Private Catholic School Learning Differences Program

Pinecrest Academy Resource Center (PARC)

After years of conducting research on best practices, evaluating our academic achievement data, and conducting focus groups with parents, students, and teachers, Pinecrest Academy is proud to roll out its research supported Resource Center. Named after our Paladin mascot Rocky, our program focuses on developing each student’s fortitude and resilience to aim higher academically and emotionally.

The program is segmented into two categories: “Rocky Gold” Full Learning Support Program, and “Rocky Green” Partial Learning Support Program. Our motto is “Semper Altius,” which means ALWAYS HIGHER, and that is, and will always be, what we want for each and every child.

Our “Rocky Gold” Learning Support Program at Pinecrest Academy provides support to students in grades 2-12 who have been diagnosed with a learning challenge, such as dyslexia or other processing exceptionalities, and or organizational challenges. Enrollment in the program is dependent upon a current psycho-educational evaluation and a completed Individual Learning Plan. Enrollment in the program carries supplemental fees not covered by tuition.

List of 3 items.

High School Rocky Gold
Students in grades 9-12 will participate in a normal school day and attend daily classes with their assigned grade level or the appropriate academic level.

All students who gain eligibility into the Full Learning Support Program will be afforded the following accommodations:
- A completed Individual Learning Plan that will be implemented and monitored by qualified Learning Support Staff;
- Learning Support Staff will collaborate with teachers to ensure each child’s Individual Learning Plan is implemented;
- Learning Support Staff will track student progress and communicate this progress with parents, as agreed upon in the Individual Learning Plan;
- Monday - Friday small group, specialized instruction during Study Hall. Students will receive small group support, as appropriate, in all subject areas, and/or organizational and time management;
- Students may receive additional support through a “push-in” model, where the Learning Support Specialist will be a part of the students’ classes throughout their schedule; supporting new information, remediation as necessary, and the ability to transfer over information into small group tutoring sessions for additional reinforcement;
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday small group tutoring will be available for students in the program from 3:20 pm to 4:00 pm;
- A maximum of 10 segments, which may include small group instruction, supportive instruction in classes, and individualized support as needed.
Middle School Rocky Gold
Students in grades 6-8 will participate in a normal school day and attend daily classes with their assigned grade level or the appropriate academic level. Students in the Full Learning Support program will opt out of Spanish and receive personalized support during this segment of time.

All students who gain eligibility into the Full Learning Support Program will be afforded the following accommodations:
- A completed Individual Learning Plan that will be implemented and monitored by qualified Learning Support Staff;
- Learning Support Staff will collaborate with teachers to ensure each child’s Individual Learning Plan is implemented;
- Learning Support Staff will track student progress and communicate this progress with parents, as agreed upon in the Individual Learning Plan;
- Small group, specialized instruction is offered on varying days throughout the week, during Spanish class. Students will receive specialized support in the areas of Math, English, or organizational and time management:
  - 6th - 7th grade Offered 3 days per week
  - 8th grade Offered 4 days per week
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday small group tutoring will be available for students in the program from 3:20 pm to 4:00 pm;
- Students may receive additional support through a “push-in” model, where the Learning Support Specialist will be a part of the students’ classes throughout their schedule, supporting new information, remediation as necessary, and the ability to transfer over information into the small group tutoring sessions for additional reinforcement:
  - 6th - 7th grade: Learning Support Staff supports 3 sessions of supportive instruction during content classes throughout the week
  - 8th grade: Learning Support Staff supports 2 sessions of supportive instruction during content classes throughout the week
- Support in the full program will receive a maximum of 10 segments, which may include small group instruction, and supportive instruction in general education classes.
Lower School Rocky Gold
Students in grades 2-5 will participate in a normal school day and attend daily classes with their assigned grade level or the appropriate academic level. Students in the Full Learning Support program will receive specialized instruction throughout their daily schedule.

All students who gain eligibility into the Full Learning Support Program will be afforded the following accommodations:
- A completed Individual Learning Plan that will be implemented and monitored by qualified Learning Support Staff;
- Learning Support Staff will collaborate with teachers to ensure each child’s Individual Learning Plan is implemented;
- Learning Support Staff will track student progress and communicate this progress with parents, as agreed upon in the Individual Learning Plan;
- Students will receive 4-6 segments of specifically designed instruction and remediation during a specified time agreed upon by the parents and the student’s teacher and Learning Support Teacher;
- Support in the Full Program may include small group instruction, individualized tutoring, and supportive instruction in classes.

List of 3 items.

High School Rocky Green
Students in grades 9-12 will participate in a normal school day and attend daily classes with their assigned grade level or the appropriate academic level.

