NDCL’s Academic Success Center expands support for all students’ achievement

September 7, 2021

Thanks to our strong enrollment and additional funding from the federal government, Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin School’s Academic Success Center in Chardon, Ohio has dramatically expanded academic support for all students in all core subjects every day of the week.

ELEMENTS OF SUCCESS: Junior Jordan Giudice reviews a Chemistry assignment with Sister Karen Dolovacky, one of the 11 academic coaches of NDCL’s Academic Success Center.

The Academic Success Center, which began in 2016, reflects NDCL’s educational stance that all students benefit from support as they strive toward their academic goals. NDCL modeled the center after similar programs at colleges and universities nationwide.

“Academic support means much more than remediation,” explained Sister Michelle Marie Kelly, who has directed the Academic Success Center since its inception. “Struggling students certainly need support, but so do high-achieving students as they advance to the next levels of academic success.”

According to Sister Michelle, the center’s staff now includes five full-time academic coaches, five part-time academic coaches, and one volunteer academic coach. The coaches meet with students in the Sisters of Notre Dame Learning Commons during their Enhanced Learning Blocks (ELBs), during Lion Time on Tuesday through Friday, and after school on Monday through Thursday.

In addition to on-request academic assistance, academic coaches develop relationships and check on the progress of every student who has an ELB. Academic coaches have already reached out via email to the parents of all of these students.

With the increased staffing levels, academic coaches are now able to focus on working with the various academic departments to link coaching sessions with the content and skills being taught in the classroom.

“Our academic coaches are working hard to build relationships with students, parents, and classroom teachers that will form the foundation of our students’ success in their first year of high school and beyond,” Sister Michelle stressed.

In the coming weeks, the Academic Success Center will host the Freshman Success Series, which will provide our newest Lions with training in goal-setting, study and organizational skills, stress management, test preparation, and more. Students and parents will receive more information about the Freshman Success Series soon.