Talk to me about Katherine Thomas School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again, McLean and Siena are hard to get into. If Lab refused, I’d view those are unlikely.

None of these schools are easy to get into. Good fit kids get turned away all the time because of space. If you think McLean and Siena are hard, try Ivymount or KTS. There are so few options for children with these needs that supplementation is often the only option.

Yes, but different variations of hard. For kids with less severe special needs, McLean and Siena are more attractive options. Those kids are unlikely to be applying to IV or KTS. What is the point of being contrary about this? KTS and IV serve the more impacted.

I think I saw someone else say this but I would take a look at Auburn. Their focus is more social and executive functioning but they do have a curriculum specialist who supports teachers with training and
Curriculum for each students needs.

[Anonymous]

For me reading this, it’s seems that many kids are neglected by the public school system (not qualify for support) and don’t get access to private schools due to cost and availability issues. My work would cover most likely school fees up to 43,000 per year but that wouldn’t be enough to cover expenses. I have heard that poorly conducted assessments as part of IEP, ignorance of impact etc affect kids eligibility. I also think it’s absurd that in DC there are 3rd graders that don’t know how to read and write and this is considered normal? My son has letter and number reversal, letter spacing issues and spelling issues and recommended by the school OT to get multi sensory support. Can be included into RTI or 504 but guess what - school doesn’t have OT!

Basic right of education for kids school that have neuropsychological differences are left to struggle. Sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi I just saw this threat. I wonder what type of kids are in the school? My son, 8 years old, has ADHD and suspected mild ASD (but might be just severe ADHD with sensor issues). 2 grade levels below in reading and writing, and visual-spatial issues, currently assessed with dyslexia and disgraphia. The school is far from DC, but so it's Diener School and McLean School. Are the school buss or car pooling done from DC?

I would avoid Diener. I don't have personal experience but I've spoken to ed consultant and they just do not have a strong academic program.

I mean, a lot of these kids aren’t strong academically, so your point isn’t well taken.

I’m talking about method of instruction and whether they are skilled at scaffolding appropriately to the kids level. This is the opinion of an Ed consultant that I am offering as I said I don’t have personal experience. Please be kind, we are all trying to help each other.

Then be kind about the school. It clearly works for some kids. Don’t come on here with the opinion of an “anonymous Ed consultant” and slam it. That’s just straight up an attack unsupported. We like Diener and it’s met my child where he is academically which is behind. If your child is not academically behind, I doubt you would be considering KTS. It’s a very small school community and the options are limited. Don’t denigrate them on a public forum.

Again, as a former Diener parent, I again state that I agree with the reflected views of the educational consultant here about Diener. I know others have different experiences but I think people benefit from having a fuller view of the pros and cons of a school like Diener, especially in light of the monetary commitment to go there.

+1 - from another former Diener parent. It works for some kids, but there are questions that I really wish I'd asked before flushing a lot of time and money down the drain at Diener. For ex, how many of your lead teachers have degrees in special education? Some families get lucky and the school works for them, but I watched a lot of families leave disappointed. I really wish their admissions process would do a better job of pinpointing who the school does work for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi I just saw this threat. I wonder what type of kids are in the school? My son, 8 years old, has ADHD and suspected mild ASD (but might be just severe ADHD with sensor issues). 2 grade levels below in reading and writing, and visual-spatial issues, currently assessed with dyslexia and disgraphia. The school is far from DC, but so it's Diener School and McLean School. Are the school buss or car pooling done from DC?

I would avoid Diener. I don't have personal experience but I've spoken to ed consultant and they just do not have a strong academic program.

I mean, a lot of these kids aren’t strong academically, so your point isn’t well taken.

I’m talking about method of instruction and whether they are skilled at scaffolding appropriately to the kids level. This is the opinion of an Ed consultant that I am offering as I said I don’t have personal experience. Please be kind, we are all trying to help each other.

Then be kind about the school. It clearly works for some kids. Don’t come on here with the opinion of an “anonymous Ed consultant” and slam it. That’s just straight up an attack unsupported. We like Diener and it’s met my child where he is academically which is behind. If your child is not academically behind, I doubt you would be considering KTS. It’s a very small school community and the options are limited. Don’t denigrate them on a public forum.

