Support Services and High School Counseling

Support Services
A part of the Day School's mission - Teach Them Diligently - is to teach the whole child. We nurture a child's growth socially and emotionally, as well as academically. To that end, we provide support services so that every child's needs can be met. Each grade level in the Middle School has a social worker who plays an integral role the Advisory program, knows the students well, and is available for one-on-one, group, or family support. 

In addition to social work, we provide learning services support to children who have special learning needs. Our Learning Services specialists work with small groups and in the classrooms to help children reach their potential. They are available for screenings and will refer families to outside specialists when needed. We are proud of our network of resource specialists at the Day School - extremely qualified professionals who love to work with children, and are dedicated to partnering with our teachers to help our students learn in the best way possible.

High School Counseling
In the Middle School, providing a personalized experience is a key component of our philosophy. We are proud that our high school placement counseling promotes a successful transition for each of our students. We recognize that each student has an individual learning profile, as well as unique interests and talents. Under the leadership of Eric Keitel, our Associate Head of School and Director of High School Placement, each student and family is guided through the decision making with attention to best fit. We are fortunate to have students who have many options for high school due to our strong academic program, along with our focus on leadership and community responsibilities.

Our high school placement counseling begins in the summer prior to eighth grade. Mr. Keitel and Mrs. Zimbler meet with parents to begin preliminary discussions about options and opportunities specific to each individual child. As the school year begins, Mr. Keitel presents an informational meeting to parents to introduce them to the process and answer questions. Throughout the fall, we are delighted to welcome admissions directors from the finest public and independent schools in the Chicagoland area who talk to parents and students. These morning meetings help parents determine which schools offer the best curricular and extra-curricular programs for their children, and are an invaluable resource in guiding families as they consider their options. Mr. Keitel provides weekly email updates for parents, and has an open-door policy for student questions and discussions. Susan Custer handles all of the practical details of processing the applications. Both Mr. Keitel and Ms. Custer work closely with the families and the high schools, maintaining ongoing communication throughout the admissions season.

Each year in early March, we are delighted to learn of the many offers of admission that our students receive. Most importantly, we repeatedly hear how much the high schools admire and value the character, intellect and leadership qualities that our graduates bring into their new communities.


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