The Student Assistance Counselor and School Nurse form a
complementary
partnership that offers confidential services to students and
their families who are experiencing difficulties that interfere with
a student’s social, academic or physical well being.
These services include crisis intervention, preliminary
mental health and substance abuse assessments, referrals and brief
individual and group supportive counseling.
Philosophy
The fundamental
purpose of our educational process is to foster the intellectual,
emotional, social, and physical growth of each child. In order to
fulfill this objective, the Somerset Hills Board of Education
provides support beyond the classroom experience. The
Somerset Hills’ Student Assistance Program which services the
physical and emotional needs of our students, addresses the
obstacles which interfere with the student’s academic, social, and
personal success and growth.
PROGRAM
COMPONENTS
Pupil
Assistance Committee
(PAC Team)
The PAC Team’s
mission is to provide support services to and establish partnerships
with the entire school community (students, teachers, parents) in
order to promote lifelong healthy and successful academic, social,
physical and emotional lifestyles. The PAC Team is a school based
team which designs and monitors the implementation of strategies for
assisting non-classified students who are experiencing academic
difficulties. The PAC Team also provides confidential assessment,
intervention and referral services for students experiencing
emotional, social and/or substance abuse related concerns.
The PAC Team
is co-led by the School Nurse and Student Assistance Counselor and
consists of the following members:
Scot Beckman:
Principal
Michael Hoppe: Director of Student Activities
Louise DuBois: School Psychologist
Joe Milde: Physical Education Teacher
Susie Miller: Guidance Counselor
Tom Taber: English Teacher
QUEST
QUEST
is an eight week program
that uses activity and reflection to promote self discovery and
growth. The program utilizes Adventure Based or Experiential
Education activities that are designed to help students grow in the
following areas:
problem
solving
cooperation
goal setting
communication
self-confidence health
self-efficacy
risk
taking
trust
QUEST
uses carefully designed activities to help students look at their
behaviors and to set goals for success. Some of the activities will
include rock climbing and rappelling, low and high ropes course
elements, “New Games” and
problem solving initiatives.
This program is endorsed, sponsored and funded through the
collaborative efforts of the Bernardsville Police Department,
Somerset Hills School District, Somerset Hills YMCA, Bernardsville
Municipal Alliance Committee and the Somerset County Youth Services
Commission.
Contacts:
Somerset
Hills Schools
John Grund (908) 630-3006
Somerset
Hills YMCA
Carolyn Flynn (908) 630-3534
ACCESS
Adolescent
Classroom Centered Educational Services
System is designed for students experiencing academic and/or
behavioral problems in the regular curriculum.
A student recommended for this program, with parental
approval, will receive special assistance and support from faculty
ACCESS team members, who will also work closely with his/her
classroom teachers and Administration. The aim is to help the ACCESS
student succeed in the educational environment.
Contact:
Nancy Roche (908) 204-1930 ext. 126
High
School Peer Leadership
Peer Leadership is
committed to providing leadership for the Bernards High School
community via student-directed activities and programs which foster
a healthy learning and social environment. Peer Leadership's main
responsibility is to facilitate a freshman orientation which
includes Adventure-Based programming activities. Peer
Leaders also assist in both middle and high school related programs
that promote alcohol and drug free living.
Contact:
John Grund (908) 630-3006
RESOURCES
Somerset
Council on Alcoholism and
Drug Dependency, Inc. (908) 722-4900
Al-Anon/Alateen (973) 744-8686
Narcotics Anonymous (800) 992-0401
Family Crisis (908) 704-6330
After Hours
(908) 526-4100
Child Abuse
(908) 704-3050
Runaway Hotline (800) 621- 4000
Rape Crisis Service (908) 526-7444
Morristown Memorial Hospital
Main number (973) 971-5000
Adolescent Services (973) 971-5199
Center for Mental Health Assessment
at Somerset Medical Center (800) 914-9444
“I regard it as the foremost task of
education
to insure the survival of
these qualities:
an
enterprising curiosity
an undefeatable spirit
tenacity in pursuit
readiness for sensible self-denial
and, above all,
compassion.”
Kurt Hahn
