St. Gabriel Program - Bishop McGuinness High School

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Our Program

Named after the Archangel Gabriel, a messenger of understanding, this program emphasizes fostering social, communication, and intellectual skills to bridge understanding and community within the school. The St. Gabriel Program offers students with intellectual disabilities and/or high-functioning autism structured, individualized instruction in the areas of social/life skills development, academic course work, and math and/or language acquisition. St. Gabriel is an educational program for students whose learning needs require a smaller classroom setting, specialized instructional strategies, and, at times, a separate curriculum. The goal of the program is to develop the whole child to become successful in all kinds of environments.

Commonly Asked Questions

Who facilitates the St. Gabriel Program at Bishop?

The St. Gabriel Program coordinator is the teacher responsible for the special education program at Bishop McGuinness. His/her dual role carries the responsibilities of planning and promoting the academic, functional, and life skills education of the Bishop students diagnosed with intellectual disabilities and/or an autism spectrum diagnosis. Peer Mentors, which are current Bishop high school juniors and seniors, go through a selection process to serve as a support and source of encouragement in the typical classroom side by side with our students in the St. Gabriel Program.

How do students qualify for the St. Gabriel Program?

Students with a diagnosis of intellectually disabled and/or autism diagnosis with a current Individualized Service Plans (ISPs), Individualized Education Plan (IEPs) and current and complete psycho-educational evaluations (within 3 years) coupled with the following levels of functioning:

* Provide self-care including eating, dressing, bathing, toileting and grooming

* Should not have a history of behavioral problems

* Good communication skills

* Should have the ability to participate in certain 45-minute traditional classes

* Read and comprehend between a 2nd and 6th grade reading level OR have an autism spectrum diagnosis

What does a sample schedule look like for a student in the St. Gabriel Program at Bishop?

Schedules for students will vary based on testing data, the needs of the students, and available courses in the general education program. The program coordinator will work closely with the school administration, school counselor(s), and parents to determine an appropriate program of study to support each student’s continued growth and formation.

What types of modifications and/or accommodations are offered in the St. Gabriel Program?

Bishop McGuinness’s St. Gabriel Program offers students with intellectual disabilities a special education curriculum in a self-contained setting for either one or more of their core classes of Math, English, and Science. Students in the program may participate in the typical classroom with peer mentor supports for their classes in History, Theology, Fine/Performing Arts and PE/Health. The curriculum in these typical classes may be modified for them to reach their full academic potential.