Current McLean School and Siena school parents

[Anonymous]

My son is in MS at Siena and this is what I really love about it:

The teachers and staff really understand kids with language based learning differences. There are many other great things about Siena but this is the reason we are there. You can have a school with all kinds of bells and whistles but if the teachers don’t know how to teach your child, and the curriculum is not set up to teach to their strengths while addressing their weaknesses, everyone ends up frustrated and pointing fingers instead of working on finding solutions.

The assignments and homework are very consistent between classes. The students learn tons of great study and organizational strategies. They all use the same assignment planner. I especially appreciate their homework limits: each class only has homework on certain nights and they are not supposed to work on one class for more than 30 minutes. That way there are no surprises for the amount of time it takes to finish homework and my son doesn’t get stressed out if the homework doesn’t get finished in time. This really helps with homework anxiety. They also have an after school homework club so that no homework needs to come home.

The students in ES and MS get reading every day in addition to English class. We receive test scores at least twice a year that show improvement in reading, spelling etc. Even though my son was above average in reading, he still needed help with spelling and writing. This class has helped tremendously. Before he started at Siena, I considered keeping him at his old school and hiring a tutor to help with his LD but realized that we could never replicate the daily instruction he would get during school hours at Siena.

It’s a small school so it doesn’t have all the options that a larger school offers but I think they do a good job with what they have and offer a good amount of sports, music, after school options etc.

The students at Siena are great: smart, creative, kind, and well behaved. The school does not tolerate bullying. One of the things Siena does so well is that it knows its target population and doesn’t stray from its mission. They will only accept smart students who have mild to moderate language based LDs as their primary diagnosis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is in MS at Siena and this is what I really love about it:

The teachers and staff really understand kids with language based learning differences. There are many other great things about Siena but this is the reason we are there. You can have a school with all kinds of bells and whistles but if the teachers don’t know how to teach your child, and the curriculum is not set up to teach to their strengths while addressing their weaknesses, everyone ends up frustrated and pointing fingers instead of working on finding solutions.

The assignments and homework are very consistent between classes. The students learn tons of great study and organizational strategies. They all use the same assignment planner. I especially appreciate their homework limits: each class only has homework on certain nights and they are not supposed to work on one class for more than 30 minutes. That way there are no surprises for the amount of time it takes to finish homework and my son doesn’t get stressed out if the homework doesn’t get finished in time. This really helps with homework anxiety. They also have an after school homework club so that no homework needs to come home.

The students in ES and MS get reading every day in addition to English class. We receive test scores at least twice a year that show improvement in reading, spelling etc. Even though my son was above average in reading, he still needed help with spelling and writing. This class has helped tremendously. Before he started at Siena, I considered keeping him at his old school and hiring a tutor to help with his LD but realized that we could never replicate the daily instruction he would get during school hours at Siena.

It’s a small school so it doesn’t have all the options that a larger school offers but I think they do a good job with what they have and offer a good amount of sports, music, after school options etc.

The students at Siena are great: smart, creative, kind, and well behaved. The school does not tolerate bullying. One of the things Siena does so well is that it knows its target population and doesn’t stray from its mission. They will only accept smart students who have mild to moderate language based LDs as their primary diagnosis.

Thanks, PP. This is my DC too: above grade level in reading but below grade level in writing. She is also above grade level in math but the writing disability holds her back there too.

[Anonymous]

It is an expensive school. The gull wing lamborghini (and other very expensive cars) was at the annual car wash ("truck show" was never mentioned). Go look at the cars in the parking lot. There was only one intact marriage (of any kind) in my DD's class for three years, which makes for difficult playdate set-ups and family mingling. The kids go off with dad and step-mother to wonderful vacations at break. The school had a very different PTA environment than the one we moved from, whether you want to hear it or not (obviously not).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is an expensive school. The gull wing lamborghini (and other very expensive cars) was at the annual car wash ("truck show" was never mentioned). Go look at the cars in the parking lot. There was only one intact marriage (of any kind) in my DD's class for three years, which makes for difficult playdate set-ups and family mingling. The kids go off with dad and step-mother to wonderful vacations at break. The school had a very different PTA environment than the one we moved from, whether you want to hear it or not (obviously not).

OP again. I understand where you're coming from, and I'm truly glad you've found a school that works better for you. Do you mind sharing how long ago your child was at McLean?

