Student Resources and Support
Latin’s wide array of resources and strong system of support help all our students become successful, independent learners.
Advisory System
The Advisory System is designed for Middle and Upper school students.
Middle School
In the Middle School, students are assigned to homerooms and have homeroom teachers who can assist them with academic or social issues. There is also a team composed of grade-level teachers, the nurse, the counselor, the dean of students and the division director that meets on a weekly basis to discuss issues students may be facing and how to address them.
Upper School
All freshmen are assigned to an advisor who helps them with everything from adapting to classes in the Upper School to implementing time management strategies. After ninth grade, students choose the faculty advisor they want to work with during the next three years.
Learning Resources
Lower School
The Lower School learning resources program is designed to work with children who have diagnosed learning differences or are at risk of experiencing learning challenges based on the development of their foundational skills. Support is provided through research-based interventions and individualized remediation, modifications, accommodations and/or consultative services. The primary goal of the program is to meet the unique needs of our youngest students, while also preparing them to be confident and resourceful learners.
Middle and Upper Schools
The learning resource program for our Middle and Upper schools features a range of services for students who are experiencing academic difficulties due to challenges related to work organization, time management, reading efficiency, problem-solving strategies and/or learning differences. Students can take advantage of these services on a daily basis or only occasionally—depending on what works best for them. Our teachers will also work with students on an individualized basis to customize a program that will best meet their needs.
Counseling
Lower School
In the Lower School, counselors visit junior kindergarten through fourth grade classrooms on a weekly basis as part of Latin's Roundtable program. This program helps children gain a foundation in the areas of self-awareness, self-management, relationship skills and responsible decision-making.
During their visits, the counselors build relationships, lead discussions and facilitate activities that promote the positive mental health and well-being of students. In the early grades, they help children develop a vocabulary to talk about feelings. As the children get older, they support their understanding of group dynamics and the importance of forming healthy relationships.
Middle and Upper School
The counselors who serve the students and parents/guardians in our Middle and Upper schools apply their expertise in child and adolescent development to all aspects of school life, including individual student needs, school climate, interactions with families and school policy decisions. Their responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Offering regular programs and flexibly arranged services.
- Working as a team with teachers, learning resources staff, parents/guardians and specialists outside the school to provide students with assistance and support.
- Teaching Affective Education courses.
- Participating in parent/guardian discussions.
- Organizing presentations on bereavement, divorce and other areas of special interest.
Health Services
Latin employs full-time registered nurses who provide immediate emergency care, do initial assessments, and work with parents/guardians and health care providers to help children with chronic conditions remain healthy at school. They also educate students, faculty, staff and parents/guardians about health issues and good health practices.
Libraries
Each division at Latin has a library that contributes to the growth, development and success of our students.
The Mabel Slade Vickery Library serves all Lower School students, and supports them in curricular areas that include accessing information, evaluating information, using and creating information, and appreciating information and literature in all formats. The librarian works with homeroom and special subject teachers to ensure that students have access to an integrated curriculum. Students, teachers and parents/guardians are encouraged to visit the library to select materials that they can read for pleasure, utilize to complete assignments and/or use to nurture their natural (and encouraged) curiosity.
In the Middle School, two of the primary objectives of the Sampey Hub is to teach research and library skills and promote a love of reading. While there are no separate library classes, the librarian works closely with faculty members to develop units that integrate library and research skills into the curriculum.
The Upper School’s Learning Commons helps students build information literacy skills, and provides them with opportunities to practice information access, evaluation, appreciation and creation through programming and integrated instruction. The library serves as a collaborative study space for students, and has multi-format resources that community members can use for formal and informal learning.
Bullying Prevention Policy
Bullying is contrary to Illinois law and the policy of Latin School. Bullying will not be tolerated. This Bullying Prevention Policy is based on the engagement of a range of school stakeholders, including students and parents/guardians.