Upper School Student Support Services

The purpose of MPA’s Upper School Student Support Services Team is to provide support and guidance to our students who are experiencing challenges that are impacting them at school. These difficulties may be emotional, social, academic, behavioral and/or health-related in nature. This team also consults and guides students’ teachers and families.

Students with documented disabilities are eligible for a support plan. These individualized plans are created using an existing IEP and/or 504 Plan and include an overall student profile as well as accommodations based on diagnostic assessment information, family input, and MPA’s guidelines. The support plan is then shared with the student’s teachers so that classroom recommendations and accommodations can be provided as needed.
 

Mental Health Support For Anxiety and Depression

Students seeking mental health support may connect with the school counselor and school psychologist to process and work through some of the challenges they are experiencing. Additionally, grade level meetings are a place for the school counselor and school psychologist to discuss (with the student’s permission) any supports they need from their teachers or classes. The school counselor and school psychologist are a resource for all students, but especially students with a specific mental health diagnosis.
 

Academic Support For ADD, ADHD, and Dyslexia

Students with diagnosed learning challenges work directly with the learning specialist to make sure they are supported and successful in their classes. Other additional supports include extended time on assessments and/or taking assessments in a separate location to help with focus and anxiety, upon student request. The Upper School Care Team regularly checks in with the learning specialist to see how students with learning challenges are doing in classes, and to ensure they are receiving the supports they need.
 

Grade Level Meetings

Upper School teachers meet for bi-weekly grade level meetings. The purpose of these meetings is to closely monitor student progress, celebrate student achievements, and plan for upcoming grade level activities and events. This regular communication ensures that MPA teachers are connected with all Upper School students. Confidential information is shared only on a need-to-know basis and only when it is in the student’s best interest.
 

Student Care Team

If there are ongoing or significant concerns regarding a student, a referral is made to the Upper School Care Team for additional consultation and support. This team meets weekly and consists of the Upper School director, Upper School assistant director, counselors, and the learning specialist. This group gathers information, develops and initiates a plan to help support the student, and does periodic checks to monitor student progress.
 

Family Resource Links

• Helping Children Cope with Frightening News
  Child Mind Institute
• Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event
  Child Mind Institute
• Explaining the News to Our Kids
  Common Sense Media
• Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers
  National Association of School Psychologists
• How to Help Children and Youth Process the Capitol Insurrection
  Spark and Stitch Institute
• Teaching Resources to Help Students Make Sense of the Rampage at the Capitol
  The New York Times and a variety of educational organizations
• Leading Conversations After Crisis
  Teaching Tolerance
   

Meet the Team