[Anonymous]

Certainly, we left @ 4 years ago - and it is indeed true that school personalities change. Since that time, a new middle school headmaster has been put in place and a new Head. McLean is also far easier to get into now. From what I've read in archives, the current parents seem divided as to what they thing of the new Head and others seem to think that the school lack focus. I have no dog in this race, I just find it bizarre when a group of McLean Mom cheerleaders all pop up to rave in orchestrated fashion about the school. Every school has its problems. My problems there may have been different than what is happening now but there is a "McLean Mom" who comes on here and scolds anyone who says anything remotely derogatory about the school. I have no idea who she is. But it does shut down some free speech and for the amount of money you will be paying (plus bus, plus texts; plus tutoring, ++++) you need to know that you feel the school is under excellent leadership and stable. I don't know if it is that now. We were unhappy with many aspects of the school 4 years ago. Now, watch, I'll get slammed for even trying to help you out by posting "stale info".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Certainly, we left @ 4 years ago - and it is indeed true that school personalities change. Since that time, a new middle school headmaster has been put in place and a new Head. McLean is also far easier to get into now. From what I've read in archives, the current parents seem divided as to what they thing of the new Head and others seem to think that the school lack focus. I have no dog in this race, I just find it bizarre when a group of McLean Mom cheerleaders all pop up to rave in orchestrated fashion about the school. Every school has its problems. My problems there may have been different than what is happening now but there is a "McLean Mom" who comes on here and scolds anyone who says anything remotely derogatory about the school. I have no idea who she is. But it does shut down some free speech and for the amount of money you will be paying (plus bus, plus texts; plus tutoring, ++++) you need to know that you feel the school is under excellent leadership and stable. I don't know if it is that now. We were unhappy with many aspects of the school 4 years ago. Now, watch, I'll get slammed for even trying to help you out by posting "stale info".

I'm 10:38 and I can't possibly be the Mclean cheerleader because I've also posted criticisms of the school (I think its small size makes the offerings very limited, I wish the curriculum was more interesting). I don't know who you are talking about -- I haven't read any over the top posts about McLean. Many of us are grateful that we found a school that teaches to our children, the way they need to learn, so we post praise for the school. Its hard not to be grateful after your children have had negative experiences elsewhere. Its not a perfect school and its not for every child. but I have absolutely no concerns about the current leadership.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Certainly, we left @ 4 years ago - and it is indeed true that school personalities change. Since that time, a new middle school headmaster has been put in place and a new Head. McLean is also far easier to get into now. From what I've read in archives, the current parents seem divided as to what they thing of the new Head and others seem to think that the school lack focus. I have no dog in this race, I just find it bizarre when a group of McLean Mom cheerleaders all pop up to rave in orchestrated fashion about the school. Every school has its problems. My problems there may have been different than what is happening now but there is a "McLean Mom" who comes on here and scolds anyone who says anything remotely derogatory about the school. I have no idea who she is. But it does shut down some free speech and for the amount of money you will be paying (plus bus, plus texts; plus tutoring, ++++) you need to know that you feel the school is under excellent leadership and stable. I don't know if it is that now. We were unhappy with many aspects of the school 4 years ago. Now, watch, I'll get slammed for even trying to help you out by posting "stale info".

This is the OP. Thank you. A school can certainly change a great deal in 4 years, and I believe McLean has a new lower school head now as well. I truly appreciate all the posters on this thread, especially current McLean and Siena parents, taking the time to share. McLean seems to have a great deal to offer our child, and Siena may as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Thanks, PP. This is my DC too: above grade level in reading but below grade level in writing. She is also above grade level in math but the writing disability holds her back there too.

Different Siena parent here. FWIW, Siena has been great for our child who came in to the school above grade level in reading and math, but below grade level in writing. Despite being above grade in reading our student clearly has challenges with decoding/encoding and reading comprehension and so benefits from the specialized way Siena teaches. Despite what must be a mixture of below/at/above grade readers in class, our DC has never complained about being bored or overwhelmed.

The writing difficulties also affect our DC in math, making calculations more sloppy and error prone and making responding to word problems or answers which require written explanation difficult, although DC understands the underlying math quite well. Some kids who show on assessment that they already know the skills at grade level may be advanced in math to the next grade. Since the school is geared toward language difficulties, all math classes no matter the level, support the language and writing challenges.

