Student Support at Bay Farm

Bay Farm is proud to have a dedicated Learning Support Team to help our students. The Learning Support Team serves as an extension of the Montessori classroom. They provide additional support to any student at any time to strengthen their ability to access the curriculum and thrive. 

Brooke Camillo, MSW, LCSW: School Counselor/ Psychologist & LST Leader

Brooke Camillo, School Counselor Bay Farm

Services provided by the School Counselor:

Direct Intervention in the Classroom (TH, CH, & EL I): The Counselor supports the social, emotional, and/or behavioral needs of the student in the classroom as the needs occur in real time. This allows the Counselor to facilitate teachable moments directly after a need has presented itself. This helps with skill rehearsal & retention.

Individual Student Meetings (EL I, EL II, & MS): The Counselor meets with a student in her office on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis. During these meetings, the Counselor teaches the student social, emotional, and/or behavioral skills. The Counselor focuses on teaching the skills the child has identified they would like to improve, as well as the skills the child’s teacher has requested the child work on.

*It’s common for students to request temporary (1-3) meetings with the Counselor. A student must receive approval from his or her teacher to have these meetings, and parent email consent is not necessary. Students typically request temporary meetings when they need guidance managing issues such as peer conflict or distressing situations.

Group Lessons (Kindergarten, EL I, EL II, & MS): The Counselor gives several types of group lessons over the course of the school year. The groups are as follows:

  • Kindergarten Group (Kindergarten)

  • Friendship Group (EL I-By grade)

  • Leadership Group (EL I, EL II, & MS)

  • Self Advocacy & Bullying Prevention Group (EL I, EL II, & MS)

Parent Support & Psychoeducation (All Levels): The Counselor provides parents with the social, emotional, and/or behavioral education they may need.

Referrals to Outside Providers (All Levels): The Counselor helps parents connect with outside providers (specifically neuropsychologists, individual therapists, and family therapists).

Care Coordination with Outside Providers: The Counselor coordinates care with outside providers (typically neuropsychologists, individual therapists, and family therapists) to keep student support methods consistent in school.

Services provided by the Learning Supporters:

Direct Intervention in the Classroom: The Learning Supporters provide the following support while in the classroom (this is not an exhaustive list):

  • Assist students with completing academic works (TH, CH, EL I, EL II, & MS).

  • Teach students executive functioning skills (CH, EL I, EL II, & MS).

  • Help develop abbreviated or compacted homework assignments for students (EL I, EL II, & MS).

  • Help facilitate test taking in separate settings (EL I, EL II, & MS).

  • Teach students fine/gross motor skills (TH & CH).

  • Help address language deficits/sensory concerns (TH & CH).

Student Learning Plans (SLP): SLP’s are created for students who need consistent support from the Learning Supporter in the classroom. SLPs are Bay Farm’s version of an Individualized Education Program (IEP). SLPs are internal documents which are only distributed to parents per parent request. Teachers are responsible for informing parents an SLP has been created for their child. Students who receive outside speech or occupational services are required to have an SLP. This allows the Learning Supporter to coordinate care with outside providers so as to keep student support methods consistent in school. Students who do not receive outside support but who work consistently with a Learning Supporter are given SLPs per the determination of the teacher.

Referrals to Outside Providers (All Levels): The Learning Supporters help parents connect with outside providers (specifically tutors, speech pathologists, & occupational therapists).