Academic Support

Montessori education is built on the foundation of recognizing and celebrating the unique strengths and learning styles of each child. Riverbend’s two full-time Learning Specialists help ensure inclusivity in our academic programming. They collaborate with teachers, parents, and administrators to ensure that every student, regardless of their learning needs, receives the support necessary to thrive in our educational community.

Our Learning Specialists play a crucial role in helping students with diverse learning needs succeed in their academic endeavors. They provide explicit literacy support using Orton Gillingham and Fundations. They work with students on executive functioning strategies, remediation and intervention in literacy and math, differentiated instruction, study skills, and collaboration with teachers.

Riverbend provides a nurturing environment where every child is encouraged to explore, learn, and grow, and our Learning Specialists help facilitate our individualized approach to education. At Riverbend, children receive the support they need in order to meet their unique potential as a lifelong learner.

Social Emotional Learning

Our Support Team collaborates with classroom teachers to implement Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) at all grade levels. SEL competencies that we support at Riverbend, as developed by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, include the following:

• Self-Awareness: Understand one’s own emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence behavior across contexts.
• Self-management: Manage one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in different situations and to achieve goals and aspirations.
• Social Awareness: Understand the perspectives of and empathize with others, including those from diverse backgrounds.
• Relationship Skills: Establish and maintain healthy, supportive relationships and effectively navigate settings with diverse individuals/groups.
• Responsible Decision-Making: Make caring and constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions across diverse situations.

Counseling

Riverbend has a full time School Counselor on staff who offers social and emotional support to our students on an as-needed basis. Counseling occurs both in individual and small group settings. and it can be requested by parents, teachers, or students themselves. When appropriate, the School Counselor also assists in referrals for services of mental health professionals not employed by the School.

School Nurse

Riverbend has a school nurse on site every day to support students’ health needs while they’re at school. From allergy support to first aid and sick visits, our nurse is an essential part of the Riverbend staff. In addition to coordinating care delivery, she provides information on health topics to students and staff, including nutrition and hydration, hand hygiene, and disease prevention.