Student Development/Tutoring
Across all three of our campuses, the goals of Ascension's student development program are to serve students who learn differently and to enhance the academic curriculum to meet all learning styles.
River Ranch Student Development Programs
At the preschool level, students who are working significantly above the class norms, as well as those who need individual attention, may work with the Preschool Head and Student Development Coordinators to either “catch up” or be challenged beyond class work.
Students recommended for participation in this program are allowed the opportunity for small group instruction and reinforcement or extension of concepts presented in the classroom.
Little Gator Development
Little Gator Development assesses all students in Kindergarten in the critical areas of pre-reading and reading such as phonological awareness
and phonics. Expert specialists offer small group assistance for students who need additional structured sequential lessons to support the
SuperKids curriculum and national benchmark standards. There is no additional charge for this service.
Downtown Student Development Programs
Gator Development
Gator Development assesses all students in first grade & previously enrolled and new to the school second graders in the critical areas of
reading, such as phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension of text, and written expression. Expert specialists offer small group
assistance for students who need additional structured sequential lessons to support the SuperKids curriculum and national benchmark standards.
There is no additional charge for this service.
Academic Zone (The AZ)
The Academic Zone provides a testing center for those who qualify. The AZ services are part of daily life at Ascension and are included in the cost of tuition.
Little Gator Aide
Little Gator Aide provides reading support services for students in grades 1-4 who meet certain program criteria. Recommended accommodations
are implemented as much as possible. Students in 1st-4th may participate in the Reading Achievement Program (HillRAP) with a one to four teacher/student
ratio. This program utilizes an Orton-Gillingham approach to teach reading and spelling. There is an additional cost for Little Gator Aide program.
Big Gator Aide
Big Gator Aide is designed for the dyslexic students in grades 5-7. Big Gator Aide serves those Middle School students who have a psychoeducational evaluation that has diagnosed the student as dyslexic. These students are taught to use Kurzweil software while participating in the program. There is an additional cost for the Big Gator Aide program.
Private Tutors
In-house private tutors provide additional help with academic or organizational skills. A contract is developed between a parent and the tutor
based on the specific needs of each child. Tutors provide one-to-one instruction as well as homework relief for parents. They communicate with
the teachers regarding each student’s needs on a daily basis. Students have the option to meet with tutors during physical education, enrichment,
or after school. There is an additional cost for private tutors.
Sugar Mill Pond Development Programs
Ascension's chapter of the National Honor Society provides free tutoring every morning from 7:30 to 8:00am in the Student Solutions Hub at the Sugar Mill Pond Campus. NHS members are also available to tutor during their study hall periods and can be assigned to students in need. For students who have a study hall, private tutors may come to campus to work with them in the Student Solutions Hub.