Support Services

The Office of Student Support at Robert M. Beren Academy is a support program geared to provide individual learned with the resources and support they need to participate successfully in the academic setting at RMBA.

In alignment with the mission of RMBA, students in Academic Support complete all required general and Judaic studies classes, along with their peers, preparing our students to become self-confident, compassionate, practicing Jews as well as committed citizens and life-long learners.

Academic Support has one designated General Studies Special Education Specialist who supports students ranging from First through Twelfth Grades.

For acceptance into the Student Support Program

• Students are required to have a recent (within 3 years) psycho-educational evaluation, performed by a licensed psychologist or educational diagnostician; documenting students’ learning disability(s), and indicating the need for accommodations or modifications to the standard curriculum.
• Students must be capable of working in an inclusion setting.  
• The Office of Student Support also works with students where their English is a Second Language, ESL students. 
• RMBA’s Student Support Specialist, the Administrative Faculty, and Admissions Director meet together to determine appropriate placement of students with a learning disability(s); whether RMBA is a good fit, or if placement in a more comprehensive program outside of RMBA will better serve the student.

Student Support Referral Process

Houston Independent School District Services

• Robert M. Beren Academy resides within the Houston Independent School District.  There is a designated private school HISD liaison that works with our Student Support Specialist on behalf of our students.
• HISD provides speech therapy services on our campus to students identified as having speech impairment.
• Evaluation through HISD

Should a parent have a concern that their child has a learning disability or speech impairment; the parent has the opportunity to request an evaluation.  The Office of Student Support will work with the parent, teachers, and the HISD liaison when an evaluation is being requested.

Many forms are required to be completed by the parent, teacher, and health professional. A classroom observation is required by RMBA’s Student Support team. 

HISD requires current and previous report cards for the past two years along with any standardized testing results.

Components of The Office of Student Support

• Use of resource room where students come to work with the learning specialist when small group or individual instruction of the curriculum is required.
• Learning specialist advocates for the student and consult with teachers; to help educate teachers regarding different learning styles, and offer advice on implementing accommodations in the classroom.
• Learning specialist communicates with parents and students to help develop effective interventions and strategies in order support the student.
• An Student Support Plan is developed for each student in the Student Support Program. This outlines the student’s learning style, and provides specific accommodations to be implemented in the classroom. Every teacher is provided a copy of the student’s Student Support Plan, to better serve the student’s individual needs.
• Learning specialists assess students on a regular basis, to pinpoint the specific and prerequisite skills a student is struggling to master, and aids in creating goals and objectives that address these issues.
• ESL Students - Students with English as a Second Language if needed, have the ability to participate in our Student Support Program.  Students will learn through a variety of methods: communication, reading, and writing skills in English. 

Documentation for Students with an Evaluation

• Students receiving Student Support services have an individual folder that contains their psychological/educational evaluation.
• Teachers and parents are provided with a copy of the student’s individualized Student Support Plan; the plan is updated periodically throughout the school year.

Parent-Teacher Communication

Student Support Committee conferences are held annually or biannually, depending on a student’s needs and academic progress.  Committees primarily consist of the learning specialist, the parents, teachers, and administrators. Students are encouraged to attend, and to use the process to learn to advocate for themselves, and to understand their specific learning differences; which will become increasingly essential, especially as they reach young adulthood. Parents, students, specialists, or faculty may request a meeting at any time during the school year, in the event that an unforeseen issue arises.

Technology

Use of assistive technology (laptop, tablet, recording device, headphones) in the classroom is available to students with learning differences relating to grapho-motor, language processing, or organizational issues. Assistive technology must be approved by formal or informal meeting of the Student Support Committee. Certain technology and software may be requested by school, parents, or the student.

For additional information regarding the Office of Student Support at Robert M. Beren Academy, please contact:

• Eileen Silvestri, Office of Student Support
  (713) 723-7170
  [email protected]
• Ashley Forrest, Office of Student Support
  (713) 723-7170
  [email protected] 

At Robert M. Beren Academy, we believe in a positive and proactive education that supports every student’s academic, career, personal, and social development.

The guidance department collaborates with all members of the school community to develop and deliver a variety of programs aimed at instilling a positive self-image, developing healthy relationships, and making astute choices.

At the individual level, the guidance counselor is available to students, parents and staff to promote successful academic and emotional growth of each student. Through observations, consultations, and specific programs, the guidance counselor supports the teachers in defining growth opportunities and facilitating crisis management and intervention.

Robert M. Beren Academy’s guidance department is committed to the educational and emotional development of children, in a constructive and encouraging environment.

A comprehensive college advising program begins in the ninth grade with the four year goal of assisting students in maximizing their potential for admission to schools which will be a good fit academically, religiously, socially, and financially. 

The process provides on-going support to ensure enrollment and graduation from a four-year college or university.

The college guidance office:

• Identifies and disseminates information through group and individual meetings to identify and expand educational opportunities.
• Individualizes support for students and parents with college applications and scholarships/financial aid.
• Assists with college research, campus visits.
• Prepares students for the PSAT, ACT, and SAT.
• Assists with college essays and applications.
• Advises students of application deadlines.
• Maintains an ongoing knowledge base of college admissions issues and matters constantly changing in the market by developing a strong network among college counseling and admission professionals.

For more information please contact our Director of College Counseling and Academic Dean, Jackie Blumenfeld

Please CLICK HERE to access the RMBA Naviance Guide