Academic Support
Student Support Services
Mission Statement
The division of Enrollment and Student Support Services exists to provide academic and social support to current and prospective students, both traditional and non-traditional, through quality services, programs and resources available at St. Xavier High School.
- After School Study Tables
- Bereavement Group - Brothers on a Journey
- Diversity Program
- Donation Program
- Tutoring Programs
- Retention Program
After School Study Tables
Bereavement Group - Brothers on a Journey
This program is designed to help students understand the many aspects of grief and provide a space where students can find hope, strength, and healing. The monthly meetings give students the opportunity to meet in a confidential group setting and participate in various activities and discussions to enhance their knowledge of the grief process and encourage healthy grieving. The meetings are conducted by members of the Guidance , Campus Ministry, and Student Support Services Departments. Along with student leaders.. For more information, contact Anna Davis at 513.761.7600 ext. 509 or adavis@stxavier.org.
Diversity Program
The Diversity Programs exist at St. Xavier community to raise consciousness about and educate about the challenges and benefits of diversity and inclusion. Programs include Hands Across Campus, Parents Across Cultures, Smooth Transitions, Fun Fridays, college visits, college application writing nights and minority scholarship opportunities. If you would like more information about these programs please contact any member of the Enrollment Services Staff.
Donation Program
The Learning Center collects donations of the following things in order to support all students by meeting their individual needs:
- Gently used books, especially mandatory reading materials (novels, summer reading requirements, etc.)
- School supplies that are still useable and in good shape (notebooks, note cards, writing utensils, art supplies, binders, etc.)
- Gently used spirit wear, belts, and ties
- Gently used backpacks
For more information contact Jill Malik (513.761.7600 ext. 526, jmailk@stxavier.org)
Tutoring Programs
Peer Tutoring
The peer tutoring program is an academic support program available to all St. X students. Students who are struggling in a particular academic area are paired with a student who has a strong understanding of that content. Students are scheduled meet at designated times during their free bell, flex, before or after school, and attendance is tracked and recorded. In addition, this is a great service and leadership opportunity for those students who volunteer to serve as tutors. To get more information, sign up to get a tutor, or to sign up to become a tutor, contact Jill Malik in the Learning Center at 513.761.7600 ext. 526 or jmalik@stxavier.org.
Adult Tutoring
For students who demonstrate a significant academic need, there are opportunities to meet with adult tutors. Students must be referred to adult tutoring services by a St. X faculty or staff member such as a teacher or guidance counselor. Students meet weekly with the adult tutor during a free bell or flex time. For more information, contact Jill Malik in the Learning Center at 513.761.7600 ext. 526 or jmalik@stxavier.org.
Retention Program
The retention program is a program to provide support to students with needs (or those we anticipate to have needs) beyond what a guidance counselor can provide. These needs may be social, economic, or academic in nature. For more information, contact Retention Direction Tami Kilgore at 513.761.7600 ext. 588 or tkilgore@stxavier.org.
Student Support Services Staff
Jill Malik
Intervention Services
Educational Support Program
- Jon Peterson and Autism Provider
- Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD)
- The Inclusive Education Approach
- Special Education Services / Accommodation Plans
- Cost of Services Funding Special Education Services
- Addtional Questions / Contact Information
Jon Peterson and Autism Provider
The Scholarship Coordinator coordinates the development of the IEP each year with the local school district, parents and St. Xavier educators, handling scholarship paperwork and serving as a resource for parents. In addition, the Scholarship Coordinator maintains compliance with each student’s district of residence. She works with the IEP Team to ensure that annual reviews are conducted on time, and she may represent the Finneytown Local School District at annual review meetings.
St. Xavier High School is a provider for the Ohio Department of Education’s Jon Peterson and Autism Scholarship Programs. Our Catholic school offers an inclusive general education environment designed to meet your child’s needs. Students needing special education services in grades 9 through 12 receive accommodations in the general education classroom while their Direct, specialized, Instruction will be addressed in the Educational Support Bell that is dedicated to students on IEPs. With a combination of the scholarships, tuition, federal funds, and state funds, we attempt to provide students with many of the services typically provided by the public schools. Currently, we have three full time Intervention Specialists and one full time Speech and Language Therapist employed by St. Xavier High School. We are also able to contract specialists on an as needed basis to provide OT, PT, Hearing Impaired support, etc.
Our goal is that students with IEP’s are successful in the rigorous academic programming at St. Xavier and they are fully prepared to enter a post-secondary college or career of their choice. At St. Xavier, we foster independence, self-advocacy, and life-long learning. We want to ensure a well-rounded education that promotes academics as well as spiritual, physical, and social development.
Please note: St. Xavier High School cannot serve every student who has special needs. Applying students will be reviewed by a screening committee of educational professionals to ensure the student is able to be successful at St. Xavier High School. The disabilities identified under IDEA for which St. X currently provides services are the following: Specific Learning Disability, Other Health Impaired-minor, Autism, Hearing Impaired, Visually Impaired, and Orthopedically Impaired. Students are expected to meet the same requirements as their peers for entrance to St. Xavier High School. We do not modify curriculum. Also, St. Xavier reserves the right to determine which accommodations are appropriate to provide the student during their time at our high school.
Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD)
St. Xavier High School recognizes that some student experience academic difficulties due to a learning disorders, attention issues, or other learning challenges. In some cases, students may require an Accommodation Plan and/or support from a specialist. Accommodations that can be implemented within the regular classroom environment (e.g. extended time on classroom tests/quizzes/exams, preferential seating, physical needs assistance) will be considered.
St. Xavier has created the Intervention Assistant Team (IAT) to examine such cases. As part of the process, the IAT evaluates all current documents (e.g., Evaluation Team Report, IEP, ISP, psychological evaluation) and develops an Accommodation Plan. The Plan provides the students with reasonable academic and behavioral accommodations.
In effort to facilitate the process, St. Xavier requests all relevant documentation about your son be sent to St. Xavier High School. Documentation should includeboth of the following:
- The 8th grade Accommodation Plan and/or the 8th grade ISP or IEP
- A current Evaluation should include:
- Identification of the specific disability (according to the DSM-V).
- A current evaluation (completed within the last three years & include both IQ testing and Achievement Testing).
- Description of presenting problem(s) and developmental history, including relevant education and medical history.
- Description of the comprehensive testing, and, as appropriate, complete ocular, audiologic, or other diagnostic exam.
- Description of the substantial limitations (e.g. adverse effects on learning, academic achievement, or other major life activities) resulting from the impairment, as supported by test results.
- Description of the specific recommended accommodations and provides rational explaining how these specific accommodations address the substantial limitations.
- Establishes the professional credentials of the evaluator(s), including information about licensure or certification, education and area of specialization, along with their signature(s).
The Inclusive Education Approach
All teachers and staff have a student-centered approach, and all staff members are made aware of the needs that students may have throughout St. Xavier. This includes in the classroom, in the cafeteria, during free bells, and in various social settings. Besides certification in core content areas, many St. Xavier teachers have certifications and/or training in areas such as special education and reading. As needed, specialists form teams for students that may include an Intervention Specialist, a Speech Pathologist, Therapists, Tutors, and Counselors.
Our team works collaboratively. Together, teachers utilize evidence-based practices to make sure that academic and social skills are supported in all environments. They communicate regularly to share progress towards meeting goals and work together to solve problems students may encounter. Teams often include teachers, administrators, coaches, staff, and school counselors. This approach allows for generalization of any skill that we are teaching to our students.
Special Education Services / Accommodation Plans
The special education staff at St. Xavier High School supports the students and general educators with a variety of services.
Our staff and intervention specialists are highly trained in meeting the needs of students’ special education needs. We consult with you to make the most beneficial changes that will produce maximum results in learning. Accommodations are strategies to enable the student to participate in the regular education classroom as independently as possible. Accommodations do not change the breadth and objectives for learning, merely how the student will take in the information or the response.
The following is a partial list of possible accommodations:
- extended time (50% extra) on classroom tests, quizzes, and exams.
- four function calculator
- breaks as needed for medical reasons
- audio books
- tests read outloud
- use of technology for written assignments
- preferential seating
Intervention Specialists
Intervention specialist(s) work with all students in grades 9-12. We have developed an Educational Support Program(ESP) through which we support your son’s needs. Services may be provided in the general classroom or in a resource room outside of the classroom. This typically addresses the need for a quiet environment for your son to study.
Speech and Language
Our licensed and highly trained speech/language pathologist provides therapy in the classroom both in small groups and individually. Research-based therapy techniques are used and data is collected to monitor student progress. Areas addressed in therapy includethose goals outlined on your son’s IEP. The speech/language pathologist will work collaboratively with all teachers and parents to develop and implement strategies that will benefit the student.
School Psychologist
The school psychologist provides mental health services that address needs at school to help students succeed academically, emotionally, and socially. They are specially trained to link mental health to learning and behavior.
Cost of Services Funding Special Education Services
St. Xavier High School is a provider of services for both the Jon Peterson and AutismScholarship Programs which is offered by the state of Ohio. All special education students who have been offered an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) by their local school district may apply for a Peterson or AutismScholarship and use those funds to pay for services at the provider of their choice.
It is the policy of St. Xavier that students participating in these scholarships allocate the amount of money charged for services to St. Xavier High School in order to cover the cost of services. In the event that the cost of services exceeds the amount of the scholarship, St. Xavier High School will make every effort to secure supplementary funds to cover the balance. Scholarship amounts are determined by the special education identification of the student as determined by the most recent ETR (Evaluation Team Report). Parents are responsible for costs of services not identified in the Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
The total for special education students will be the general tuition, plus the Inclusive Classroom Environment Fee plus hourly billing for the cost of special education services. Jon Peterson andAutismmoney does not pay down the tuition. There is financial aid available through St. Xavier to help families with the cost of tuition.
Addtional Questions / Contact Information
If you have specific questions, please contact Mrs. Michelle Yauss, Director of Intervention Services, at myauss@stxavier.org or 513.761.7815 x309.
Questions regarding the Peterson procedures, should be directed to the Ohio Department of Education peterson.scholarship@ode.state.oh.us.
Questions regarding the Autism Scholarship Program should be directed to the Ohio Department of Education 614.466.2650, or emailed to autismscholarship@ode.state.oh.us.