Again, as a former Diener parent, I again state that I agree with the reflected views of the educational consultant here about Diener. I know others have different experiences but I think people benefit from having a fuller view of the pros and cons of a school like Diener, especially in light of the monetary commitment to go there.

+1 - from another former Diener parent. It works for some kids, but there are questions that I really wish I'd asked before flushing a lot of time and money down the drain at Diener. For ex, how many of your lead teachers have degrees in special education? Some families get lucky and the school works for them, but I watched a lot of families leave disappointed. I really wish their admissions process would do a better job of pinpointing who the school does work for.

It really is not ok for an SN school to not have teachers that have training in special education. But yet it’s happening at schools like Auburn (and maybe others), It’s really sad that our kids can’t be better services by the public school system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For me reading this, it’s seems that many kids are neglected by the public school system (not qualify for support) and don’t get access to private schools due to cost and availability issues. My work would cover most likely school fees up to 43,000 per year but that wouldn’t be enough to cover expenses. I have heard that poorly conducted assessments as part of IEP, ignorance of impact etc affect kids eligibility. I also think it’s absurd that in DC there are 3rd graders that don’t know how to read and write and this is considered normal? My son has letter and number reversal, letter spacing issues and spelling issues and recommended by the school OT to get multi sensory support. Can be included into RTI or 504 but guess what - school doesn’t have OT!

Basic right of education for kids school that have neuropsychological differences are left to struggle. Sad.

The reading issues you've described sound like dyslexia. You need a neuropsych and OG tutoring. Not OT.

[Anonymous]

Longtime Diener parent here. The truth is that the school may not be academically strong but that is really a function of the children it serves and not the program. Many kids have to supplement. That would be true for them no matter where they went. In fact I know many parents at KTS who still supplement.

The idea that Diener, KTS and Ivylmount are comparable is difficult to quantify. They’re just different. KTS and ivymount generally serve kids that need somewhat more support than Diener. It’s common for kids ti start at Diener and move to KTS if their needs become more clear, they need more support and structure for high school, etc.

There is no real debate that McLean and Siena are for kids who are far less impacted than these other schools, however. McLean and Siena are very competitive, don’t take kids with “behaviors” and serve respectively special needs “light” and LD without combordibties other than adhd really. Siena is much like Lab but smaller and harder to get into. McLean isn’t sure what it is but is good for kids with mild issues who need some help, but not the type of help needed at KTS or Diener.
Comparing the academic programs at these schools is really oranges to apples. The kids at Diener could not all handle the curriculm at McLean. Some could, but they have other issues.

Bottom line, when your kid is as impacted as the kids served by the specialty schools, the academic programs are somewhat bespoke. They have to account for many things. We’ve found diener workable but my child needs a very basic academic program and so do most of his fellow students, even if their parents are convinced they could be doing much more. They have other limitations. So we supplement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Longtime Diener parent here. The truth is that the school may not be academically strong but that is really a function of the children it serves and not the program. Many kids have to supplement. That would be true for them no matter where they went. In fact I know many parents at KTS who still supplement.

The idea that Diener, KTS and Ivylmount are comparable is difficult to quantify. They’re just different. KTS and ivymount generally serve kids that need somewhat more support than Diener. It’s common for kids ti start at Diener and move to KTS if their needs become more clear, they need more support and structure for high school, etc.

There is no real debate that McLean and Siena are for kids who are far less impacted than these other schools, however. McLean and Siena are very competitive, don’t take kids with “behaviors” and serve respectively special needs “light” and LD without combordibties other than adhd really. Siena is much like Lab but smaller and harder to get into. McLean isn’t sure what it is but is good for kids with mild issues who need some help, but not the type of help needed at KTS or Diener.
Comparing the academic programs at these schools is really oranges to apples. The kids at Diener could not all handle the curriculm at McLean. Some could, but they have other issues.

Bottom line, when your kid is as impacted as the kids served by the specialty schools, the academic programs are somewhat bespoke. They have to account for many things. We’ve found diener workable but my child needs a very basic academic program and so do most of his fellow students, even if their parents are convinced they could be doing much more. They have other limitations. So we supplement.

Thank you for this info. I really do not know much about Diener, but was looking at it as a possible option for my daughter. We will likely apply to Diener, Lan, Siena and McLean, but don't know if she will get into any of these schools or which one really is the best fit for her.

