Support System

*Editor’s note: St. Martin’s is committed to the privacy of all its students. To protect student and family confidentiality, names have been omitted or changed.

What Does it Mean to Educate the Whole Child?

St. Martin's comprehensive approach to Student Support Services ensures all students are engaged, supported, and challenged

On any given day from one end of St. Martin’s campus to the other, students in all divisions are meeting with and learning from a dedicated group of professionals whose tireless and skillful work is transformative, yet often happens quietly behind the scenes.

The Student Support Services team leads a combined effort of faculty, staff, and administrators to support students and guide them to be the best version of themselves.

A strong, active group of professionals, the Student Support Services team discreetly works side-by-side with the faculty, observing students’ academic and social needs, personal development, and health.

Their backgrounds are varied — from learning specialists to counselors to a registered nurse to college counselors — but they operate under a singular vision: to provide students with individualized support and a family-centered approach that will prepare students for college and life.

To meet the needs of all its students, from 8 weeks old to 12th grade, St. Martin’s recognizes that there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach. While the StM educational model is rigorous, students are provided a high level of support.

St. Martin’s faculty and staff focus on creating an environment that allows students to take control of their own learning while giving them the tools and support they need for future success.

A TEAM APPROACH

When Lower, Middle, or Upper School students are having academic or social challenges on campus or are experiencing difficult family circumstances, teams are assigned to support them. These teams, composed of learning specialists, counselors, the nurse, and the division head, gather on a regular basis.

Members of the team lean on their varied professional backgrounds to brainstorm and plan the best way to help individual students. Teachers and parents work with the team to support each student from an academic, medical, and social perspective.

Each group takes the approach that they’re “Team [Insert Student Name]” — hammering home the concept that they are the student’s biggest cheerleaders and support system.

“Coming to St. Martin’s and having my daughter receive this level of support has changed her life,” said a third grade* parent.

“The learning specialists, my daughter’s teachers, and Mr. Dieth have been with us every step of the way. At our previous school, it was ‘sink or swim.’ Here, we know that we’ve got an entire team on our side working to help our daughter be the best student and person she can be.”

The Student Support Services department’s multi-pronged approach takes into account all the challenges a student may face, whether social, emotional, health, or others. Any student — even very high academic achievers — can benefit from the support this group provides.

“Our children, even our youngest learners, are full human beings,” said Head of School Merry Sorrells, Ed.D. “We focus on making sure that they have the knowledge, skills, and tools to be intellectually curious and inquisitive. Often that means being able to see that what they’re learning is real and has relevance in the world and in their community, and they can literally get their hands in it. It also means keeping our finger on the pulse of what is happening with them academically, socially, and emotionally.”

Individuality and Confidentiality

Implicit in St. Martin’s student- and family-centered approach to education is a commitment to personalized attention. With a low teacher-to student ratio, St. Martin’s has the ability to individualize all students’ education and challenge them to reach their full potential. Great care is given to maintain the confidentiality of all personal information, including any diagnoses, health issues, or emotional struggles.

“We are fiercely protective of our students’ personal information,” said School Nurse and Student Services Department Chair Eileen Smilari, M.S.N. “It goes far beyond our mandated HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) standards, and it is something everyone in our department has in common and, thankfully, an approach that is shared by all of our faculty and staff members as well.”

HEALTHY STUDENTS

The Health Services Department supports student success by providing health care through assessment, intervention, and followup for all children within the school setting. This service helps to address the physical, mental, emotional, and social health needs of students.

Smilari is St. Martin’s full-time, licensed registered nurse. She helps all George Cottage, Lower, Middle, and Upper School students and families to develop plans for student care based on assessment, interventions, and identification of outcomes, and the evaluation of care. She also serves as a consultant with other school professionals, such as food service personnel for students with allergies.

She provides health-related education to students and staff in both individual and group settings. Smilari also helps monitor students’ immunizations, manage communicable diseases, and assess the school environment to ensure safety.

EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT

The Student Support Services department includes several learning specialists who work with all students to help them reach their maximum potential. All students are welcome to receive help from the Learning Support Program.

“We work with students, helping to teach them strategies for reading, writing, organizing, and memory, then we empower them to choose the strategies that work best for them,” said Director of Learning Services for Middle and Upper School Aileen Minihan, M.C.D., CCC/SLP.

