St. Athanasius Learning Center – Where Great Things Happen!

A child is like a butterfly in the wind. Some can fly higher than others. But each one flies the best it can. Why compare one to another? Each one is different. Each one is special. Each one is beautiful. – Author Unknown

I encourage all to continue to pray to our Blessed Mother to watch and protect us.

St. Athanasius Catholic Academy Mission Statement

The mission of St.Athanasius Catholic Academy, working in partnership with its parents and community, is to provide Academy students with a safe and caring environment to foster a sound academic education while instilling and nurturing a solid sense of Catholic Identity. There are opportunities to encourage students’ creativity, responsibility, scholarship, leadership, and citizenship.

Our Philosophy

As Christians, we envision the maturation of students into life-long learners, who will use their intelligence, faith, and talent to contribute to the development of a just world. We endeavor to educate students who by their faith, like our patron St. Athanasius, will make their presence known.

Welcome to Mrs. Auricchio’s page!!

Email: gauricchio@stathanasiusacademy.org

Dear Parents/Guardians,

As we have begun the new year, the students are working hard to reach their goals for the second trimester. Students are encouraged to complete daily classwork and homework, study for upcoming tests and quizzes, read each day and practice daily math skills.

St. Athanasius Catholic Academy has a full-time Learning Center which provides academic intervention services to students who qualify. There are Title 1 Services available for students who are eligible in Math, Reading, and ESL. In addition, there are SETSS providers who provide Special Education Teacher Support Services for students with IESP’s as well as a full-time Speech/Language Teacher at our academy.

Our support services for students who have mandated services have started. Speech/Language Services and SETSS have begun so all students who are mandated for those services have begun to receive them. Mandate counseling services have started. Title 1 Services in math and reading are underway and going well.

As the Learning Center Coordinator, I will work closely with students who need extra help or reinforcement of certain subject areas. In addition, I will work with students who have IESP’s to ensure the modifications and accommodations they are entitled to are fulfilled. I advocate and work as the liaison with the Department of Education to ensure all paperwork is up to date and that your child is receiving the services he or she is entitled to.

In order to accommodate the services recommended on the IESP, it is necessary that parents provide me with current copies of their child’s IESP, SETSS (P4 Form), and/or any other important paperwork from the Department of Education so that your child’s needs can be addressed.

I encourage any parents who may need additional information on academic intervention services for their child to please contact me at the school at 718-236-4791 and we can discuss any concerns you may have.

ABOUT THE LEARNING CENTER…

The Learning Center is a unique program offered at St. Athanasius Catholic Academy that accommodates the needs of different types of learners. It offers learning opportunities in a small group setting and promotes positive learning experiences for all students. The primary purpose of the Learning Center is to reinforce, review and practice basic reading/writing and math skills in a small group setting using a multi-sensory, hands-on approach to learning. In addition, the Learning Center can accommodate the needs of students with IEP’s on an individualized basis provided the academy can offer equitable services.

While attending the Learning Center, students will realize through positive reinforcement and hard work that it is important to believe that they have the ability to learn and achieve their goals. This experience will enable students to develop self-confidence so they will be able to do the best they can to succeed.

As the Learning Center Coordinator, I work closely with students who need extra help or reinforcement of various content areas they are learning in their classrooms. I work with students who have IEP’s to ensure the modifications and accommodations are fulfilled. I advocate and work as the liaison with the Department of Education to ensure all paperwork is up-to-date and attend annual IEP phone conferences so that your child receives the necessary services.

In order to fulfill the services recommended on the IESP, it is necessary that parents provide me with copies of current IESP’s , any testing results, SETSS (P4 Forms which you will receive in late August) and /or any other important paperwork so that your child’s needs can be addressed.

If you have any concerns regarding your child that you would like to discuss, please feel free to contact me at the school 718-236-4791 or by email gauricchio@stathanasiusacademy.org and I can make an appointment to meet with you.

Please know that your child’s education is extremely important and if we work together as a team we can accomplish great things.

