CENTER For Success

Steeped in a tradition of academic excellence, Ursuline Academy recognizes that the key to unlocking a young woman’s potential lies in creating a personalized learning environment tailored to each learner, adopting approaches and techniques as unique as the individual in the classroom. This practice is deeply rooted in the Academy’s long history of embracing innovative approaches to supporting student achievement.

Furthering our commitment to ensuring the best educational outcomes for each of our students, Ursuline Academy has established the Center for Success (CFS), a new academic student support program in our Middle and Upper Schools, focused on providing personalized and enhanced learning experiences for students who require additional support. Housed in the Stempel Family Library, CFS is open to any student who has identified learning needs and requires accommodations in the classroom.

The Center operates under the leadership and guidance of Lori Bradley, a certified reading specialist with over 15 years of experience in creating and developing learning support programs for students of all ages. Collaborating with students’ teachers, counselors, and parents, Mrs. Bradley develops and executes personalized plans to help them gain confidence in their abilities and achieve success in and out of the classroom.

“We are so proud to be able to offer this program to enhance our students’ learning and increase their confidence in the classroom,” said Dr. Trisha Medeiros, president of Ursuline Academy. “This collaborative and personalized approach to learning is the next step in providing the young women we serve with every resource they deserve to unlock their potential.”

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Center for Success Program Overview

Designed for students in our Middle and Upper Schools, CFS offers personalized academic support through this fee-based program to help students address challenges and enhance their learning, ultimately creating successful outcomes and greater confidence in the classroom and beyond.

Middle School

Developed with a focus on small-group instruction, our CFS Middle School program offers students enhanced support in various areas, including literacy intervention, executive functioning development, and subject-specific review and test preparation. Student groups vary, but on average, they have a 3:1 student-to-teacher ratio, ensuring that students receive the individual attention they need.

Based on industry best practices and proven student outcomes, CFS implements the Wilson® Structured Literacy reading program for students with language-based needs. The Wilson® program, known for its evidence-based approach to increasing fluency and comprehension, provides intensive reading support that focuses on all aspects of reading, including decoding, encoding, and writing skills. Mrs. Bradley is certified in the Wilson® methodology.

Middle School students enrolled in the CFS program benefit from additional support around assignment completion, academic support in course content areas, and a quiet, focused space for students to take assessments. Parents receive additional communication around their student’s progress with weekly reports from Mrs. Bradley and regular opportunities for comprehensive check-ins with the student’s support team.

Upper School

In our Upper School, CFS sessions are held during students' free periods to ensure they do not miss instructional time. The group size varies, but on average, it is a 3:1 student-to-teacher ratio. Student groups meet 2-3 times a week for 70-minute sessions, and students have the flexibility with their Flex and Raider Blocks to check in daily as needed.

Check-in times with students are proactively designed to occur at the beginning of the class period, allowing for a review of assignments and upcoming assessments, identifying potential challenges, and developing a strategy for success. Students enrolled in the CFS program receive academic support in content areas, including test review, assistance with test corrections, help with assignments, executive functioning support, and guidance on essay writing. Mrs. Bradley works with her students to understand best practices in time management as they develop skills to manage their course load and assignments.

In addition to the weekly reports on a student’s progress, Upper School parents and students benefit from frequent dialogue with teachers and counselors to address learning needs and determine accommodations.

The CFS model of structured support provides positive feedback for students, which results in:

• Increased student confidence in achieving their academic goals
• Enhanced student focus from feeling more organized and prepared
• Improved test scores and higher levels of academic honors achievement
• Better relationships with teachers and higher levels of classroom engagement
• Less anxiety around asking for study help
• Improved study habits and executive functioning skills
• Better academic outcomes for students transitioning from Middle to Upper School

The enhanced student support in the CFS program gives parents the peace of mind to know their students have the framework to succeed and develop a genuine love of learning. Our faculty appreciates having a learning support expert at their disposal to better understand the best ways to support each student in their classroom.

Parent Feedback:

• Parents appreciate knowing their children are on top of their assignments
• Parents love the weekly check-ins to be in the loop
• Parents say their children love coming to the center
• Parents say their child struggled at another school in their program, but this program has significantly helped their child
• Individualized attention, appreciate the 1:1 time, their daughter is known not just a number
• Multiple parents have said they are moving away from outside support (tutors, etc) because their child is receiving the services they need during school
• Parents appreciate having one point person for questions or concerns