David Program Brochure

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David Program

La Salle College High School David Program 2

The David Program at La Salle College High School is an academic support service for

students with specific learning needs.

The David Program serves a unique

group of college bound students with

documented mild learning differences

in reading, writing and math, and/or

attention issues, organizational

difficulties, or memory processing

problems. The students have a scheduled

period each day where they develop

individualized strategies for academic

success. Emphasis is placed on raising

each student’s skill levels by focusing

on problem-solving, organization,

self-advocacy, and study habits.

The goal of the program is to help

each student understand his own

learning difference and style.

In addition, the learning specialists

provide remediation and compensatory

strategies to help the student become

an independent learner.

The David Program, inspired by the

educational vision of Saint John Baptist

de La Salle, provides a challenging and

nurturing environment for learning. In this

tradition, and in conjunction with the

greater Lasallian community, the staff of the

David Program empowers each student to

accept responsibility for his own learning

and to achieve his fullest potential. Students

are encouraged to contribute their unique

talents and perspectives to benefit the

entire school. An important component in

each student’s success is the collaboration

of David Program staff with other Lasallian

faculty, parents, and the school

administration. In keeping with Saint

La Salle’s motto of “Enter to Learn,” the

David Program strives to teach students

how they learn most effectively.

The David Program continues to search

for methods to meet each student’s

personal needs. Today, some students with

language processing difficulties use

assistive technology such as the Kindle’s

text-to- speech option to help with reading.

Students are encouraged to use technology

to enhance and strengthen their learning

repertoire. By using appropriate

accommodations and adaptive strategies,

students become aware of their invisible

differences and are able to turn their

weaknesses into strengths.

“The David Program has helped me become

the successful person I thought I could never have

become. It has changed my life due to their help

and the way they show it. They have shown how much

they care about my success by being patient with me

and showing me new methods to help me get

a better grade. This has provided me with a good

relationship with my teacher.”

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La Salle College High School has a long

tradition of educating and guiding young

men of various abilities and backgrounds

in a challenging and nurturing environ-

ment. The David Program continues

Saint John Baptist de La Salle’s legacy

of touching the minds and hearts of

students by providing adaptive study

strategies, and an understanding of

academic strengths and weaknesses

to increase the students sense of

self-worth.

Following the footsteps of Saint La Salle,

Brother Rene Sterner, FSC, President Emeritus,

wanted to introduce a program to enhance

the academic support given to students with

documented learning differences. Brother

Rene knew there are lots of individuals who

are very intelligent, creative, and industrious

but who learn differently. He wanted capable

young men with problems like dyslexia and

other learning disabilities to know that they

can succeed. He noted that all college and

universities, even Ivy League schools, provide

accommodations for students with learning

disabilities. Through his vision, in Septem-

ber 2002, a program to meet the needs of

students with mild learning disabilities called

the David Program was launched.

Named after two of La Salle College High

School’s motivational educators, Brother

David Albert, FSC and Mr. David Diehl ’55,

The David Program provides a daily class pe-

riod for a selected number of college bound

students with a mild learning difference.

Through a seriousness of purpose, consistent

effort,understanding and acceptance of a

boy’s individual learning styles, strengths,

and adapted strategies, a student with a

learning difference can grow towards

self-advocacy and academic success.

One David Program student remarked

”Saint La Salle would like the David Program

because even though he was the promoter

of teaching a full classroom of students,

he never lost sight of the individual student’s

needs. The David Program addresses the

individual learning styles of students.”

Saint La Salle looked into the core of the

individual and was a hands-on teacher.

He advocated the use of practical, easy to

implement teaching methods. He believed

students should be taught in their native

language instead of Latin, as was the

custom in the 1600’s.

Saint La Salle listened to people, saw needs,

felt compassion, and prayed to the Spirit

for guidance. He used every resource to gain

assistance. St. La Salle believed in the

intellectual and gentlemanly potential of

boys of all classes and backgrounds.

He believed in the worth of each of these

young men and used insight and adaptabil-

ity to find success. Saint La Salle believed a

man should always be growing, maturing,

and developing. Through the David Program,

students learn that challenges can

be exciting and that if they focus and stay on

course nothing is beyond their capacity.

The David Program strives to inspire, affirm

and empower young men to discover their

God-given potential and to realize that life

is an amazing journey.


“There are no words to express our profound gratitude for the staff of the David Program.

I am happy to say that Malcom, with the David Center’s assistance, exceeded all our expectations. It is with great joy and pride that we are seeing him off to college and the

next phase of his life. It is also with the greatest confidence that he knows who he is and how he can

succeed academically, emotionally, and socially.”

C h e r y l N i c h o l s Parent of Malcom ’11

“The David Program has meant a lot to me over the past four years. It helped my

experience here at La Salle in a great way. The counselors are very supportive and help their students to excel to their best.”

S e a m u s M o r g a n ’ 1 1

5 “Without the David Program, I don’t think I would be anywhere near where I am today. The David Program has not only taught me educational

things like healthy work habits and how to keep organized but has also taught me to be comfortable

with who I am, the struggles that I have and to meet problems head on.”

M at t h e w M c C o y B r a i t h wa i t e ’ 1 1

“I just wanted to thank you for all the support and guidance you provided Andrew through

the David Program. I can’t tell you how much he grew and matured academically.

He gained so much confidence and self esteem during his years at La Salle. We are so grateful for the positive impact the David Program had on him.”

B e t s y W h i t e s i d e Parent of Andrew ’11


The David Program at La Salle College

High School is an additional college

preparatory academic support service

for students with specific learning needs.

