1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,600 2 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:02,569 (upbeat music) 3 00:00:03,737 --> 00:00:06,606 - I chose to enroll my son at Rock Point School 4 00:00:06,606 --> 00:00:10,677 because I felt that the environment was going to 5 00:00:10,677 --> 00:00:14,447 be nurturing, focused, direct, 6 00:00:14,447 --> 00:00:19,152 and really taking care of the individual that my son is. 7 00:00:19,152 --> 00:00:21,054 He wasn't going to get lost in the shuffle. 8 00:00:21,054 --> 00:00:23,356 - You can feel joy when you walk in here. 9 00:00:23,356 --> 00:00:27,327 And comfort, that was the biggest thing for Ethan 10 00:00:27,327 --> 00:00:29,129 was just feeling comfortable. 11 00:00:29,129 --> 00:00:31,364 And you know we were greeted by dogs. 12 00:00:31,364 --> 00:00:34,334 Like out of any school we had visited 13 00:00:34,334 --> 00:00:37,604 and we had visited a lot in state this was the first one 14 00:00:37,604 --> 00:00:40,240 that he felt like you know if he was going to be able to do 15 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:42,475 school it would be here. 16 00:00:42,475 --> 00:00:45,278 - It was hard because he was only a freshman 17 00:00:45,278 --> 00:00:47,080 when he started here. 18 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:50,183 And I wasn't ready for him to leave home at 15. 19 00:00:50,183 --> 00:00:54,521 But, it was like the best thing that could've happened. 20 00:00:54,521 --> 00:00:58,191 - There are a lot of students who I was able to 21 00:00:58,191 --> 00:00:59,793 identify with. 22 00:00:59,793 --> 00:01:04,564 And grow together and help to support one another 23 00:01:04,564 --> 00:01:07,100 because of shared experience. 24 00:01:07,100 --> 00:01:10,537 - How small the school is, is definitely something that 25 00:01:10,537 --> 00:01:12,439 benefits me a lot. 26 00:01:12,439 --> 00:01:16,810 Having smaller classrooms and more one on one relationship 27 00:01:16,810 --> 00:01:21,815 with teachers really helps me to focus and like just 28 00:01:22,682 --> 00:01:24,617 do better in school altogether. 29 00:01:24,617 --> 00:01:28,555 - Like my grades last year were relatively like good. 30 00:01:28,555 --> 00:01:31,357 And I was really happy with myself because earlier I was 31 00:01:31,357 --> 00:01:34,794 struggling with school and academics. 32 00:01:34,794 --> 00:01:37,730 The way like the dynamic is allows you to go like 33 00:01:37,730 --> 00:01:39,165 one on one with teachers. 34 00:01:39,165 --> 00:01:41,768 I am understanding material a lot better than if, 35 00:01:41,768 --> 00:01:44,704 I was at another school. 36 00:01:44,704 --> 00:01:46,773 It really does make a difference. 37 00:01:46,773 --> 00:01:50,677 - They are students who've often struggled because they may 38 00:01:50,677 --> 00:01:54,581 not have fit into the traditional mold of whatever kind of 39 00:01:54,581 --> 00:01:57,450 school setting they were in before they came to us. 40 00:01:57,450 --> 00:02:00,653 I often find that they're students who have a ton 41 00:02:00,653 --> 00:02:04,791 of potential whether that's academic or otherwise. 42 00:02:04,791 --> 00:02:07,694 That hasn't been been tapped into yet because they just 43 00:02:07,694 --> 00:02:09,696 haven't been in the right spot. 44 00:02:09,696 --> 00:02:12,365 So when they come to Rock Point they're able to make 45 00:02:12,365 --> 00:02:14,934 connections, find people who they care about, 46 00:02:14,934 --> 00:02:18,738 and we often see amazing things come out of them. 47 00:02:18,738 --> 00:02:20,607 - Personally I, I like art. 48 00:02:20,607 --> 00:02:23,343 And the art program here is exceptional. 49 00:02:23,343 --> 00:02:27,080 - Rock Point students often have a passion for something. 