Handbook

Each Warrior is a model for us, indicative of those struggling for their independence and to conquer.  As you are in the school, you'll see some inspiring quotes and references to people with disabilities on our walls.  All are striving to overcome obstacles and accomplish success despite their disabilities.  We challenge our students to understand their disabilities and find compensatory strategies, skills, and information that will help them to succeed to that "next step" and then the next,...and not let their disabilities hold them back.  Yes, sometimes people can do the work for a student who has disabilities, but what will help the student more is to receive the instruction and work at doing it independently; that helps them more.  Warriors use their abilities to accomplish the victory, not their disabilities.  Warriors practice and develop more skills to be the best they can.  Warriors find solutions and apply them. 
The reward for being warriors is a richer, happier life of doing more things and connecting with more people.  It is knowing that we can take on new goals which will challenge us and lead us to higher achievement, helping us to become more.

Courage - Everything about us is working to have the courage to persevere.  Sometimes it is to persevere in the face of candid, honest feedback and find solutions.  Sometimes, courage is to endure pain and limitation, but to keep going.  Sometimes, courage is to accomplish in the face of adversity.   Courage is asking for help when needed; courage is also not asking for help until we've tried and applied what one is learning first.  Courage is to succeed, and turn success into making the next hard goals. 
The reward for courage is growth, esteeming our accomplishment, and having new and more opportunities available to us.  The world opens up as we develop courage.

Honor - Honoring others, ourselves, the school, and our families is important in what we choose to do.  This comes in really doing the difficult things without complaint or going through the motions.  This might be persevering as the challenge will inevitably come for any worthwhile goals.  This might be reflecting on ourselves and what we need to receive or do to achieve our goals.  It is being honest about what is happening and responding using skills we are learning, instead of some of the maladaptive habits we've had in the past. 
The reward for honor is growth and finding better outcomes, long-term happiness, and others being proud of what we are doing.  The reward is holding our head up knowing we are persons of value and capacity.

Integrity - Friends, family, employers and employees value integrity.  They value it because it means they have someone with strong principles and values, as well as dedication to them.  It is understanding what is appropriate and honestly acting in that way.  It is having people know that you will act according to your best knowledge and that you will kindly respond and accept learning better, if you make mistakes.  This might take a lot of work, but the growth will make you a person others want with them. 
The reward for integrity is the trust, acceptance, and responsibility from other people.  It is opportunity extended to us that we seek.  It is power.

Wisdom - Wisdom is having experience, gaining knowledge, and possessing judgement.  Wisdom applies those experiences to gain understanding, then use it well to accomplish things correctly.  It is safety; it is responding with judgement when things are unexpectedly not safe.  It is responsibility.  It is working together with others, as we cannot do it alone.  Wisdom is setting realistic goals step by step, rather than overreaching - or taking a step back and revising goals, when needed.  Wisdom is effort and knowing when to apply more thought, take more time, or ask for help.  Wisdom is listening to others who have valuable experience and our best interests at heart.  Wisdom is learning to anticipate, so you can prepare and do your best.
The rewards of wisdom are an enjoyable life's path and more security.  It is quality of life from avoiding many things that cause problems or loss.  Wisdom gives us a sense peace and understanding.

Watch for information coming soon.

Nona Miller was the beginning and vision for Transition Services in Davis School district at the turn of the millennium. She was a remarkable woman who pushed forward from a box to a car trunk to a portable to an old abandoned school to our present Vista Education Campus that houses our Post-High Transition Programs. We remember her in a special way each graduation and among our staff as we have awards to recognize a remarkable student or staff member who represents her well applied expression, "Never say never." It was that determination and will that grew our programs with the help of many people. It is that determination and will that helps our Warriors persevere, reach goals, and graduate with a transition plan at their level of readiness to continue their education, have employment and work tasks to contribute, and to live as independently as ready and possible. In all of this, our desire is to help our students to become contributing members of a community - giving and receiving from it.

We recognize and award a student at graduation who has exemplified these qualities - coming in and making remarkable progress through perseverance, learning about themselves, and gaining skills. We see that in all of our students, but always want to recognize an exemplary student and remember our mentor.