Special Services

Starting May 6th, 2020, Wednesday’s will be devoted to Pearl River Wellness Day for Staff and Students!  Mrs. Canals, Dr. Turco, and Ms. Martens set up a google classroom, Wellness for your Mental Health  to provide additional support for our staff and students.   Each week, new skills, tips, and coping strategies will be discussed and reviewed. Additionally, the clinical staff will be available live from 1pm-2 pm to answer any questions and /or have group discussions. There may also be surprise speakers that join us during that time!

Come join our classroom at the following class code: f5l66ou . 

As always, if a student is in need of additional support, please feel free to reach out to our clinical staff in order to set up a phone conference

Project Hope:  A free emotional support service offered by NYS and facilitated by Astor Services.   They are there to help all Rockland County residents cope with the emotional stress of the COVID-19 health crisis.   Project Hope Fliers.pdf 

Supporting grieving children and teens during the COVID-19 global health crisis:  Grief.pdf 

Coronavirus Anxiety Workbook:  Coronavirus-Anxiety-Workbook 1.pdf 

RCVOAD - COVID-19 Community Resource Guide:   Resource Guide.pdf 

COVID-19 Parent Handout:  COVID-19_parent_handout_NASP_NASN_2-20_FINAL.pdf 

Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource

NYSED & IRIS Center - Parent Tip Sheet - Online Learning.pdf  (This tip sheet offers practical ideas and strategies for helping children adapt to some of the challenges and frustrations of learning in a virtual environment.)

CEEDAR Center - Guide to At-Home Learning

CEEDAR Center, Spanish Guide - CEEDAR-Family Guide-Spanish-USDOE-8_18_20.pdf 

NYS State Emotional Support Hotline - The Governor has opened a Emotional Support Hotline: 1-844-863-9314. Find more info at: https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/covid-19-resources.html

COVID19 Resources - The COVID-19 pandemic has left many New Yorkers feeling anxious and stressed. Learn more about:

• Managing anxiety in difficult times
• Coronavirus-related guidance for healthcare providers
• How you can volunteer to help

PUBLIC RESOURCES

OMH Emotional Support Line: 1-844-863-9314 * - The Emotional Support Line provides free and confidential support, helping callers experiencing increased anxiety due to the coronavirus emergency. The Help Line is staffed by volunteers, including mental health professionals, who have received training in crisis counseling.  

OMH Guidance During COVID-19 - How to cope with COVID related stress and anxiety

Mental Health Resources During an Emergency - People often experience anxiety, fear, and helplessness during an emergency. Know the signs and get help.

PROVIDER RESOURCES

Guidance on COVID-19 - Interim guidance for behavioral health providers licensed by OMH, including Telemental Health Guidance

VOLUNTEER

Get Involved -Are you a qualified health, mental health or related professional? Consider volunteering to support the State’s COVID response.

*OMH DISCLAIMER: The Office of Mental Health’s (“OMH”) Emotional Support Line (“Line”) is not licensed or unlicensed mental health care or treatment of any type regardless of what is discussed or who provides support.  It is for emotional support purposes only.  Use of the Line does not create any confidential provider-therapist relationship of any type.  The Line not a substitute for professional health care.  If you believe you are experiencing a medical or behavioral health emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.  

By using this Line, you acknowledge and agree that the State, OMH, any State or OMH employee(s), and/or any community volunteers involved with the Line in any manner (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”), have no liability of any type related to your use of the Line, including but not limited to any decision you make, or a third party makes, as a result of your use of the Line, or because you were not able to access the Line for any reason.  By using the Line, you agree to fully indemnify the Indemnified Parties and hold them harmless for any and all damages or causes of action that may arise out of your use of the Line.  Without limiting the foregoing, in no event shall any of the Indemnified Parties be liable for any special, incidental, consequential, or indirect damages of any type arising from your use of the Line, or for any other reason.

The Line is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis.  None of the Indemnified Parties shall be liable for any inability by you to access the Line, including but not limited to interruptions in the Line due to technical reasons or delays to due to a high volume of calls.

