Services
Parent Consultation
Parent consultation, via phone or in person, is available for any concerns a parent may have regarding a student’s academic, social or emotional functioning. Consultation focuses on strategies and interventions to address the presenting concern for both home and school. Resources and referrals for community resources are available.
Counseling
Group and Individual counseling are available to students who are experiencing social/emotional difficulties that are impacting their learning or school performance. Groups, which often take place during lunch, focus on developing children’s social skills and self esteem through activities, role playing and discussion. Individual counseling is targeted at providing the student with skills and strategies to address the presenting issue.
KELSO Conflict Resolution Program
The KELSO Program is used in kindergarten and first grade to teach and develop problem solving skills. It is taught by the school psychologist and reinforced by the classroom teachers. The KELSO program is designed to teach children how to recognize the difference between "small problems" those they can solve independently, and "big problems" those that they should seek adult support with. The goal of the program is to teach students that they have the skills to problem-solve and make responsible choices.
Second Step
The Second Step Program is used with students beginning in 2nd grade, to teach and develop social-emotional skills. It is taught by the classroom teachers and the school psychologist. The Second Step Program is designed to teach children how to understand and manage their emotions, control their reactions, be aware of others’ feelings, and have the skills to problem-solve and make responsible decisions.
Child Safety Curriculum (Good Touch/Bad Touch and Abduction Prevention)
This curriculum educates children in every grade about child sexual abuse and abduction prevention. The goal of this program is to both educate and empower the students, by providing information and strategies designed to help keep them safe. In a reassuring way, the students are taught what sexual abuse is and what they can do if it occurs. Similarly, the students are taught about the dangers of abduction, how to identify and avoid risky situations, and what to do if they are ever faced with the problem of abduction. The program is taught to students in every elementary grade level and it is presented in a positive and reassuring way that is tailored to the developmental levels of the children. The information presented to the students incorporates resources developed by the Mental Health Association of Westchester County and Kid Smartz National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Instructional Support Team
The Instructional Support Team (IST) is a building level team comprised of the principal, school psychologist, speech and language pathologist, special education teachers, reading specialists, ENL teacher and occupational therapist. The purpose of the IST is to serve as a resource for classroom teachers to discuss students who are experiencing difficulties in academic, behavior or social/emotional areas. Recommendations resulting from a referral to the IST may include classroom and/or home interventions and strategies, informal screenings or the addition of building level services. The student’s response to the recommendations and his/her progress is monitored and additional recommendations and interventions are made and implemented as needed.