The Learning Lab
Overview
The learning lab was developed to offer support to students with documented learning differences at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School. The purpose of the lab is to provide a place for students to go to attain extra help on classroom assignments and projects. Students may also utilize the lab for test taking as approved by the classroom teachers. Study skills are taught to students in the learning lab on an on-going basis to aid in their success in the classroom setting.
Eligibility
Students with up-to-date documentation on file with the Learning Coordinator are automatically eligible to receive services from the learning lab. Once the Learning Coordinator receives the documentation she will develop a learning profile to distribute to the student’s teachers. Students without documentation of a learning difference may be recommended for services from a classroom teacher or counselor. If this recommendation is made, the Learning Coordinator will meet with the student to assess the situation. Please view the link to the Academic Assistance Process at the bottom of this page.
The Learning Profile
Once a student is eligible for services from the Learning Lab, a learning profile will be created. The profile indicates what the student’s learning difference is and what accommodations should be made in the classroom to aid in the student’s success. The profile will also indicate if the student should come to the lab to complete classroom tests and quizzes. This profile will be distributed to the student’s classroom teachers to ensure that they have an understanding of how to best instruct the student. A new learning profile will be created at the beginning of each school year.
Meet the Learning Coordinator
Kara Rapacz is the Learning Coordinator for Sacred Heart - Griffin High School. She has her B.S. in Education from Mac Murray College with a specialty in learning needs. She taught in a special education classroom for five years and then started work on her Master’s in Teacher Leadership at the University of Illinois.
What is the role of Learning Coordinator?
- Facilitate academic achievement in students with diverse learning needs by:
- Evaluation of individual students’ learning and study skills’ needs
- Development of an individualized student learning plan with specific goals and objectives
- Coordination of academic assistance in content areas
- Providing assistance in the Learning Lab as needed
- Collaborate with Guidance Staff
- Meet weekly with the counselors to identify and discuss students’ needs
- Assist counselors in referrals and staffings with the public school district
- Collaborate with Teaching Staff
- Regular collaboration with each of the student’s teachers in regards to the student’s needs/learning plan
- Assisting in the development of instructional strategies to be used in the classroom
- Facilitate weekly grade level team meetings to identify struggling students who do not currently receive services from the Learning Lab
- Provide quarterly in-service training to teaching staff regarding instructional strategies fro different learning styles, multiple intelligences, inclusion, and differentiated instruction.
- Collaborate with Parents
- Quarterly parent support/informational meetings
- Quarterly contacts with parents to update them on student progress
How can I contact the Learning Coordinator?
- By Phone at: 217-787-1595 ext. 128
- By E-mail at: rapacz@shg.org
Meet the Learning Lab Staff
Marian England is currently in her 7th year with SHG. She has taught in the English department at the freshmen and junior levels. She is in the lab for a majority of the day, but does teach one section of freshmen English this year. Marian has her B.S. from MacMurray College. She also earned her M.A. in Communications from Sangamon State University. She worked at Lincoln Land Community College for 16 years in the Learning Center before she came to us. There she taught students study skills that they needed to be successful in the classroom.
Sr. Anne Lawrence is in the midst of her 16th year at SHG where she has served in the Finance Office, taught World History and Basic Math, and tutored each year. Sister assists in the learning lab several periods each day, depending on when she is most needed. Other periods she helps in the school library/media center. She is a graduate of DePaul University, where she majored in secondary education with a histroy major and completed her master in political science at Governors State University. Sister has taught all grades, K-12.