[Anonymous]

*Lab, not Lan!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Longtime Diener parent here. The truth is that the school may not be academically strong but that is really a function of the children it serves and not the program. Many kids have to supplement. That would be true for them no matter where they went. In fact I know many parents at KTS who still supplement.

The idea that Diener, KTS and Ivylmount are comparable is difficult to quantify. They’re just different. KTS and ivymount generally serve kids that need somewhat more support than Diener. It’s common for kids ti start at Diener and move to KTS if their needs become more clear, they need more support and structure for high school, etc.

There is no real debate that McLean and Siena are for kids who are far less impacted than these other schools, however. McLean and Siena are very competitive, don’t take kids with “behaviors” and serve respectively special needs “light” and LD without combordibties other than adhd really. Siena is much like Lab but smaller and harder to get into. McLean isn’t sure what it is but is good for kids with mild issues who need some help, but not the type of help needed at KTS or Diener.
Comparing the academic programs at these schools is really oranges to apples. The kids at Diener could not all handle the curriculm at McLean. Some could, but they have other issues.

Bottom line, when your kid is as impacted as the kids served by the specialty schools, the academic programs are somewhat bespoke. They have to account for many things. We’ve found diener workable but my child needs a very basic academic program and so do most of his fellow students, even if their parents are convinced they could be doing much more. They have other limitations. So we supplement.

Thank you for this info. I really do not know much about Diener, but was looking at it as a possible option for my daughter. We will likely apply to Diener, Lan, Siena and McLean, but don't know if she will get into any of these schools or which one really is the best fit for her.

I am one of the prior posters whose child had a negative experience at Diener. I generally agree with this post from a parent of a child for whom Diener worked.

I would add to what this poster says about Diener’s academics. The poster is correct that you likely have to supplement if your child has a learning disability and that the academic level tracks a lot of the student’s profile.

I think it is helpful to be aware of Diener’s academic deficiencies for a higher iq student who also has learning disabilities that need to be addressed. A student with such a profile needs academic rigor (for example for a dylslexic student, evidence based phonics provided with fidelity) at a level Diener does not provide. You could arrange for outside tutoring to provide that instruction but that is lot of additional cost in money and time (ie if you live far from Diener, it is hard to do 2-3 hours of phonics tutoring on top of getting your child to and from school). I think it is helpful to go into such a decision with open eyes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Longtime Diener parent here. The truth is that the school may not be academically strong but that is really a function of the children it serves and not the program. Many kids have to supplement. That would be true for them no matter where they went. In fact I know many parents at KTS who still supplement.

The idea that Diener, KTS and Ivylmount are comparable is difficult to quantify. They’re just different. KTS and ivymount generally serve kids that need somewhat more support than Diener. It’s common for kids ti start at Diener and move to KTS if their needs become more clear, they need more support and structure for high school, etc.

There is no real debate that McLean and Siena are for kids who are far less impacted than these other schools, however. McLean and Siena are very competitive, don’t take kids with “behaviors” and serve respectively special needs “light” and LD without combordibties other than adhd really. Siena is much like Lab but smaller and harder to get into. McLean isn’t sure what it is but is good for kids with mild issues who need some help, but not the type of help needed at KTS or Diener.
Comparing the academic programs at these schools is really oranges to apples. The kids at Diener could not all handle the curriculm at McLean. Some could, but they have other issues.

Bottom line, when your kid is as impacted as the kids served by the specialty schools, the academic programs are somewhat bespoke. They have to account for many things. We’ve found diener workable but my child needs a very basic academic program and so do most of his fellow students, even if their parents are convinced they could be doing much more. They have other limitations. So we supplement.

Thank you for this info. I really do not know much about Diener, but was looking at it as a possible option for my daughter. We will likely apply to Diener, Lan, Siena and McLean, but don't know if she will get into any of these schools or which one really is the best fit for her.

I am one of the prior posters whose child had a negative experience at Diener. I generally agree with this post from a parent of a child for whom Diener worked.

I would add to what this poster says about Diener’s academics. The poster is correct that you likely have to supplement if your child has a learning disability and that the academic level tracks a lot of the student’s profile.

