IRVINGTON — The John Cardinal O’Connor School (JCOS) is expanding its specialized services for students with learning differences with a new two-pathway model beginning in the 2026-27 academic year.
The new Literacy and Language Academy and Social Communication Center will provide distinct areas of specialized support while remaining part of one unified school community. The model allows JCOS to build on its established expertise in language-based learning differences while expanding services for students on the autism spectrum.
The school will welcome prospective families to an open house on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, offering families an opportunity to learn more about the new pathways, meet members of the JCOS community and see how the school’s specialized programs support students with different learning needs.
“Building on its strong foundation, JCOS is renewing its mission by offering two specialized pathways within a unified school community. The Literacy and Language Academy expands the school’s long-standing expertise in serving students with language-based learning differences, while the Social Communication Center provides specialized support for students on the autism spectrum. Together, these pathways reflect a single vision: meeting every child with expertise, dignity, and faith-filled care while helping each student thrive,” said Sr. Mary Grace Walsh, ASCJ, Ph.D., superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of New York.
Specialized programs within one school community
The Literacy and Language Academy will serve students with language-based learning differences, including dyslexia, dysgraphia, and speech and language impairments. The program will provide structured, multisensory literacy instruction grounded in Orton-Gillingham and PAF methodology, along with executive function coaching. Students will learn in small classroom settings led by certified special education teachers.
The Social Communication Center will serve students on the autism spectrum who are academically capable but benefit from additional support with social communication, emotional regulation, behavior, and peer relationships. The program will incorporate social-thinking instruction, sensory regulation strategies and classroom supports designed to help students develop greater independence and confidence.
While the pathways have different areas of specialization, students will remain part of the same JCOS community and benefit from the school’s shared academic and faith-based foundation.
“Although each pathway has its own focus, they are designed to work together. Students in the Social Communication Center will remain connected to JCOS’s strong literacy foundation, where structured language instruction supports academic growth, communication, confidence, and social development,” said Jennifer Iannazzo, M.Ed., principal of JCOS.
The approach reflects JCOS’s commitment to recognizing that students learn differently and may require different forms of support to reach their potential.
“Across both pathways, our goal is the same: to meet each child with expertise, dignity, and faith-filled care. Guided by our motto, Choose Kindness, JCOS is a place where students are encouraged to try their best, open their hearts and minds, speak respectfully, and treat others with compassion,” said Iannazzo.
A mission rooted in human dignity
The expanded model continues the legacy of His Eminence John Cardinal O’Connor, archbishop of New York from 1984 until his death in 2000. Cardinal O’Connor devoted his ministry to proclaiming the sacredness and dignity of every human person, a principle that remains central to the school that bears his name.
“The John Cardinal O’Connor School carries forward the legacy of His Eminence John Cardinal O’Connor, whose life was devoted to proclaiming the sacredness and dignity of every human person. His belief that every individual is created in the image and likeness of God remains the foundation of the school’s mission,” said Sr. Mary Grace.
JCOS serves students in grades K-8 and welcomes children of all faiths. Its academic program is designed specifically to meet diverse learning needs while providing students with opportunities for academic, spiritual, emotional, and social growth.
The school’s approach combines specialized instruction with small class sizes, certified special education teachers, and a nurturing environment.
“What makes the John Cardinal O’Connor School truly special is its unwavering commitment to seeing the gifts in every child,” said Sr. Mary Grace.
For JCOS, the new model represents the next step in a mission that has remained focused on ensuring that students with learning differences receive the support, instruction, and encouragement they need to flourish.
“Together, these two tracks reflect a single vision: a school where every child is met with expertise, dignity, and faith-filled care, and where specialized instruction and inclusive community are not separate goals but a unified commitment,” Sr. Mary Grace said.
Open house
Families interested in learning more about JCOS and its new two-pathway model are invited to attend the school’s open house on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, starting at 1 p.m. at 16 North Broadway, Irvington, 10533, or by visiting www.johncardinaloconnorschool.org.
The event will provide prospective families with an opportunity to learn about the Literacy and Language Academy and Social Communication Center, meet members of the school community, and discover how JCOS can support their child’s individual learning needs.
The new two-pathway model will begin with the 2026-27 academic year.