Thornton Academy Postscripts Alumni Magazine Fall 2010 | Page 13

Meet the
Student Services Team
The Student Services Team is one of many new initiatives that
the high school has started in the last few years to enhance our
delivery of service to TA students.
The team consists of professionals from several focus areas,
including Deans, Guidance Counselors, Special Education, Social
Work Services, Alternative Education, the School Resource
Officer, the School Nurse, the 504 Coordinator, and the 9th Grade
Transition Coordinator. Carol Smith Taranko ’92 oversees the
group’s work as the Director of Student Support Services.
As part of a larger, comprehensive system of support
services, the Student Services Team looks to identify areas of
concern a student may be experiencing and works to support
students in moving forward with finding success.
This year, the Team was enhanced by the addition of an
Independent Seminar instructor Heather Robinson. A certified
English teacher, Robinson works primarily with 10th grade
students to support academic progress and credit accumulation.
The team has further benefited from the addition of Ariana
Hadiaris, the high school’s regular education Social Worker.
Her breadth of knowledge regarding community resources and
experience in the field has offered the guidance department,
the entire Student Services Team, and ultimately, the students,
an invaluable resource to support emotional well being and
academic success.
Incoming 9th grade students continue to benefit from
the Transition Program, which was established in 2009.
Coordinated by Chris Hall, this intervention provides thoughtful
communication and needed support to students as they enter
TA and work to successfully navigate their first year of high
school.
TA’s Guidance Department and individual Class Deans
continue to be vital components of the Student Services Team.
The Guidance Department includes individual School Counselors
(Mark DeFrancesco ’80 is the lead counselor), a Social Worker
(Mrs. Hadiaris), and a Community Connections Coordinator
(Linda Roth), whose goal is to guide students through academic
progress, provide post secondary counseling and career
exploration, as well as support each student’s overall well-being
with a holistic approach. The Class Deans are charged with
supporting the overall welfare of a particular class (throughout
their four years at TA) through personal contact with students
and parents.
The team often relies on the expertise of the School Resource
Officer Monica Fahy; the School Nurse Debbie Prescott; Special
Education staff (Hilda Michaud is the head of the department);
and alternative education instructor Leon Hadiaris ’70.
The opportunity for purposeful communication directed
at how the school can further support student need, allows
members of the Student Services Team to collaborate with
students’ teachers to help each student have a positive academic
experience and continue to progress through his/her academics.
By providing individualized attention to student needs, the
Team can work to apply effective responses to help all students
benefit from their educational experience.

In 2010-11, Many
New Classes At TA
Thornton Academy is well known
for its broad course offerings, which
range from modern dance to physics, but in 2010-11 a significant
number of new classes are offered
that allow students to explore, grow
and learn. Here’s a run-down of the
new classes that high school students are taking this year:
ARTS
Flash Animation
AP Studio Art - Drawing
CAREER PATHWAYS
Exploring Computer Science
ENGLISH
Part of a new program for Juniors
and Seniors

African American Perspectives
Bible Literacy I: The Old Testament
Coming of Age
Men On the Road
The EՕ