Rabbi Leron Bernstein and Dinah Unterslak
The centre also offers extended support through drama, art, music and dance.
In the few weeks since opening, the centre has become a highlight on Yeshiva’s campus, with children eager to visit and attend sessions there, dispelling the conventional stigma around therapy.
The establishment of the YES Centre is in keeping with Yeshiva College’s vision of developing and nurturing the ‘whole child’ in a dynamic and Torah-centred environment. Phase One of this project is up and running, with a fully operational therapy and assessment centre.
The centre offers therapy during the school day, not just in the afternoon.
The organic integration between the school and the therapists is also beneficial. The centre’s director, Dinah Unterslak, is the go-to person for consolidating feedback and gives guidance on driving each child’s holistic development. A marked improvement has been shown in the transferral of skills acquired by children at the centre back into the classroom.
This project was the brainchild of Yeshiva College chairperson Israel Bender and educational psychologist Sheryl Cohen, who is both a parent and board member of the college. With the dedicated help of Rabbi Leron Bernstein, managing director of Yeshiva College, as well as Lisa Zimmerman and Monique Bondi, this revolutionary idea began to take shape about four years ago and, since its inception this year, is already proving to be a success beyond all expectations.
The future is bright for Yeshiva College and the YES Centre. Plans for Phase Two are in the pipeline. The centre is also open to children from other schools.
· For more information, contact Dinah Unterslak at yescentre@yeshivacollege.co.za or phone 011 640 9900 ext 169
