West Ridge Academy Philosophy  (from our parent handbook)

We believe that happiness is the product of a shared experience. Joy and happiness do not come in isolation. It is in sharing the good in life that we find meaning. Connections with family, good friends and God form the foundation for a fulfilling life. Accordingly, we strive to help our students find these connections. While we do not proselyte to our students, we encourage them to bring the best from their beliefs about God and seek out a meaningful relationship with that God. A connection with Deity can be life-changing for the students we serve.

One of our Foundational Principles : Spirituality

A connection with Deity can change the life of a troubled soul. God, however understood by our students, motivates them to be better, to love deeper, and to appreciate more. We encourage our students to be more devout in whatever faith they bring to the Academy.

See the entire Change Model Here

On Sundays there is an opportunity for students to attend a church service or group Bible studies. Sundays are used as a day of rest. The structure is set up for students to do many different things: study, write letters, play board games, read, watch inspirational movies, etc. Sunday ends with a non-denominational devotional that all the students attend with either their families or home staff.

Sunday Night Devotionals

In line with our belief in the importance of a spiritual component in the treatment of our students, West Ridge Academy holds a weekly non-denominational devotional every Sunday evening from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The devotionals are hosted by our staff and cover a variety of topics. Speakers and presenters as well as musical groups from the community provide an uplifting opportunity for students and their families to enjoy the environment of a Christian program.

Unless previously arranged with a student's therapist, every student is expected to attend the Sunday evening devotional. If a student is on a home visit, we expect the student to return in time to attend the devotional. Once initial contact with a student has been made and your therapist has given approval, parents and family members are invited and encouraged to attend these devotionals. This is a valuable opportunity for parents to spend time with their children and encourage them in their spiritual development.

Occasionally, due to holidays throughout the year, a Sunday evening devotional is cancelled. Typically, if there is a reserved holiday on Monday, there will not be a devotional held the night before. If you have questions about a particular devotional and whether or not it will be held, please contact your child's therapist or the main receptionist.