Extra Resources

OLW is happy to have resource staff so we can help our students needed extra resources. 

Learning Resources
The learning resource program has been established to aid those students who, for any variety of reasons – social, emotional, psychological, or physiological – are having difficulty attending and/or learning within the regular classroom. Our goal in the Learning Resource program is to give the students tools and strategies. Some students may need short term intervention, while others may need long term intervention. We want all students to feel success in learning and for some students, this means some extra support based on their specific need. The learning support program at OLW is a resource program and is not a full-time, self-contained classroom. Our Resource teachers work closely with the child’s classroom teacher and administration to aid him/her within the regular classroom curriculum. This can be achieved through either accommodations or modifications in the setting, material, or personal presentation.

Referrals for assistance can come from the child’s current teacher, a recommendation from a former teacher, or at the request of the parents. Since our referrals are made on a less formal basis than is possible within the public school system, assistance, when necessary, can often occur more quickly. Determining a student’s qualification for support is a multi-faceted process involving data collection, teacher feedback, and in some cases, outside diagnostic testing from a doctor or learning psychologist.

Speech and Language
Our Lady of the Wayside has a collaborative relationship with Arlington Heights School District 25 to provide Proportionate Share Services of speech therapy to students who have been determined eligible for special education services through a public school district evaluation. Our Speech Language Pathologist works on-site to provide speech therapy directly to students with an Individual Service Plan (ISP) and offers consultation to teachers to ensure the generalization of skills in the classroom.

Counseling Services
Our Lady of Wayside School is lucky to have a licensed school counselor who can help in our mission to prepare students to meet the ever changing challenges of the world. The services provided to our students aim to develop their strengths in a comprehensive program that allows them to acquire the life skills and knowledge needed beyond the classroom. Many of these skills include, but aren’t limited to: executive functioning, bullying prevention, stress management, decision-making skills, communication skills, cyber awareness and safety, social skills, expressive arts group, and mindfulness group.

Some of the services provided through this partnership are:
– individual student support
– classroom lessons
– small group support and lessons
– school retreats and assemblies
– crisis intervention
– consultation and collaboration with parents, teachers, administration, and outside providers to provide students with appropriate services and accommodations.

We have an on-site licensed social worker/counselor available for support two days a week. For more information, please contact your student’s teacher, Mr. Martino, or Mrs. Boarini.