LEARNING ENRICHMENT CENTER

The Learning Enrichment Center is a bright and open space providing students a place for individual study, collaborative work, tutoring, and research that fosters inquiry, critical thinking, and analysis.

The St. Thomas High School Library supports and participates in the educational mission of St. Thomas by providing access to information resources, teaching students to be independent users of information, and encouraging familiarity with academic library settings. The librarian provides information literacy instruction and database research assistance to individuals and classes. The library’s holdings of print books, magazines, and newspapers, as well as almost fifty online subscription databases, provide the St. Thomas community access to thousands of books, primary sources and newspaper articles on a wide range of subjects that support curricular needs and encourage leisure reading.

The St. Thomas High School Archives collect and preserve the rich history of St. Thomas to ensure its accessibility to future generations. Material in the Archives includes school publications, photographs, scrapbooks, annual records, memorabilia, architectural blueprints, audio-visual items, and collections donated by alumni. The archivist curates rotating exhibits of materials throughout the campus and provides reference services to members of the St. Thomas community.

For more information on the Archives please contact the LEC.

In keeping with the Basilian tradition, the highly trained specialists in the Learning Enrichment Center, or LEC, extend the work the teachers do in the classrooms so St. Thomas students become more proficient, versatile, and confident in their studies. Through collaboration with teachers and counselors, the LEC staff ensures academic support for students is aligned and applicable to their coursework. Students may meet with specialists before or after school, during their study halls, and during lunch. Through one-on-one consultations with students, the specialists provide support in the following areas:

  • Academic support in all core content areas
  • Organization
  • Time management
  • Study skills
  • Test-taking strategies
  • Self-advocacy
  • Executive Functioning

The LEC staff also coordinates the Academic Intervention Mentors (AIM) program, which allows students to receive support from St. Thomas National Honor Society members once a week during study hall in all core content areas.

Additionally, the staff of the LEC facilitates the implementation of classroom accommodations and interventions outside of the classroom. The Director and Accommodations Coordinator work with school leaders and teachers to share instructional best practices to support students with learning differences.

The majority of the LEC staff is available all day every day to assist students. The exception is that the Science and World Language specialists are available three days a week.

St. Thomas High School provides students with documented learning differences five possible accommodations:

  • Assisted note-taking
  • 50% Extended time
  • Preferential seating
  • Computer use for essay portions of tests
  • Learning Ally use for audio books

For more information about the documentation required upon enrollment to secure accommodations, please click here. If you have further questions, please visit our FAQ Page (Academic Support) or contact the LEC Director, Caroline McRoberts, at Caroline.McRoberts@sths.org or 713-864-6348 Ext. 161.

The LEC’s Executive Functioning Program seeks to improve students’ planning, prioritizing, organization, and time management skills through the individual and small group practice of research-based strategies. Students also explore strategies to increase their ability to focus, efficiently prepare and complete tests, and reduce test anxiety.

Math specialist – Mrs. Breuer (Breuer@sths.org) is a full-time team member who is able to support students enrolled in any STH Math course.

Science specialist – a part-time team member who is able to support students enrolled in any STH Science course.

Writing specialist – Ms. Speck (Speck@sths.org) is a full-time team member who is able to support students enrolled in any STH English course.

AIM is our weekly, student-to-student peer tutoring program led by the National Honor Society. If you have questions or would like more information on this program, please contact Mrs. McRoberts.