NEED ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATIONS? VISIT THE AMHS ACADEMIC RESOURCE CENTER
Learn about Archbishop Murphy High School’s Academic Resource Center, how it came to be, and the support we can provide for your student’s learning needs.
I grew up in a large Catholic family in Tacoma, Washington. I attended Catholic schools from Kindergarten through 12th grade with my two older sisters and numerous cousins. Our families attended mass every Sunday, and sometimes my family attended mass at other churches with our cousins. These were the best masses because all of us kids got to sit in a long row together and whisper secrets, write notes, and sing the hymns louder than all the other families.
One of my cousins struggled in school and received special education services in his public school. My aunt tried to get him into various Catholic schools and was always told, “We can’t serve him,” or “We don’t have the resources to work with him.” I remember, as a small child, thinking that didn’t align with what I understood about Jesus. In my mind, not only was it unfair, but it also failed to recognize the gifts that God had given my cousin. It was moments like these that ignited a passion for equity within me.
In 2013, I came to Archbishop Murphy High School to teach in the Academic Resource Center (ARC). I was working on my Master’s degree in Special Education at Seattle University, and at the time, the ARC was in its developmental stages. I had a vision for a program that could serve students beyond accommodations. I knew we had the capacity to serve a wider range of students with support courses, specially designed courses, and modifications.
Over the last several years, I have worked with an incredible team of administrators, teachers, and counselors to build a support program that can truly meet the needs of our diverse student population. Our team includes three teachers and an accommodations coordinator. We frequently partner with teachers, administrators, counselors, and directly with students and their families to help each student find success. We have experience supporting students with diagnoses such as specific learning disabilities in reading, writing, and math, emotional disturbances, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, and more.
Did you think a Catholic school wouldn’t be able to support your child with a diagnosis? Think again. Learn more about the ARC at AMHS on our website. You can also fill out the accommodation request form or contact Danielle Appleby for more information.
—Danielle Appleby, Director of the Academic Resource Center
Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy High School is a Catholic, college preparatory school that welcomes students of all faiths. True to the spirit of the gospel, Archbishop Murphy nurtures the full development of the gifts that God has given to each student, fosters service as an outgrowth of faith, and values diversity. Working with parents as partners in the educational ministry, we strive for academic excellence, spiritual enrichment, and Christlike leadership for the transformation of the world.
