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Nestled on the picturesque coast of Connecticut, with sweeping views of the Long Island Sound, Oxford Academy stands as one of the best boarding school in CT for teens facing behavioral problems and learning disabilities. At Oxford Academy, we believe in a holistic approach to education that goes beyond the traditional classroom setting. Our mission is to provide a nurturing and supportive environment where students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
In this article, we’ll explore the unique programs and activities that make Oxford Academy a life-changing boarding school experience for its students, especially those with challenges related to Executive Function and ADHD.
Understanding the Challenges
Before delving into Oxford Academy’s innovative programs, it’s crucial to understand the challenges faced by teens with learning disabilities, particularly those dealing with Executive Function difficulties and ADHD.
Executive Function Challenges: These difficulties often manifest as organizational, planning, time management, and impulse control issues. Students with Executive Function challenges may struggle to initiate tasks, follow through on assignments, and manage their time effectively.
ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Students with ADHD often find it challenging to focus, stay organized, and regulate their impulses, making academic success a constant battle.
The Oxford Academy Difference
Among the best boarding school in CT, Oxford Academy recognizes that traditional educational approaches may not be effective for students dealing with these issues. That’s why we’ve developed a range of programs and activities designed to help them overcome these obstacles and unlock their full potential.
Dedicated Faculty
The faculty at Oxford Academy is the cornerstone of our success. They are a settled community of educators and are deeply committed to empowering each student to achieve their educational goals. Our teachers create customized curricula and lessons targeted to each individual learner, taking into account struggles with attention, executive function, and learning differences. These one-to-one learning interactions assist students in gaining agency over their academic experience, helping them become the best versions of themselves while discovering the joy of lifelong learning.
Holistic Education
With much of the day devoted to structured study, we recognize the importance of free time for socializing and pursuing extra-curricular interests. On campus, the student center, athletic facilities, and dorm lounges are popular venues for recreation and relaxation. In addition to all Oxford’s campus has to offer, a short walk will take students to shops, restaurants, and beaches. On the weekends, students enjoy trips to concerts, sporting events, and museums, as well as regular outings to the movies and local malls.
As a family-style boarding school in Connecticut, Oxford provides a second home for our boarders. Surrounded by faculty families who live in and supervise the dorms, the students feel safe and open to learning how to live independently. With their caring guidance, students learn to respect themselves and their dorm mates while learning to manage their time and study effectively during the evening study hall.
Individualized Support
Aside from providing one-to-one mentorship in the classroom, Oxford Academy, being one of the best boarding school in CT, provides meaningful interaction between students and teachers outside the classroom allowing faculty to be more aware of each student’s academic and personal goals, strengths, and weaknesses. Dorm parents encourage socialization, offering casual gatherings and meetings. By establishing positive relationships with his or her students, a dorm parent also provides support when students need advice on personal or academic matters.
To address the social and emotional needs of our students during student life programming, we’ve added a new position – the Director of Residential Life. Working directly with our Dean of Students, this role oversees dorm life, activities, and student leadership. A Character and Leadership curriculum provides a weekly space for structured conversations, presentations and fun campus activities related to social and emotional growth for our students.
Anne Chatillon, our full-time therapist provides proactive mental health support for our students and consults with faculty to ensure continuity of care.
Beyond Academics
Outdoor activities and other Oxford extracurriculars are designed to help students with executive function challenges develop these skills in a number of ways.
Plan and Organize: Students may need to plan their route for a hike, or organize their gear for a camping trip. This planning and organizing can help students to develop their executive function skills.
Practice Self-Control: Students may need to control their impulses in order to stay on the trail during a hike, or to avoid eating all of their snacks at once on a camping trip. This practice can help students to develop their self-control skills.
Improve Time Management: Students may need to manage their time carefully in order to complete a hike before dark, or to set up their campsite before nightfall. This practice can help students to develop their time management skills.
Problem-Solve: Students may need to solve problems such as how to cross a stream without getting wet, or how to build a fire without matches. This practice can help students to develop their problem-solving skills.
