Overview of the David Program

UNIQUE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

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La Salle College High School – The David Program

La Salle College High School – The David Program

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THE DAVID PROGRAM AT LA SALLE COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL “HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR EACH PERSON YOU ARE WITH. KNOW YOUR STUDENTS INDIVIDUALLY AND BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THEM. INSPIRE AND LEAD THROUGH ENCOURAGEMENT. YOU CAN PERFORM MIRACLES BY TOUCHING THE HEARTS OF THOSE ENTRUSTED TO YOUR CARE.” Saint John Baptist de La Salle 1651–1719 Founders of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Patron Saint of Teachers

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.

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La Salle College High School – The David Program

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

Salle’s motto of “Enter to Learn,” the David Program strives to

John Baptist de La Salle, provides a challenging and nurturing

teach students how they learn most effectively. The David Program

environment for learning. In this tradition, and in conjunction with

continues to search for methods to meet each student’s personal

the greater Lasallian community, the staff of the David Program

needs. Today, some students with language processing difficulties

empowers each student to accept responsibility for his own learning

use assistive technology such as text-to-speech, audio books, or

and to achieve his fullest potential. Students are encouraged to

other options to help with reading. Students are encouraged to use

contribute their unique talents and perspectives to benefit the

technology to enhance and strengthen their learning repertoire.

entire school. An important component in each student’s success is

By using appropriate accommodations and adaptive strategies,

the collaboration of David Program staff with other Lasallian faculty,

students become aware of their invisible learning differences and

parents, and the school administration. In keeping with Saint La

are able to turn their weaknesses into strengths.

” The David Program was instrumental for our two sons, who have very distinctive learning differences that seemed insurmountable during their previous education. Their Learning Specialist in the David Program along with all of the staff at La Salle, recognized the potential in our sons and facilitated their learning accordingly.

WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT THIS PROGRAM WAS AVAILABLE TO PROMOTE THEIR EDUCATION AND PREPARE THEM FOR COLLEGE.”

Theresa McIntosh Mother of Colin ’11 and Ian ’15

La Salle College High School – The David Program

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La Salle College High School – The David Program

La Salle College High School has a long tradition of educating and guiding young men

La Salle College High School – The David Program

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of various abilities and backgrounds in a challenging and nurturing environment. 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 student’s sense of self-worth.

Named after two of La Salle College High School’s motivational educators,

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

Brother David Albert, FSC and Mr. David Diehl ’55, The David Program provides a daily class period for a selected number of college bound students with a mild

documented learning differences. Brother Rene knew there

learning difference. Through a seriousness

are lots of individuals who are very intelligent, creative, and

of purpose, consistent effort, understanding

industrious but who learn differently. He wanted capable young

and acceptance of a boy’s individual learning

men with problems like dyslexia and other learning disabilities

style, strengths, and adapted strategies, a

to know that they can succeed. He noted that all college and universities, even Ivy League schools, provide accommodations

student with a learning difference can grow towards self-advocacy and academic success.

for students with learning disabilities. Through his vision, in September 2002, a program to meet the needs of students with mild learning disabilities called the David Program was launched.

Mr. David Diehl ’55

Brother David Albert, FSC

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La Salle College High School – The David Program

La Salle College High School – The David Program

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

“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.”

taught in their native language instead of Latin, as was the custom in the 1600s.

Saint La Salle listened to people, saw needs, felt compassion, and prayed to the Spirit for guidance. He used every resource to gain assistance. Saint 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 adaptability 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

David Program Student

life is an amazing journey.

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La Salle College High School – The David Program

La Salle College High School – The David Program

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The David Program at La Salle College High School is an

The David Program, although not a mandatory four-year

additional college preparatory academic support service

program, is seen as a four-year process of growth. Students

for students with specific learning needs. The program does

develop compensatory strategies, identify their learning styles,

not ensure success through the artificial manipulation of

master academic tasks, and internalize learned strategies. The ratio

grades. Students who are part of the David Program are La

of students to educators is 2:1 during the academic support period.

Salle College High School students and have to meet the

The students, with their Learning Specialist, will use the curriculum

same academic requirements of La Salle College High School.

as the focus on Metacognition (awareness of how one thinks),

There is no modification to the curriculum and the only

Academic Achievement, Self-Advocacy, and Personal Reflection.

accommodation that is guaranteed is extended time with

The David Program is available for an additional fee with limited

the appropriate documentation.

openings each year.

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La Salle College High School – The David Program

La Salle College High School – The David Program

STUDENT EXTRA-CURRICULAR INVOLVEMENT David Program students participated in a variety of service activities including:

David Program students were members of sixteen different athletic teams including:

David Program students were members in a number of clubs and activities including:

Music Program (all levels including the

Art Club

Respect Life Club

Chess Club/Chess Team

Robotics

Chorus

Ski Club

Cooking Club

Speak Up

Competition Band, Orchestra, Pep Band, and members of the award-winning Jazz Band)

Baseball

Rugby

Basketball

Swimming

Bowling

Soccer

Crew

Tennis

Cross Country

Track and Field

Philadelphia Urban Immersion

Football

Volleyball

Drama and Musical Theatre

Speach and Debate

Saint Vincent’s Soup Kitchen

Golf

Water Polo

Fencing

Stage Crew Lighting

Sarnelli House

Hockey

Wrestling

Film Club

Student Council

Gaming Club

Ultimate Frisbee

TechServe

Global Studio Club

WEXP

Triest House

Intramurals

Wisterian (School Newspaper)

Visitation Tutoring

Lab Managers

World Language Club

Elder Share Homeless Outreach Junior Urban Challenge La Salle Academy Tutoring

Summer Service Immersion Opportunities

Lacrosse

“ALTHOUGH, IT TOOK ME SOME TIME TO UNDERSTAND HOW I LEARN AND APPRECIATE THE INSIGHTS OF THE DAVID PROGRAM, THE PROGRAM DEFINITELY HELPED ME. I WAS ALSO ABLE TO EXCEL IN MUSIC AND THE THEATRE AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR ALL THAT I ACCOMPLISHED AND LEARNED.”

