Hope Hall is the only school to offer the time-proven Mastery in Learning Program (MIL), written and copyrighted by Diana Dolce, S.S.J., the school’s founder and principal. The MIL Program teaches the full New York State curriculum, as well as organizational skills and social skills, in a non-traditional way. It has been used successfully since 1977 to help students with ADD, ADHD and Central Auditory Processing problems to become lifelong learners. The program strategies are designed to meet the needs of children who have experienced frustration and failure in a traditional classroom setting. Content and study skills are constantly reviewed and reinforced so that students achieve high levels of mastery.

All teachers at Hope Hall are New York State certified, and along with support personnel, are specially trained in Mastery In Learning methods.

At Hope Hall, teaching strategies and techniques are designed to develop the whole child – mind, body, and spirit. Classroom activities help students develop higher level thinking skills such as drawing conclusions, making inferences, and predicting outcomes. Students are also taught to resolve problems through value-centered, non-violent means. This holistic approach to education provides a supportive learning environment that promotes a sense of community and belonging and fosters social growth. In addition, it provides students with the knowledge, skills, positive attitudes, and self-confidence needed to:

• achieve academic success at Hope Hall and beyond
• become lifelong learners
• develop a sense of pride in, and respect for, their own body as well as for all life
• adopt healthy lifestyles that include good nutrition and physical fitness
• recognize and use non-violent ways of interacting with others
• foster a personal sense of spirituality
• reverence diversity and appreciate the uniqueness and goodness of each person
• be good citizens and stewards of the earth