I think it is helpful to be aware of Diener’s academic deficiencies for a higher iq student who also has learning disabilities that need to be addressed. A student with such a profile needs academic rigor (for example for a dylslexic student, evidence based phonics provided with fidelity) at a level Diener does not provide. You could arrange for outside tutoring to provide that instruction but that is lot of additional cost in money and time (ie if you live far from Diener, it is hard to do 2-3 hours of phonics tutoring on top of getting your child to and from school). I think it is helpful to go into such a decision with open eyes.

While this is correct, the same is true even for children with average or slightly below average IQs. Bottom line, if your child is impacted enough socially to need a school with a lot of support but needs equal academic support, you either are forced to chose a school with insufficient academic tailoring or a school with too much social support or vice versa. That is, with a high level of needs, you need to expect that you will have to supplement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Longtime Diener parent here. The truth is that the school may not be academically strong but that is really a function of the children it serves and not the program. Many kids have to supplement. That would be true for them no matter where they went. In fact I know many parents at KTS who still supplement.

The idea that Diener, KTS and Ivylmount are comparable is difficult to quantify. They’re just different. KTS and ivymount generally serve kids that need somewhat more support than Diener. It’s common for kids ti start at Diener and move to KTS if their needs become more clear, they need more support and structure for high school, etc.

There is no real debate that McLean and Siena are for kids who are far less impacted than these other schools, however. McLean and Siena are very competitive, don’t take kids with “behaviors” and serve respectively special needs “light” and LD without combordibties other than adhd really. Siena is much like Lab but smaller and harder to get into. McLean isn’t sure what it is but is good for kids with mild issues who need some help, but not the type of help needed at KTS or Diener.
Comparing the academic programs at these schools is really oranges to apples. The kids at Diener could not all handle the curriculm at McLean. Some could, but they have other issues.

Bottom line, when your kid is as impacted as the kids served by the specialty schools, the academic programs are somewhat bespoke. They have to account for many things. We’ve found diener workable but my child needs a very basic academic program and so do most of his fellow students, even if their parents are convinced they could be doing much more. They have other limitations. So we supplement.

Thank you for this info. I really do not know much about Diener, but was looking at it as a possible option for my daughter. We will likely apply to Diener, Lan, Siena and McLean, but don't know if she will get into any of these schools or which one really is the best fit for her.

I am one of the prior posters whose child had a negative experience at Diener. I generally agree with this post from a parent of a child for whom Diener worked.

I would add to what this poster says about Diener’s academics. The poster is correct that you likely have to supplement if your child has a learning disability and that the academic level tracks a lot of the student’s profile.

I think it is helpful to be aware of Diener’s academic deficiencies for a higher iq student who also has learning disabilities that need to be addressed. A student with such a profile needs academic rigor (for example for a dylslexic student, evidence based phonics provided with fidelity) at a level Diener does not provide. You could arrange for outside tutoring to provide that instruction but that is lot of additional cost in money and time (ie if you live far from Diener, it is hard to do 2-3 hours of phonics tutoring on top of getting your child to and from school). I think it is helpful to go into such a decision with open eyes.

While this is correct, the same is true even for children with average or slightly below average IQs. Bottom line, if your child is impacted enough socially to need a school with a lot of support but needs equal academic support, you either are forced to chose a school with insufficient academic tailoring or a school with too much social support or vice versa. That is, with a high level of needs, you need to expect that you will have to supplement.

I am the PP - I agree with you on this. It is a trade-off and/or you end up without a good fit locally (ie my child is currently at a therapeutic boarding school because of that).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi I just saw this threat. I wonder what type of kids are in the school? My son, 8 years old, has ADHD and suspected mild ASD (but might be just severe ADHD with sensor issues). 2 grade levels below in reading and writing, and visual-spatial issues, currently assessed with dyslexia and disgraphia. The school is far from DC, but so it's Diener School and McLean School. Are the school buss or car pooling done from DC?

I would avoid Diener. I don't have personal experience but I've spoken to ed consultant and they just do not have a strong academic program.

I mean, a lot of these kids aren’t strong academically, so your point isn’t well taken.

I’m talking about method of instruction and whether they are skilled at scaffolding appropriately to the kids level. This is the opinion of an Ed consultant that I am offering as I said I don’t have personal experience. Please be kind, we are all trying to help each other.

