Student Services at Bernard Zell

The Student Services Department at Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School is comprised of a team of Learning Specialists, Social Workers, Enrichment and Literacy Specialists.

Together, the team provides consultation, appropriate accommodations and support services for our students throughout the school. We strive to help individual students with diverse learning needs maximize their potential, recognize strengths, and find success at school. In support of the Bernard Zell mission, the Student Services Department works with our community to develop a school culture that supports and celebrates different learning styles and cognitive diversity.

While Student Services impacts all students, a continuum of services is offered to specific students who have identified needs and qualify for additional support. Students may need small group intervention outside of the classroom setting, while others benefit from strategy-based consultation with their classroom teachers. This support may change as a child develops and progresses through the grade levels.

When a child is struggling, Student Services may utilize informal screening tools to gather additional information, discuss the student’s learning style and work with teachers to implement strategies, or establish targeted areas of intervention prior to making a recommendation for additional support or a private evaluation. When a formal assessment has been provided for a student by an outside professional, using the diagnostic data we coordinate the development of a support plan for both inside of school and a collaboration plan with outside of school supports.  

At Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School, we recognize the importance of social emotional development for all of our students. To that end, each grade level has a social worker who gets to know every student. Meeting the needs of the whole student in order to support social emotional learning and student success is provided through full class instruction, small groups, one-on-one support and family consultation.

The Student Services team members work closely with Bernard Zell teachers to recommend, coordinate, and facilitate appropriate classroom modifications, accommodations, and support plans for children with identified areas of need. The team partners with each family to understand and address their child’s needs to the highest capacity possible in the school setting. The Student Services team at each grade level works to collaborate and coordinate with classroom teams to help students understand and articulate their own learning styles and become effective self-advocates. When requested, Student Services can provide referrals for testing, private tutoring, speech/language therapy, occupational therapy, counseling, and summer programs.