Student Services

If a student has an IEP or Speech Service Plan, they are eligible to receive services at Our Lady of Hope/St. Luke School. 

Title I is a Federal Program that provides academic support and learning opportunities to eligible students.  Eligible students will receive these service on site.

A Student Advocacy Team is established within a Catholic School to serve as a resource for the classroom teacher, and as a liaison to the local educational agency.  The focus of the team will be the identification of students with learning difficulties.  These needs may include the following: students with specific learning disabilities, children with learning gaps due to a change in curriculum or time missed from school, gifted students who are not being challenged, and children with physiological problems that impact their learning.  A Student Advocacy Team will offer the classroom teacher strategies and interventions to enhance the learning process.  The goal is to establish a collaborative team that will support the success of the students while following the mission of the school.  A Student Advocacy Team may be comprised of the following Catholic School personnel: school principal (or principal designee), classroom teacher, guidance counselor, school nurse and any other appropriate professionals.  The selection of the team members is always at the discretion of the principal.  There are times when classroom teachers must seek the support of their colleagues.  Recognizing that a student is struggling with academic performance is the first step towards intervention.  The Student Advocacy Team can help address the needs of the student.  The team can evaluate work samples, learning styles, classroom environment, assessments, and the impact of specific difficulties on learning.   Exploring alternate strategies and interventions will be the focus of the team.  The team may assist the principal in supporting parents by offering and discussing any interventions and plans.  The Student Advocacy Team may also aid in the evaluation of alternative placements of students when appropriate. 

Ms. Kate Dannals serves the role of the school counselor.  She is at Our Lady of Hope/St. Luke School School to work with students, faculty, staff and families each Wednesday.  She meets the children individually, in small groups, and as a class.  She also serves on the Student Advisory Team to help identify and address the needs of children with potential learning differences.

The school counselor at Our Lady of Hope/St. Luke School provides services to enhance students’ overall learning and growth academically, socially and emotionally.

Services include individual supportive counseling, small issue-oriented groups, classroom presentations, new student lunch bunches, consultation with staff, participation in outside team meetings, referrals for specialized services in the community and collaboration with mental health providers.

Examples of the kind of issues that often prompt individual meetings are: difficulties with social interactions, sadness about a loss, anxiety, etc. as well as overcoming normal childhood hurdles.  Referrals for services are initiated by students, parents, teachers and administrators.

Our school counselor is here for you and your child as a support and advocate and is available one day a week.  Please email Ms. Kate Dannals at kdannals@olhsl.com with any questions or concerns. 

Mrs. Linda Kafka, R.N.,B.S.N. is the full-time nurse. Mrs. Kafka not only takes care of the health needs of each student but also assists in a variety of other ways.  She dispenses medications as needed and provides wellness support to our school families and staff.  She actively assists teachers with programs on  health related issues and in the field of science.