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Our Community

Exploration. Understanding. Action.

Bellcate School \ News & Events \ Our Community

Recovery Through Recess

Play is not something that every child has had the opportunity to experience. In fact, for many children with significant exposure to adverse childhood experiences, play is a foreign concept. “Play is something done for its own sake,” says psychiatrist Stuart Brown, author of “Play,” He writes: “It’s voluntary, it’s pleasurable, it offers a sense… Read more »

The Start of a New Year…

As summer ended and we said ‘farewell’ and ‘good luck’ and ‘well wishes’ to both graduating students and staff moving on to new experiences and places, we also geared up to welcome some newcomers to our community.  We are excited to welcome new students Abdinor and Carter to the Bellcate community. Both have transitioned well… Read more »

Make Hay While The Sun Shines!

With winter just around the corner, Bellcate School is busy, busy, busy preparing our farm for the long and cold months ahead. One of the most important tasks is to put the hay up. This year we broke our standing record. 20 students and staff+130 bales of hay+30 minutes= A job finished and well done…. Read more »

A Conspiracy of Goodness

For the past couple of years Bellcate School has been very connected to the mission and content of Ever Widening Circles (EWC) and EWC-Ed. Lynda and Chuck Verderber first started the parent website EWC in response to the constant barrage of negative focused news in the world. Their goal was simple- to publish articles and… Read more »

Rocking Out with August Grads

On August 1st, in True Bellcate School fashion, our community celebrated the high school graduation of Jake Fay and Dominic Smeil. The ceremony took place at Lily’s gym where students, staff, family and friends all gathered to share memories and to support the big step forward of our 2019 August grads. The ceremony kicked off… Read more »

Live Online Store Featuring Championship Gear!

We have a new pop-up gear store — new items every couple of weeks! Check out the link below to get the newest Bellcate Swag! https://www.bsnteamsports.com/v3/shop/team_shop/pK5UnuAxcu

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Featured Posts

  • Semester 2: Notes from the Operations Desk

    Semester 2, during Covid, continues to challenge us at times but it has also brought opportunities for positive learning, growth and change. For example, during Covid we developed “Adventure Day.” Adventure Day is a full day of programming that is designed to access our natural and inspiring Vermont resources. Bellcate School has always been connected… Read more »

  • Bulldogs ’30 Nights of Fitness’

    The Bellcate community is wrapping up its second version of “30 nights,” completing an intense workout series that brought laughs, tears of joy, hall of fame basketball players, a logger, the local news, a couple dentists, and a country music star. The fun began on Monday, January 4th. Aiden met Bellcate Athletic Director Jamie Moore… Read more »

  • WbcR Episode #22 – Hall of Fame

    Here is our next installment of WbcR Episode #22 – “A Tribute to the 2020 Inductees of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”.  This is our 1st Bellcate Remote broadcast and it will air on WBTV 99.3 FM on Saturday 5/16/20 at 8pm.  Our DJ’s Matt, Marcus, Joe, and Dylan worked really hard on… Read more »

  • NEW Gear Store OPEN!

    CLICK HERE TO VISIT NEW STORE!

Testimonials

  • Bruce, Grandfather

    “Bellcate is life-changing for its kids.  It has improved our family living by learning how to handle difficult situations from time to time. The Wolf Pack family support discussions and problem solving benefit all family members, staff, and all associated parties. At Bellcate, you receive unconditional backing and support from whenver needed 24/7. I am… Read more »

  • Anna and Chip, Parents

    “Bellcate School is an amazing place. The school’s executive director and team are some of the most accomplished and talented educators and support staff we have ever met. They are committed to understanding the complex needs of each student. They will individualize an educational plan that incorporates a range of classes, social and extracurricular experiences… Read more »

  • Gail, Parent

    ​”When you walk in the door at Bellcate it is usually a beehive of activity. There are classes going on, meals being made, artwork and schoolwork being hung in the hallways, maybe gardening going on out front. There are kids of various ages and all levels of ability/disability busy with their school tasks. It may… Read more »

  • Kara, Parent

    “Bellcate School is a unique and special school that is completely dedicated to all of the student’s individual needs in a holistic approach. They improve their student’s lives academically, mentally, emotionally and physically in a community enriched environment. The wonderful staff have diverse backgrounds which enhances the variety of learning experiences the students acquire. The… Read more »

  • Kelly, Parent

    “Bellcate School is a safe place for your child and your family. A place for all of you to learn and become stronger. They will never judge you and they will always support you. Every kid should be able to go to a school like Bellcate. Bellcate School has meant more to our son and… Read more »

Life at Bellcate

Bellcate School utilizes a three-stage personal development model that draws on a number of effective theories and strategies. This is not a fixed system, but rather a way of understanding change within a context. Bellcate School understands growth and change to be a slow and challenging process for anyone.
Read more about our three-stage personal development model

Exploration


The primary focus of the exploration stage is to build a strong therapeutic relationship as a foundation to facilitate and support growth and change. We use nonjudgmental acceptance and communicate empathy, respect, and genuine care so students can come to accept themselves and unblock their own natural potential.

Understanding


Students are often ready to move into the Understanding Stage when they have developed strong, trusting, and safe therapeutic relationships with staff. The goal of this stage is to support students in constructing new insight and understanding. Staff assist students in determining their own role in their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Action


Thoughts and behaviors are learned according to learning principles and thus can be changed using the same learning principles. In the Action Stage, staff assist students in making decisions that benefit themselves. Staff refer to the stages of change model as a resource to further understand where the student is in the change process.

Exploration. Understanding. Action.
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