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Program

Student Support

Providence Country Day School is committed to ensuring that each student is given the opportunity to achieve personal and academic success.
Toward that end there are multiple opportunities for students to receive the support they need—whether it is a nudge to stretch beyond perceived limits, extra help from a classroom teacher, regular sessions with a learning specialist to hone study techniques, opportunities to meet with affinity groups to share common experiences, or the resources of our school counselor for a special concern.

If a child's needs are not met through one of our regular channels of support, parents are encouraged to reach out to the student's advisor to make appropriate arrangements for assessment and next steps.

The Learning Center

The Learning Center (TLC) is a vital hub at Providence Country Day that provides students with differences in their academic learning profile with personalized instruction incorporated into their regular school day. Students who enroll for this support service work with TLC learning specialists who recognize that having confidence in understanding is key to student growth and participation; their goal is to work with students to develop individualized strategies and opportunities in order to develop this confidence both at PCD and beyond.

Benefits of The Learning Center

  • Support for students with learning differences
  • Individual and small-group time with learning specialists
  • Integrated into daily schedule and class curricula
Embracing a holistic approach grounded in focusing on the individual, TLC uses structured, multi-sensory techniques to help students discover their strongest channels for learning and to develop skills to use those channels effectively. In this way, students develop an understanding of their personal learning styles and the tools and strategies they need to be successful. In addition to providing learning support, developing greater independence, confidence, and pride in work are also important goals within TLC.

Learning specialists at TLC work with one to three students at a time and tailor their approach not only to the individual needs of each student, but to their specific class curricula—a strategy that involves a coordinated approach between TLC and each student’s classroom teachers. TLC sessions fully integrate into each student’s curricula and focus on strengthening basic skills in reading, language development, written expression, math, reasoning, and study techniques.

Students transferring to PCD and joining the TLC community remark on the benefit of the individualized attention, small class sizes, and close coordination between TLC learning specialists and PCD faculty. Through this personalized, holistic approach, students leave TLC with the knowledge, preparation, and skills they need to continue on to college.
Prospective families should indicate their interest in TLC during the application process. For additional information about applying to PCD, contact PCD’s Admissions Team. 

Advising

Advisors are an essential strand that runs through every PCD student experience. Every PCD student is assigned an advisor who knows your child across all areas of school life, and provides support, oversight, and guidance, to help each student make the most of his/her PCD opportunities. Over time, advisory groups (typically about seven students) become a core of peers, who navigate shared experiences and explore community themes together.

List of 4 items.

  • Middle School Advising

    In the Middle School, every student is a member of an advisory group which may be single or multi-grade and is led by a middle school teacher, who understands the subtle differences among the three middle school years.

  • Upper School Advising

    In the Upper School, ninth grade students are teamed with advisors who are specialists in this pivotal, transitional year. In 10th grade, students are assigned new advisors who provide consistent guidance through graduation.

  • School Life

    Advisors play an important role in a student's school life. New students meet their advisors on their first day of school and continue to see them each day during homeroom—a convenient time to "check in," as well as during regularly scheduled advisory meeting times. Advisory groups offer one-on-one time to review academic progress and discuss specific questions and needs, as well as group time to discuss school-wide issues (course selection, the student handbook, community service day projects, etc.). Advisory groups also work together on community curriculum activities and to discuss community themes. Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, advisors know their students from multiple perspectives and are always available to help students think out loud, strategize, organize, or just chat.

    Advisors help students select a rigorous curriculum that takes into account individual interests and strengths, and provides the strongest possible preparation for college. Often the advisor is the faculty member who knows the student best, from the most diverse perspectives, and can be the student’s strongest advocate for success across multiple venues.

  • Advising and Families

    The advisor is the first point of contact between families and the school. Conferences are conducted twice a year between advisors and parents, but advisors are available throughout the year to address concerns and refer parents to those in the community who can offer additional support as needed.

Tutorials and Our Schedule

Both the middle and upper school divisions have time built into their daily schedules, during which all teachers and students are available to meet for extra help, review, and practice. Because this dedicated community time is a part of the schedule, there is no conflict with other commitments.

Our Rotating Schedule:

PCD uses a seven-day rotating schedule. Classes meet in a similar sequence each day, but the sequence starts with a different period each day. Each day begins with an extended class period to accommodate more discussion, collaboration, and experiential work, and the schedule includes a daily division-wide community time during which all teachers and students are available for extra help and/or projects.

This schedule was implemented after months of research and analysis—of our own pedagogy, of student learning, and of behavioral patterns in general. We shake up the day every day—to create a more vibrant learning experience, while giving students one more tool to help them succeed.

Key benefits of PCD's schedule include:

  • Students and teachers have the opportunity to perform during individual peak times.
  • Rotating periods mean that the same classes or club meetings will not be cancelled disproportionately because of holidays or athletic early dismissals.
  • A regular daily block (community time) allows the school to gather in its entirety for special activities without sacrificing valuable classroom time.
  • The daily community time also ensures that teachers and students are free at the same time to meet as needed.
  • An extended teaching period at the start of each day supports greater variety of instruction to help make the vital connections between theory and practice.
  • No student will have more than three classes without a break, allowing for a manageable pace and critical time to process course content. 
  • Student schedules are more consistent, eliminating large blocks of consecutive free periods and providing greater efficiency and continuity of coursework.

  • JR Curtin, Class of 1965

    PCD was the first place anyone ever told me I was smart and I had the potential to be a really good student if I wanted to be. I had never been any place that recognized scholarship. PCD was a place that cared about you as a person, not as a number. That was the first time I really enjoyed going to school and it really changed my thoughts about what I could do going forward.

  • Pam Clarke, Coordinator of The Learning Center

    The Learning Center isn’t just a support for our students. It’s a support for our teachers, our parents, our wider community. TLC has a ripple effect, and it’s an important part of PCD’s identity.

  • Reggie O., 12th Grade

    It’s a really good thing, TLC. It’s a huge step up that can give you a major advantage when you really need it.

  • CeCe Bazar Aparo, Class of 2007

    My sisters and I all attended PCD and thrived despite having very different interests and personalities. We learned that there are different types of 'smarts' and PCD allowed us to shine in our unique area of smart. That level of personal attention and celebration directly impacted our future sense of self and how we approach our careers and professional development.

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