Student Support Services
Learning in three languages is fun — but it isn't always easy. Support is a normal part of the learning experience at AIS.
Support is for everyone.
It includes:
Co-teaching from other AIS teachers
Additional support from our student support staff
Support is flexible.
All students regularly work both inside and outside the classroom receiving support from teachers, co-teachers, and support staff
We make use of our full campus including our library, dedicated student support rooms, and other flexible spaces.
Support changes as students grow.
A need for support isn't a cause for concern. Student support is part of our proactive approach to your child's success. The type and amount of support your child receives is never fixed — it shifts as their skills and needs develop.
Support is always collaborative.
With your support as a parent, teachers, co-teachers, and our student support staff all work together to help your child progress. AIS faculty and staff are always here to answer questions and lend a helpful hand.
Communication is key.
Your child's teachers will always communicate with you regularly. If your child is receiving more frequent support, you'll also hear directly from the support staff working with them.
AIS also supports families through the educational evaluation process for learning differences and other educationally related diagnoses — referring families when necessary and coordinating with both public and private evaluators along the way.
Cassady Campus
Cassady Campus (Maternelle; PK3–Kindergarten)
At our Maternelle campus, support is woven into everyday classroom and playground life — not something separate from the school day. Our team is there in real time, helping your child build confidence, focus, and early academic skills as they grow.
Every student receives student support right in the classroom alongside their classmates. Our focus at this age is building confidence and independence — while keeping learning joyful.
What support may look like:
Sitting alongside students to help them join in and participate
Modeling calm, focused behavior and problem-solving
Reinforcing effective early reading, writing, and number skills
Supporting positive interactions in the classroom and on the playground
Our support team regularly moves through classrooms throughout the day so that support is delivered seamlessly when they need it without removing opportunities for independence and productive struggle.
If a teacher notices your child could benefit from extra support, our team works together to decide the best next step — and you're kept informed and involved every step of the way.
Skill Areas We Support in Maternelle:
In Maternelle, your child builds early skills through play, hands-on exploration, and rich conversation. Here's what we focus on:
Oral Language & Communication
- Listening and following directions
- Expressing ideas clearly
- Building vocabulary
- Participating in conversations
- Retelling stories
Early Literacy Foundations
- Recognizing letters and sounds
- Rhyming and syllables
- Understanding how books work
- Building interest and stamina for reading
Early Writing Foundations
- Fine motor development
- Pencil grip
- Name writing
- Drawing to express ideas
- Beginning sound-letter connections
Early Mathematics Foundations
- Counting with one-to-one correspondence
- Recognizing numbers
- Comparing quantities
- Sorting and classifying
- Identifying patterns
- Using spatial vocabulary
Learning Behaviors
- Sustaining attention
- Beginning and completing tasks
- Transitioning between activities
- Participating in group learning
Want more detail on how additional support sessions work? See our Tiers of Academic Support section below.
Every child develops at their own pace. If we feel your child would benefit from more focused support, we'll talk with you directly, share what we're seeing, and — if helpful — recommend outside resources to support their growth.
Adelphi Campus
Adelphi Campus (CP-4e; 1st–8th Grade)
In cycle 2 through 4, support is woven into the school day. This includes support from teachers, co-teachers, and from members of the student support team. Our team is there in real time, helping your child build confidence, focus, and early academic skills as they grow.
What support may look like:
Sitting alongside students to help them participate fully in whole class, group, and individual activities
Modeling calm, focused behavior and problem-solving
Reinforcing effective reading, writing, math, and communication skills
Supporting positive interactions in the classroom
All students regularly participate in learning inside and outside of the classroom, including when working with co-teachers and members of the support team. Teachers, co-teachers, and support team members collaborate to seamlessly deliver support when students need it without removing opportunities for independence and productive struggle.
If a teacher notices your child could benefit from extra support, our team works together to decide the best next step — and you're kept informed and involved every step of the way.
Beyond the classroom, we offer extra support in these areas — in every language we teach in:
Skill Areas We Support in Cycles 2 through 4:
Literacy*
- Basic Reading (decoding, sight words, reading fluency)
- Spelling
- Reading Comprehension
- Vocabulary
Writing
- Handwriting
- Written Expression
Math
- Basic Math (number sense & numeracy)
- Math Reasoning
- Math Calculation
Oral Language
- Basic Sounds
- Vocabulary
- Fluency
- Oral Expression
*If your child is showing signs of dyslexia or a spelling-related difficulty, we encourage you to reach out to our Director of Student Support to talk through next steps. Learn more about our Dyslexia Intervention program below.
How do we decide who supports my child?
Student support team members are assigned based on individual student needs. Students with several areas of need may work with more than one member of the support team.
