the refectory with some time to ourselves before afternoon classes After school we went to the kitchen for a snack which varied from bread and jelly or peanut butter to some sort of cookies or crackers. Every afternoon following the snack one of the nuns took us out for a walk of about a mile. We were required to stay in line, two by two. After the walk there was time in study hall again, then dinner, then recreation. There was no TV in those days. I remember how excited we were when we got a radio. Sometimes one of the girls would play the piano and we would dance, the older girls teaching the younger ones. Dinner was served at 6 o'clock with an hours recreation following, then more study hall. Around 8 o'clock we went to the chapel to say the rosary, then had more time to ourselves before bed around 9:30. Sometimes on weekends we went downtown to see a movie, We had a large lawn with a tennis court and benches where we could sit and enjoy the outdoors. Saturdays and Wednesdays we signed up for our turn to have a real bath in one of the several tubs. There were no showers. On Saturdays we could press our clothes, mend, shine our shoes, set our hair, polish our fingernails, read or play games. Sunday we attended mass at the church across the street. Aside from an hour in the study hall to write letters or do homework we were pretty free to do as we chose. We could not leave the school without permission.
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escuincle
20 years ago
I work at Discovery Academy and believe that it is an excellent school. Each student has the opportunity to work with a mentor who helps them see how to live in the world and act appropriately. Discovery Academy is a clinical boarding school whose mission is to inspire each student to a quest for excellence in all areas of life. Through an intensive program of academics, therapy, and life skills training, students are challenged to excel in their development; intellectually, emotionally, socially, spiritually/ethically, and physically. Staff and student interactions are governed by mutual respect, in an environment that balances individuality with community.

This may not be much help to you if you are skeptical, but I assure you that in my opinion Discovery Academy is one of the better programs offered to troubled youth. We have a very clean track history. To my knowledge we have only had one incident that resulted in the termination of an employee several years ago.
Your child will be safe and secure at Discovery Academy and will have the opportunity to improve their relationship with you and perform better in school.

All of the staff at Discovery Academy go through an intense training cycle to insure that they are qualified to work with youth. Utah State laws are also very strict when it comes to interactions with youth. They are more strict than many other states. Please visit the Academy's Web-site. If you have specific questions please feel free to contact me.

Here is a link that might be useful: Main Web-site for DA
vern1
Original Author
20 years ago
Escuincle

"If you have specific questions please feel free to contact me"

I do have questions and would appreciate the opportunity
How do I reach you?

Thanks
Vern

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