A learning plan with requisite accommodations, designed to enhance and maximize each student’s inherent abilities, is developed for each student in the special needs program. In addition, SJND’s Learning Services Counselor provides direct educational support to students and their families, as well as research-based teaching tools and strategies to faculty and staff.

SJND also offers an after-school program, the Pilot Prep Program, for qualified 9th and 10th grade students. This program is staffed by doctoral candidate interns, who provide 1:1 and small group tutoring, as well as lessons in organization, time management and study skills. 

This alliance between students, parents, teachers, counselors, administrators and the Learning Services Counselor is an ongoing process of individualized, strategic guidance and support for academic success. 

SJND’s counseling and teaching staff directly support students with documented learning differences by providing:

• Comprehensive attention to individualized learning and a low student-to-counselor ratio
• Small school environment with exceptional collaboration between teachers, counselors, administrators, students and families
• Credentialed learning differences specialist and counselor on staff
• Complimentary after-school program for eligible 9th and 10th graders
• Academic support, in addition to class time, with scheduled collaboration periods for meeting with teachers, peer tutoring, workshops to improve study skills and test-taking skills workshops.
• Block scheduling that includes 80-minute classes with an emphasis on universal curriculum design and differentiated instruction
• Advanced technology in classrooms
• Assistance with filing for accommodations on College Board and ACT college entrance testing
• Encouragement, support and training for student self-advocacy

Saint Joseph Notre Dame High School is pleased to announce the Pilot Prep Program, an after-school educational support program for students with identified learning differences.

SJND and the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) have entered into a professional partnership, and first-year graduate students in the doctoral level clinical psychology program will tutor SJND students in the after-school Pilot Prep program.

We are pleased to offer this program to our students and their families. SJND continues to improve its support services for students with learning differences, and the school’s efforts have already yielded marked benefits for students in the areas of classroom success, increased self-esteem and self-advocacy, and increased learning.

Services provided to students in Pilot Prep:

• Organizational support
• Academic support
• Learning strategies
• Understanding strengths and challenges
• Development of behavioral support plans
• Support groups (stress reduction, self-advocacy strategies, etc.)

The goal for all SJND students is success in high school, college and beyond. The Pilot Prep program provides the support necessary for students with diverse learning needs and strengthens the alliance between teachers, counselors, administrators, students and parents.