High School

List of 9 items.

• High School Deans

  In grades 9-11, each class has its own dean — a school counselor — who works with students, parents, and teachers. As a grade leader, the dean gets a holistic view of each student’s overall progress as it develops throughout high school. Students are encouraged to meet with their dean to raise issues and concerns, to share a success, or even just to chat with a supportive adult. Deans welcome students to drop in, and parents are invited to phone or schedule appointments to discuss any matters of concern. In addition, we serve as an important source of information, resources, and referrals.
  
  Samantha Mazo - smazo@leffellschool.org, ext. 8009 - Dean of Students
  

  Elisha Andron - eandron@leffellschool.org, ext. 8008 - Director of Student Services, 12th Grade Dean

  Ahuva Graber - agraber@leffellschool.org, ext. 8012 - Grade-level Dean

  Erica Hezi - ehezi@leffellschool.org, ext. 8123 - Grade-level Dean
  Rabbi Tavi Koslowe - tkoslowe@leffellschool.org, ext. 8011 - Grade-level Dean

  Cara Levine - clevine@leffellschool.org, ext. 8139 - HS Coordinator of Student Life

  Bill Blank - bblank@leffellschool.org, ext. 8010 - HS Psychologist

• Student Support and Relations

  • Facilitate a smooth transition into high school for all students
  • Serve as primary liaison between students, parents, and teachers
  • Build and maintain individual relationships with our students
  • Lead student support team (SST) meetings in order to monitor and develop plans to address individual student needs
  • Provide academic, social, and emotional support to students and families
  • Collaborate with school psychologist and Center for Academic Support (CAS) to develop behavioral and/or academic plans.
  • Lead Advisory and seminar sessions in collaboration with school psychologist
  • Work with students to develop appropriate sense of responsibility and encourage self-advocacy
  • Create and facilitate support groups for students (divorce, stress management, etc.)
  • Provide academic support and advisement: goal setting, course selection, and post-high school planning

• Faculty Support

  • Ongoing collaboration and problem-solving with faculty to monitor individual student progress
  • Facilitate communication with parents
  • Work closely with the College Counseling Department

• High School Programming

  • Create sense of community by working closely with the Director of Student Life to develop and lead grade-wide programs and trips
  • Work with students to develop leadership initiatives
  • Monitor and address concerns of student kehilah (community)
  • Participate in school wide and community events
  • Work with logistics and coordination to plan high school activities

• Family Support and Relations

  • Provide support to families as students transition into high school and throughout the high school experience
  • Partner with families to address concerns about students
  • Facilitate meetings between faculty, students, and parents

• The Advisory Program

  The Advisory Program is designed to cultivate and enhance positive relationships among peers, as well as allow students to develop a supportive relationship with an adult. Groups consist of approximately ten students and a leader who is either a faculty or administrative member of our school community.
  
  Advisory groups seek to provide students with an opportunity to learn and talk about the rapid physical, emotional, social, and cognitive changes that they are experiencing. These groups also enable students, who tend to keep their concerns private, a chance to gain reassurance that they are not alone in their perceptions or experience as they listen to other group members voice concerns that they may be too shy to talk about. The advisors’ role is to assist their students’ growth process in a non-judgmental way.
  
  The goals of the advisory program are focused on the belief that increased self-awareness leads to personal growth. With that in mind, these goals include:
  

  • Helping students develop positive behaviors such as self-discipline, sound judgment, responsibility, and social skills
  • Teaching students decision-making skills
  • Helping students develop non-judgmental listening skills
  • Helping students develop the ability to provide and receive feedback
  • Enabling students to broaden self-awareness
  • Promoting questioning and identification of personal values

  
  Topics covered in advisory groups are student-driven as well as leader-directed and cover a broad spectrum of topics, such as peer pressure, drugs and alcohol abuse, internet safety, academic pressure, time management, health-related concerns, and self-advocacy. A portion of the sophomore advisory program is dedicated to preparing students for the Sophomore Chesed Trip to Washington, D.C. We focus on issues such as poverty, homelessness, political advocacy, and the difference between being a bystander and an “upstander.”
  
  Ninth- and tenth-grade advisory groups meet once a week with a faculty advisor. They may also meet individually with their faculty advisors to review and discuss academic, extracurricular, and social issues.

• Junior Seminar

  During junior year, students meet weekly to discuss topics that lay the groundwork for college decision-making. Juniors will engage in activities that help them identify career interests and personal values that may lead to specific areas of study. Through reflection, self-assessment, and discussion, they begin to turn their focus toward post-secondary education. From January through March, our College Counseling Department works with
  juniors to help them as they begin the college search process.

• Senior Seminar

  In the fall of senior year, students meet weekly in small groups to plan and prepare for the Lev v’Nefesh experience and the Wise Individualized Senior Experience (WISE program).

• Support Groups

  Over the past few years, the Counseling Department has run successful support groups for students who have experienced or are experiencing divorce and students dealing with stress.
  Future group topics may include:
  
  Divorce and Separation – for students whose parents are divorced/separated. Topics may include: parent dating and balancing living in two households.
  
  Grief and Loss– for students who have suffered any type of loss (death, loss of pet). Topics may include: navigating the stages of grief and finding ways to honor a loved one.
  
  Issues in the Family – for students who need support in coping with having family members with illness or a disability. Topics may include: feelings relating to your role in the family and managing added responsibilities.
  
  Stress Management – to help students explore healthy ways to deal with stressors in their lives. Topics may include: coping mechanisms and learning relaxation techniques.