Earth Month is celebrated nationally in April, but students at Knapp School & Yeshiva demonstrate they care about the environment throughout the entire school year. The school already had recycling services in place, as well as the means to compost, but the latter wasn’t organized in a productive way, said Troye Evers, who teaches students in the Transition Program.

On any given school day, Knapp School & Yeshiva students in Troye Evers’ transition program can be found working at a coffee shop, senior center, library or food pantry. Each experience is designed to help students gain confidence, independence, and the practical tools they will need for life after school.

When Rivka was a high school senior at JCFS Chicago’s Knapp School & Yeshiva, she worked with a JCFS employment specialist to plan for her future.

Some Knapp School & Yeshiva students are getting a taste of working in the food service industry—right at their school. The school lunch cart operates twice a week, and six to eight students regularly help with everything from taking orders and shopping for ingredients, to cooking and delivering the food.

Knapp School & Yeshiva students have increased their confidence along with their creativity through participation in a drama program called Build A Play, offered by Northlight Theatre in Skokie.

One of the most impactful school partnerships at Response for Teens is with Rochelle Zell Jewish High School (RZJHS). Volunteers from Paws for Patrick visited RZJHS on March 31, bringing two emotional support dogs to the Wellness Club.

Knapp School & Yeshiva serves students from kindergarten through grade 12+, and its safe, supportive learning environment and small class sizes are geared toward students who have not succeeded in other educational settings.

JCFS Chicago’s Outpatient Behavioral Health/Psychological Services has expanded its relationship with REACH, (Resources for Educational Achievement, Collaboration and Health), and now our clinicians are providing school counseling services within Jewish day schools.

Going back to school can bring excitement for some kids, and for others, trepidation and worry. The summer-to-school transition triggers many different types of anxieties, such as separating from caregivers, new routines, and navigating complex social situations at school. The most common anxieties for older children include peer acceptance, academic performance, and navigating familial relationships.

It is critically important that we engage with our young children and provide age-appropriate child abuse prevention education, as this is a key strategy in keeping children safe.