The Cajal Academy Experience
We re-examined every aspect of school and then re-engineered it from the ground up to align with what we know today about the science of how kids learn, socialize and grow. Here’s what that looks like day to day.
What started as one mom’s determination to ensure that bright and gifted kids in Connecticut and Westchester County have access to a school with the opportunities and supports they need turned into a whole new model for schools that modernizes education to match current neuroscientific research. From bringing movement into the classroom to accelerate learning while combatting ADHD to using project-based learning to teach kids the strategies they’ll need for a future defined by their strengths while we work to remove the challenges holding them back — the results are powerful, and empowering.
We set aside traditional expectations for how things are done at school and re-engineered it from the bottom up, using what neuroscientists know today about how the brain can change over time to better perform a given skill, how we can use connections between the body and the brain to re-regulate ourselves and how we can bring these things together to propel academic and personal growth. The result is a very different day to day experience, with morning reconnection through sensory activities, movement integrated into the classroom to accelerate academic learning, coaching in how to develop one’s own growth mindset and skills for learning how to self-monitor, self-manage and self-advocate for even the most complex neurophysiologic and learning needs. Highly-individualized programs come together through project-based learning, helping students learn how to engage deeply even when the topic of learning is outside their own personal interest areas: a critical skill for college and beyond.
Here are some snapshots of what that looks like day to day for the students enrolled at Cajal; attend an Information Session & Tour to come learn about what the day-to-day looks like at Cajal and whether it might be a good fit for your child.
Our students start each morning by reconnecting with each other and readying themselves for learning, through a group sensory session.
We apply modern neuroscience to reduce the challenges that hold a child back—not just accommodate them.
We prepare tomorrow’s thought leaders to solve complex, real world problems and deep dive project-based learning.
We integrate diagnostic and clinical expertise in OT, PT, SLP, psychology & neuropsychology into all we do, so kids are free to be kids after school.
We offer a first-of-its-kind program empowering kids with complex, chronic medical conditions to understand, manage & advocate for their medical needs within educational and professional environments.
We empower kids to start living their best lives today, through strategies and support to self-monitor, self-manage and self-advocate for their unique needs.
We help kids move past their fear of failure and step outside their comfort zones to take on challenges that are outside their own areas of interest.
Instead of fighting kids’ need to move, we leverage movement as a powerful learning tool.
We empower parents with the information you need to understand and support your child’s growth.
We give kids the social-emotional skills and understandings they need to foster inclusive, neurodiverse communities.