The Maritime Academy

Now in its tenth year, the Maritime program offers an alternative, hands-on education targeting students with social-emotional/behavioral disabilities in grades six through eight.

Located at the Capital Region Maritime Center in Alplaus, New York (within the Niskayuna School District), the Maritime Academy provides an experiential education integrating the areas of academics, social development, speech-language and technology.

Academically, this regular assessment middle school Intense Management Needs (IMN) program is a continuation and enhancement of the elementary IMN program. Its emphasis is on learning in the core curricular areas (reading, writing, math, science and social studies) is aligned with the New York State Learning Standards for Students. Students in this program prepare for and take New York State exams. Students also participate in art, physical education, music, home economics. Therapies, as outlined in student IEPs, are provided both one-on-one and in small group settings.

The Maritime program’s hands-on boat building component is unique.

Students are scheduled on average one hour and twenty minutes of shop time per day. Through this activity, students  develop a sense of competency through their achievement. A variety of hand-crafted wooden items are made by students during the school year. The program culminates each year with the construction of hand-made wooden boats built by student teams.

For more information about the Maritime Academy program contact:                                 

Barbara Gabriel-Catalano, middle school principal, bcatalan@gw.neric.org