Newman Student Success Center

For students who are struggling (and, in most cases, have diagnosed learning challenges), “Student Success Center” works with teachers to: 

• Understand their students’ learning profiles (strengths and challenges, anxiety etc.)

• Scaffold assignments by creating visually friendly work docs, finding supplemental videos, adjust assignment parameters etc. 

• Differentiate assignments if needed in more severe situations (e.g. slideshows vs. essays, audio recording vs. essay etc.)

Students in our program each have a Formalized Plan Document (3-4 pages)  that includes:

• Student interests/activities

• Strengths/Challenges

• Key Info. from Neuro-Evals, IEPs, 504s 

• Classroom/Work Accommodations and modifications

• Testing Accommodations and modifications

Each teacher of these students receives this plan and are executive it throughout the year. 

At the beginning of the school year, meetings will be held to discuss this plan, and the accommodations/modifications in the plan, so that it is clear what is to be done throughout the year. Attending this meeting should be:

• All classroom teachers of a given student

• The student’s advisor

• Assistant Head of School or Dean of Students

• A member of Student Success Center

A copy of the Accommodations/Modifications should also be shared with the student’s parents.

 

Support team members will share the Accommodations/Modifications list with the parents and answer any questions about them.

Support team members will communicate with parents how the Student Success Center works. They communicate about students’ rising or falling levels of independence (“self-directed learning”), growth of self-advocacy and progress toward academic skills.
 

Students with learning challenges who have been selected by teachers/Success Team members as needing extra “out-of-class” support may be placed in a “course” on their schedule called “Student Success Center” – during those blocks, they work with a  support teacher either one-on-one or in a small group. Depending on the student, this will happen 1x or 2x week.