Parish Link

At Parish, we appreciate that students learn differently and, at times may require an additional academic resource to help with the process.

Parish Episcopal School can assist parents in finding an academic coach for their student. Support services are available to any student experiencing academic difficulty, before or after the school day. If a student has a current Individualized Academic Plan (IAP) on file and receives accommodations, this allows for more availability in the student’s schedule for them to meet with a coach during the school day. Otherwise, coaches and students can meet before the school day (beginning at 7 am), after the school day (until 6 pm), and during Free Block or Study Hall for Upper School students. Parish Link coaches can assist parents with scheduling, they are aware of designated session times according to a student’s division.

Parish Link assists families by connecting parents and students to qualified fully screened academic coaches.

The Parish Link team works together with each student, his or her family, the academic coach, and the Parish faculty to ensure that a communication link exists to fully support student progress and success.

Requirements & Responsibilities

Lower School – Hillcrest Campus – Scheduling Requirements

Any student in PK3, PK4, Kindergarten, and Primer; AND, any student in 1st through 2nd grade with an active Individual Accommodation Plan (IAP) may be pulled during the school day for the following services:

— Dyslexia Therapy with a CALT or LDT minimum four days per week

— Speech Therapy with an SLP up to two days per week

— Occupational Therapy with an OT or COTA up to two days per week

— Counseling/Behavioral Therapy with a licensed mental health professional up to two days per week

Dyslexia Therapy: Times or subject area should be consistent each day. In addition, the time should be during humanities or reading instruction. At the discretion of the teacher, other times, such as flex, rest, etc may be utilized as appropriate for each classroom and child.

Speech, OT and Counseling: Students may work with these professionals during Spanish or one PE session per week. If these subjects do not provide a consistent way for students to access these services at least twice per week, flex, rest or another time may be identified by the teacher, as appropriate for each classroom and child.

The schedule of service times can be found here.Parish Link Service Times – Hillcrest 2023-2024

Students are not permitted to work with providers before school

Students must be supervised at all times, including during the transition to parent/guardian following any after school services.

Lower School – Midway campus – Scheduling Requirements

Any student may be pulled during the school day, for the following services

— Dyslexia Therapy with a CALT or LDT

— Speech Therapy with an SLP

— Occupational Therapy with an OT or COTA

— Counseling/Behavioral Therapy with a licensed mental health professional

Students are permitted to work with Parish Link Providers

During their Spanish class and During no more than one PE class per week.

Students are not permitted to be pulled from core content with their grade level teachers.

Students are not permitted to work with Parish Link Providers before and after school.

A schedule of available service times can be foundParish Link Service Times – Midway 2023-2024

Middle School – Scheduling Requirements

Any student may be pulled during the school day, during Study Hall only, for the following services

— Dyslexia Therapy with a CALT or LDT

— Speech Therapy with an SLP

— Occupational Therapy with an OT or COTA

— Counseling/Behavioral Therapy with a licensed mental health professional

— Tutoring for a core academic class (math, humanities, science, language)

Students are permitted to work with Parish Link Providers during Study Hall only.
The schedule for service times during the school day may be foundParish Link Service Times – Midway 2023-2024

Students are permitted to work with Parish Link Providers before and after school

— Parent/Guardian must escort 5th/6th students to Provider, before 7:30am.

— Provider must escort 5th/6th grade students to parent/guardian, after 4:30pm.

Upper School – Scheduling Requirements

Any student may work with Parish Link Providers for any school related purpose, during their regularly scheduled off periods.

Written approval from administration is required for students to work with Parish Link Providers during a scheduled/assigned Study Hall, due to academic risk.

Students are permitted to work with Parish Link Providers before and after school.
The schedule for service times during the school day may be found here. Parish Link Service Times – Midway 2023-2024

Academic Coach Responsibilities

The Academic Coach is responsible for being aware of the schedule(s) of their student(s) AND for adherence to the school policies regarding when students may meet with coaches during the school day. Coaches should stay up to date on their availability calendar and they should also use the provided schedules and calendars to maintain awareness of special events and schedules which could impact their sessions. Coaches should also communicate student progress and challenges with both the parents and the student’s teacher(s), using the online Trimester Progress Report form, at least once per trimester.

Family Responsibilities

Parents are responsible for choosing a coach whose qualifications and available schedule match their child’s needs. They should also inform the coach whenever their student is absent from school or if there is a known special schedule or event which will conflict with a scheduled coaching time. Parents must complete the Hold Harmless Waiver form available via the Parish Link resource board in My Parish or via Parish Link providers.

Faculty Responsibilities

Faculty will communicate with the family and academic coach about curriculum information which will benefit the work being done between coach and student. Faculty are not responsible for providing specific schedule information to academic coaches.

Process

1. Referrals

A parent may contact us, and request referrals, at which time subject-specific Parish Link profiles of existing academic coaches who have been cleared to work on the Parish campus, will be sent to them.

2. Parent Waiver

Parents will need to agree to and sign the Parent’s Hold Harmless Waiver before academic coaching can occur on campus.

3. Schedule

Parents and coach will discuss the student’s availability, within the limitations of the child’s schedule. Once a plan has been confirmed, Phillip Page will arrange a space for the coach and student to meet. Eight tutor rooms are equipped with whiteboards and materials to help make the support sessions efficient for all.

Parish Link FAQs

How does payment work?

Session fees and payments are arranged and maintained between the coach and the parent, independent of Parish Episcopal School.

Is there any communication?

Coaches are required to email subject-specific teachers as well as parents at the beginning of each trimester as a means of making themselves available to teachers and to ascertain the needs of the student. Coaches are permitted to contact teachers, when necessary, throughout the trimester to discuss areas of concern, collaborating for the benefit of the student.

To learn more or start the enrollment process, please contact Phillip Page , Director of Parish Lab and Link.

What if I want my child to work with a new coach?

If a parent has a coach in mind who is not yet affiliated with Parish, the academic coach must complete a process that includes a background check, Presidium online training and then schedule an appointment for a mini-orientation to familiarize themselves with the Parish Link program and the Academic Coach Guidelines. Coaches must also have a Parish picture ID badge identifying them as academic coaches, which they will wear at all times while on the Parish campus.