Student Support

Through one-on-one consultations with students, the specialists provide support in the following areas: organization, time management, study skills, test taking strategies, self-advocacy, and executive functioning skills. The specialists also help to facilitate implementation of accommodations in the classroom, as well as limited interventions outside of the classroom. 

 

The Director of Student Support works with the school administration to share best instructional practices to differentiate instruction that supports the diverse learners in the classroom. 

 

We understand that there may be circumstances when a parent may request that the School provide an accommodation for a student’s medical needs or physical, mental, or learning disability. As the range of requests has grown over the years, the School believes that it is appropriate at this time to outline the School’s policy and general guidelines for addressing such requests. 

In general, it is our school’s policy to provide accommodations for a student’s minor needs in circumstances in which the administration determines, in its sole discretion, that doing so is within the reasonable ability of the School and/or its staff and will not result in a significant disruption to the teacher’s ability to instruct other students, to classroom or school order and discipline, will not require a threat of harm to the safety of other students or employees, will not require a fundamental change to our educational environment or mission, and will not impose responsibilities on school employees for which they are not trained. We also ask parents to realize that, given the size of our school and our available resources, we may not be able to provide all requested accommodations. To the extent we agree to provide accommodations, we may require a sharing of responsibility for the accommodation.

St Agnes provides students with documented learning differences (5) accommodations:

Once the educational evaluation or medical documentation has been received by the School, the Director of Student Support will meet with the parents to clarify information and to discuss how the five accommodations will be implemented to support their child. In some cases, the parent may be asked to provide (at the parent’s cost) any special equipment suggested, training for the School’s staff, or other associated matters. In addition, the School may advise the parent that the School will allow a particular accommodation, but the full responsibility for doing so will rest with the parent. For example, if the student needs to be tested or have certain types of medicines administered during the day that the School or nurse believe are beyond the scope of the School’s responsibility, the School may allow the parent to make arrangements to visit the campus for the purpose of testing and administering.

Students who are receiving classroom accommodations at St. Agnes based on a current diagnosis, may be eligible to receive accommodations for ACT or College Board (PSAT/SAT/AP) tests. College Board requires an educational evaluation conducted within the past 5 years and ACT requires an educational evaluation conducted within the past 3 years.  They both require the implementation and use of accommodations in the School setting for at least one semester. It is important to remember that even if a student receives accommodations at school, it does not necessarily mean that the student will be granted extended time on standardized tests. The governing board of each institution makes the decision independent of the School, based on their interpretation of the documentation presented. More information can be found at (ACT website: www.act.org) and (College Board website: www.collegeboard.org).

Freshman Seminar is a one-semester, stand-alone course designed to support our entering Freshman students in their transition from a middle school environment to the high school setting. The course aims to help students develop the necessary skills and mindset to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally during their high school years. By providing students with targeted support and guidance, Freshman Seminar aims to create a cohesive, prepared, and academically motivated freshman class. Freshman are assigned to a counselor based on their Freshman Seminar course and remain with that counselor until they are sophomores. 

Objectives in Freshman Seminar may include:

 

When school counseling work is approached from a solution-focused perspective, the focus is on identifying and building upon students' strengths, resources, and potential solutions to their challenges. St Agnes Wellness Department uses a solution-focused approach to counseling that focuses on resiliency building allowing students to return to class to ensure academic success. Here's what our approach with students focuses on:

Throughout the solution-focused approach, the school counselor maintains a positive and strengths-based perspective, emphasizing the student's abilities and potential to create positive change. They facilitate a collaborative and empowering environment that encourages students to take an active role in their own growth and development.

Freshman and Sophomores primarily receive academic advising from the Wellness Counselors. Juniors and Seniors are primarily advised by the College Counselors. This division allows students to select an appropriately rigorous curriculum which builds on their individual strengths.