The Committee on Special Education (CSE) is a multi-disciplinary team that identifies children in grades K-12 with special education needs such as learning disabilities, speech and language impairments, physical disabilities, emotional disturbance, mental retardation, etc.  The CSE recommends programs and services to support the academic program.  The Committee is composed of personnel from the Pearl River schools including a chairperson, school psychologist, special education teachers, general education teachers and a parent of the student receiving special education services. (School physician, related service providers, and a parent member are involved when applicable.) Although it is natural for parents and staff members to be concerned about designating a child as having special education needs, such designation provides assurance that a specially designed program will be provided to the child by the district.  At the preschool level, the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) identifies children ages three to five that need special education and recommends appropriate state and county approved pre-k programs/services.

An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a formal document enumerating the special services planned for a student who has been designated by the Committee on Special Education or Committee on Preschool Special Education.  The IEP contains a summary of the student's strengths and weaknesses, present levels of performance and specific educational goals.  It also indicates the nature of the disabling condition and the recommended program and placement.  The IEP is the teacher's guide for instruction and states the criteria used to determine the effectiveness of the instructional plan.

Speech/language specialists provide diagnostic testing to help determine the extent and origin of communication problems that may be interfering with academic achievement.  There is one Speech/Language specialist at each of Pearl River's five schools.  They provide services to students with moderate to severe communication disorders including voice, fluency, hearing and language deficits.  These student services are specified in an Individualized Education Program designed by the Committee in Special Education.  Speech & Language Website 

Speech & Language Pathologists:

Colleen Moore,  Evans Park Elementary & Pearl River Middle School

Stephanie Hommel,  Evans Park Elementary, Lincoln Avenue Elementary & Pearl River High School

Stephanie King,  Franklin Avenue Elementary & Pearl River Middle School

School Psychologists provide a broad range of services to all students, including the assessment of individual needs and problems, consultation with teachers, administrators and parents, direct intervention with students, and program development for students, parents and staff.  There is one psychologist for each of Pearl River's schools, with the exception of the High School, which has two.  The psychologists serve on the Instructional Support Team, coordinate the screening of new entrants, act as the case managers for students receiving special education services, and are mandated members of the Committee on Special Education.  Using classroom observations, interviews and formal testing, the psychologists identify the issues affecting academic performance and behavior, and develop strategies in cooperation with the school, family and student to address the situation.  School psychologists work with teachers, parents, and outside resources to promote academic success, reduce behavior problems, and enhance the personal well being of all students.  School Psychologists Webpage 

Psychologists:

Ellen McCabe - Office Phone (845) 735-7212

Dr. Rebecca Massa - Office Phone (845) 735-0268

Krystina Kane - Evans Park (845) 620-3953

Miguel Arias - Pearl River Middle School (845) 620-3893 

James Calisi - Pearl River Middle School (845) 620-3887

Jamie Martens - Pearl River High School (845) 620-3810

Matthew Schultz  - Pearl River High School (845) 620-3915

Dr. Samantha Turco - Pearl River High School (845) 620-3817

The school social worker helps identify and address the social emotional issues that can interfere with academic progress.  Through counseling, crisis intervention, referrals and prevention programs, they assist young people overcome the day to day struggles children and adolescents face today.

Social Workers:

Eric Borcherding
Lincoln Avenue - Monday, Thursday, Friday - (845) 620-3850 (Extension 44412)
Evans Park - Tuesday & Wednesday - (845) 620-3950 (Extension 11204)

Natalie Cervantes-Libassi  
Franklin Avenue -  (845) 620-3965 (Extension 22029)

Jessica Bersani
Pearl River Middle School - (845) 620-3870 (Extension 66888)

Norma Canals 
Pearl River High School  (845) 620-3806

 Speech Language Fall 2021 Newsletter.pdf 

 September 2021 PEARL RIVER PARENT CONNECTION.pdf 

Pearl River Parent Connection April.pdf 

Pearl River Parent Connection April Spanish 1.pdf

Pearl River Parent Connection December 2019

Pearl River Parent Connection September 2019