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Learning Support Program

Donovan’s Learning Support Program

While Donovan does not provide special education services or facilities, we do have a Learning Support Program to support the academic needs of all students. From teaching Freshmen student skills to test preparation for all students to support for our highest achieving students, Donovan’s Learning Support Program aims to meet the individualized needs of all learners.

 

Accommodations

The school’s Learning Support Program accommodates students’ individual learning differences within the school’s capabilities. If you think your child is in need of accommodations, please send documentation, such as a psychological or physical health diagnosis from a qualified medical professional, IEP or 504 plan from public school to Mr. Hogan at [email protected]. Once documentation is received, the school will evaluate what accommodations we have available and send a proposed accommodation list to the family for review. Once the accommodation plan is approved by the family and the Head of School, the student’s teachers will be notified.

 

Action Plans

In order to communicate student progress to students and families regularly, Donovan Administration sends out action plans to any student with a grade of 70 below in one or more classes. Students then work with their teachers to create a plan to address the failing grade. These plans are distributed every twice per quarter. Students are required to complete the action plan with their teacher within a week of being notified that they have an action plan. To hold them accountable, students who fail to complete their action plans on time will receive lunch detention until they complete any action plans they received.

 

Advisory Program

Donovan’s advisory program includes opportunities to engage students in college preparatory, socioemotional, student government, and theology activities that supplement our academic curriculum. During advisory, which meets on Monday and Wednesday, students may learn to calculate their GPA, review strategies that reduce stress and anxiety, hold class meetings, or listen to a guest speaker’s presentation on Eucharistic miracles.

 

After-School Tutoring

Our teachers are available most Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:45 pm to 4:00 pm for tutoring sessions. If students or their families would like to set up a tutoring session, please contact the individual teachers.

 

Middle School and High School Seminar

In order to get our incoming students off to the best start possible, all Freshmen and students transferring to Donovan are required to take High School Seminar. This course provides our graders with important student skills such as how to:

  • use FACTS
  • study effectively
  • keep track of due dates
  • organize assignments
  • ask teachers for help
  • improve their reading and writing skills

 

Iowa Basic Assessment

In order to track student academic progress, Donovan students take the Iowa Basic Assessment in August and in April. Teachers will use this testing data to inform their instruction.

 

Study Skills Classes

In addition to our High School Seminar course, Ms. Covington teaches smaller study skills courses to give students more individualized assistance. In addition to reinforcing the student skills taught in Freshman Seminar, the Study Skills class offers tutoring and targeted strategies for students with learning differences. These courses are limited to students identified by faculty and administration.

 

Study Hall

Donovan offers a limited number of independent study hall courses to students who have proven responsible and mature enough to handle that academic independence. Typically, students who have a study hall have demanding schedules that include multiple AP classes and/or dual enrollment classes at UGA or UNG. Just as some students need additional support through a study skills class, we feel some of our students choosing to challenge themselves with a rigorous course load also need support but in a different way.

 

Test Preparation for All Students

In the past, Donovan offered a separate test preparation class during electives time. However, we found that the class was highly desired by students and their families but the class did not fit in everyone’s schedule. So, beginning with the 2024-25 school year, all Donovan students will receive test preparation through advisory.

 

Final Course Grade Calculation

Students receive three progress reports each academic year with one final grade calculated after final exams in May. The final course grade is included on students’ academic transcripts. A student’s final course grade must equal a 70 for the student to pass and receive credit for the course. A student who fails more than the equivalent of two units of credit for the school year may not be invited to return to Donovan for the following year.

 

Making Up Failures

If a student does not earn at least a 70 for the year, the student has failed the course and will not receive high school credit. Students must submit a plan to make up failed courses under the guidance of the School Counselor and get approval from the Associate Head of School or the Head of School. Students who are found to be credit deficient at the beginning of the fall semester are subject to dismissal.