Bentley Academy

Dedicated to Excellence

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  • Bentley Academy

    134 East Middle Turnpike
    Manchester, CT 06040

    Office: 860.647.3343
    Fax:  860.647.5080
    School Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Mission Statement
Bentley exists to serve high school students who are in need of something other than a traditional school setting.  We will honor the importance of safe meaningful relationships in our quest for education of all.   We recognize that the students we serve come with dynamic and diverse histories, and, as such, we will rely on innovative, creative, and specialized planning to meet each individual’s educational demands. We respect and value their unique contributions, and as a unified staff are committed to meeting student needs and helping them become lifelong learners. We will do this in a safe and nurturing environment where everyone can learn, and our school beliefs of honesty, respect, kindness and responsibility are upheld.

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Bentley Overview

  • Overview

    Bentley Alternative Education was created in 1993 in the old Bentley Elementary Building on the corner of Summit and Hollister Streets. The program has evolved over the years from its beginnings with two teachers (Al Vicki and Dave Mazzotta), a secretary and a part time administrator to a program designed to serve around 50 students with 8 teachers, a school counselor, school psychologist, social worker, two paraprofessionals, two behavior technicians, a secretary and an administrator. The program has grown in order to offer the best support possible for our student body. The current student body is comprised of high school students. We craft individualized schedules to meet the goals of the students; this includes taking classes at MHS for those students seeking elective or academic classes not offered by our staff, or for those seeking to matriculate to MHS full-time.

    Counseling

    Bentley has three counselors who work with students and their families to develop strong social skills, coping skills, and all of those skills and qualities that enable students to become successful.

    Our counseling team works with parents and community providers to create support for each student to maximize their well being and personal growth.

    Counseling Groups

    At Bentley, we currently have three groups in place. Group counseling helps students develop communication skills and socialization skills, and allows students to learn how to express their issues and accept criticism from others. Group counseling also allows individuals to develop self-awareness by listening to others with similar issues.

    Young Men’s Group- School Social Worker and Youth Services Bureau staff collaborate to run this weekly group specifically for young men.  The focus of discussion in group is on meeting the challenges adolescents face in today’s world and understanding one’s place in that same world.

    Girl’s Group- School Psychologist and School Counselor run this group for girls to have the opportunity to share their feelings and struggles as they openly discuss important issues in a safe and supportive environment. Some  topics that are included are empowerment, self-awareness, coping strategies, problem-solving skills, relationships , and healthy decision making.

    UCONN Group- UCONN undergraduate students work with our high school students to enhance their leadership skills and self-awareness. The group is celebrated with a fun day at UCONN.

    Transition Program

    Bentley uses a college and career readiness curriculum (envisionIT) to prepare the 21st century student. The envisionIT Curriculum is a 12 unit curriculum and course model for students in grades 6 - 12. The curriculum covers topics in: Information Technology Literacy, English Language Arts, College and Career Readiness, Financial Literacy, and Career Technical.  At the end of the 12 units students create a Transition Portfolio (transition assessment results, career research, post-secondary goals).

Merit System

  • Merit System

    At Bentley academy, we created a merit system to help students learn to manage their behavior successfully. Students are rewarded with tickets for doing the right thing, exhibiting acts of kindness, and going above and beyond academic expectations. However, students can earn demerits for using inappropriate language, being disruptive in class, being non-compliant, and acting disrespectfully. When these behaviors occur, we engage in restorative practices to help improve and repair relationships and manage behaviors to get the students on the right track towards success.

    As a way to promote appropriate and positive behaviors, Bentley has created an incentive program. Some of our incentives include raffles at community meetings, field trips such as bowling, hiking, and attending the movies, and various food rewards such as pizza lunch, pancake breakfast, and ice cream bar.

Academic Overview


  • Academic Overview

    At Bentley Academy staff works collaboratively within the academy and with Manchester High School staff to develop and implement curricula that meets students where they are and helps them grow in the capacities of the vision of the graduate.  Students are able to complete all of the credit requirements for graduation as defined by the Manchester Board of Education within the academy. While all core courses and some electives are offered at Bentley, students also have the opportunity to take courses in their area of interest at MHS. Bentley staff are a committed and  empathetic group of highly qualified educators that work cooperatively with students to ensure academic success.

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