LSHS offers four different categories of academic support for students which are intended to be flexible and suitable for student’s needs. These categories include Multilingual Learners (ML), Academic Skills Development and the Student Support Center.
At LSHS, a flexible support system known as the Multi-Tiered Support System MTSS allows a team of staff to identify and create a plan for students of varying academic and behavioral needs while maintaining student dignity.
These varying needs are often self-managed, however, some students may need additional support that cannot be managed without a different educational plan; this is where the three tiers of academic support are implemented.
Tier One: Universal- This is the standard education system. On average, 75 to 90% of students are in the first tier.
Tier Two: Secondary- About 10 to 25% of students are in the second tier, meaning that administrators have identified students in need of more support either behaviorally or academically.
Typically, students in the second tier utilize small-group support instead of full classes, unlike the first tier. Check-In/Check-Out also begins at tier two, ensuring that students are looked after and supported daily in both personal and academic difficulties.
Tier Three: Tertiary- Less than 10% of students receive tertiary support and are often only moved to tier three if they have not been responsive to the previous tier’s support.
In the third tier, students receive one-on-one support regularly. The learning plan at this tier is rarely the same from person-to-person because it is highly individualized to help students who have demonstrated a great need for academic support that considers behavioral troubles as well.
The process of evaluating student needs via data and administrative collaboration is described as “moving the needle” for “those who need it most,”, Dean of Students Michael Moore said.
According to Moore, he moves the needle by being able to “develop a deeper relationship with a smaller group of students” and he says this reaps many benefits, leaving most conversations feeling positive, hopeful and encouraged.
An additional layer of support is focused on students who speak more than one language. ML is a class that students can test into, and depending on their needs they may be placed in it. This class is taught by Lynn Atchley, who teaches English 10, German ll and Multilingual Studies. ML takes place during 6th period in the North Hall.
The goal of this course is to help students improve and learn basic English as they attend Lake Stevens High School. The ML course and support in-class support by Kelly Guilfoil and Rina Carmichael are important resources for students who require extra support due to language barriers.
The course also provides special modifications when needed, and in some cases, students have an individual teacher and para-educator to assist them through classes. The progression or improvement of ML students makes ML staff proud of their meaningful impact.
“Yeah, it’s been fun to see. I mean, I’ve only been here a short while, yeah, but you see the progress. Yeah. So it’s very exciting, very exciting,” Atchley said, seemingly pleased with the benefits given by ESL support.
For other educational needs that don’t revolve around language, ASD or Academic Skills Development is a class open to any Vikings struggling with academics.
ASD allows students to unlearn habits that have hindered their education and possibly their future in the workforce. The class is based on Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). The first-semester curriculum of ASD is centered around three points: self-awareness/management, establishing/maintaining relationships and responsible decision-making.
In ASD, general instruction takes only ten minutes a day. The remainder of the period is dedicated to catching up on assignments. Takeaways from ASD include an improved understanding of coursework, time management and confidence.
Occasionally, Student Support Center staff, Damon Matz, helps the class with math and science questions, along with Aja Valm, who is there to help with language arts and history work for a more targeted method of support.
Outside of ASD, the Student Support Center is available to any and all students during school hours, located on the third floor of the Learning Commons. Staff in the Student Support Center are friendly, eager to help and can provide help with tests, quizzes, homework and more.
The student support center is open both during the school day and after. To use the Support Center, students only need a note from their teacher if they’re going during class and they can bring anything they’d like to work on.
Many students at LSHS use the help of the Student Support Center and report that it has been helpful. Students who use this space regularly have found it very beneficial. Examples include getting work done early, turning in assignments on time and completing homework.
”I usually get more done up there, and I get more assignments done,” senior Mia Fuentes said.
These common benefits are why struggling students are strongly encouraged to utilize any form of scholastic assistance offered in the Student Support Center, as it may be helpful in numerous ways they hadn’t previously considered.
The Support Center currently has two staff members available for help: Aja Valm and Damon Matz. Next door is Sarah Weber, who works with the students in ISS or lunch detention.
A survey of students who utilize academic support at LSHS often said that they use the Student Support Center and believe it’s both helpful and well-run.
The only suggestion for improvement came from Fuentes, saying the Student Support Center “should add another teacher” as they “only have two right now”.