“For example, we know from research that handwriting notes is better than typing notes for attention, memory, and comprehension, but it is up to the students to determine the note-taking style that is best for them in each subject. Part of active learning is teaching students to explore what works best for them.”

The goals are to empower all students to become advocates for themselves, so that they can achieve success and thrive both in the present and in the future. Learning specialists help students with issues such as study skills; memory, learning, and reading comprehension strategies; and test-anxiety management.

In Lower School, the learning specialists facilitate the implementation of a researchbased literacy curriculum in the classroom and provide individualized small group support when warranted.

“Reading is fundamental in building the foundation that lays the groundwork for success in school and in life,” said Director of Lower School Learning Center Barat Chisesi, M.C.D., CCC-SLP.

“Through early identification and intervention, it is our goal to prevent and remediate reading difficulties.”

The program provides differentiated learning support, comprehensive academic resources, and extensive guidance for students, parents, and faculty. The focus is on helping students successfully navigate St. Martin’s curricular expectations and maximize academic potential.

COLLEGE PREPARATION

At the heart of the school’s mission is a preparation for college and life. Leading the college preparation charge is Director of College Counseling Deborah M. Flanagan, M.A. She and the college counseling department provide a customized search and application experience for each student.

The program begins informally in the freshman year with course-selection advice,

and culminates in a personalized search for the student’s “best-fit” colleges. Seniors benefit from individual attention and support throughout the college application process, with access to the counselor during weekly application workshops and as needed on an individual basis.

“When my son first began working with Mrs. Flanagan and Mrs. [Tiffany] DuSaules [Associate Head of Upper School Academics, College Counselor, Registrar] in our wonderful college counseling department, I wasn’t so sure about some of the colleges they suggested,” said a parent* of a recent graduate.

“Mrs. Flanagan was passionate about one specific college, and I wasn’t convinced it was a good fit for him. Now, at the end of his first semester there, I am happy to admit I was wrong.”

Flanagan says that her department also works with the learning specialists to help identify students whose learning differences may have been undetected before high stakes standardized testing, like the PSAT.

“When I see a disconnect between a low test score and high grades, that is usually a red flag,” Flanagan said. “We work with the family to initiate the conversation about evaluations. Without an early diagnosis, students might struggle unnecessarily here, and that struggle will continue through college. With early intervention, students can gain tools they need for success here and beyond.”

That early support is crucial for student success and finding the best-fit college.

“Learning difference diagnoses are confidential and have no impact on college admissions,” said Flanagan. “Even when a student takes the SAT or ACT with extended time, a college will never know about the accommodation.”

SKILLS FOR LIFE

When many families think of the Student Support Services department, often what comes to mind is the educational support the team provides.

From study tips and working on improving memory to helping with organization and time management to helping students break down assignments into smaller, more manageable pieces, the team works with individual students to maximize their learning.

“I often work with Middle School students as they move up from Lower School,” said Middle School Learning Specialist Laurie Stewart, M.Ed. “Suddenly they find themselves in a new, more rigorous environment that demands they grow their skillset. We practice with students’ time management, organization, and planning skills. We even do locker checks to make sure they’re staying organized. All these skills will serve them well as they move on to Upper School, to college, and in life in general.”

Two full-time, licensed professional counselors, Christina Heath, M.Ed., LPC-S, NCC, and Heather Patterson, M.S., LPC-S, NCC, provide counseling services to all St. Martin’s and George Cottage students. Counseling services range from individual counseling to group counseling to art or play therapy to family counseling.

Implicit with St. Martin’s student and family-centered approach to education is a commitment to personalized attention.”

Inside the classroom, counselors teach students life skills on a broad range of topics, including social and emotional issues, such as empathy, friendships, handling and expressing feelings, conflict resolution, bullying/cyberbullying, social skills, and self-esteem. Counselors also help students hone their mindfulness, stress management, goal setting, and problem-solving skills.

In addition, they may touch on topics like sportsmanship, responsibility, leadership, coping skills, decision making, and social media responsibility. Each of these lessons is tailored to be age-appropriate and meaningful to students.

Heath and Patterson also seek out and host educational presentations to parents and faculty members, guest speakers, and special events for students.

“St. Martin’s faculty and staff, led by our Student Support Services team, work each day to be sure that our students understand and embrace the skills and constructs needed to thrive in college and in life,” said Sorrells. “

But more important than that is the fact that our students feel like they have the tools they need. They’re confident that they have a team of caring adults who know, love, and support each of them as individuals.”