What is ARISE?
The ARISE program at Notre Dame is a partnership between the learning resource specialists, faculty and student participants to provide personalized and differentiated support. The program includes three pillars:
- Academic Resources
- Individualized Support
- Empowerment
Specifically, our learning resource specialists have used these pillars to design programs and experiences to promote a successful high school experience at Notre Dame for a variety of students. Designated program space for ARISE is on the first floor of Donnelly Hall.
Academic Resources
Notre Dame offers a variety of programs and opportunities for students to grow their personal learning toolbox. These opportunities are designed to empower students to increase their academic engagement and to take advantage of the curriculum to their fullest potential.
In partnership with the Career & Life Success Program, peer note takers develop self-efficacy. A Notre Dame student confidently takes initiative to fully realize their potential and uses their talents and skills to affect impactful change in the community. Our peer note-taking program provides students an opportunity to support their peers while developing their own skills. Students are selected as peer note takers through an application process each year.
Peer Note-takers earn 2.5 non-academic credits (per semester) on their transcripts for their service to the community.
In partnership with the Career & Life Success Program, our learning resource specialists offer workshops throughout the year on topics related to skills and strategies for effective learning. These workshops are an opportunity for all of our students to build their career and life skill potential by practicing discernment and engaging in reflection. The workshops offer opportunities and resources for students to demonstrate personal efficacy. Topics include time management and organization, effective note-taking strategies, study skills, stress management, and more. Workshops are currently offered during Thursday Academic Collaboration.
The California Scholarship Federation (CSF) is an honors society based on academic excellence and service to the community. Students who participate in CSF also volunteer as peer tutors. Students who need additional academic support in specific content areas are encouraged to seek out a peer tutor for one-on-one support. Peer tutors additionally support teachers by offering study sessions and support on an as needed basis.
Peer tutors earn 2.5 non-academic credits (per semester) on their transcripts for their service to the community.
Individualized Support
Individualized supports are provided for students so they can achieve their desired personal and academic goals. Supports and resources are student-centered, and based on the individual needs, goals, and interests of that student. At Notre Dame, every child is worthy of reaching their potential, and our learning resource specialists are committed to designing and facilitating a circle of support for our students.
Our learning resource specialists work with students, families, counselors, and teachers to provide appropriate and reasonable accommodations to minimize the effect of a student’s disability. This program is for students who have been evaluated by a doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist, or other health practitioner; have testing and a history that substantiates the need for accommodations; and have a diagnosed medical, mental health, attention-deficit, or learning disability.
Students must have current and appropriate documentation to qualify for accommodations. Documentation must either be a psychoeducational evaluation, or a letter from the provider on official letterhead that includes the impact of the diagnosis, the degree, and duration of the disability(ies), as well as any functional limitations that are directly linked to and support the need for any requested accommodations.
Our learning resource specialists meet regularly with all students that have accommodations to ensure their needs are being appropriately met and to support students with resources and strategies to enhance their learning.
The counseling team and our learning resource specialists work closely as a team to support students. The teams meet regularly to identify current trends in student experience and to identify students who may need additional support in their classes. Counselors may refer a student to meet with our learning resource specialists for short or long term support in building and strengthening academic skills and habits.
Academic Seminar is a class specifically for 9th graders, and is taught by our learning resource specialists. The goal of Academic Seminar is to assist freshmen in further developing the inner qualities, outer behaviors, and academic strategies necessary to reach their individual academic goals as well as to provide them with adult and peer support on their journey to achieve these goals. Placement in this program is determined by our admissions committee in conjunction with our Learning Resource Specialists and the student’s academic counselor. It is an opportunity for students to be productive as they work to achieve their broader academic and personal goals. It is a class where students learn and practice executive functioning and study skills, and are provided with consistent support from our learning resource specialists.
An independent study, online course in American Sign Language (ASL) is offered as a modern language alternative for our students with appropriate documentation of a diagnosed language-based learning disability (e.g. dyslexia, apraxia, auditory processing disorder etc…). The student will have a block in their class schedule for this independent work with a teacher facilitator. Formal documentation as well as a recommendation in a psychoeducational report or recommendations from a Notre Dame Learning Resource Specialist are required to enroll in this course.
Empowerment
The ARISE program uses an asset-based approach to learning and skill development that highlights strengths and builds a growth mindset. An empowered student welcomes the opportunity to create and re-evaluate their goals, builds confidence, and practices life-long learning through purposeful decision making. This includes developing attitudes and using strategies to be more constructive, proactive and independent learners.
