An Essential Component

Communication is an essential component to maximizing student gains. We want to hear from you: when things are going great; when there are questions or concerns; and when conflicts arise. Talking and working together will not only help the student, but will make life a little easier for everyone.

Contact Us By Phone:

• Main Phone: (978) 251-4050
• General Fax: (978) 251-8950
• Medical Fax: (978) 513-2022
  

Communication Essentials:

• Corporate Hours with reception coverage: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• The Family Support System is available to students and families
  24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
• Your Family and Outreach Therapist is your main means of communication.
• You have access to all staff; working through your Family and Outreach Therapist to facilitate the process.
• To the extent possible, minimize calls to any staff between the hours of 8:25 and 3:00.
• Family and Outreach Therapists may also be contacted through email for brief communication, although during the school day they are with students, and not at their computers.
• All members of Lighthouse School Administrative Team may be contacted at the main school number.
• Students are not typically allowed to call parents or outside individuals.
• School rules prohibit the use of cell phones.
• In most cases, daily communication is not practical and significantly interferes with our ability to deliver services to all the students.
• Parents are notified as soon as possible in the event of a major issue or unusual incident.
• If students are going to be absent, please call Lighthouse School between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. at (978) 251-4050 and notify the receptionist with the reason for the absence (illness, appointment, etc.)

Dealing with "Routine" Issues

The majority of students who attend Lighthouse School have features of their personality that result in a range of behavioral difficulties. We view these occurrences as opportunities for students to gain insights about underlying feelings, and to learn more adaptive ways to handle their needs and feelings. We want families to be informed about their child’s actions, but at the same time, we do not want to focus on the negative. It is our practice not to call families for ‘routine’ issues and incidents. Certainly, anything unusual is communicated as soon as possible and in detail. This practice can, at times, lead to conflicts and thus it is critically important that if you have questions or concerns that you share them with us.

Parent-Teacher Communication

When coming to Lighthouse, many families are accustomed to relying on daily notes or a notebook that goes back and forth from school. At Lighthouse School, however, we try to minimize this means of communication for several reasons. First, as stated earlier, your Family and Outreach Therapist is your main communication link with school. Second, the end of the day is a very busy time of the day. Staff writing in notebooks would, as a result, not be available to the students to help them make the transition home successful. Finally, we strive to focus on the major themes that capture the unique features of each student. We have found that discussions about themes of experience are ultimately the best way to advance positive student outcomes.