A complete version of the Learning Center Policy Statement is here. | Great Educational Websites

Mrs. Gina Auricchio
Learning Center Coordinator/Special Education Teacher
B.A. Ed/M.S. General Education/M.S. Special Education

Students who attend the Learning Center will need the following supplies:

1- Notebook – Spiral or Composition – 100 pages

1- Two Pocket Folder

1- Pack of White 3×5 Index Cards

5 – Number 2 Pencils

1- Box of Tissues

1- Baby Wipes

1- Roll of Paper Towels

1- Clorox Wipes

1- Hand Sanitizer

In addition, please provide your child with a small hand sanitizer and a small pack of tissues to have with them at their desk so they can use it when necessary without getting up and down.

PLEASE KEEP LEARNING CENTER SUPPLIES SEPARATE FROM CLASSROOM SUPPLIES – LABEL LEARNING CENTER SUPPLIES:

“LEARNING CENTER” WITH CHILD’S NAME AND GRADE ON THEM.

Bring your children to Church to pray and strengthen their faith.

Ways to help your child succeed in school…

Attend back-to-school night and parent/teacher conferences.

Visit the school and the school website.

Support homework expectations.

Send your child to school ready to learn.

Teach organizational skills.

Teach study skills.

Know the disciplinary policies.

Get involved.

Take attendance seriously.

Take the time to talk about school with your child.

KidsHealth.com

Learning Center Weekly News

Posted on March 29, 2017

Kindergarten: On-going student assessments in reading and math.

1st Grade: The 1st grade students will be working on Dolch Sight words weekly which will improve reading fluency skills. Phonetic awareness and vowel sounds will be taught and reinforced. In addition, reviewing math concepts and literacy strategies are being taught in the 1st grade classroom.

2nd Grade: The 2nd grade students will work on reviewing weekly spelling words, math concepts, literacy strategies and writing. Each week the lessons will be aligned with the lessons being taught in class.

3rd Grade: The 3rd grade students will work on applying literacy strategies when reading across all subject areas to improve reading fluency and comprehension skills. Math concepts will be reviewed based on the topics taught in the 3rd grade classroom.

4th Grade: The 4th grade students will be working on reviewing weekly spelling words, math concepts, reading and writing skills. Visual aids will be used to help students gain a deeper understanding of the spelling words and make more of a connection to the words so they can use them when speaking and writing. In math, a review of multiplication and division facts will help students build their mathematical fluency skills.

5th Grade: The 5th grade students will be working on reviewing weekly spelling words, math concepts, reading and writing skills. Visual aids will be used to help students gain a deeper understanding of the spelling words and make more of a connection to the words so they can use them when speaking and writing. In math, review of multiplication and division facts will help build fluency skills which will help when problem solving. We will be reviewing and using the C-U-B-E-S Strategy will help with word problems.

6th Grade: The 6th grade students will be working on reviewing math and reading skills. In math, reviewing long division and the steps necessary to solve ling division problems will help the students become more proficient. In ELA, the students will work on reviewing weekly vocabulary words and applying those words when writing and speaking. In addition, application of literacy strategies will help students improve comprehension skills across all subject areas.

7th Grade: The 7th grade students will work on reviewing math, reading, and writing skills. In math, we will review weekly concepts taught in the 7th grade mathclass. In ELA, we will be working on weekly vocabulary words and making those words become a part of daily vocabulary. In addition, the application of literacy strategies across all subject areas will help improve comprehension skills.

8th Grade: The 8th grade students will be working on reviewing math, reading, and writing skills. In math, we will be reviewing daily concepts taught in class that are aligned with the New Generation Standards. In ELA, we will be working in the progress book on weekly concepts being taught as well as vocabulary workshop. In addition, we will be reviewing for upcoming tests and quizzes.

The C-U-B-E-S Math Strategy will be used academy wide for math problem solving in all grades. The students will use this strategy to solve word problems by using the above steps. This mnemonic device will help aid the students memory so they can tackle the problems effectively.