Ox Outdoors
Our boys thrive in the outdoors, and the “Ox Outdoors” after-school program offers hiking, biking, rock climbing, paddling, kayaking, outdoor leadership skills, and camping. OA’s location in Westbrook, Connecticut, is rich in natural resources and recreation opportunities.
Athletics for All
The primary goal of the Oxford Academy athletic program is to give every student the opportunity to focus on and improve their physical fitness while deriving all the other benefits of athletics: leadership skills, self-confidence, and an appreciation of teamwork and sportsmanship.
Varsity Sports
Throughout the three seasons, students may join one of the varsity teams: soccer in the fall, basketball in the winter, and tennis in the spring. Varsity sports can provide a number of benefits for students with executive function challenges, including:
Improved self-confidence: Participating in varsity sports can help students to develop their self-confidence and to feel good about themselves. This is because varsity sports provide students with the opportunity to challenge themselves and to succeed.
Improved teamwork skills: Varsity sports require students to work together as a team to achieve a common goal. This helps students to develop their teamwork skills and to learn how to cooperate with others.
Improved time management skills Varsity sports require students to balance their academic and athletic commitments. This helps students to develop their time management skills and to learn how to prioritize their tasks.
Intramurals and Other Athletic Options
Students may also participate in either competitive or intramural activities like flag football, floor hockey, airsoft, or the weightlifting/conditioning program.
Beach Life & Clubs
OA boys enjoy the shoreline life by swimming, fishing, and paddling during their free time. Clubs offer new experiences and fun together, including Entrepreneurship, Chess, International Cooking, Music Lessons, True Blue magazine, Sustainability, beekeeping, Oxford Nation, Career Paths, Photography and videography, and Ox Outdoors.
Expansion of our Impressive Facilities
Stone Family Student Center: The brand-new student center is a gathering space for games, cooking clubs, guest speakers, and movies.
New Tennis Courts: Thanks to a generous gift from an anonymous donor, we are building new tennis courts that will include pickleball lines and a pavilion.
Learning by Doing: Trips, Travel, and Giving Back
Field trips and recreational travel enhance student learning. New York, Boston, New Haven, and Hartford offer many cultural events and weekend shows. Westbrook is situated in a location rich in natural resources for fishing, paddling, hiking, and camping. Oxford Academy’s annual trips include Explore Europe, Americana travel, skiing and snowboarding at Okemo and Mt. Snow, a New England Seacoast trip, and Senior Trip to Disney World.
One such trip: South Carolina Trip
During the Fall of 2022, Oxford Academy embarked on its first domestic trip to discover new and different elements of American history, geography, and culture. In November, 13 students and 3 staff went to Savannah, GA, Beaufort, SC, and Charleston, SC. Traveling to different places that covered so many points in American history and culture was a great experience for our young men. Fort Pulaski, Old Town Savannah, eating Gullah food, and exploring different state parks, were all exciting engagements our students encountered. The end of the trip was visiting the USS Yorktown, an Essex class aircraft carrier in which we were able to see different elements of military history. The trip was well received by the students, and plans are already underway for our next trip in the fall, looking West to experience another different element of American history and culture.
Giving Back to the Community
Oxford Nation is a philanthropic club that volunteers in the community and raises funds for national organizations. The annual IRIS run raises money for Afghanistan refugees. We host blood drives, read to elementary school children, clean the beaches, and volunteer in our town. In the spring, science students raise trout for the Department of Environmental Protection.
Why Oxford Academy is Considered the Best Boarding School in CT
Oxford Academy is more than just a school; it’s a transformative experience for teens with behavioral problems and learning disabilities. Considered among the best boarding school in Connecticut, our holistic approach, outdoor activities, and personalized support enable students to overcome their challenges, develop critical life skills, and reach their full potential. With the backdrop of Connecticut’s scenic coast, we provide an environment where every student
If you are a parent of a teen with behavioral problems or learning disabilities, I encourage you to learn more about Oxford Academy. The school offers a variety of programs and services that can help your child to succeed.
You can visit www.oxfordacademy.net or contact the school’s admissions office for more information. Please don’t hesitate to contact our educational specialist at (860) 399-6247. We look forward to collaborating with you to ensure the success of our students in their educational journey.
