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Mother Pia Program

“To enable children to learn — emotionally, academically, socially – when they need something different.” -Erik Erikson

The Mother Pia Program is the Student Learning Support Program at St. Elizabeth School and was founded by the Dominican Sister of Mission San Jose, Mother Maria Pia Baches. It has been a part of St. Elizabeth for more than 25 years. This program is funded by outside donors. The Mother Pia Program offers the following services to the St. Elizabeth Community:

  • Academic Support: Our Learning Specialists collaborate with teachers to ensure that students with learning and/or social–emotional needs receive the appropriate support and accommodations in their respective classrooms to enable access to the curriculum. Additionally, identified students in Grades 4-8 will have the opportunity to attend after school sessions to help with assignment completion and homework.
  • Academic Screenings: Our Learning Specialists provide screening and assessment services for students of all grade levels, including, when appropriate, bilingual testing. Goals include: identifying student learning strengths and challenges, determining where breakdowns may be occurring, and administering baseline screenings of all TK, Kindergarten and new students.
  • Student Success Team Meetings (SST): SSTs are held when concerns arise about a student’s academic and/or social-emotional success. SSTs are led and monitored by the Program Directors and include all relevant teachers, staff and counselors. SSTs help students, parents and teachers address challenges and develop strategies for academic success.
  • Individualized Education Plan (IEP): A request for an IEP is initiated through the Program Director once parent/teacher conferences and SSTs have proven a greater need for assessment. The Program Director works with families to navigate the IEP process and acts as a liaison between the family and public unified school districts. The Program Director and relevant teachers attend the IEP meetings conducted by public unified school districts.
  • Family and Student Case Management: Case management addresses students’ emotional and academic success through advocacy, communication, education, identification of services and service facilitation.The Program Directors work closely with teachers, families and students to monitor student and family success.
  • Group Counseling Services: Counseling services provide emotional support for any students identified as benefiting from therapeutic services. Many issues may be addressed in counseling, most often including themes of transitions, grief, relational issues, PTSD and family concerns. Identified students will be seen as frequently as caseload and funding allow and will be referred to outside services if necessary.
  • Speech and Language Screenings and Services: When funds are available, our Speech and Language Consultant will screen all TK and Kindergarten students to determine the need for outside support. The Speech and Language Consultant may offer small group services for Grades TK- 4.

Useful Links about Supporting your Student’s Learning

  • Understood - Understood is the leading nonprofit empowering the 70 million people with learning and thinking differences in the United States.
  • LD Online - All about learning disabilities and ADHD.
  • Colorin Colorado - A bilingual site for educators and families of dual language learners.