Karl Heldrich Reading Center

Background:

The Karl Heldrich Reading Center is a unique facility housed at Our Lady of Grace School (OLGS) in Parkton, Md. When founded, OLGS was the first parochial school to open in Baltimore County in 35 years. The KHRC was established in Fall 2004 as a tribute and memorial to Dr. Karl Heldrich, a beloved parishioner, who gave the community many years of service as a veterinarian.

Mission Statement:

The purpose of the Karl Heldrich Reading Center is to meet the reading support needs of students at Our Lady of Grace School and the Northern Baltimore County community who are at-risk for reading failure. Students who struggle learning to read are statistically shown to be at risk for continued academic difficulties. Often their challenges are not severe enough for them to be eligible for special programs. The KHRC provides the critical early intervention reading support services needed to develop competent readers. Today parents and students in both private and public educational settings can benefit from supplemental educational resources.

Services Provided:

• Identification of a child’s specific needs utilizing research-based assessments.
• Development of individualized prescriptive programs of intervention based on assessment and instructional data.
• Ongoing administration/revision of these remedial plans as students progress
• Parent support through progress reports, workshops, and materials for home support
• Cooperative interaction with teachers to provide reading assessment testing results, monitor on-going student progress and to align classroom and Center reading activities
• On-going Center staff development and training to insure that most current instructional practices and methods are in use
• After-School Tutoring Program and Summer Reading Program offered to the community-at-large

Most Current Information:

Heldrich Council Meeting: The Heldrich Council met on Saturday, August 23, 2008, to discuss Center progress-to-date and future plans for its usage and growth. It was noted that students receiving reading support services are demonstrating significant growth in their reading skill levels, and that the Center is on target in meeting its projected goals.

Fall Reading Assessments: Reading Specialist Debbie Francis is currently administering reading skill assessments to all Our Lady of Grace students. Results will help to determine which students would benefit from intervention services from the Reading Center.

Kennedy-Krieger Reading Study: In September 2008, through the Heldrich Center, Our Lady of Grace School students in Grades 4, 7 and 8 have an opportunity to participate in a research study sponsored by the Kennedy-Krieger Institute. The study, entitled the “Assessment of Neurocognitive Factors in Reading,” is an effort to learn more about the nature of reading disabilities in youth and to find the most effective ways to screen for those difficulties

Fall After-School Tutoring Program: This program is again being offered through the Center, with a start date of September 15, 2008. The program will run for an eight week period, and will provide individualized tutoring support. Registration deadline is September 5, 2008. For details, please call the center at 410-329-6956 ext 111.