At St. Bernard Academy, Learning Services are available to provide support to those students that have been identified as having a learning difference, as well as to those students who have not yet been identified but are struggling academically.

SBA employs two Learning Specialists. Leslie Winter, the Senior Learning Specialist, serves students from 3rd-8th Levels, as well as oversees the Learning Services program. Lauren Duckworth, speech-language pathologist, serves as Learning Specialist for Junior Kindergarten-3rd Level, as well as provides speech-language services for all grades.

services provided

Student Support Plan

Students that already have a diagnosed learning difference are provided the opportunity to have a Student Support Plan. This plan delineates the specific accommodations that are appropriate for a student's diagnosis, as well as what is reasonable to provide within the SBA environment. Learning Specialists also work closely with classroom teachers to determine which accommodations are able to be managed within the classroom. Accommodations that are not able to be met by the classroom teacher are provided by Student Support Services as staff is available.
 

Weekly Meetings

Students that require extra help beyond accommodations are provided the opportunity to meet with a Learning Specialist one time per week to work on specific skills, class work, and/or advocacy skills. If students require more intensive intervention, the Learning Specialists will provide guidance for seeking outside resources.
 

Assessments

The Learning Specialists also provide support for those students that are struggling academically but have not yet been identified as having a learning difference. Once a student has been referred to Learning Services, the initial contact may include standardized and/or informal assessments to determine if the need can be met in-house or if the student will need to be referred for a more thorough evaluation.
 

One-On-One or Small Group Intervention

For students that continue to struggle but have not been referred for outside testing, a Learning Specialist may provide one-on-one or small group intervention to address the specific need for a limited period of time. The Learning Specialist will meet regularly with the classroom teachers to determine if the student is making gains. If a student continues to demonstrate difficulty in the subject area, the Learning Specialist will provide a referral to parents regarding outside assessment services.

Study Skill Development

The Senior Learning Specialist 3-8 also provides educational support in the area of study skill development. Support is provided within guided study halls, as well as individually as needed.