One way to foster cooperation among our students is to place them in an environment that encourages them to be role models for one another while supporting them through times of changing expectations and challenge.  This is one goal of the new Pathways School-Northwood at Hyattsville, serving grades 6-12, with adjoining middle school and high school programs.  Although each program is distinct and self-contained, the teachers rotate so that students become acquainted with all the staff, allowing the middle school students to get used to the expectations of high school within a familiar and supportive context.  Two high school seniors have been selected to mentor the older middle school students and the freshmen, interacting with them at lunch and occasionally in class.  This has already been seen to have had a beneficial effect, since the middle schoolers want to be perceived positively by their older peers and strive to remain focused and attentive. 

For students in every grade at Pathways-Northwood at Hyattsville, alternative therapy programming and arts-integrated studies allow them to discover more about themselves and their world in ways that make learning more possible for them.  They will soon take part in a horseback riding program to learn confidence and responsibility, as well as a performing arts project that uses storytelling and drama to explore subjects in history, social studies and cultural awareness.

It should also be noted that the Pathways "community of promise" extends to a wide network that sustains our students through changing circumstances.  Although they have moved miles away to a new building, the students at Pathways-Northwood at Hyattsville receive breakfast through the ongoing generosity and effort of members of the Northwood Church congregation.  The nutritional benefits of the breakfast program continue to enhance learning at the new program.

We are proud that our community at Pathways includes interns in social work.  These dedicated and hardworking young professionals bring fresh enthusiasm and energy to our therapeutic programming.  In return, Pathways provides a supportive and rich environment in which to develop their skills and gain experience, thus contributing our part to further growth of the field.  We find evidence that the relationship is a positive one in the fact that over the years a number of our social work interns have gone on to become therapists with Pathways.

 

Social work interns at Pathways can be undergraduate students who are exploring the field or who have decided to make it their career and have embarked on an appropriate course of study.  Still others are graduate students well along in their training.  All interns are supervised by Pathways therapists as they take on duties, tasks and roles commensurate with their goals, education and experience.  Depending on their level, interns can be involved with everything from assisting with field trips to co-leading groups of students to work with a particular interest or issue.  They can counsel individual students and help plan school retreats or parent nights.  Over the years, interns have led and taught music classes, worked with students to achieve a Presidential fitness award, organized a creative girls group,  and have generally done many  things that enhance our students' experience.
         

While Pathways students and programs clearly benefit from the work that interns do, the foremost interest we have in hosting interns is to further their education in the field and to pass on the knowledge we have gained from more than 25 years with our students.  We have welcomed interns from several local universities and colleges, including the University of Maryland, Catholic University, Gallaudet, Argosy University and Montgomery College.  Our therapists take pride in guiding and challenging the interns they supervise.  Each year we have at least six or more interns.  As noted, some who interned here have returned to be therapists: Three of our current therapists were once Pathways interns.  The energy, commitment and care that Pathways puts into our intern program returns to benefit everyone.  So we welcome our nine social work interns this year and look forward to an enriching experience for all.