The Northley Student Assistance Team is a group of administrators, teachers, counselors, healthcare and community mental health professionals who aim to identify students whose family problems, mental health concerns, alcohol and drug issues cause them to perform or behave poorly at school.

Our school’s Student Assistance Team is sponsored by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Student Assistance Program (SAP). The program is administered by the PA Department of Education and the records and statistics of SAP programs are reported annually to the state.

Students can be referred for SAP by a teacher, nurse or counselor, a classmate, a parent, or a concerned friend.

Any student whose personal issues, emotional problems, or challenges with drugs and alcohol are impeding their school performance.

Students in despair Extreme changes in weight, sleep patterns, grades or attendance Angry outbursts and serious disciplinary issues Use of or frequent reference to drugs and alcohol Irritability, restlessness Self-injury or talk of same Use of or frequent reference to weapons or guns Students struggling with family issues– divorce, grief, loss, illness, mental illness, abuse.

Referral forms can be found in the mailroom in the SAP Mailbox, or you can get a copy from a guidance counselor. You can return the referral to the mailbox, or drop it in the SAP box.

1.When a student is referred to SAP, the team meets to ascertain whether the child meets the criteria for SAP. If he/she does, they are assigned a case manager. 2.The case manager will let you know the referral has been received. 3.The case manager then sends out Behavioral Assessment forms to each of the child’s teachers, and notes to the nurse, guidance, and attendance offices requesting data. 4.The case manager contacts the parents to make an appointment to speak with our assessor from Holcomb Behavioral Center– Mrs. Malamut. 5.Mrs. Malamut assesses and makes recommendations for the student which may include outpatient therapy, medical consultations, in-school mentoring, etc.

The student’s case manager will let you know the referral has been received. Due to confidentiality, you may not hear anything further specifically about the child’s case unless his or her parents decide to share that information with you. Confidentiality is the cornerstone of SAP.

Mr. Donaghy - Principal Mr. Hill - Asst. Principal Ms. Sayre- 6 th Grade Guidance Mr. Siegel- 7 th Grade Guidance Mrs. Barg- 8 th Grade Guidance Ms. Runge – 6 th / 7 th / 8 th Reading Workshop Mrs. Gonzalez- 8 th English Ms. Genovese- Phys. Ed. Ms. Flanagan- Spec. Ed. Mrs. Saunders- Nurse Mrs. Malamut - Holcomb Rep. Ms. Edmiston – Dean of Students