SMART Program
Is your child needing some extra help?
Try the SMART ProgramSMART is a learning support program that provides quality education and support services to learners with learning differences. Our aim is to intervene academically, socially, and emotionally in an environment that endows learners with a warm, loving, and safe setting. Our educators, special educators and therapists work cooperatively and collaboratively to equip learners with skills that enable them to become self-regulated, independent, and responsible citizens guided by the school ethical and spiritual values.
A Message From
Head of the SMART Program
Dear parents,
SMART is a learning support center that provides quality education and support services to learners with learning differences. Our aim is to intervene academically, socially, and emotionally in an environment that endows learners with a warm, loving, and safe setting. Our educators, special educators and therapists work cooperatively and collaboratively to equip learners with skills that enable them to become self-regulated, independent, and responsible citizens guided by the school ethical and spiritual values.
Sincerely yours,
Siham Fakhreddine
Siham Fakhreddine Abu Orom, MA. Special Education.
Head of the SMART Program
Services Provided
Speech Therapy
Speech therapy addresses different communication problems. The speech therapist screens, assesses and treats oral and written communication, social and cognitive communication problems, speech disorders and swallowing disorders, which can all impact one’s performance in various aspects of life.
Psychomotor Therapy
Psychomotor therapy aims to support and aid an individual’s personal development. It is based on a global view of human beings that considers each individual as a unity of physical, emotional and cognitive actualities, which interact with each other and the surrounding social environment.
Sensory Integration
Sensory integration and sensory-based strategies help children organize environmental input and perform daily activities like jumping, swinging and weight-bearing. Occupational therapists, speech therapists, teachers and parents can all play an active role in providing sensory strategies that will help children to attend, participate and communicate.
Therapy Using TED Approach
The Exchange and Developmental Therapy approach is a developmental approach that is implemented with young children who are presenting with Autism or other Developmental Disabilities. It aims to treat the functions in the brain that underly communication and social interaction.
Life Skills Program
In our constantly changing environment, having life skills is an essential part of being able to meet the challenges of everyday life. Our adapted curriculum works on improving life skills for students with learning diversities combining daily living, social, and job skills. The consideration of this plan stems from our commitment to developing self-regulated, independent, and responsible citizens guided by the school ethical and spiritual values.
Social Skills Program
Social skills sessions mainly target verbal and non-verbal communication skills like speech, language, gestures, and body language. During these sessions, students are prompted to work on problem solving, taking perspectives, properly understanding and expressing emotions, choosing the right words for the social situation and other goals that are essential for a good social interaction with others.
Here’s what the SMART program does:
Diagnose
Diagnose learners’ performance and identify their strengths and weaknesses to plan accordingly.
Develop
Develop individualized Education Plans (IEP) based on the formal assessment reports and focusing on strengths and weaknesses under 4 categories.
Specify
Specify the adaptations (modifications & accommodations) tailored to meet each child’s individual needs.
Write
Write long-term and short-term objectives that target the learner’s weaknesses, success criterion or mastery level and implement research-based strategies accordingly.
Develop
Develop cognitive skills through providing play opportunities that develop concepts and curiosity to learn.
Modify
Modify tests, quizzes and worksheets according to the learner’s needs and level of development.
Provide
Provide the least restrictive environment for learners with special needs; the removal of learners with disabilities from general education settings to the resource rooms is only used when learners can’t succeed in the general classroom, even with supplementary aids and services.
Inform
Inform parents in an understandable language of impending actions regarding their child’s education
Communicate
Communicate with parents regarding progress and provide them with tips and strategies to help their son/daughter with their lessons.
Collaborate
Collaborate with regular educators to create a positive classroom environment that accepts learners with learning differences and have high expectations of them.
Prepare
Prepare workshops and training sessions for educators and administrators to promote a sense of community and social acceptance in the school.
Consult
Consult with educational psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors… for further advice and recommendations.
Latest News
SMART Program Blog
The SMART Program often puts on workshops or holds awareness days for special needs. Check out what the SMART Program has been doing recently.
PMT Workshop – Atelier De Relaxation
Ms. Ruba Talih, our psychomotor therapist, taught our teachers techniques to use them when they need help in regulating their students’ emotions or behavior. They learned about relaxation, breathing exercises, reducing muscles tension and sensory stimulation....
Life Skills – SMART Program
In our constantly changing environment, having life skills is an essential part of being able to meet the challenges of everyday life. Our adapted curriculum works on improving life skills for students with learning diversities combining daily living, social, and job...
Down Syndrome Day
March 21 is the World Down Syndrome Day. BBS celebrated this day in its own way, by taking part in the LotsOfSocks Campaign. Students were encouraged to wear odd socks for this day. We also discussed the uniqueness of each and everyone of us. Additionally, a variety...
International Day for Persons with Disabilities
Today is the international day of persons with disabilities, and 24 BBS learners were invited to sing the Lebanese national anthem at the Presidential Palace. There, the ministry of education and higher education, in partnership with UNICEF held an official ceremony...
Testimonials
What parents are saying about the SMART Program
“I have one daughter at BBS. She is in 10th grade and has been at BBS for 10 years. This has been a hard year for our family with the financial crisis, but also with COVID and online learning. Since my daughter has special needs and learning difficulties it has been hard to transition online. But I cannot thank the school enough for the scholarship support—without it we could not keep my daughter at the school. We want to keep her there because BBS the school is a special place: it has always supported us financially, emotionally, and academically. The school is always ready to help its families and support its students in different social, academic, and psychological ways.”
“It was a tough year for all Lebanese. Our economic and living situations were bad. And when I heard about the damage to the school, I was saddened because it is a second home for my daughter. I love the ambiance in the school. Our daughter is treated very well and we are thankful for all the staff. The scholarship support we received was much needed. Since my daughter is registered in the Special Education Department her tuition fees are high. The scholarship helped us keep her at the school.”
“During this last year we have lived in a bad situation with the Coronavirus, the Beirut Explosion, and our national currency issues. One of my daughters, Yara, needs to be in a Special Education System. That is one reason we chose BBS—it is an excellent school that provides her with what she needs. She is now in Grade 4 and able to achieve more than before. Without this scholarship support I was going to have to register both of my daughters at another school. I really appreciate the financial aid provided for my daughters and for the support and understanding given to me by the school.”
The SMART Program Video Library
While facing the challenges of online teaching in the SMART Program, we are always committed to providing the very best for our learners!