HENRY VISCARDI SCHOOL
Clubs and Activities
Henry Viscardi School recognizes the profound importance of after-school and enrichment opportunities for children with disabilities. Through its clubs and activities, students have the chance to play adapted sports, write and produce school publications, and develop new interest and talents while interacting with their classmates and youth in our local communities.
Academic Intervention Services (A.I.S.)
AIS is an after-school extra help program. This virtual program provides academic support for Viscardi students grades 4 – 12. Academic Intervention also teaches students how to develop better study methods, manage time and prioritize work.
Basketball
The Wheelchair Basketball program was created to allow children of all levels of physical disabilities to play together as a team and to reach their highest potential as athletes. The program gives children a chance to have fun, learn to respect individual needs, as well as learn good sportsmanship and teamwork. Our goal is to encourage individuality, heighten self-esteem, and provide a safe environment for each member of the team. Our basketball league consists of three teams: Cubbies for grades 1 – 4, Junior Varsity Cougars for grades 5 – 8 and Varsity Cougars for grades 9 – RAMP. The Cubbies focus on skills and drills, while the Cougars engage in more competitive play. The teams also participate in annual tournaments at Viscardi and the Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged in the spring. The program culminates with an annual awards dinner in June.
Cougar Chronicle
Our student newspaper reports on news and events from around Henry Viscardi School, The Viscardi Center and the world around them. The student reporters also learn about careers in the industry and have opportunities to strengthen their writing and interview skills.
Cheer Team
Henry Viscardi School’s co-ed cheer team fosters school spirit and pumps up the energy at our pep rallies, basketball games and other activities that bring our school community together. Through active participation, they have new ways to verbalize and engage in physical movement.
Friday Night Recreation
Friday Night Rec gives students, grades 4 through 12, an opportunity to spend time with their friends outside of the school day. A variety of activities are offered from adaptive art and sports to technology and cooking.
R.A.M.P.
(Reaching All My Potential) is a project-based program which focuses on increasing the student’s experiences and knowledge of their communities. This is accomplished through group and personalized projects, work-readiness activities, physical fitness/swimming and independent skill building. Field trips out into the community are planned around specialized projects. Teachers, teacher assistants, and therapists work as a team to maximize each student’s potential and independence.
Student Council
The Student Council is a prominent student government organization that gives students a voice in school activities and the overall learning environment. It helps promote activities for the entire student body and fosters a positive climate throughout the school. Being a member is an honor and members must maintain high academic standards while taking on increased responsibility and displaying pride in their school and community. Student Council representatives, at the elementary, middle and high school levels, are elected for a one-year term.
Viscardi Ambassadors
Representing the Henry Viscardi School community, the ambassadors accompanied by staff visit the local community to educate peers on disability etiquette and the disability community. Through their efforts, they begin to break down barriers and misconceptions about individuals with disabilities while spreading a message of diversity and inclusion.
National Honor Society
The Viscardi Chapter of the National Honor Society is part of a nationally recognized organization that acknowledges exceptional high school students. Students are inducted based on outstanding GPA and a Faculty Council review of leadership, character, scholarship, service and advocacy. The Viscardi Chapter promotes these characteristics, as well as service projects to assist the school community and beyond.
Independent Living House
The Independent Living Overnight Program provides Henry Viscardi School students in grades 11, 12, and R.A.M.P., with the opportunity to spend time with their friends away from their homes in a supervised atmosphere. They also hone independent living skills, as well as to confront and resolve real-life challenges. The students must work together using a pre-determined budget to provide for their needs during the overnight. Tasks may include food shopping, meal preparation and clean-up, and arranging social activities. Watch this video about our universally-designed, full accessible Independent Living House.
Join our Diverse Team
We are dedicated to recruiting and hiringqualified individuals for a wide range of educational, therapeutic, administrative and support services positions. We pride ourselves on our culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. The Viscardi Center has been a recipient of the National Organization on Disability’s Leading Disability Employer Seal every year since 2018.
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