How does your middle school help your teen with anxiety and depression?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks. My child goes to Key MS, which has been very good so far but I’m concerned about high school. The rating for our middle school has gone up but the rating for our high school has gone down. I’m not sure why since the middle school is the only one that feeds into the high school. If the middle school students go on to the “base” high school, why aren’t the ratings similar for both schools?

14:27 here. My kids went to Twain - which was fabulous. I believe the difference in quality is due to the quality of staff and quality of leadership. There's a new special ed chair at Edison so I hope things will improve. On the plus side this year, before Back to School Night, there was a a 'Special Ed' session where staff were introduced and a brief intro do the department. That was more than what we got in previous years, although we still haven't gotten a letter informing us who our case manager is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We know a family in another state whose daughter ended up with a teacher visiting her home for instruction because her anxiety was so severe. But this was after a couple of hospitalizations. It was not a first line of defense, and not something that I have heard of in any of the large school districts in the DMV.

I’ve had many go on students in Home and Hospital teaching (now called Interim Instructional Services) for anxiety in MCPS. In fact, I think I may have had more students out long term for mental health crises than physical health problems. Glad it’s available.

[Anonymous]

My DC was in bad shape in MS; so we moved from MCPS to a small, private school that emphasizes community and kindness. The transformation was radical - and quick. I had no idea how much of the anxiety was specific to MCPS. It is a very tough system on anxiety-prone kids: regimented, crowded, noisy, rote, high pressure, no real time for much bonding. Now in a Catholic HS and thriving.

[Anonymous]

The counselors were fantastic. He has a 504 plan and he visited the counselors for support regularly. He just started high school and we miss them already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is allowed to leave the classroom and go sit in the nurse’s room whenever needed. We have the option of doing 50 percent of the homework. (Don’t usually exercise the option but sometimes it is so much work to keep it together all day that the thought of an hour or two of homework is just too overwhelming.) We also have extra time to make up missed work due to absence (we have struggled with school refusal on and off for several years) and missed assignments do not count towards a disciplinary offense.

As far as treating the anxiety, we go to therapy every week or two and DC is on anti-anxiety meds.

Does your child have this in a 504 plan?

[Anonymous]

Dd has an iep for anxiety and adhd. Hoover middle school (mcps) has been fantastic. Such wonderful and caring case managers who are willing to go above and beyond to help. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t still have tears and get overwhelmed, but when she does they do everything they can to help,

[Anonymous]

How about Arlington schools? Any experiences at Williamsburg to share?

[Anonymous]

They have a counselor in name only who spends 5 minutes with the child and then tells the parents to put the child in therapy.