academic enrichment

Helen Dembinski

Director of Academic
Center for Enrichment
hdembinski@rockyhill.org

The goal of the Academic Center for Enrichment (ACE) is to support student learning with a customized program. We recognize the student’s talents while helping them acquire skills and strategies needed to be a successful lifelong learner. Our transformative program inspires confidence in students so they are prepared for a future in which they can accomplish anything. Students are matched with ACE teachers with an eye toward promoting each student’s development of the Student Competencies and acknowledging their myriad of gifts. We offer academic support, study skills, assistive technology, active student participation, and research-based techniques that target specific areas in reading, writing, and math. ACE prepares students to become independent, confident learners, and self-advocates in the classroom and beyond.

ACE

ACADEMIC CENTER

FOR ENRICHMENT

Celebrating neurodiversity and fostering the skills for life long learning

SESSIONS
ACE sessions are small group (1-3 students) classes held during non-academic periods in each Division. Teachers support the students at varying levels based on feedback from Admissions or request of the family and can range from 1 to 5 sessions a week. These students sometimes have a diagnosed language-based learning difference while others simply are eager to learn new skills to enhance their academic journey.
GOAL SETTING
ACE teachers work to integrate student learning needs into their learning environment to meet goals established at the beginning of the school year. On top of providing learning profiles and differentiation techniques to classroom teachers, ACE faculty support students in targeted classroom settings as well. All students enrolled in ACE are monitored throughout the year by their teachers, advisers, and Division Head.
PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY
Any student K-12 is eligible for the program and parents should ask during the admissions process or with their Division Head if they're a current family. ACE programming is an additional fee that will be assessed in addition to tuition costs. Please contact the Admissions Office for more details on the cost per session.

AS A PROGRAM, WE BELIEVE…

  • Learning differences are strengths and neurodiversity enriches our entire campus
  • Project based learning, small class sizes, and a multidisciplinary approach that includes teachers, advisors, counselors, parents and learning specialists is the most effective way to support students
  • Every student is unique and there is no “one size fits all” 
  • Innovation in neuroscience and brain development unlock new teaching strategies and methods of learning 
  • Direct teaching of academic and self advocacy skills increase self esteem, boost overall confidence and improve learning outcomes

PROGRAM INFORMATION

Students in the ACE program are assessed each year and a conversation with the student, family, ACE team, and Division Head determine their enrollment in the program for the following year. Student support reflects the growing nature of the learner and can change from year to year based on the needs of the student. During the year families receive bi-weekly updates from the ACE teacher on their child so they get a sense of current work and progress being made in the sessions.

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BENFITS OF THE LOWER SCHOOL PROGRAM
  • Targeted reading support with specialized programs such as Orton-Gillingham, Read Naturally, Project Read, and Lindamood-Bell.
  • Early identification of learning needs through diagnostic assessments and frequent progress monitoring. 
  • Multisensory teaching techniques to develop understanding of individual learning styles. 
  • Students and teachers write yearly individualized SMART goals to leverage strengths and work on weaknesses. SMART goals set learning targets and monitor progress to increase self-awareness and self-advocacy.
  • Targeted interventions with a mixture of in-class, small group, and one-on-one support to obtain grade-level proficiency. 
  • Frequent parent communication with monthly reports, report card comments, individualized goals meetings, and seasonal educational parent coffees.
BENEFITS OF THE MIDDLE & UPPER SCHOOL PROGRAM
  • Focus on executive functioning development with lessons on organization, planning, prioritizing, self advocacy, and time-management.
  • Integration of cognitive and non-cognitive skills that support resilience, persistence, and independence. 
  • Close collaboration with teachers, advisors, and college counselor to aid in transition planning. 
  • Students and teachers write yearly individualized SMART goals to leverage strengths and work on weaknesses. SMART goals set learning targets and monitor progress to increase self-awareness and self-advocacy.
  • Targeted interventions with a mixture of in-class, small group, and one-on-one support to obtain grade-level proficiency. 
  • Frequent parent communication with bi-weekly reports, report card comments, individualized goals meetings, and seasonal educational parent coffees.

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CONTACT US

If you have any questions, or would like to know more about Rocky Hill Country Day School, please fill out the form below.

Rocky Hill Country Day School

530 Ives Road
East Greenwich, RI 02818

Phone: 401.884.9070
Fax: 401.885.4985