The program does not ensure success

through the artificial manipulation of

grades. Students who are part of the

David Program are La Salle College High

School students and have to meet the

same academic requirements of

La Salle College High School. There is no

modification to the curriculum and the

only accommodation that is guaranteed

is extended time with the appropriate

documentation.

The David Program, although not a manda-

tory four-year program, is seen as a four-year

process of growth. Students develop com-

pensatory strategies, identify their learning

styles, master academic tasks, and internalize

learned strategies. The ratio of students to

educators is 2:1 during the academic support

period. The students, with their Learning

Specialist, will use the curriculum as the

focus on Metacognition (awareness of how

one thinks), Academic Achievement, Self-

Advocacy, and Personal Reflection. The David

Program is available for an additional fee

with limited openings each year. Financial aid

is available for qualified families.

ADMISSION PROCESS

Students apply for admission into

the David Program at the same time they

apply for admission to La Salle College

High School. In addition to the

regular admissions process, the

following is required for admission

to the David Program:

a. Interview with the

Director of the David Program

b. Recent (within two years)

psycho-educational or

neuropsychological evaluation.

8th Grade students who may qualify for

extended time on the Scholarship/Entrance

Exam are asked to submit all appropriate

documentation at least two weeks prior to

the exam date to the Director of Admissions

and to the Director of the David Program.

TUITION AND FEES

Tuition at La Salle College High School

for the 2011-2012 school year is

$17,900 for Grades 9-11 and $18,300

for Grade 12. Tuition increases

approximately 4% per year.

Tuition for the David Program is an

additional $7,300 per year. Financial aid

is available.

“The David Program has helped me organize my time and give me the strength and

courage to advocate for myself. This process has been helpful with my transition each year

to a new grade. The David Center has been a place where I can feel free to talk about

my questions and concerns. They have helped me to visualize material so I can remember

and maintain information.”

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STUDENT EXTRA-CURRICULAR

INVOLVEMENT

David Program Students participated in a

variety of Service Activities including:

Building Bridges of Solidarity – Bolivia

Junior Urban Challenge

Student Kairos Leaders

Secret Santa

La Salle Academy Tutoring

Philadelphia Urban Immersion

Triest House

Sarnelli House

Saint Vincent’s Soup Kitchen

TechServe

Summer Service Immersion Opportunities

David Program Students were

members of sixteen different

Athletic Teams including:

Baseball Basketball

Bowling Crew

Cross Country Football

Golf Hockey

Lacrosse Soccer

Swimming Tennis

Track and Field Water Polo

Wrestling

David Program Students were

members in a number of Club and

Activities including:

Art Club

Chess Club

Chorus

Drama and Musical Theatre

Stage Crew Lighting

Film Club

Gaming Club

Intramurals

Lab Managers

Music Program

(all levels including the Competition

Band, Orchestra, Pep Band, and a member

of the award-winning Jazz Band)

Respect Life Club

Speech and Debate

Ski Club

Student Council

WEXP

World Language Club

Wisterian


STATISTICS FOR RECENT GRADUATES

The Classes of 2006-2011 were accepted at over seventy different colleges and universities including:

Albright CollegeAlvernia CollegeAmerican UniversityArcadia UniversityBloomsburg University of PennsylvaniaBridgewater CollegeCabrini CollegeCatholic University of AmericaChestnut Hill CollegeCurry CollegeDe Salle’s UniversityDickinson CollegeDuquesne UniversityDrexel UniversityDrew UniversityElizabethtown CollegeFairfield UniversityFordham UniversityGwynedd-Mercy CollegeHofstra UniversityHoly Cross CollegeHoly Family UniversityImmaculata UniversityIndiana University of PennsylvaniaIona CollegeJohnson and Wales UniversityKing’s CollegeKutztown UniversityLa Salle UniversityLehigh UniversityLock Haven UniversityLynchburg CollegeLynn UniversityManhattan College

Manor Junior CollegeMarist CollegeMcDaniel UniversityMerrimack CollegeMonmouth UniversityMontgomery County Community CollegeMount Saint Mary’s UniversityNeumann UniversityNiagara UniversityNichols CollegeNortheastern UniversityPaul Smith’s CollegePenn State UniversityPhiladelphia UniversityRider UniversityRochester Institute of TechnologyRutgers UniversitySlippery Rock CollegeSaint Anselm CollegeSaint Bonaventure UniversitySaint Joseph’s UniversitySaint Mary’s CollegeShippensburg University of PennsylvaniaSuffolk UniversityTemple UniversityUniversity of ArizonaUniversity of HartfordUniversity of ScrantonUniversity of TampaVillanova UniversityWashington UniversityWest Chester UniversityWest Virginia Wesleyan CollegeWestern New England CollegeWidener UniversityYork College of Pennsylvania

DAVID PROGRAM STAFF

Mr. John Keenan ’80

Director

B.A. Assumption College

M.Ed. Temple University

Ms. Lisa Agnew

Learning Specialist

B.A. Millersville University

M.Ed. Arcadia University

Dr. JoAnn Cohen

Learning Specialist

B.S. Trenton State College

M.M., M.Ed. Temple University

Ph.D. Union Institute and University

Mr. Gerald Evans, Jr.

Learning Specialist

B.A., M.A. La Salle University

M.S. Drexel University

Mr. Joseph Glacken

Learning Specialist

B.S. Pennsylvania State University

M.Ed. Bloomsburg State University

Mrs. Dorothy Marchese

Learning Specialist

B.A. Houghton College

M.Ed. University of Rochester


La Salle College High School8605 Cheltenham AvenueWyndmoor, Pennsylvania 19038

215 402 4853 phone215 233 1418 [email protected]

www.lschs.org

David Program Brochure

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Transcript of David Program Brochure