If your child has an academic need that manifests across languages, they will be supported to build these skills in each language.
If your child has a language need not connected to an academic area(s):
French needs will be primarily met by Ms. Claire Chaney-Bergeron through our French Academic Support & Transition (FAST) program or our French Language Acquisition (FLA) program for those who are new to French immersion. Families can learn more about these programs here.
English and Spanish language needs are supported by various members of the student support team in conjunction with teachers and co-teachers.
When academic and language needs intersect, the student support team works together with teachers and co-teachers to present a recommendation to the family.
As your child grows and their needs change, their support team may shift too.
Meet Our Student Support Team
Adrienne Carter
PS–4e (PreK-8th Grade)School Counselor — social, emotional & behavioral support. Support is provided through classroom presentations, in-class support, and individual meetings.
Claire Chaney-Bergeron
CP–6e (1st-6th Grade)French Language Specialist — French language development & immersion support.
Greg Donnellan
PS–4e (PreK-8th Grade)Director of Student Support Services / Intervention Specialist — all academic skills, support in English; focus on math intervention, complex/comprehensive supports, and evaluation coordination.
Prema De La Garza
PS–4e (PreK-8th Grade)Learning Support (part-time) — all academic skills, support in English; focus on reading & writing, ESL and math support as needed.
Tanya Cook-Hoet
CP–4e (1st-8th Grade)Trilingual Learning Specialist — academic & language support across all AIS languages, and ESL.
Tiers
Tiers of Academic Support
Not every student needs the same amount of support — and that's by design. Support is organized into three tiers based on how much extra practice a student needs.
Every level starts with a conversation with you, and formats are flexible: if you'd prefer support to stay inside the classroom, let your child's teacher or our team know.
| Tier | How Often | What They're Working On | How You'll Hear From Us |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 — Everyday Support | About 1 session/week, individual or small group | Building focus, problem-solving, and perseverance, with a bit of extra adult support close by | Your child's teacher keeps you posted as part of regular classroom communication |
| Tier 2 — Extra Practice | About 2 sessions/week, individual or small group | Practicing strategies tied to what's being taught in class, and closing small, specific skill gaps | Your teacher and our student support team both provide regular feedback. |
| Tier 3 — Focused Support | 3+ sessions/week, individual or small group | Targeted, sustained practice on foundational skills, building toward more independence with class material | Your teacher and our student support team both provide regular feedback. |
Dyslexia Intervention
Dyslexia Intervention
AIS contracts with trained and experienced dyslexia interventionists to provide a limited number of spaces for Dyslexia intervention during the school day. These services are provided in English and while spelling patterns differ between AIS instructional languages, the skills learned in any Dyslexia program can translate to other languages over time. Please contact Greg Donnellan for more information.
Dyslexia Intervention (also known as reading intervention or structured literacy program) is a systematic and structured intervention program. All structured literacy interventions are aligned with the principles of Orton-Gillingham (OG) reading intervention and reading research (known as the Science of Reading). Click here to learn more.
Structure:
Provided at an additional cost; paid through FACTS Tuition Management
3 60-minutes sessions each week
2-3 year program
On campus intervention:
Students miss 1 block of each language
Off campus:
Students receive their intervention outside of school.
Potential providers:
Social & Emotional Support
Social & Emotional Support
The Role of Our School Counselor
Building a safe, positive school climate
Helping students manage emotions and build healthy relationships
Early support for mental health and wellbeing
Guidance during difficult moments (grief, conflict, crisis)
Support for older students exploring next steps after AIS
In-the-Moment (Responsive) Support
If something comes up during the day, your child's counselor, teacher, or campus principal can offer immediate, in-the-moment support to help them return to learning. If we feel ongoing counseling would help, a member of our team will reach out to you.
Scheduled (Ongoing) Support
Ongoing counseling is typically offered when a student is navigating a tough stretch — socially, emotionally, or during a crisis — and needs more consistent support than a single conversation can offer.
With your consent, scheduled counseling typically starts with an initial meeting followed by about 6 sessions. You, a teacher, or our admin team can all recommend/request this support.
Parental Consent
We always get your consent before any ongoing counseling begins — this is part of your enrollment paperwork. You can update or withdraw consent at any time by contacting your school counselor, director of student support, or principal.
A note about consent: There are a few situations where consent isn't required by law — for example, emergency response, legally mandated safety assessments, or when law enforcement or child protective services are involved. Additional details are available on the Parent Consent for Mental Health Services found in your enrollment documents.
Family Resource Guide
A guide of community and family support resources, compiled by our former school counselor.
Have questions about student support?
Reach out to Greg Donnellan, our Director of Student Support Services — he's glad to walk through what's right for your child.