Welcome to Special Services
The Office of Special Services offers a continuum of programs and services for pre-school and school-age students with disabilities. School–aged students can receive services either through an Individualized Education Program or a Section 504 Accommodation Plan. Quality educational programs and services are provided in the least restrictive environment to meet the academic, social and emotional needs of our students. Related services such as speech & language, counseling, hearing impaired services, vision services, occupational therapy and physical therapy are also available to students. All services are provided in compliance with the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education.
Office of Special Services
Carolyn Moffa, Director of Special Services
Pearl River School District
135 West Crooked Hill Road
Pearl River, New York 10965
(845) 620-3938
(845) 620-0404 (fax)
Donna Baker (845) 620-3939
Sofija Duic (845) 735-1435
Lynne McNally (845) 620-3940
Student Learning Tools
Special Services Events
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District Admin. Building
Psychologist Meeting
Special Services -
Evans Park
Special Education ELF Staff Meeting
Special Services -
District Admin. Building
Speech Pathologists' Meeting
Special Services -
District Admin. Office
Special Education MS & HS Staff Mtg.
Special Services -
District Admin. Building
Psychologist Meeting
Special Services -
Evans Park
Special Education ELF Staff Meeting
Special Services -
District Admin. Building
Speech Pathologists' Meeting
Special Services -
District Admin. Office
Special Education MS & HS Staff Mtg.
Special Services -
District Board Room
ACCES-VR Presentation for High School Parents
ACCES-VR Presentation for High School Parents
Special Services -
District Admin. Building
Psychologist Meeting
Special Services
Speech & Language Services
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 Pathologists:
Colleen Moore, Evans Park Elementary & Pearl River High School
Stephanie Hommel, Lincoln Avenue Elementary & Pearl River Middle School
Stephanie King, Evans Park Elementary & Franklin Avenue Elementary
School Psychologists
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.
Psychologists:
Ellen McCabe
District Office (845) 735-7212
Franklin Avenue (845) 920-7405
Dr. Rebecca Massa
District Office (845) 735-0268
Lincoln Avenue (845) 920-7415
Krystina Jimenez
Evans Park (845) 620-3953
Miguel Arias
Pearl River Middle School (845) 620-3893 (Wednesday & Thursday)
Pearl River High School (845) 620-3817 (Monday. Tuesday & Friday)
James Calisi
Pearl River Middle School (845) 620-3887
Jamie Martens
Pearl River High School (845) 620-3810
Norma Canals (Social Worker)
Pearl River High School (Monday - Thursday) (845) 620-3806
Pearl River Middle School (Friday) (845) 620-3893
Natalie Cervantes-Libassi (Social Worker)
Evans Park (Tuesday) 845-620-3950
Franklin Avenue (Thursday & Friday) 845-620-3965
Lincoln Avenue (Monday & Wednesday) 845-620-3850
School Social Workers
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:
Normal Canals
Pearl River High School & Pearl River Middle School
845-620-3806
canalsn@pearlriver.org
Natalie Cervantes-Libassi
Elementary Schools
929-398-5380
cervantes-libassin@pearlriver.org
Speech & Language Newsletters
Psychologist Newsletters
Spring 2019 News Letter School Psychologist Spring Newsletter.pdf
Winter 2018 News Letter Psychologist NewsLetter - Winter 2018.pdf
Spanish Winter 2018 News Letter Psychologist NewsLetter Spanish - Winter 2018.pdf
Fall 2018 News Letter - Psychologist NewsLetter - Fall 2018.pdf
Spanish Fall 2018 News Letter Newsletter in Spanish.pdf
Social Worker Newsletters
Committees on Special Education & Preschool Special Education
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.
Individualized Education Program (IEP)
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.
Special Education Documents
Additional Resources
- Sp.Ed. NYS Performance Plan Indicator
- Parent's Guide to NYS Sp. Ed.
- Part B - Procedural Safeguards - English
- Part B - Procedural Safeguards - Chinese
- Part B - Procedural Safeguards - Haitian Creole
- Part B - Procedural Safeguards - Korean
- Part B - Procedural Safeguards - Russian
- Part B - Procedural Safeguards - Spanish
Teen & Parent Support Groups
Time: 6:30-8pm
Dates: 6/12
Location:
MHA Rockland
140 Route 303
Valley Cottage, NY 10989
RSVP:
Madlen Setian, Facilitator @ 845-267-2172 ext. 281
or
Kathy Abramson @ 845-267-2172 ext. 278
Teen Support September 2018.jpg
Support September 2018 NEW.jpg
NYS Alternate Assessment (NYSSA)
Reaching for the Future
Reaching for the Future - From School Age to Adult Life
A resource guide for students with disabilities.
PDF: Reaching for the Future.pdf
Weblink: http://www.rocklandboces.org/files/2015/07/Reaching-for-the-Future-ybi8ye.pdf
Rockland 5K Run/Walk for Mental Health Awareness - June 1st
MentalHealthAwareness5K Run - Walk.pdf
Rockland 5K Run/Walk for Mental Health Awareness, Saturday June 1st
Where: Rockland Lake (State Park Field #1, Valley Cottage, NY)
Time:
Check in: 7:30am ($12 parking fee after 8:00am)
Run Start Time: 9:00am
Walk Start Time: 9:05am
Registration: $25
For More Information and to register go to: www.raceroster.com/22801
I/DD ID Cards for people who have a medically diagnosed developmental disability
NYS has just passed a law that now makes identification cards available to people who have a medically diagnosed developmental disability. These new I/DD ID cards are meant to be presented to law enforcement, firefighters and emergency medical services personnel to aid in the communication process.
Updated Diploma & Credential Options
Updated Diploma and Credentials Brochure for Seniors, quick link below. (Updated December 2017)
Updated Diploma and Credential Options Brochure Dec 2017 Update.pdf
Youth Mental Health First Aid
Youth Mental Health First Aid
When: July 16, 2019 8:30AM-5PM or August 7, 2019 8:30AM-5PM
Facilitator: Wendy Blanchard, MHA of Rockland
Location: Rockland BOCES, 65 Parrott Road, Building 10 PDC, West Nyack, NY
The Youth Mental Health First Aid USA curriculum is primarily focused on information participants can use to help adolescents and transition-age youth, ages 12-18.
This workshop is FREE and is being offered on July 16 and August 7 at Rockland BOCES Building 10 PDC, 65 Parrott Road, West Nyack, NY from 8:30am – 5:00 pm (1/2 hour for lunch – Bring a bagged lunch).
For more information or to register - click on the PDF below.
7-16-19Youth Mental Health First Aidflyer.pdf