Discovery Center

Christian Philosophy of Education for Students with Exceptional Needs

Delaware County Christian School (DC) views all students as valued, unique image bearers of God (DC's Core Values ). The Discovery Center exists to serve students who have identified exceptional needs which in addition to the regular classroom, require supplemental services and/or accommodations.

Education is seen as a means used by God to bring students to Himself through personal faith in Christ, and to develop Christian minds so that they can fulfill God's will in their lives both personally and vocationally (DC's Student Outcomes). Through Discovery Center programs (see below), students are encouraged to understand and use their God-given gifts and to identify and stimulate growth in their areas of strength and weakness through individualized or small group settings. As these students develop and understand their gifts and skills, they become more fully able to participate in DC's mission: to educate students who will serve God and impact the world through biblical thought and action.

As educators in a Christian school, we minister to the whole child but we focus primarily on his/her academic and spiritual life. Through interactions both in and out of class, each student is encouraged to learn to use his/her gifts to serve others so that God might be glorified (Matthew 20:25-28; I Peter 4:10) and develop an understanding that through his/her weakness he/she can glorify God (I Corinthians 12:7-10).

The Discovery Center serves the total school ministry by partnering with parents as a support for their children's needs and teaming with teachers as a resource to implement instructional and testing accommodations in the regular classroom (I Corinthians 12:12-20).

Our greatest desire for students is to know the Lord and daily grow and walk with Him. This walk encompasses the use of their gifts in pursuit of their learning and future career and life choices. We pray that each student will claim: "By my God I can scale a wall" (Psalm 18:29).

Discovery Center programs/services include:

• NILD (National Institute for Learning Development) individualized educational therapy (grades 2 - 12)
• GET (Group Educational Therapy)
• Resource Rooms (grades 2 - 12)
• Enrichment (gifted and talented classes, grades 3 - 7)
• TEACH (early intervention, grades K & 1)
• Speech and Language services (grades Pre-K and K)
• Psycho-educational Evaluations/College Updates (testing records)
• Documentation and implementation of IEP and 504 plans
• Assistance with college applications for student services