Academics
Student Support Services

Types of Support

The structures of the support at Dwight-Englewood School vary each year depending on the specific needs of students. Based on various assessments, support is designed to scaffold the classroom curriculum and to enrich it. Various programs are available at each division to address the different academic and developmental needs of students. Members of the Student Support Team work with strong students to ensure an enriched experience.

Lower School

Currently there is one reading specialist assigned to PreK (age 3) - Grade 2 and another one assigned to Grades 3-5. Students are provided remedial reading support either in their homeroom class or in the reading lab. Students in reading lab typically require additional support in order to master these skills. Reading lab classes provide student the opportunity to focus on skills such as decoding, fluency, spelling and inferential thinking.

Currently there is also a mathematics specialist who works with both teachers and students. This mathematics specialist examines curriculum and when necessary adjusts the curriculum and pedagogy such that all students are supported.

In Grade 5, English and mathematics classes are co-taught by the content area teacher and the specialist so that the curriculum can be differentiate when needed without the children needing the lab experience. This model addressed the developmental needs of the 5th grade students while continuing to support and remediate their skills.

List of 3 items.

  • Psychologists

    There is a part-time psychologist assigned to each division who is an integral member of the Student Support Team. Each psychologist works to address social-emotional and developmental issues. Furthermore, psychologists will meet with students on an as needed basis to provide strategies to address a particular concern. If a student requires ongoing therapy, our psychologist will collaborate with an outside provider to provide cohesive support in school.
  • School Nurse

    There are two school nurses who monitor the health of students; including chronic health and short-term health conditions. Nurses conduct periodic screenings in order to identify vision and hearing issues. It is important that the school nurse works collaboratively and proactively to support the whole child. In order to achieve this goal, families are encouraged to provide updates to the school nurse regarding changes in a student’s health status.
  • Screenings

    Early intervention has been proven to make a difference in the ability for a student to reach developmental milestones and to develop the foundation for academic success. In order to detect the need for support, we utilize a variety of screening processes such as reading and math assessments, developmental observations, speech-language screenings, and motor screenings.  The pre-school years specifically are a period of tremendous growth. Children develop articulation and language skills which form the foundation for effective communication. Additionally, motor skills impact a variety of activities including fine motor, gross motor and sensory skills. When issues are identified and treated at an early age, the prognosis for improvement is greatly enhanced. For this reason the Lower School offers speech-language and occupational therapy screenings through our relationship with private consultants. Results of the screenings are shared with the student’s parent/guardians and recommendations are made based on the individual needs of each student.

    Also, Bergen County Special Services screens students for articulation issues. All students are screened in the spring upon turning five years old and again in kindergarten. Older students may be screened upon the request of a teacher or parent. Parents will be contacted if the screening indicates the need for follow-up. A speech-language pathologist comes to the School to provide articulation therapy for those students who qualify.
     

Middle School

All students in the Middle School have Targeted Academic Growth (TAG) periods. This time allows students to work with their classroom teachers to review skills and concepts as well as receive support on specific assignments. For those students who are struggling with aspects of their learning, the Middle School works collaboratively with the parents to place the student in one of our support classes: Organizational Lab, Reading Lab or Academic Skills. Consideration to the student’s other interests is important in this collaborative process as we want to make sure that students have opportunities to explore their passions through the language and discoveries programs.

List of 5 items.

  • Academic Skills

    The teaching of strategies to approach academic tasks is included in all classes in the Middle School. Students who need instruction beyond that provided in their regular classes can participate in an Academic Skills course. This course further develops students’ understanding of themselves as learners. Students focus on enhancing academic skills such a writing fluency as well as learning a variety of study methods. It is important that students explore various strategies so they can determine the best strategy to complete different types of tasks- with the goal of independently applying the appropriate strategies while learning.
  • Advancing Student Knowledge (ASK)

    A.S.K. is an opportunity for students to develop strategies that will support their learning in all classes. It provides a more in-depth preview and review of curricular content. Topics covered are in conjunction with what is happening in the student’s academic classes. Students also practice organizational, executive functioning and study skills which can then be adapted into their everyday routines.
     
  • Organizational Lab

    The teaching of organizational skills and study skills is included in all classes in the Middle School. Students who need instruction beyond that provided in their regular classes can participate in an organizational lab. In this lab, students are taught to set up and use their assignment pads, backpacks and lockers and also to organize their homework assignments and long-term projects. This lab also provides students time during the school day to organize themselves and their belongings and to keep current with their assignments.
  • Psychologists

    There is a part-time psychologist assigned to each division who is an integral member of the Student Support Team. Each psychologist works to address social-emotional and developmental issues. Furthermore, psychologists will meet with students on an as needed basis to provide strategies to address a particular concern. If a student requires ongoing therapy, our psychologist will collaborate with an outside provider to provide cohesive support in school.
     
  • School Nurse

    There are two school nurses who monitor the health of students; including chronic health and short-term health conditions. Nurses conduct periodic screenings in order to identify vision and hearing issues. It is important that the school nurse works collaboratively and proactively to support the whole child. In order to achieve this goal, families are encouraged to provide updates to the school nurse regarding changes in a student’s health status.

Upper School

Students in the Upper School have ample opportunity to seek support from their classroom teachers. “Free” periods and the extended lunch period are designed to provide students with time to meet with teachers to review skills and concepts. Students are encouraged to either meet regularly with a particular teacher or in preparation for an assessment or to review work for a project.
 

List of 2 items.

  • Psychologists

    There is a part-time psychologist assigned to each division who is an integral member of the Student Support Team. Each psychologist works to address social-emotional and developmental issues. Furthermore, psychologists will meet with students on an as needed basis to provide strategies to address a particular concern. If a student requires ongoing therapy, our psychologist will collaborate with an outside provider to provide cohesive support in school.
  • School Nurse

    There are two school nurses who monitor the health of students; including chronic health and short-term health conditions. Nurses conduct periodic screenings in order to identify vision and hearing issues. It is important that the school nurse works collaboratively and proactively to support the whole child. In order to achieve this goal, families are encouraged to provide updates to the school nurse regarding changes in a student’s health status.
     
Mailing Address: 315 East Palisade Avenue Englewood, NJ 07631
gps: 81 Lincoln Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
201-569-9500 Email: d-e@d-e.org
Located in Englewood, New Jersey, Dwight-Englewood is a greater New York City area private school with a rigorous college prep curriculum for boys and girls in preschool through grade 12.