Middle School Learning Counselor Janice Rausch and Learning Specialist Assistant Brooke Ward soon will be enjoying expanded new working space to accommodate their broadening program offerings on the Bolles Middle School Bartram Campus.

A new 580-square-foot learning center will give learning specialists the additional space they need to assist more students and provide a dynamic learning environment for their work.

The learning center is being built in a second-floor dorm apartment formerly utilized by the Bolles Resident Life girls’ boarding program. The space became available when girls moved from the Bartram Campus to Bolles Hall at the start of the 2021-22 school year.

 In its current rendition, the Learning Center space has been limited to a small testing room with limited capacity for students.

The new center will enable learning specialists to work with small groups of students while other students test in separate, quiet spaces. The new venue will also be a space where they can connect and collaborate with faculty on classroom teaching techniques. Plans call for two collaborative working areas, a study and testing room, two offices, a restroom, and a small student lounge.

Head of Middle School Josh Bauman stated about the Center: “We are excited to introduce our students to the new Learning Center; they were at the very forefront of our minds during the design process. Our goal is to support and encourage them in their academic endeavors, and this expanded space will better facilitate the important work of our learning specialists as they empower our students with skills that will serve them well in middle school and beyond.”

The expanded learning center space is testament to the important role our learning specialists play on the Bolles Middle School Campus – as they do on all four campuses. Bolles learning specialists are dedicated to supporting the academic success of all students and create a supportive environment that encourages students to share their accomplishments, pursue their dreams and seek assistance in overcoming barriers to success.

Learning specialists on all four campuses provide students with individualized and small group assistance, including but not limited to, educational planning, testing accommodations, time management and organizational skills. A resource to parents, the learning specialists respond to questions and concerns, and work with families to address the students’ needs.