Meeting children where they are.
Sometimes a child has emotional and/or behavioral needs that challenge the most loving parent and capable school district. These needs may significantly impact a child’s personal academic success as well as the academic success of other students.
Loving School in Sioux Falls and Owen School in the Black Hills are alternatives that can help. As part of Children’s Home Society of South Dakota, our schools’ mission is to help prevent, treat and heal trauma.
An approved special population program of the South Dakota Department of Education, Loving School and Owen School serve students ages 4 to 14 or Pre-K to 8th grade year-round.
School services include a day school option in Sioux Falls for children from area districts and education for children in Residential Treatment at Children’s Home Society.
Each classroom at Loving School and Owen School has a state-certified teacher and full-time teacher assistant, ensuring a classroom staff-to-student ratio of 1-to-6.
We specialize in meeting educational needs relating to childhood trauma, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, reactive attachment disorder, abuse and neglect, anxiety disorder, aggression and parent-child challenges.
A Look into Our Classrooms
Classroom instruction aligns with the South Dakota Content Standards, providing grade-level instruction as well as differentiated instruction, meeting the unique learning needs of each student. Our curriculum programs promote daily interactions that allow students to earn cooperatively and develop values such as cultural understanding, responsibility, respect, caring, fairness and helpfulness. Additionally, our program includes art, music, physical education and individualized reading instruction.
Students are evaluated through classroom observations, work samples, skill-based assessments and file reviews. Our teachers utilize NWEA MAP Growth assessments to measure achievement and quarterly growth in mathematics and reading. These assessments provide classroom staff with accurate, actionable evidence to help inform instructional strategies regardless of how far students are above or below grade level.
We Are Committed
In addition to working inside our classrooms, our students receive individual and group therapy weekly. In collaboration with CHS Therapists, a Master Treatment Plan is created for each student in our school settings. A student’s academic and social-emotional growth is documented on a weekly basis and reported at individualized quarterly meetings. The student’s treatment team meets quarterly to share progress and monitor goal-related growth.
A student does not need an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) to be enrolled in CHS schools. However, if a student does have an IEP, the IEP is implemented and managed by school staff. Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech/Language services are provided in accordance with an individual’s IEP. In addition, all students have access to medical care and psychiatric services as needed.
Download our Comprehensive Plan and School Wellness Policy here.
Refer your child to the Day School Program here.
