Academics
Student Support Services

Lower School Student Support

Lower School Learning Center

The Lower School Learning Center strives to create an environment that embraces the diversity of its learners and empowers them to realize their potential. The Center is staffed by a full-time Learning Facilitator, a full-time Reading Specialist, and two part-time Learning Facilitators. This team provides instructional assistance to students with learning needs and partners with parents, faculty, and other professionals to administer services which enhance learning and academic progress.

List of 5 items.

  • Learning Center Services

    • Small group remedial literacy instruction provided to support students on an as-needed basis
    • Orton-Gillingham instruction for students diagnosed with dyslexia
    • Classroom support and accommodation plans for students with a diagnosed learning difference
    • Arrangement of speech therapy, occupational therapy, academic tutoring, and English Language Learning tutoring by an outside provider on campus 
    • Access to a wide variety of screenings as well as assessments, and on-going progress monitoring
    • Recommendations and support for evaluations with outside providers 
    • The creation of a comprehensive plan of support based on a psychoeducational evaluation that includes a variety of accommodations
  • Screenings

    One of the main goals of the Lower School Learning Center is to identify and remediate early learning needs. To assist with this, all kindergarten and first grade students are screened for dyslexia each year. Additional screenings available as needed include hearing, vision, speech/language, auditory processing, and handwriting/fine motor.
  • Dyslexia

    Orton-Gillingham instruction in a small group setting is provided for students with dyslexia for no additional charge.  If individualized instruction is required, the school will work with outside providers, including the Mississippi Dyslexia Center, to arrange for those services to be provided on campus.
  • Accommodations

    Students who have a diagnosis of an approved learning difference are eligible for classroom accommodations, such as extended test time and preferential seating. The Learning Center partners with families and teachers to create an individualized Accommodation Plan for every child with a diagnosis on file. If you have questions about your child’s academic progress or accommodations, please reach out to Christine Selman at selmanch@gosaints.org.
  • Resources

    Understood
    Useful information learning differences such as dyslexia and ADHD.

    Reading Rockets
    Tips for Reading Success

Counseling

The Lower School Counseling program aims to help students build competencies in self-awareness, self-management, social-awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. Throughout the year, the counselor visits classrooms for whole group instruction on topics such as emotions, academic success, responsibility, conflict resolution, coping skills, and digital citizenship. In 1st–4th grade, students also benefit from attending small group sessions on topics relevant to their age group including self-control, self-esteem, leadership, and resilience.

There are also a variety of ways for students in 1st–4th grade to see the counselor individually. Teachers, administrators, and parents can refer a student, and families are encouraged to contact the school counselor to discuss any concerns that emerge during the school year.

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  • Counseling Services

    • Social emotional lessons in homerooms
    • Short-term individual counseling 
    • Group Counseling
    • Community Referrals
    • Meetings with parents 
    • Student observation and feedback
    • Behavioral Plans
    • Collaboration with faculty regarding student needs and accommodations
    Read More
  • Counseling Resources

    The Essential Role of Elementary School Counselors
    Research shows the implementation of a comprehensive school counseling program has a positive impact on student achievement. 

    Love and Logic
    The Love and Logic Institute provides practical tools and techniques to help adults achieve respectful, healthy relationships with their children.

    Positive Discipline
    Positive Discipline is designed to teach young people to become responsible, respectful, and resourceful members of their communities.
    Read More

Pastoral Care

Our chaplains nurture personal and community growth, foster healing and wellness, sustain those in difficult circumstances, guide students and families through decisions, and help members of our community reconcile themselves to God and others.

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  • Pastoral Care Services

    • Preaching and teaching regarding care of self, others, and environment
    • Short-term pastoral counseling regarding day-to-day or existential concerns, including hospital visits as needed
    • Community support during times of crisis, including coordination of response
    • Care for families experiencing change, both through illness, death and other forms of loss and through births, marriages, and other seasons of family growth
    • Assistance in planning and/or leading pastoral services for current members of our community and alumni, most often baptisms and funerals
    • Cross-divisional support of families

Nursing

With clinics on both campuses, our school nurses maintain cumulative health records on all students and serve as a resource for faculty and staff on medical needs. Nurses see students based on teacher referrals, administer daily medications, monitor acute and chronic conditions within the school setting, help devise plans with medical conditions that may impact the school day, relay guidance as needed on student medical conditions, provide health instruction in classrooms, and coordinate medical needs when students go off campus. Our nurses also work with our greater Student Support Services teams to help recognize students who may need support.

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Health and Fitness

St. Andrew's works to continually support the physical well-being of each student by introducing skills, strategies, and information to encourage long-term healthy life-style choices. Using multi-faceted and holistic approaches, students participate in an age-appropriate fitness curriculum that addresses growth and development and focuses on taking care of their bodies and minds. The program is organized by division and is designed to improve aerobic and anaerobic fitness, musculoskeletal fitness, and flexibility. In Lower School, the students improve their understanding of fitness and their motor development through cooperative games and other activities.

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Student Support Staff

List of 7 members.

  • Photo of Ashley Runnels

    Ashley Runnels 

    Director of Learning Services
    (601) 853-6020
  • Photo of Caroline Barr

    Caroline Barr 

    Lower School Learning Facilitator
    (601) 987-9300
  • Photo of Lenither Williams

    Lenither Williams 

    Lower School Reading Specialist
  • Photo of Chelsea Freeman

    Chelsea Freeman 02

    Associate Head of Lower School and Director of Social Emotional Learning
    (601) 987-9304
  • Photo of Hailey Allin

    Hailey Allin 

    Chaplain, Lower School Associate Counselor and Lacrosse Sponsor
    (601) 987-9312
  • Photo of Anna Wadlington

    Anna Wadlington 

    Director of Student Health, South Campus Nurse
    (601) 987-9308
  • Photo of Stacy Sullivan

    Stacy Sullivan 82

    Lower School Fitness Teacher, Fastpitch Softball Head Coach, Lower School Intramural Coordinator
    (601) 987-9300
Foundations — Grade 12 • Jackson, Mississippi
South Campus | Infants to Grade 4
4120 Old Canton Road, Jackson, Mississippi 39216
601.987.9300
North Campus | Grades 5 to 12
370 Old Agency Road, Ridgeland, Mississippi 39157
601.853.6000