St. Andrew's is happy to offer both emotional and academic support for students beyond that provided in the classroom when it is needed. With learning specialists, counselors, and Chaplains available in all three divisions, administrators, teachers, and advisors are in constant communication about which students may need a helping hand.
In the Lower School, two learning specialists, one counselor, and the Director of Social Emotional Learning are available to students as needed. The Middle and Upper School each have their own full-time counselor on campus and share a learning specialist.
Counseling
Students are welcome to stop in to see the counselor or schedule a time to visit when they are not in class. Advisors, teachers, and administrators can refer a student about whom they are concerned to the counseling office. Parents are also encouraged to contact the counseling office if they are concerned about their child and would like a counselor to check in with them.
While St. Andrew’s counselors proceed with appropriate action based on their professional judgment, they do not provide on-going therapy. If the counselor identifiess a student to need on-going services, the counselor will contact the parents with appropriate referrals. In most cases, older students will be encouraged to inform their parents of their meetings and to give permission for the counselor to communicate directly with their parents. In the Lower School, parents are notified when their child is seen by the counselor, either individually or in on-going groups.
Learning Specialists
Not every child learns in the same way. St. Andrew's is committed to recognizing - not hiding - learning differences so that each child has an equal opportunity to succeed. To support this effort, St. Andrew's has two very unique on-site resources: a Certified Academic Language Specialist, and an Academic Learning Specialist. If a child is having a difficult time with test taking, time management, or the curriculum in general, they are here to help identify the issue and devise a solution. They both also works along side our counselors and the Director of Social and Emotional Learning to educate the community on the importance of the total well-being of our children.
Learning Specialist Functions:
- Help identify children with learning difficulties in early grades & provide prevention and intervention, rather than remediation, as students move into the upper grades.
- Provide immediate academic support to students, parents, and teachers when learning difficulties become evident.
- Develop steps for observing, identifying, and reporting on students that exhibit learning problems.
- Administer informal assessments & provide referral lists if further testing is warranted or requested.
- Maintain records on students with learning needs & meets with teachers at the beginning of each year to discuss these records.
- Act as a resource to provide or locate help for students with learning difficulties.
- Act as the resource for academic support for students, such as tutors after school or other professionals when needed.
- Provide ongoing teacher education for identification and classroom support of students with learning differences.
Chaplains
In addition, our Chaplains on both campuses are always happy to meet with students who need guidance or support.