I was surprised that many of the writing challenges, especially spelling and handwriting, began to ease significantly by the end of the first quarter after entry. I didn't expect results that quickly. Of course, YMMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Certainly, we left @ 4 years ago - and it is indeed true that school personalities change. Since that time, a new middle school headmaster has been put in place and a new Head. McLean is also far easier to get into now. From what I've read in archives, the current parents seem divided as to what they thing of the new Head and others seem to think that the school lack focus. I have no dog in this race, I just find it bizarre when a group of McLean Mom cheerleaders all pop up to rave in orchestrated fashion about the school. Every school has its problems. My problems there may have been different than what is happening now but there is a "McLean Mom" who comes on here and scolds anyone who says anything remotely derogatory about the school. I have no idea who she is. But it does shut down some free speech and for the amount of money you will be paying (plus bus, plus texts; plus tutoring, ++++) you need to know that you feel the school is under excellent leadership and stable. I don't know if it is that now. We were unhappy with many aspects of the school 4 years ago. Now, watch, I'll get slammed for even trying to help you out by posting "stale info".

+1 another former McLean parent who gas felt the wrath of the cheerleaders. We left 3 years ago. The academics were our major issue. Uninspired and not very challenging. Wide variance in teacher quality. Socially the smallness was a problem.

[Anonymous]

I, too, got screamed at and "outed" (???????? there was nothing to "out" me for) as a past parent noting that the school is situation in an Eruv so there are a number of Jewish students. If you happen to hit the school at age 12 your son or daughter will spend a lot of weekends going to bar and bat mitzvahs. After ten of these , we finally had to tell DS that there just could be no more unless it was a close close friend because they were so disruptive on the weekends, taking up Sat morning, Sat night, lots of driving, then sleep schedules were all wacked out Sunday morning. We had a second home we couldn't visit that entire year because of the mitzvahs. Now I'll be screamed at again or "outed" (so bizarre) or called anti-semitic (just go try since I'm Jewish).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I, too, got screamed at and "outed" (???????? there was nothing to "out" me for) as a past parent noting that the school is situation in an Eruv so there are a number of Jewish students. If you happen to hit the school at age 12 your son or daughter will spend a lot of weekends going to bar and bat mitzvahs. After ten of these , we finally had to tell DS that there just could be no more unless it was a close close friend because they were so disruptive on the weekends, taking up Sat morning, Sat night, lots of driving, then sleep schedules were all wacked out Sunday morning. We had a second home we couldn't visit that entire year because of the mitzvahs. Now I'll be screamed at again or "outed" (so bizarre) or called anti-semitic (just go try since I'm Jewish).

Yes, this is a very important reason to avoid Mclean. The busy social schedule will prevent you from spending enough time at your second home.

OK, PP, here's a test. How many of the "number of Jewish students" are ultra-orthodox? Because if they are Jewish but not ultra orthodox they wouldn't care about the Eruv. I'm sure there are ultra orthodox students there but I can't for the life of me think of any in my DS' class.

There is this one thing you can do if your child gets invited to too many bar/bat mitzvahs -- you say no. Its really truly OK to decline a social invitation.

The idea that this is your criticism of the school -- OMG , we can't go to our other house because of all the Jews (and I don't care that you are as well, its really a ridiculous thing to react to) --- then i am so glad you left.

[Anonymous]

13:59 just proved my point about nastiness of the "McLean Moms". Stay away.

[Anonymous]

OMG. Please stop or at least take your issues to the private school forum. Y'all sound insane.

[Anonymous]

I'm the first former McLean parent, 8:33. Now I think everyone can see why OP asked to hear from current McLean parents . Fwiw, I never saw a Lamborghini anywhere. There may have been a car wash but it certainly wasn't something that anyone was pressured to go to. Were there divorced families? Sure. But there were divorced families at our MCPS as well. Were there super rich families? Sure. But there were super rich families at our MCPS as well. Were there plenty of families I could relate to? Absolutely and this included families above and below my socio-economic status. Was the way the PTA was run a little kooky? Yes but I do not fault the parents. There was way too much input from a certain member of the administration and that person, again, is no longer at the school. So, not to beat a dead horse, current parents can tell op how it is now. Sounds like you have two great options for your dc -- good luck with your choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I, too, got screamed at and "outed" (???????? there was nothing to "out" me for) as a past parent noting that the school is situation in an Eruv so there are a number of Jewish students. If you happen to hit the school at age 12 your son or daughter will spend a lot of weekends going to bar and bat mitzvahs. After ten of these , we finally had to tell DS that there just could be no more unless it was a close close friend because they were so disruptive on the weekends, taking up Sat morning, Sat night, lots of driving, then sleep schedules were all wacked out Sunday morning. We had a second home we couldn't visit that entire year because of the mitzvahs. Now I'll be screamed at again or "outed" (so bizarre) or called anti-semitic (just go try since I'm Jewish).

What's this got to do with the quality of the school? And, what profound point are you trying to make? You and the parent obsessed with the elusive Lamborghini? It is really not providing any useful information to OP or me for that matter, who is interested in current information.