Student Services: FWCD’s Holistic Approach 

by Amy Witten, Assistant Head of School for Student Services and Academics

A warm hello from Student Services! Our Academic Support team has been working hard to provide services to your students that encourage community, self-advocacy, and a growth mindset. Lower School has completed Shelton Screenings and is using that data to serve students. Academic Support Coordinators Melissa Hickman, Teresa Hoppe and Mallory Sample are working in small groups with students who need an extra boost. In Middle School, Academic Support Coordinator Laura Ferguson has moved to a new room by the Middle School Office, increasing her capacity to work with kids, and Upper School Academic Support Coordinator Dr. Erica Carswell is hard at work with kids both individually and in Freshman Seminar, providing executive functioning skills and other assistance as needed. 

The Health and Wellness Counseling team is also hard at work. Lower School Health and Wellness Counselor Theresa Fuss is working on core values, focusing on courage. In Middle School, Health and Wellness Counselor Dr. Kathryn Sohne is also focusing on core values with students, as well as suicide prevention with our students in grades 7-8. Upper School Health and Wellness Counselor Katie Walker is currently on maternity leave; however, Kellie McClarty is taking good care of Upper School students in her absence. Director of School Health Services Lori McCormack is a constant and caring presence in the student health clinic, taking care of bumps and scrapes and the occasional math stomachache!

Just like grade levels are hosting Falcon Focus events, Student Services will be hosting its own Falcon Focus events for parents this year. We’re excited to partner with you and offer you the following three sessions at 8:15 a.m. in the Lou and Nick Martin Campus Center:

• October 16: Brain and Body Health presented by Lori McCormack, RN, and Dr. Stacy Bourne.  Lori and Stacy will focus on nutrition as well as concussion protocol and practices for optimal recovery. 
• January 14, 2025: Executive Functioning; this session will focus on executive functioning skills and routines and practices at home to help maximize organization and planning.
• February 18, 2025: Mental Health; this session will focus on students’ mental health and strategies that are developmentally appropriate in each division for coping with stress.

We will host a special parent and guardian event titled “Parenting in the Digital World,” featuring Rahel Bayar on Tuesday, November 11, at 6:30 p.m. in the Goff Room of the Fischer Dining Pavilion. Ms. Bayar will focus on internet safety, digital footprint, and providing parents and guardians with tools to have conversations with their students that can be difficult in an age where having a smartphone is a normalized part of everyday life. This presentation is relevant for parents of all age groups! The location of the event may change depending on parent response. Please be on the lookout for more information to RSVP for this important program. 

Ms. Bayar will be on campus November 11 and 12 to work with faculty, students, parents and guardians. She will talk to students about protecting their digital footprints and staying safe in today’s online world, and she will focus on health boundaries in person and online with faculty and staff. 

I want to express how proud we are of the work happening within Student Services. Our teams are dedicated to nurturing your children’s well-being—whether it’s academic support, health and wellness, or preparing them for the challenges of today’s digital landscape. We’re here to partner with you and look forward to seeing you at our upcoming Falcon Focus events and other gatherings. Together, we can continue fostering a supportive and empowering environment for our students. Thank you for your trust and commitment to their success!