Next Level, in collaboration with Sheridan College, hosts an Early Childhood Liaison that focuses on improving kindergarten readiness across our community. Based largely on a proven model from Hot Springs County, Wyoming, our Early Childhood Liaison works with childcare providers and families to offer support, training, and information focused on kindergarten readiness. The liaison offers classes for parents of young children along with direct modeling of how to prepare children for kindergarten at home.

Modeled on the successful Thrive program in Bozeman, Montana, the Parent Liaison program builds a link between home and school. Parent Liaisons are professionals who facilitate parenting classes, connect parents to community resources and support parent and teacher collaboration. Parent Liaisons partner with parents and schools to set children up for success.  In collaboration with SCSD2, this program is funded in part by Homer A. & Mildred S. Scott Foundation, Kibbee Foundation for Children, and B.F. & Rose H. Perkins Foundation.

Parent Liaisons provide guidance on topics including:

• Do you have a question about school and don’t know whom to ask?
• Wondering about activities or resources in town?
• New to town or starting at a new school?
• Concerned about your child’s academics, social or other school issues?
• Need someone to talk to about parenting?
• Want to know what is normal behavior for your child’s stage of development?
• Interested in taking a parenting class?

If you would like a Parent Liaison to contact you, please contact your child’s school or visit the Compass Center for Families website.

The Parent Liaison Program is funded by the Scott Foundation, Kibbee Foundation for Children, and the Perkins Foundation

Our Graduation Coaches support students with the direct goal of earning a diploma. If a student struggles with organization, grades, attendance, behavior, family, or social situations, our Graduation Coaches are right there to listen, lend a hand, and help remove obstacles. Available to help all students and parents at both of our high school campuses, the Graduation Coaches offer support in the following areas, among others:

• School work
• Organization
• Options for the future
• Conflict resolution, at home and school
• Housing
• Motivation

Contact Sheridan High School or John C. Schiffer Collaborative School to get in touch with your Graduation Coach.

The Next Level Internship program at Sheridan High School and John C. Schiffer Collaborative School provides senior students an opportunity to earn school credit while exploring their career interests. Students are placed with businesses and industries that match their interests, aptitudes, coursework and future goals. Once the student is placed at an approved training station, a mentor works with the student and the Next Level Internship Coordinator to help the student gain knowledge, information and training experiences which will contribute to the student’s future success. Students have served internships in the areas of welding, business, automotive repair, nursing, teaching, veterinary, cosmetology, and many more.

When high school students fail classes, they lose credits necessary to graduate. Statistically, course failure greatly increases the likelihood of a student dropping out. The Success Academy at Sheridan High School centers on an immediate response for recovering credit in the core areas after a student fails a class. Once a student fails a class, he/she can be placed in the Success Academy the following semester. During this period, the teacher identifies the standards that the student needs to master in order to pass the class and, more importantly, learn the essential objectives for that class. Recovering credit earlier than in traditional programs, and learning material that is required for success in future classes provides the student with a much improved opportunity to stay on track for graduation.

John C. Schiffer offers an innovative, student-centered approach to education. The school also offers students unique opportunities to complete college level programs while still in high school. Our hope is that offering an innovative high school experience will help more students earn diplomas in the Sheridan area and beyond. To learn more about John C. Schiffer Collaborative High School, visit their website.