50 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:30,750 Whether it's painting or stained glass or social justice. 51 00:02:30,750 --> 00:02:33,186 They're young people who care a lot about the world. 52 00:02:33,186 --> 00:02:35,088 And they care a lot about the things that 53 00:02:35,088 --> 00:02:37,257 make their life meaningful. 54 00:02:37,257 --> 00:02:39,726 - There's a meaningfulness at Rock Point School that 55 00:02:39,726 --> 00:02:42,629 I don't find in other places. 56 00:02:42,629 --> 00:02:45,031 I found it to be my home and I think that students 57 00:02:45,031 --> 00:02:46,466 find their home here. 58 00:02:46,466 --> 00:02:47,934 And parents do too. 59 00:02:47,934 --> 00:02:50,970 And that relationship feeds me in a way as it does 60 00:02:50,970 --> 00:02:52,572 I think students. 61 00:02:52,572 --> 00:02:55,308 - The specific part of the program that worked for me 62 00:02:55,308 --> 00:03:00,113 was the combination of residential support 63 00:03:00,113 --> 00:03:01,881 and academic support. 64 00:03:01,881 --> 00:03:04,350 And to a certain extent therapeutic support. 65 00:03:04,350 --> 00:03:07,287 Having all of those incorporated 66 00:03:07,287 --> 00:03:08,788 made a really big difference. 67 00:03:08,788 --> 00:03:13,326 - Rock Point has helped me as a parent because I know I'm 68 00:03:13,326 --> 00:03:14,827 not alone. 69 00:03:14,827 --> 00:03:18,431 - As a parent Rock Point was a saving grace for me. 70 00:03:18,431 --> 00:03:23,436 I had spent years of pushing and with the school district 71 00:03:25,972 --> 00:03:27,407 pushing for services for him, 72 00:03:27,407 --> 00:03:29,475 pushing for things that then didn't work. 73 00:03:29,475 --> 00:03:30,944 Nothing was working. 74 00:03:30,944 --> 00:03:32,679 And I think that's true for a lot of parents 75 00:03:32,679 --> 00:03:35,748 that end up bringing their kids here is like nothing 76 00:03:35,748 --> 00:03:38,151 has worked yet. 77 00:03:38,151 --> 00:03:40,453 And, it worked. 78 00:03:40,453 --> 00:03:42,388 It was just a miracle. 79 00:03:42,388 --> 00:03:45,191 It was like I got my son back, truly. 80 00:03:46,359 --> 00:03:48,361 - Rock Point knows what it's doing. 81 00:03:48,361 --> 00:03:51,764 They have the experience to individualize the attention. 82 00:03:51,764 --> 00:03:54,634 They don't generalize who your child is. 83 00:03:54,634 --> 00:03:57,570 - It's very rewarding to work at Rock Point School 84 00:03:57,570 --> 00:04:01,441 mostly because of the humans that make up the school. 85 00:04:01,441 --> 00:04:06,446 Both staff and students are inquisitive, caring. 86 00:04:07,580 --> 00:04:11,217 They are looking for other genuine people to, 87 00:04:11,217 --> 00:04:14,120 to build relationships with. (laughing) 88 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:16,089 - What's most rewarding for me about working at 89 00:04:16,089 --> 00:04:18,324 Rock Point School is being a witness 90 00:04:18,324 --> 00:04:19,826 and a supporter of underdogs. 91 00:04:19,826 --> 00:04:23,296 Whether those underdogs are perceived or real, 92 00:04:23,296 --> 00:04:25,531 students come in here and they find that, 93 00:04:25,531 --> 00:04:27,834 that they have strengths and voices. 94 00:04:27,834 --> 00:04:31,704 And my part in that buoys me and gives me pride. 95 00:04:31,704 --> 00:04:36,709 - I've learned that I am a lot more capable 96 00:04:38,411 --> 00:04:39,712 than I thought I was. 97 00:04:39,712 --> 00:04:43,716 I also learned I can do really well in school 98 00:04:43,716 --> 00:04:45,151 if I apply myself. 99 00:04:45,151 --> 00:04:50,156 And yeah I'm just, a lot smarter than I thought I was. 100 00:04:50,757 --> 00:04:53,226 (gentle music)