Student Support Services | Columbus Academy

About Us

Student support services in the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools are provided based on individualized need. Each division has a Student Support Team, which includes a Counselor, Specialists, Dean, Division Head and the Directors of Student Support Services.

If you have any questions as to where to begin, if your child has a diagnosed learning difference, or you are considering outside educational testing, please email one of our directors Heather Levingston or Suzanne Ritter.

Academic Support Services

The Learning Support program is designed for students who have diagnosed learning differences. Support is provided through individual remediation, accommodations, and consultative services. Services are individualized and designed based on documented need, observation, and collaboration between the support team, parents, and the classroom teacher. If a parent has concerns about a child’s academic needs, the first step is to contact the classroom teacher or advisor.

All accommodation or intervention support services requests must be accompanied by documentation from a licensed professional. Appropriate documentation includes the most recent psycho-educational testing, psychological evaluations, or medical evaluations. The Student Support Team reviews documentation and recommendations from outside practitioners, to determine what accommodations, interventions, and recommendations are appropriate and feasible at Columbus Academy. If the school is able to provide accommodations and/or interventions, these will be documented in a written accommodation plan. Need for Student Support Services are determined on a year to year basis.

Additional Lower School Services

Reading Intervention - Reading intervention is provided for Lower School Students based on assessed need, classroom performance, or a diagnosed learning difference. Reading specialists provide intervention both in and out of the classroom using an intensive, systematic, and multisensory approach. Our reading specialists are credentialed through International Dyslexia Association accredited programs.

Speech and Language Therapy: Speech and language therapy services are offered in the Lower School for students with a diagnosed speech and language delay, documented in an evaluation by either an in-house SLP or an outside qualified professional.

Counseling Services

Each division at Columbus Academy has a full time counselor to help to meet the social and emotional needs of students.

The Lower School emphasizes CARES (Cooperation, Assertion, Responsibility, Empathy and Self-Control) while following the Responsive Classroom model. Social and emotional teaching strategies that foster a strong sense of community, classroom discipline and a positive learning atmosphere are emphasized. Additionally, the Fly 5 social emotional learning curriculum is used in lower school classrooms. Read more about Responsive Classroom and Fly 5.

In Middle School the counselor supports students as they navigate changes in friendships, strive to balance their extracurricular activity with academic and social demands, and gain an understanding of their shifting body images and self-esteem. Along with individual counseling, they are part of health class and advisories, and other group opportunities to foster social-emotional development. The Middle School uses the social-emotional curriculum Developmental Design in their advisories.

In Upper School the emphasis shifts to helping teenagers transition to young adults, supporting them through issues of individuation, healthy relationships, stress management, college choice and other issues unique to high school students.

All three divisions offer specialized support groups based on given need.

Counselor’s Role - The counselor’s role encompasses individual and group counseling, consultation with the learning support team, crisis intervention and referral. Counselors assist parents with referrals to outside qualified mental health providers for evaluation and treatment recommendations. With parental or guardian consent, counselors may collaborate with the student’s support community including a family physician, therapist and/or tutor.

Ohio law mandates that if there is concern about self-harm or harm to others parents/guardians must be notified immediately. When the counselor assesses that the child is in danger, the parent is contacted immediately and then works closely with the parents and school personnel to develop a plan, including facilitating outside referral for follow-up. The counselor will remain involved with monitoring student progress and providing support while at school as needed.