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Support Services Guide

Hi, welcome to the Middle School Support Services page! Our Middle School Support Team consists of Ms. Chrissy Contos, Learning Specialist and Dr. Eve Kleeger, Psychologist. As a team we collaborate to provide direct and indirect support to teachers, parents, and students throughout the school year. Our goal is to foster each child’s academic and social-emotional growth as they progress through their middle school experience. With that in mind, students have the opportunity to interact with us in a variety of settings, whether it is in a regular academic classroom or in a non-academic arena.

More specific information regarding support services is detailed below or we can be reached by phone/e-mail at any time. We look forward to hearing from you in the future!

Sincerely,

Chrissy Contos, M.S.Ed.
914-366-2650
ccontos@hackleyschool.org

Eve Kleeger, Psy.D. 914-366-2667 ekleeger@hackleyschool.org

ekleeger@hackleyschool.org



From the Middle School Psychologist

As the psychologist I support students, parents, and faculty in a variety of ways. When students are referred for counseling they are typically seen on a short-term basis, usually in response to an immediate concern or behavior issue. Referrals for ongoing treatment are also made as needed. In the middle school referrals are typically made by the teacher, a parent, or by the child. Some of the concerns warranting counseling have included anxiety, social skills, friendships, classroom behavior, adjustment problems, and family problems. Additionally, students in the Middle School are indirectly supported for emotional/social/behavioral concerns through consultation with teachers and parents and outside professionals.

I also have the opportunity to see the students in the classroom setting either by observing a core academic class or by facilitating advisory/workshop sessions on topics such as bully prevention and internet safety. This enables me to get to know all of the students and allows them to incorporate me into their daily life in the middle school.

Two years ago I initiated a program in the Middle School called Natural Helpers. Natural Helpers in a research-based, peer-helping program used across the United States and in several other countries. It is based on the premise that students will naturally seek out certain peers and trusted staff/faculty members for help and advice. The program uses an anonymous survey for students to name peers and faculty member they naturally seek out for advice. There are currently 11 students and 3 faculty members in the group. These students are trained by the faculty group and then work with us throughout the year. The students provide feedback to the adults and then to the entire Middle School about issues and concerns of the Middle School community. When appropriate, the group helps to come up with solutions to problems posed by the students. Last year we focused mainly on stress among the students and faculty and this year we have been concentrating on social issues, specifically related to the Internet.

Please feel free to call me any time or stop by my office to chat!

Dr. Eve Kleeger

From the Learning Specialist

The Middle School Learning Specialist works in a variety of areas with all middle school students including the following:

Direct Intervention: Students are seen individually or in small groups with the recommendation from the referral team. They receive support in acquiring specific academic skills or in the development of general skills such as study skills, time-management and organization strategies. Intervention for specific academic skills has included: reading comprehension, decoding, spelling and written expression.

Consultation: Learning support is also provided indirectly to students through classroom observation, teacher consultation and student monitoring.

Team Teaching/Demonstration Lessons: The learning specialist will teach a unit with a classroom teacher to help incorporate various strategies for students to use in their approach to work.

Current parents who have concerns about their child should be in touch with the classroom teacher and/or their child’s advisor regarding specific academic concerns related to coursework. Teachers meet with their grade partners each week and students are discussed as necessary. Parents who have general questions about learning styles, strategies or other related topics should feel free to contact the Learning Specialist directly.

Chrissy Contos