Student Support

It is not uncommon for students to discover that they do not excel in every discipline, nor should you expect them to. Even good students need academic support at some point in their studies.  A student who has difficulty in math while bringing home A’s in Latin or other disciplines is not unusual.  Nor does a lower grade in one discipline suggest that tutoring should be arranged.  Tutoring is usually indicated where one or more factors are present:

• the student transfers to New Covenant with a deficit in a particular subject;
• the student falls significantly behind due to circumstances beyond control, such as a death in the family or other difficulty;
• the student has poor study habits or an aversion to a discipline and fails to comprehend the material (this is different than resistance to completing work);
• the student does not comprehend the material in the classroom setting, even when reasonable steps have been applied by the teacher to help the child succeed.
• New Covenant offers three levels of “scaffolding” to assist the occasional and the on-going academic needs:  Homework Helper, Peer Tutoring, and Professional Tutoring.

New Covenant has any number of older students proficient in Latin, Greek, math or other subjects who, for a very modest fee can offer peer tutoring.  This is not professional instruction, but it proves successful in cases where students simply need to overcome gaps in their understanding.  They often readily relate to their older peers, most of whom they know from around campus.  The parent together with the tutor will determine the hourly rate.

Students who need the services of a professional teacher can receive tutoring if sustained remedial instruction is necessary. Teachers are available to provide professional one-on-one instruction for a student who needs sustained support in a particular subject area.  The cost for this service is $50 per hour.  Tutoring is usually a last consideration after other efforts have not produced the desired result.New Covenant teachers, however, are prohibited from recommending or arranging tutoring with a parent without the knowledge and consent of the Grammar or Middle School Principals, or the Academic Dean.  Parents and teachers are encouraged to talk about the best ways to help a student and are encouraged to work in close cooperation with their student’s instructors.  Should tutoring appear an academic option, the principals or dean should be contacted immediately.  Your child’s teacher will be happy to consult with administrators in such a case.