CORGIVILLE FAIR NURSERY
Corgiville Fair Nursery is located in the lower level of The Dahlhouse and nurtures the youngest learners at Kids Express Learning Center. Up to eight children, six weeks to a year old, attend the nursery each day. Two teachers are devoted to the children's care, with a third teacher sharing time between the nursery and the adjoining toddler room.
The children enjoy daily stroller rides around the eight-acre campus, time on the Infant/Toddler playground, and plenty of floor time and cuddle time with their teachers. When weather restricts outdoor activities, the children enjoy a change of venue in Little Engine That Could; our smaller of two gyms, where the children have extra space for playing with large toys. Twice weekly, the children enjoy attending our Bucky Beats percussion music class.
Parents and teachers work together to develop individual sleeping, eating, and playtime plans for each baby, and teachers inform parents of the child's daily experiences, including nap, feeding, and diapering details. The nursery environment is rich with milestone moments, abundant enthusiasm, and genuine affection.
STUDENT SERVICES
Hickory Hill Academy provides a welcoming, high-quality learning environment for all members of our community. Our goal is to provide diverse, academic and extracurricular educational opportunities to all students as we Cultivate Compassionate Leaders. HHA’s Student Support Team (SST) provides guidance and resources for students with unique learning needs in collaboration with families, HHA faculty, and our community. All HHA students receive instruction by qualified teachers and specialists in inclusive, highly-resourced classrooms with like-aged peers.
Admission
Families interested in enrolling a child with unique learning needs or a disability may inquire about enrolling at HHA by contacting our Admissions Team. Alternatively, the family may fill out an Enrollment Inquiry Form on our school website. Upon receipt of the inquiry, a member of the leadership team will review the student’s unique learning needs or disability with HHA’s Student Support Team and decide upon next steps.
At times, students with unique learning needs may require family-provided services as a contingency of admission. These contingencies, including the services to be covered by the family, will be outlined in the Enrollment Contract. Upon enrollment, prior to the child’s first day of school or Summer on the Farm, a meeting will be held with the family, a member of SST, and the instructional team (including the child’s classroom teacher(s) and all specialists, if available). HHA’s Wellness Director will also attend the meet if the child requires medication or a HHEC plan.
Following the initial meeting, a member of HHA’s SST will develop a Personalized Learning Plan for the student. This collaborative plan outlines the students’ needs and supports. The plan will be shared with the child’s instructional team and reviewed at family conferences.
Screening & Assessment
Hickory Hill Academy uses a variety of tools and strategies to gather benchmark assessment information and to monitor ongoing progress. Data gathered may include information provided by a child's family, teachers, and members of HHA’s SST. Culturally relevant assessment tools are selected and administered in the English language unless families provide translation services/supports.
Prior to admission, families who inquire about enrollment at HHA with a child with identified unique learning needs, the following procedures take place:
Pre-Admission Screening
HHA conducts pre-admission screening procedures of all students. Screening procedures may vary based on information provided in the family questionnaire. The purpose of these procedures is to build understanding of the child’s knowledge and skills, and determine the optimal learning environment. Pre-admission screenings focus on the following areas, as appropriate to the child’s age and competencies: Social-emotional development, communication, gross and fine motor skills, oral expression, listening comprehension, written expression, reading fluency and comprehension skills, mathematics calculation, and problem solving skills.
The following describes the pre-admission screening procedures for each division of HHA.
Early Childhood Education Program
In our Early Childhood Education program, the inquiring family fills out an age-appropriate ASQ-3 and an ASQ-SE form. The family then submits both of the forms to the Admissions Team. Next, HHA’s SST reviews and scores the forms. During this time, the family should submit to the Admissions Team supporting information, such as evaluation or assessment reports related to the child’s educational or social-emotional development/needs.
Next, the child will be invited to participate in a Classroom Visit. During the visit, the family should remain on the HHA campus. Depending on the child’s comfortability in the HHA environment, the family may be invited into the classroom. At times, HHA faculty may request that the family remain near an external door of the classroom. During the visit, the classroom teacher will observe the child as they participate in age-appropriate activities and transitions in multiple environments.
Following the visit, the classroom teacher will provide written feedback. Following this process, HHA’s SST determines the next steps for the family’s enrollment and communicates the next steps to the Admissions Team. The Admissions Team then communicates the next steps with the inquiring family.
