Extra Resources

OLW is able to offer some extra resources for students.

Learning Resources
The learning challenges 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. Possibly a more accurate label would be “learning differences.”  These students have a unique set of learning difficulties that will always be present in their lives. Fortunately, they can learn to cope with these differences and compensate for them. The learning disabilities program at OLW is a resource program and is not a full-time, self-contained classroom. The Learning Disability Specialist works closely with the child’s classroom teacher to aid him/her within the regular classroom curriculum. This can be achieved through 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. 

Speech and Language
Our Lady of the Wayside has a Speech Language Pathologist, provided by District 25, to provide support and speech language assessments to students who have been verified with speech disabilities/needs. This service also provides support for teachers and school staff by assisting in goal setting for students, and to assist the teaching staff with techniques that help the students compensate for their areas of difficulty.

Counseling Services
Our Lady of Wayside School has partnered with ASCENSION Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health 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, Leadership Academy, bullying prevention, stress management, decision-making skills, communication skills, cyber awareness and safety, social skills, girls group, 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.

Through this partnership Ascension, 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. Wood, Mrs. Boarini, or you can email her at Jennifer.Doyle2@ascension.org.