Student Support Services
With a broad range of language, learning, and counselling services, the Student Support Services (SSS) Department fosters an environment in which all BBIS students are able and motivated to learn at their full potential. In response to diverse student abilities, interests, attitudes, and goals, Student Support Services provides an inclusive educational environment for each and every student which addresses their individual academic, social, emotional, health and behavioural development and needs.
School Psychology
BBIS employs a school psychologist who is available for psychoeducational assessments and consultation. When parents or teachers have questions or concerns about a student’s academic performance or classroom behaviour, the school psychologist, with permission of the student’s parent or guardian, provides evaluations and consultation. The school psychologist works closely with teachers and other Student Support Services staff to develop individualized plans for each student identified as benefitting from such specific interventions. With a wide network of international therapists and health professionals nearby, in Berlin, the school psychologist can also provide contacts for outside referral, should these be required.
School Counselling
The school counselling programme at BBIS is designed to help students, parents, and teachers develop positive learning experiences. By providing proactive in-class workshops for all BBIS students and counselling support for students with specific social or emotional concerns, the School Counsellors aim for all children and young people at BBIS to experience a positive and fruitful learning environment. The Counsellors achieve this by working with students, both in and out of the classroom, on topics such as friendship, solving conflict and stress management. Small groups and short-term individual counselling provide a forum for students with greater need of individual intervention. By addressing social and emotional barriers to learning, the school counsellors help BBIS students acquire important coping skills to succeed academically and become and integral member of the school community.
Careers and College Counselling
All High School students have access to college and career guidance in order to help them prepare and make informed choices as they prepare for their steps beyond the BBIS environment.
Learning Support
The Learning Support team, consisting of teachers and assistants, provides instruction that is specifically designed to meet the needs of students with learning disabilities within the mainstream classroom. Our learning support teachers have studied special education theory and are trained in designing individual educational learning programmes for students with learning and emotional disabilities. These dedicated educators manage each student’s special learning programme to ensure the curriculum is suitably adapted or modified according to the student’s specific needs. Support is provided to students across all grade levels (EC-12) in a variety of ways and settings including co-teaching with the mainstream classroom as well as pull-out small group or individual instruction. The school’s commitment to on-going professional development in areas such as learning disabilities, multiple intelligences and differentiated instruction ensures that all our teachers strive to meet the needs of our diverse student population.
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
At BBIS, with our diverse international student population, many students require support in acquiring the English skills necessary for success in school. The highly qualified teachers of the EAL programme provide English language instruction and educational support to students with limited English skills to enable them to access the academic mainstream curriculum and participate in the cultural and social life of the school. Through a broad programme that incorporates a mix of well-founded teaching methodologies and pedagogical strategies, students quickly acquire the English language skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing which promote academic success.
Health Services
A school nurse is available to provide help and advise on all health related issues. The school nurse is able to administer initial first-aid, is responsible for medication administration and the care of chronic conditions for students during school time.
The Gifted and Talented Programme
Gifted and talented learners are defined as those students who have one or more abilities developed significantly ahead of their peer group (or the potential to develop those abilities). This may include academic, creative or leadership ability that is recognised as being far above the average. ‘Gifted’ describes learners who have the ability to excel academically whereas ‘Talented’ learners have the ability to excel in practical skills such as sport, artistic performance, etc. Our ‘Gifted & Talented’ learners are supported by an enrichment programme either within the mainstream classroom or via a series of ‘challenge workshops’ on specific themes depending on the interest of the student.
