Academic Support Program

Academic Programs

Peers as Partners in Learning

MCC is one of only three schools in Brevard County offering the Peers as Partners in Learning elective developed by the Florida Inclusion Network (FIN). It is an elective course for high school students approved by the Florida Department of Education. The course is based on years of research and designed to provide peer support, in an inclusive environment, for students with disabilities. The course provides reciprocal academic and social benefits to both students with and without disabilities. MCC students enrolled in this course are part of our “PIT Crew” (Peer Inclusion Team).

PIT Crew members attend training sessions before school begins. They are then assigned a daily PIT Crew period to serve either an individual student with disabilities by accompanying them to a class, or work with teachers to serve students in English, Math or Science classrooms. PIT Crew members also support students in the Learning Lab, and serve as Academic Peer Coaches, helping students with executive functioning skills and with specific course work.

Co-Teaching

Melbourne Central Catholic uses a Co-teaching model in some of their English and Math classes. Co-Teaching is a collaborative teaching approach where two educators work together in the same classroom to support all students, including those with diverse learning needs. By combining their expertise, co-teachers can create a more inclusive and engaging learning environment where students receive individualized attention and varied instructional strategies.

PEERS® Social Skills Training

Recommended students will be invited to participate in The PEERS ® Curriculum for Social Skills Training. The program is clinically proven to improve social skills and social interactions among teens with autism spectrum and related disorders.

Sessions will be held at school during designated periods each month. The Director of Academic Support, School Counselors, and Mental Health Counselor will assist in facilitating the sessions. Topics of the sessions include: engaging in two-way conversations, choosing appropriate friends, having get-togethers, entering and exiting conversations, handling arguments, appropriate use of humor, sportsmanship, and handling teasing.

Resource: Laugeson, E.A. (2014) the PEERS curriculum for school-based professionals. Social skills training for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder, New Your, NY: Routledge.

Melbourne Central Catholic High School recognizes each student as a unique individual created in the image of God. The Academic Support Team works collaboratively with parents, students, faculty and staff to provide all students with the support and resources needed to be successful students, self advocates, and lifelong learners.

The Academic Support Program at MCC is designed to support students with learning challenges or documented disabilities. Academic support is available for all MCC students, however, only students meeting eligibility criteria receive accommodations.

Parent Resources

Khan Academy, free test preparation, practice for math and reading skillshttps://www.khanacademy.org/

Bookshare - free access to recorded books for students with disabilities
https://www.bookshare.org/cms/

Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD)
www.cfl.ucf-card.org

Resources for information about all types of learning challenges
www.understood.org

Autistic Self-Advocacy Network -Navigating College
www.navigatingcollege.org

Learning Disabilities of America
www.ldaamerica.org/parents

ADDitude Magazine - Inside the ADHD mind
www.additudemag.com

ADHD specialists, products, and services
www.orderoochaoes.com

Child Mind Institute - Information about common concerns many families share
www.childmind.org

FLDE- Free parent resources
https://www.fldoe.org/em-response/resources-families.stml

Brevard County Public Schools - information for requesting an evaluation or reevaluation
https://www.brevardschools.org/page/private-schools

Read Naturally - program for improving reading fluency, available online
https://www.readnaturally.com/

Just Think Cognitive Therapy- provides personal academic and cognitive interventions in reading.
info@just-think-cognitive-therapy.com

Dietrich Brown - Speech-Language Pathology
Riverside Counseling Services LLC
(321) 421 6992

Counseling & Assessment Center of Brevard
Melbourne, Florida 32940
(Phone) 321-757-2133
(FAX) 321-405-3626
(Email) info@CACCBrevard.com

Brevard Counseling
Viera, Florida 32940
(Phone) 321-323-9069

Lawler Center Psychological Services
Office: 407-462-7293 or 321-722-7616

Pathways Counseling Center
Cassie Norsworthy (Licensed Mental Health Counselor)
Lori Velez (Licensed Mental Health Counselor)
Melbourne, Florida 32901
(Phone) 321-622-6710

Riverside Counseling Services
Mr. Timothy Thein, LCSW
Melbourne, Florida 32935
(Phone) 321-766-6184

PTS Coaching -Creating Pathways To Success
Support for ADHD and Executive Functioning
https://ptscoaching.com/parents/

Gretchen Wegner - Academic Life Coach
Study skills strategies
https://gretchenwegner.com/

Creating Positive Futures
Academic and ADHD Coaching
https://creatingpositivefutures.com/

Wyzant - Tutoring Network
https://www.wyzant.com/

Academic Support Electives

Learning Strategies - Available for students in grades 9-12, this elective course is designed to assist students in developing learning and study strategies that they will apply independently across the curriculum. During the course, students analyze their individual learning styles and learning modes and how these impact the student’s approach to study. Other topics presented and applied to daily schoolwork include goal setting, organization, and time management, listening skills, note- taking techniques, reading textbooks, writing strategies, memory strategies, and preparation for taking tests.

Intensive Math - Available for incoming 9th grade students, this elective course must be taken concurrently with Algebra 1 and is designed to provide students with support to develop math skills for successfully meeting high school math course requirements.

Intensive Language Arts - Available to students in 9th and 10th grades, this course is designed to provide instruction that enables the development of reading and writing skills and to strengthen those skills, so students are able to successfully meet high school English Language Arts requirements.

Available Accommodations

MCC provides reasonable accommodations to students with documented disabilities. Accommodations are based on documentation, available resources, and the Academic Support Teams recommendations. MCC however, is not obligated to follow the objectives nor provide all services indicated on documentation provided. Students are expected to abide by the guidelines established in the Student Handbook and meet the graduation requirements for a Florida State High School Diploma.

Academic Support Plans indicating reasonable instructional and testing accommodations are available for eligible students. Examples of available accommodations include:

Extended time for testing
Preferential seating
Use of Assistive technology
Assistance with notes
Testing in an alternative setting

*SAT and ACT accommodations are not school-based decisions. Requesting accommodations for these tests involves a separate process.

Documentation Guidelines

MCC follows the documentation guidelines established by the College Board:

Documentation must state the specific disability as diagnosed by an appropriate professional and be current (3-5 Years).
Information presented must be educationally relevant, describe functional limitations, and include recommendations.
Documentation may be in the form of an IEP, private psycho educational evaluation, or a 504 plan.