All students who gain eligibility into the Partial Learning Support Program will be afforded the following accommodations:
- A completed Individual Learning Plan, implemented and monitored by qualified Learning Support Staff;
- Learning Support Staff will collaborate with teachers to ensure each child’s Individual Learning Plan is implemented;
- Learning Support Staff will track student progress and communicate this progress with parents, as agreed upon in the Individual Learning Plan;
- Monday - Friday small group, specialized instruction during Study Hall. Students will receive small group support, as appropriate, in all subject areas and/or organizational and time management.
Middle School Rocky Green
Students in grades 6-8 will participate in a normal school day and attend daily classes with their assigned grade level or the appropriate academic level. Students in the Partial Learning Support Program will opt out of Spanish and receive personalized support during this segment of time.

All students who gain eligibility into the Partial Learning Support Program will be afforded the following accommodations:
- A completed Individual Learning Plan, implemented and monitored by qualified Learning Support Staff;
- Learning Support Staff will collaborate with teachers to ensure each child’s Individual Learning Plan is implemented;
- Learning Support Staff will track student progress and communicate this progress with parents, as agreed upon in the Individual Learning Plan;
- Monday - Friday small group, specialized instruction during Spanish. Students will receive small group support, as appropriate, in the areas of Math, English, or organizational and time management:
- 6th grade Offered 3 days per week
- 7th-8th grade Offered 4 days per week
- Students receive additional support through a “push-in” model, where the Learning Support Specialist will be a part of the students’ content classes throughout their schedule, supporting new information, remediation as necessary, and the ability to transfer over information into study hall sessions for additional reinforcement:
- 6thgrade: Learning Support Staff supports 2 sessions of supportive instruction during content classes throughout the week;
- 7th-8th grade: Learning Support Staff supports 1 session of supportive instruction during content classes throughout the week;
- Support in the Partial Program will receive a maximum of 5 segments, which may include small group instruction during Spanish tutoring, and supportive instruction in general education classes
Lower School Rocky Green
Students in grades 2-5 will participate in a normal school day and attend daily classes with their assigned grade level or the appropriate academic level. Students in the Partial Learning Support Program will receive specialized instruction throughout their daily schedule.
- All students who gain eligibility into the Partial Learning Support Program will be afforded the following accommodations:
- A completed Individual Learning Plan, implemented and monitored by qualified Learning Support Staff;
- Learning Support Staff will collaborate with teachers to ensure each child’s Individual Learning Plan is implemented;
- Learning Support Staff will track student progress and communicate this progress with parents, as agreed upon in the Individual Learning Plan;
- Students will receive up to 3 segments of specifically designed instruction and remediation during a specified time agreed upon by the parents, student’s teacher, and learning support staff.
Developmental Reading Program
Students in grades 1-5 will participate in a normal school day and attend daily classes with their assigned grade level or the appropriate academic level. Students will participate in small group instruction up to 3 times per week with Lower School Learning Support Staff. Students will be taught using the Orton-Gillingham Reading Program (or comparable program), which provides systematic, explicit instruction in phonemic awareness and phonics, then taught how to apply this knowledge to reading. Eligibility for the program is based upon teacher recommendation and does not require an Individual Education Plan.
- Learning Support Staff will collaborate with teachers to ensure each child’s Individual Learning Plan is implemented;
- Learning support Staff will consult with the classroom teacher to assimilate learned skills into the Wonders Reading Program, which is used by all Lower School teachers;
- Learning Support Staff will monitor progress by using DRA, Wonders Reading series assessments, and other standardized instruments. Students will be assessed at the end of every semester, and will be released at that time, as they demonstrate grade level performance in the areas of basic reading and reading comprehension;
- Students recommended for the program will meet up to 3 times per week with learning support staff for remediation and support.

Participation Requirements

Rocky Green and Rocky Gold | Grades 2-12

Student must have a comprehensive psycho-educational assessment identifying a specific disability conducted by a licensed professional
Individual Learning Plan (ILP) based on recommendations indicated on the psycho-educational assessment

Developmental Reading Program | Grades 1 - 5

Student does not have to have a psycho-educational evaluation or Individual Learning Plan (ILP)
Recommendation by teacher, principal and Learning Specialist
Data to support need for recommendation in areas of phonemic awareness and reading comprehension

PARC Q & A

List of 9 items.

Are there students who may not be eligible for the Learning Support Program?

Some students may have disabilities or conditions where their needs may not be met at Pinecrest.
Is there an extra cost for the program?

