La Salle College High School in Wyndmoor is constructing the David Center, a new academic building which will house the David Program.
The addition contains a new shared building entry, central student commons, range of flexible student support spaces, a group study room, several faculty offices, an outdoor patio, and bathrooms.
Named in honor of Brother David Albert and Mr. David Diehl, the David Program is a support service for a limited number of college-bound students with documented mild learning differences.
“The students who participate in the David Program have a scheduled period each day to develop strategies for academic success and empowering the learner. We do not ensure success through the artificial manipulation of grades,” the school’s website says. “To the contrary, we endeavor to raise the students’ skill levels. We focus on problem solving, study, organizational, and self advocacy skills. The Program’s student to educator ratio is 2:1.”
According to school officials, the David Program has been serving La Salle students for 20 years in a makeshift space via an apartment attached above the garages of the original Belcroft Estate.
As the program has grown to six instructors and more than 60 students each year, the Board of Trustees and La Salle administrators have decided to relocate the program to an addition inside the campus’ main academic building.
“This beautiful and spacious complex will provide instructional space for five teachers and the program director to work closely and collaboratively with their students, a meeting room, and support facilities that are lacking in the 1927 cottage and a large, bright and inviting commons that will become a home within the home that is La Salle College High School for our David Program students,” officials said in a statement. “The new David Center will take advantage of the natural beauty of the area, framed by the original school building, the Belcroft Mansion, and the Lourdes Grotto.”
The building is expected to be completed early next school year.
New David Center Features:
- Collaborative learning space, in group study room and commons area
- State-of-the-art technology
- Private office space, for critical one-to-one learning with David Program instructors
- Connection to La Salle’s main academic building
- Bright and inviting center for students calling David Program home during time at La Salle
For more on the program, you can click here. For more on the project, you can watch the video below:
For all the latest news, follow us on Facebook or sign up for Glenside Local’s “Daily Buzz” newsletter here.
Photos: LSCHS, KCBA Architects