Then be kind about the school. It clearly works for some kids. Don’t come on here with the opinion of an “anonymous Ed consultant” and slam it. That’s just straight up an attack unsupported. We like Diener and it’s met my child where he is academically which is behind. If your child is not academically behind, I doubt you would be considering KTS. It’s a very small school community and the options are limited. Don’t denigrate them on a public forum.

NP. Start a Diener thread then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi I just saw this threat. I wonder what type of kids are in the school? My son, 8 years old, has ADHD and suspected mild ASD (but might be just severe ADHD with sensor issues). 2 grade levels below in reading and writing, and visual-spatial issues, currently assessed with dyslexia and disgraphia. The school is far from DC, but so it's Diener School and McLean School. Are the school buss or car pooling done from DC?

I would avoid Diener. I don't have personal experience but I've spoken to ed consultant and they just do not have a strong academic program.

I mean, a lot of these kids aren’t strong academically, so your point isn’t well taken.

I’m talking about method of instruction and whether they are skilled at scaffolding appropriately to the kids level. This is the opinion of an Ed consultant that I am offering as I said I don’t have personal experience. Please be kind, we are all trying to help each other.

Then be kind about the school. It clearly works for some kids. Don’t come on here with the opinion of an “anonymous Ed consultant” and slam it. That’s just straight up an attack unsupported. We like Diener and it’s met my child where he is academically which is behind. If your child is not academically behind, I doubt you would be considering KTS. It’s a very small school community and the options are limited. Don’t denigrate them on a public forum.

NP. Start a Diener thread then.

Did you read the thread? This post is in response to a post criticizing Diener. You’re post makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi I just saw this threat. I wonder what type of kids are in the school? My son, 8 years old, has ADHD and suspected mild ASD (but might be just severe ADHD with sensor issues). 2 grade levels below in reading and writing, and visual-spatial issues, currently assessed with dyslexia and disgraphia. The school is far from DC, but so it's Diener School and McLean School. Are the school buss or car pooling done from DC?

I would avoid Diener. I don't have personal experience but I've spoken to ed consultant and they just do not have a strong academic program.

I mean, a lot of these kids aren’t strong academically, so your point isn’t well taken.

I’m talking about method of instruction and whether they are skilled at scaffolding appropriately to the kids level. This is the opinion of an Ed consultant that I am offering as I said I don’t have personal experience. Please be kind, we are all trying to help each other.

Then be kind about the school. It clearly works for some kids. Don’t come on here with the opinion of an “anonymous Ed consultant” and slam it. That’s just straight up an attack unsupported. We like Diener and it’s met my child where he is academically which is behind. If your child is not academically behind, I doubt you would be considering KTS. It’s a very small school community and the options are limited. Don’t denigrate them on a public forum.

NP. Start a Diener thread then.

Did you read the thread? This post is in response to a post criticizing Diener. You’re post makes no sense.

I did. The entire thread. Response made sense. Start a new post if you need to continue to talk about how much you like Diener.

Also, it's "your" not "you're."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi I just saw this threat. I wonder what type of kids are in the school? My son, 8 years old, has ADHD and suspected mild ASD (but might be just severe ADHD with sensor issues). 2 grade levels below in reading and writing, and visual-spatial issues, currently assessed with dyslexia and disgraphia. The school is far from DC, but so it's Diener School and McLean School. Are the school buss or car pooling done from DC?

I would avoid Diener. I don't have personal experience but I've spoken to ed consultant and they just do not have a strong academic program.

I mean, a lot of these kids aren’t strong academically, so your point isn’t well taken.

I’m talking about method of instruction and whether they are skilled at scaffolding appropriately to the kids level. This is the opinion of an Ed consultant that I am offering as I said I don’t have personal experience. Please be kind, we are all trying to help each other.

Then be kind about the school. It clearly works for some kids. Don’t come on here with the opinion of an “anonymous Ed consultant” and slam it. That’s just straight up an attack unsupported. We like Diener and it’s met my child where he is academically which is behind. If your child is not academically behind, I doubt you would be considering KTS. It’s a very small school community and the options are limited. Don’t denigrate them on a public forum.

NP. Start a Diener thread then.

Did you read the thread? This post is in response to a post criticizing Diener. You’re post makes no sense.

I did. The entire thread. Response made sense. Start a new post if you need to continue to talk about how much you like Diener.

Also, it's "your" not "you're."

You’re an idiot. There you go. The actual question was about diener.