The Lower School Student Services Department of Golda Och Academy features a developmental and supportive program designed to:
1. Promote healthy child development by helping children successfully accomplish the academic, emotional and social developmental tasks of childhood.
2. Identify problems early and intervene before they interfere with learning.
3. Assist and support parents and guardians in their parenting role.
Student Services supports students and their families in a variety of ways. The following services are offered by the Student Services Department:
Guidance Counseling
School guidance counselors are either social workers or hold a degree in counseling psychology. Guidance counselors from Student Services meet with students individually when extra attention would be beneficial. Any student, parent or faculty member can arrange for a conference with a guidance counselor by contacting the school office or the guidance counselor directly. Counseling sessions may deal with academic, social or personal concerns. Small group counseling sessions are held for groups of students who share similar needs. These small group counseling sessions give students an opportunity to build learning strategies or to gain support from their peers as they learn more about themselves and others. If the guidance counselor feels that a particular specialist or agency should be involved, an appropriate referral will be made.
Testing and Evaluation
To help to evaluate our educational programs and to assess individual academic progress, students in grades 2, 3 and 5 are tested each school year in the spring. We administer a nationally recognized standardized test. Results of these tests are sent home approximately six weeks after completion of the tests. Parents are encouraged to discuss test results with the learning specialist if further explanations are needed or questions arise.
Limud/Learning Specialists
Learning specialists in our Student Services Department conduct the Limud program by identifying those students who need individual learning programs in the classroom, by helping teachers work more effectively with these students and by providing learning support in groups or individually as time permits. Descriptions of specific Limud services and procedures are available by request.
Administration of Title 192-193, Special Services for Private School Students
The Student Services Department is responsible for the provision of educational services to students at Golda Och Academy as provided for by law under the provisions of Title 192-193. Types of services available under Title 192-193 include:
- Home Instruction: Individual instruction at home for students who are too ill to attend school.
- Compensatory Instruction: Remedial instruction for students who perform well below grade level in reading and mathematics as demonstrated by scores on standardized tests.
- Supplementary Instruction: Specialized instruction for students who have been determined to need it following a child-study team evaluation.
- English as a Second Language
- Speech Therapy
- Evaluation and Determination of Eligibility: A child study team evaluation performed for students with persistent learning problems, persistent social and emotional problems and/or persistent physical problems.
Recommendations for eligibility of students for these services are made by school personnel or parents. If criteria for eligibility are met, a consent form is sent home to parents requesting permission for their child to receive the service. (A specific list of criteria is available through the Student Services office). In June, permission forms for eligible students will be sent home for the following school year so that school districts will have adequate personnel to serve our students. However, recommendation for Title 192-193 may be made at any time during the school year.
Services, if needed, will be provided within the school day, at no additional cost to parents. Responsibility for the execution of these services rests with the local sending district or its designated agency. In the case of speech therapy and the examination of potentially handicapped pupils, the student will be evaluated by an appropriate specialist. This evaluation will be followed by a conference with the parents.
The Student Services staff is available to meet individually with parents regarding particular concerns you may have about your child. Please feel free to schedule an appointment.