ILP Management ($500 per semester)
Rocky Green Partial ($1,750 per semester)
Rocky Gold Full ($3,500 per semester)
Academic Tutorial Service ($80 per session)
Lower School Development Reading Program ($1,750 per semester)
May I provide my own tutor?

Pinecrest Academy no longer permits outside tutors during the school day.
What does "push-in model" mean and what are the benefits?

The push-in model combines knowledge and expertise of the general education teacher and the learning specialist, working in collaboration together. Instructional support, differentiated instruction, and other specially designed accommodation and modifications will be provided in the student’s classroom during real time instruction. The ability of the general education teacher and learning support specialist provide a unique opportunity for our students. This type of support also limits disruption to the student’s daily schedule (such as pulling students out of a classroom). The ultimate goal of the push-in model is to ensure students have full access to the general education curriculum while meeting their individual needs.
What if my child has an ILP but does not require services, only basic accommodations?

Pinecrest offers ILP Management. The management of the ILP includes but is not limited to, update of any new psychological reports and/or other assessments from outside providers. Additionally, updates on grades, progress and present levels of performance throughout the current school year from general education teachers- to include data that supports the need for accommodations such as percentages on assignments and tests with and without extended time, and the documented use and need of accommodations are also included.
Moreover, an ILP will be supported by a dedicated Learning Support Specialist (LSS) who will be available if additional support is needed. The LSS will serve as a liaison to facilitate communication between home and school in order to rectify any concerns/struggles that present themselves throughout the school year. The LSS will serve as a mentor to the classroom teachers, working with them to ensure accommodations are met, interpreting educational evaluations and assisting the teacher in understanding strengths and weaknesses, as well as ensuring progress monitoring and adjustment of accommodations as needed.
*College Board and ACT do require documentation of students utilizing their accommodations within the classroom, and during tests; in addition to the submission of data demonstrating a difference in results when students use the accommodations and do not. The LSS will assist with fulfilling these needs through an ILP management fee.
** HS Counselors will continue to complete the processes regarding standardized testing such as ACT and SAT.
What if my student has formalized testing completed mid-year?

A comprehensive assessment completed by a licensed psychologist or M.D. mid-year will be considered as soon as it is received by the school. A member of the Learning Support Team will review the evaluation and if the student is diagnosed with a learning disability or other diagnosis that impedes the ability to learn, an individual learning plan will be developed and distributed to the student’s teachers.
What is the program offering to assist students in developing executive functioning skills?

The PARC program will also help support and develop Executive Functioning skills. These cognitive skills (organization, working memory, ability to initiate tasks, switch focus or manage one’s behavior) are essential to a student’s success. The learning support specialist will use the student’s academic assignments and responsibilities as a platform for teaching and implementing these skills. The learning support specialist will teach, model, and support students in acquiring the skills they need to succeed in school.
What specific support does the program provide?
Rocky Gold Full Learning Support and Rocky Green Partial Learning Support provide the following:
- A completed Individual Learning Plan that will be implemented and monitored by qualified Learning Support Staff
- Learning Support Staff will collaborate with general education teachers to ensure each child’s Individual Learning Plan is implemented
- Learning Support Staff will track student progress and communicate this progress with parents as agreed upon in the Individual Learning Plan. This plan supports academic tutoring, testing strategies, study skills, managing testing accommodations, working with classroom teachers who support accommodations, interpreting educational evaluations for parents and teachers, maintaining communication with classroom teachers, and providing updates to parents
- Rocky Gold Full receives up to 10 instructional sessions weekly, with a learning support specialist
- Rocky Green Partial receives up to 5 instructional sessions weekly, with a learning support specialist
- Students will receive a combination of individual class, small group, and push in support
  
  *Models vary based on grade level
Who is eligible?

Students with mild learning differences, attention issues or executive functioning difficulties identified through an independent psychoeducational evaluation.

Students qualifying for and receiving instructional and testing accommodations through an Individual Learning Plan (ILP).

Students are referred by teachers, advisor, administrator, or parent, in need of additional support for improved performance through the school’s student support team.

List of 4 items.

Alice Murphy, Ed.D. - Lead Learning Specialist

Alice Murphy is an Educational Specialist serving as Coordinator for the Pinecrest Academy Resource Center (PARC).
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Michele Rebhandl, Lower School Learning Specialist

Michele Rebhandl has been teaching at Pinecrest Academy since 2005.
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Robin Coulter – Middle School Learning Specialist

Robin Coulter joined Pinecrest Academy in 2014 as a Reading Specialist.
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Heath Kennedy, High School Learning Specialist

Heath Kennedy joined Pinecrest Academy in 2018 as a Middle School Science Teacher and Varsity Baseball Head Coach.
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