Academic Support
Advising
Faculty Advising
Faculty advisors at Tampa Prep enhance the overall learning experience by monitoring and supporting the advisee’s academic and personal growth throughout the year. The advisor serves as a central link between the advisee and his or her parents, teachers, coaches and other adults.
- 45 Upper School faculty advisors : approx. 10 advisees each
- 15 Middle School faculty advisors : approx. 14 advisees each
During weekly advising period, a variety of issues are discussed in a group format ranging from study skills and academic performance to career planning and self-evaluation exercises. Advising also provides an open forum for students to express any concerns.
Peer Advising
Peer Counselors are a select group of juniors and seniors who meet monthly with a Middle School advising group. The purpose is to encourage relationships across grade levels and ages, engage Middle School students in discussions about social, emotional and relational issues with an older student, and provide role models for younger students.
This is a leadership position that requires social and relational strength, a genuine enjoyment of younger students, and a desire to contribute to the positive environment of our school for all.
Rising juniors and seniors are eligible to apply for this position. The application process involves a written application, a personal interview with the School Counselor and a faculty recommendation.
Academic Support Counselors
The primary role of our two Academic Support Counselors is to consult with students and families who may be struggling with academics and help manage academic accommodations.
In Upper School, support is provided in the areas of:
- study skills
- time management and planning,
- executive functioning,
- providing resources and support for students with learning differences, as well as referrals for outside intervention and tutoring.
In Middle School, support comes in the form of:
- small group work with students around study skills, organizational skills, time management and planning,
- providing parent programming on how to support students as they build study skills in middle school,
- and working with teachers to support students who struggle in the classroom.
Blogs by our Academic Support Counselors:
PROGRAMS FOR PARENTS & FACULTY
Our Academic Support Counselor speaks to parents and faculty on topics such as:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Understanding Learning Disabilities: Modifications vs. Accommodations
- Dyslexia
- Homework Help!
- Helping Your Child Succeed in School
- She also speaks to student groups about
- Calendarizing the Semester: Organization Study Hacks
- Study Strategies
- Tips for Communicating with Teachers
- Tips for Exam Success
PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS
Freshman Transitions Course
Following the trend of freshmen transition courses at colleges and universities across the country, we have engineered a one-of-a-kind Freshman Transitions curriculum built into our class schedule. Subjects such as time management, ethics and integrity, social relationships, global perspective, executive functioning, exam prep, healthy living (sleep, diet, mindfulness, sex, addiction, technology use), financial literacy, digital citizenship and more. Read more about our Freshman Transitions course.
Stress Less Week
During Review Week before midterm and final exams, the Counseling Office sponsors a Stress Less Week. The week is filled with fun and instructive daily activities designed to put into practice research-based best strategies for optimum cognitive efficiency during study and assessments. These activities also provide healthy ways to manage stress during times of pressure. The week incorporates short breaks to breathe, create art, dance, work on a puzzle, create and listen to music, get active and play games, or take a break for an unexpected snack of ice cream or coffee and cookies.
School Counselor
COUNSELING PROGRAMS FOR PARENTS
Our School Counselor regularly speaks to parent groups on topics such as:
- Resilience: Developing Stress-Hardy Children
- Social Development and Peer Pressure in Middle School
- Too Busy, Too Emotional, Too Stressed – Rising Anxiety in Today’s Adolescents
- Is your Teen Ready for College
- Parenting a College Student
- Emerging Changes during the High School Years
- The Universal Questions of Adolescence
COUNSELING PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS
The School Counselor speaks to students about:
- What to do if You Worry Too Much
- The Happiness Advantage
- Perils of Perfectionism
- Friendship: How to Make and Keep Friends
- When Should You Call a Friendship Time-Out
- Conflict Resolution
- Suicide Risk and Prevention
Additional Learning Support
Writing Center
This peer-run organization brings together upperclassmen, selected for their talent as both writers and leaders, together with underclassmen. Assisting with outlines, revisions, creative work, and other writing-related skills, the Writing Center staff seeks to help other students in the quest to become better communicators. In addition to the appointment calendar, staffers are in the library from 3:30-4:15 daily.
Study Hall
Most students choose to attend Study Hall for one of their scheduled periods. This allows time during the class day for students to complete a portion of their homework or to seek assistance from a teacher. Unless otherwise designated, all Study Halls meet in the Peifer Library.
Extra Help
With minor exceptions, faculty members are available in their classroom and eager to meet with students for extra help from 3:30-4:15 p.m. each weekday. Students who have teachers who coach need to make special arrangements for extra help sessions. Coaches will ensure that they are available at least one afternoon per week and other mutually agreed upon times.
Our Support. Your Success.
At Tampa Prep, we recognize that students learn in different ways and that sound teaching includes awareness of those differences when designing lessons and assessments. We also recognizes that students with mildly disabling learning conditions may do well academically at our school. When deemed appropriate, we will offer such students certain accommodations. Our goal is to help these students to adjust and to thrive in our demanding college preparatory environment.
That said, we ask parents to realize that, given the size of our school and our available resources, we may not be able to provide all requested accommodations. We do not have the personnel, training, or equipment to handle certain types of medical procedures best left to the student, parent or physician. We are equipped to provide standard accommodations such as those listed below, but we are not equipped to make modifications to curriculum.
STANDARD ACCOMMODATIONS GRANTED AT TAMPA PREP
Tampa Prep regards the following accommodations as reasonable given its academic mission and they may be granted to students who have satisfied the School’s established approval process.
- Extended time on specified subjects’ quizzes, tests, and exams
- Word-processing on computer because of dysgraphia
- Photocopying another student’s notes
- Recording class lectures and discussions
- Supervised study after school
- Opportunity to clarify information and instructions with teacher
- Preferential seating
- Preferential scheduling
- Laptop in class
- Low-stimulus test environment
- Alternative to scan-type answer sheets
- dispensing medication through the Health Coordinator.
An important reference resource for our full philosophy and policies is our Guide for Academics and Student Life.
ESTABLISHED ACCOMMODATIONS APPROVAL
In general, accommodations require a recommendation from a medical doctor, psychiatrist or psychologist. Tampa Prep does not accept IEPs or 504 plans as the only documentation for accommodations. Accommodations for standardized tests (SAT, SAT Subject Tests, AP, and PSAT) are awarded only by the College Board and by ACT (ACT, ACT ASPIRE). Tampa Prep cannot grant accommodations for these tests; they must be applied for independently.
College Board Guidelines for Accommodations | ACT Guidelines for Accommodations
