Did You Know - December 2018
Did You Know? (December 2018)
Information from Student Support Services
Did you know that WDS’ Social Emotional Learning (SEL) program in grades 1 through 5 is in its 3rd year of implementation? The curriculum focuses on social and emotional competencies, such as interacting with others in productive and respectful ways, and developing personal strengths, such as tenacity and perseverance (“grit”), self-regulation, and a growth mindset. Research has shown that acquiring SEL skills also improves academic achievement.
In collaboration with classroom teachers, our Social Worker, Mrs. Suzie Marder, is leading this program, and in some grades, she is joined by Morah Amy Kirschenbaum, our girls’ PE teacher, who many may not know, is also a Social Worker! Each class has had several sessions so far and will continue throughout the year. Click here to learn more about the SEL curriculum.
Please join Mrs. Marder for coffee and conversation on Thursday, January 10, 2019 at 9 am or 3 pm to learn more about our SEL Program and how you can incorporate the concepts and strategies into your parenting at home. Click here for more information and to rsvp.
Did you know that we offer a range of programs to support the development of executive functioning skills for WDS students? GoodStart, run by Morah Debbie Epstein, provides organizational, study skill, and learning support for 4th and 5th graders beginning at 8 am three days a week. Morah Janet Zohar joins the program two mornings a week to provide additional support in Hebrew language. NextStep provides executive functioning support two mornings a week for select students in 6th, 7th grade, and 8th grades. Contact Mrs. Lauren Kaplan for more information about these programs.
We continue to offer an after school Homework Helper program, with separate groups for 3rd through 5th graders and 6th through 8th graders. It is available Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 4-5 pm. The goal of this program is to help students learn executive functioning skills, such as initiating work, planning, following through, and test preparation, using actual homework and assigned tests and projects. We hope that participants go home at 5 pm with most or all of their homework completed and benefit from enjoying relaxing time with family in the evenings.
Did you know that we are rolling out our annual Health and Wellness Program for students in grades 5-8? This year, we are offering additional sessions to each grade to incorporate information about mental health, as required by the New York State Education Department. Please click here to learn more about our Health and Wellness Program.
5th graders enjoyed their first session last week with a focus on increased independent functioning as they mature as well as a spirited discussion on healthy sleep habits. Click here to learn more about the benefits of sleep- for all of us!
Did you know that if you are consulting with professionals outside of WDS about your child for learning, behavioral, and/or psychological reasons, it is most effective if you arrange for us to communicate with them? You can do this by signing a consent form available here.
If the consulting professional requires that forms be completed, they should be given to Dr. Adler, who will process them with the teachers and return them. Please allow up to two weeks for that process, although it often can be done sooner. Teachers are not able to accept these forms directly.
As always, feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns at 698-8900 x122 for Dr. Naomi Adler, x121 for Mrs. Suzie Marder, and x140 for Ms. Lauren Kaplan.
Dr. Naomi Adler Mrs. Suzie Marder Mrs. Lauren Kaplan
Director, Student Support Services Social Worker Learning Center Coordinator
Who We Are
Westchester Day School is a Modern Orthodox, co-educational, dual-curriculum, toddler to 8th grade Jewish school that inspires and educates our students in their own way to value menschlichkeit, mitzvot, and lifelong learning.
