OSBORNE CORNER: Back to School at Bonnie Brae

For me Labor Day always signifies the end of summer and the beginning of a new school year. I can remember year after year going shopping with my mother for school supplies and of course, that perfect back to school outfit.

It’s a little different for the Bonnie Brae boys. Many arrive with just the clothes on their backs and often their age does not match their grade level. In addition to healing and learning to manage their behaviors, many of these boys also need to get caught up in school. This is where the Bonnie Brae teaching staff steps in and one of the reasons why I am so proud of the work that they do.

The boys could not catch up without staff advocating for them and working with them to ensure they complete the requirements necessary to move to the next level. It is not an easy task by any means, yet the teaching staff offers these boys compassion while setting expectations for them to achieve. They go above and beyond day in and day out, working with each student’s sending district to make sure every student eligible to graduate takes the classes he needs to complete his course of studies and receive his high school diploma.

In addition to teaching them math, English, science and history, the staff is also preparing them for life beyond Bonnie Brae, equipping them with practical skills necessary to survive on their own. In the Activities for Daily Living Classes, young men are learning to cook for themselves and balance a checkbook. The Work Experience Program helps to equip them with certifications and employable job skills. These valuable educational resources go far in offering the promise of a more positive future for the boys.

To learn more about our school and our incredible staff, please come for a tour. Contact David Fox at dfox@bonnie-brae.org today.

Sincerely,