Lower School and Middle School
In HHA’s Lower School and Middle School, inquiring families with a child with identified unique learning needs should make an appointment with the Admission Director for an Academic Screening session and Classroom Visit. During the appointment, the child with unique learning needs will complete a computerized, grade-level-appropriate assessment in literacy and math. Upon completion, HHA’s SST will review and score the assessments. In addition, the inquiring family should provide supporting information to the Admissions Director, such as evaluation or assessment reports related to the child’s educational or social-emotional development. With family consent, HHA will contact the child’s prior school for transmission of records.
If requested by HHA’s SST, children may be invited to participate in a Classroom Visit. During the visit, the child’s family should remain on campus. Depending on the child’s comfortability in the HHA environment, the family may be invited into the classroom or HHA faculty may request that the family remain near an external door of the classroom. During the visit, the classroom teacher will observe the child as they participate in age-appropriate activities, including transitions among multiple environments. Following the visit, the classroom teacher will provide written feedback. Following this process, HHA’s SST determines the next steps for the family’s enrollment and communicates the next steps to the Admissions Director. The Admissions Director then communicates the next steps to the inquiring family.
Provided Supports
Hickory Hill Academy provides the following supports for all students:
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High-Quality, Relevant, Outcome-based Curriculum
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Instruction by qualified teachers and specialists qualified in their subject area
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Evidence-Based Assessment and Progress Monitoring
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ASQ-3 and ASQ-SE Screenings, Recommended Activities for Families, School-Based Interventions
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Universal Design for Learning - delivering educational services that are accessible and meet the needs of diverse learners. Tangible supports may include flexible seating, graphic organizers, chair bands, noise-canceling headphones, and monitored use of fidgets. Fidgets must be approved by SST.
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Please note that gum or candy is not allowed as an accommodation or support.
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RULER: Social-Emotional Curriculum implemented daily.
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Small group instruction or Centers offered in all subject areas.
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Appropriate child-teacher ratios maintained in all learning environments.
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Engaging resources, tools, and classrooms.
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Opportunities for Family-Teacher Conferences to share progress and celebrate success.
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Focused Portfolios (ECE) to showcase student development using WMELs/NAEYC standards.
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Progress Reports and Report Cards (LS/MS) to showcase student development using HHA’s rigorous learning standards as a framework.
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Personal Care support (toileting) up to 4K. All children in K-8 must be toilet trained and independently perform personal care tasks.
Modified Scheduling/Partial-Day Attendance
All K-8 students must attend and participate independently, without one-to-one support, in all components of the full-day schedule. HHA does not permit modified or partial day attendance schedules.
Summer on the Farm (SOF) Offerings
Summer on the Farm does not provide Extended School Year services or Service Plan implementation. Our Student Support Teachers and Educational Support Specialists do not serve in the SST role during SOF.
Accommodations and Modifications to Support Student Needs
Families may suggest school or classroom accommodations or modifications to support their child’s learning experience at HHA. HHA’s SST considers each request, and has sole discretion for approvals for accommodations or modifications. HHA reserves the right to approve or deny requests based on available resources or policy. In all cases, accommodations or modifications must align with HHA’s vision and mission.
Family-Provided Services at HHA
If approved by HHA’s SST, families may provide the following accommodations, learning supports, and related services for their child to support daily learning, assessment and participation at HHA. These services are not provided solely by HHA. Any services provided by a non-HHA provider must be provided outside of the academic school day:
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Advanced Learner Extension - see resources here
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Assistive Technology
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Audio-Visual/amplifying instructional materials
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Telecommunications
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Adaptive equipment and furnishings
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Sensory Aids
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Multilingual instructional materials and aids
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Interpreting/Transcription Devices
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Instruction in Braille
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Psychological Counseling Services for child and/or family outside of the school day
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Speech and Language pathology and audiology Services outside of the school day
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Physical and Occupational Therapy Services outside of the school day
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Transportation - including: to and from school, in and around school buildings, and specialized equipment needs such as ramps, adaptive buses, lifts.
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Mobility Services
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Long Cane
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Early Identification and Assessment of Disabilities, including hearing and vision evaluations)
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Medical services for diagnostic or evaluative purposes
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Medical devices, including monitoring and managing surgically implanted devices [34 CFR § 300.34]
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Vocational training {\["Vocational education" means organized educational programs that are directly related to the preparation of individuals for paid or unpaid employment or for additional preparation for a career requiring other than a baccalaureate or advanced degree. 34 CFR § 300.39; Wis. Stat. § 115.76(15).]
These accommodations, learning supports and services must be selected and acquired, designed, fitted, repaired/maintained/replaced as needed, managed and coordinated with interventionists/therapists and implemented by a family-provided support person. All fees associated with these supports are the sole responsibility of the family. Please note, Service Animals are not permitted to attend school with students at HHA. For more information, please see the private school clause and regulations here.