COLIN O’MALLEY ’15

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La Salle College High School – The David Program

La Salle College High School – The David Program

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STATISTICS FOR GRADUATES IN THE DAVID PROGRAM THE CLASSES OF 2006-2019 HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED TO OVER ONE HUNDRED COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES INCLUDING:

Albright College

Fairfield University

Lock Haven University

Rosemont College

University of Scranton

Alvernia College

Flagler College

Rowan University

University of South Carolina

American University

Fordham University

Loyola University

Rutgers University

University of Tampa

Arcadia University

Franklin & Marshall College

Lynchburg College

Sacred Heart University

University of Vermont

Bloomsburg University

Georgetown University

Lynn University

Slippery Rock College

Ursinus College

of Pennsylvania

Gettysburg College

Manhattan College

Saint Anselm College

Villanova University

Bridgewater College

Goucher College

Marist College

Saint Bonaventure University

Virginia Polytechnic Tech

Bucknell University

Gwynedd-Mercy College

Marywood University

Saint Joseph’s University

Washington University

Cabrini University

Hampton University

McDaniel University

Saint Mary’s College

Washington and Jefferson College

Catholic University of America

High Point University

Merrimack College

Shippensburg University

West Chester University

Chestnut Hill College

Hofstra University

Monmouth University

Coastal Carolina University

Holy Family University

Montgomery County

Stevens Institute of Technology

Western New England College

College of Charleston

Immaculata University

Community College

Susquehanna University

Wilkes University

College of the Holy Cross

Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Mount Saint Mary’s University

Temple University

Widener University

Curry College

Iona College

Neumann University

University of Alabama

York College of Pennsylvania

De Salles University

James Madison University

Niagara University

University of Arizona

Dewison University

Jefferson University

Northeastern University

University of Delaware

100% of the students who

Dickinson College

Johnson and Wales University

Paul Smith’s College

University of Hartford

participated in The David

Duquesne University

King’s College

Penn State University

University of Massachusetts

Program for four years

Drexel University

Kutztown University

Quinnipiac University

Drew University

La Salle University

Rider University

University of Mississippi

Elizabethtown College

Lehigh University

Rochester Institute of Technology

University of Pittsburgh

of Pennsylvania

of Pennsylvania

(Amherst)

West Virginia Wesleyan College

were accepted into a college or university.

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La Salle College High School – The David Program

La Salle College High School – The David Program

” We could not have written a more perfect script for Matt’s time at La Salle. His first two years were not easy as he was challenged and worked harder than he ever did before; however, he discovered that there were new and different ways to learn and the David Program was helping him identify the tools that he needed. Lisa Agnew and the other learning specialists helped Matt understand he was smart and simply needed to learn a different way. After four years, Matt has learned those skills. He did the work and proved to himself that he can be successful...

MATT WAS ACCEPTED INTO EVERY UNIVERSITY TO WHICH HE APPLIED AND RECEIVED A SCHOLARSHIP TO HIS SCHOOL OF CHOICE. HE HAS THE ROAD MAP TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND IT’S BECAUSE OF THE TALENTED PEOPLE THAT MAKE UP THEDAVID PROGRAM. AS A FAMILY WE ARE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THAT THIS INSTITUTION HAS GIVEN US AND WE COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD OF OUR SON.” Joe and Ileana Shott Parents of Matt ’16

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La Salle College High School – The David Program

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: 1. Interview with the Director of the David Program 2. Recent (within two years) psycho-educational or neuropsychological evaluation that includes a diagnosis with the appropriate diagnostic code.

8th Grade students who may qualify for extended time on the Scholarship and 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.

DAVID PROGRAM STAFF

La Salle College High School – The David Program

Mrs. Barbara Chesnik

Ms. Lisa Agnew

Mr. Joseph Glacken

Learning Specialist

Learning Specialist

Learning Specialist

B.A. Pennsylvania State University

B.A. Millersville University

B.S. Pennsylvania State University

M.Ed. Chestnut Hill College

M.Ed. Arcadia University

M.Ed. Bloomsburg State University

Mr. John Keenan ’80

Mr. Gerald Evans, Jr.

Dr. Jessica Jefferis

Director

Learning Specialist

B.A. Boston College

B.A. Assumption College

B.A. La Salle University

M.Ed. Holy Family University

M.Ed. Temple University

M.A. La Salle University

Ed.D. Gwynedd Mercy University

M.A. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

M.S. Drexel University

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EXPLORE, DREAM, DISCOVER.

Mark Twain 1835 - 1910 American Writer and Humorist

La Salle College High School 8605 Cheltenham Avenue Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania 19038 215 402 4800 phone 215 233 0284 fax www.lschs.org