St. Columba's or Lowell?

[Anonymous]

We were accepted to both St. C and Lowell for our 3 year old with some special needs. I'm having difficulty choosing because I don't relish going through the admissions process again in a couple years (Lowell will go to 8th grade starting next year) but I LOVE St. Columba's. Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Doesn't St. Columbias have an ST and OT on staff or am I wrong? I don't think Lowell does, but it's a good school and it would be nice to stay put!

[Anonymous]

lowell has an ot, or used to. st columba's has no one. i would go with lowell. no value added at st c's -- except for a few teachers (and it's luck of the draw) they really don't know what they are doing with special needs kids. i'm a former parent -- i know.

[Anonymous]

I agree. Don't go to St. C's. They have no idea what they are doing with special needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:lowell has an ot, or used to. st columba's has no one. i would go with lowell. no value added at st c's -- except for a few teachers (and it's luck of the draw) they really don't know what they are doing with special needs kids. i'm a former parent -- i know.

The teachers, director and sn coordinator who knew how to work with SN kids have all left St. Columba's. Go to Lowell where they have OTs working there and where you can stay if it works out well. If it's the playground you love at St. C's, there is always Saturday. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

We're deciding between St. Columba's and Green Acres. Does anyone have any views on this. Does Green Acres also have an OT or speech thearpist on staff. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

green acres does not have an ot on staff. nevertheless, st columba's is a disaster for sn kids right now. steer clear.

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much pp. So how do kids who go to Green Acres get OT. They end around 3PM. Do you find an OT that is available late in the afternoon.

[Anonymous]

pp here. ITS (Teri Kozlowski's side) has appointments at least through 5 pm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're deciding between St. Columba's and Green Acres. Does anyone have any views on this. Does Green Acres also have an OT or speech thearpist on staff. Thanks.

St. Columba's does NOT have SLP or OTs on staff.

[Anonymous]

Lowell, hands down. St. Columba's accepts some SN kids and that is about all they do with them. Former parent who was shocked at the reputation backed up by nothing. Playground is nice though. You don't know if you will get into Lowell again, I think it would be a poor decision to pass on it.

[Anonymous]

another former st. columba's parent here. grab the spot at lowell and don't look back. I have NO idea why st. c's has a special needs inclusion program-- its smoke and mirrors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:green acres does not have an ot on staff. nevertheless, st columba's is a disaster for sn kids right now. steer clear.

Former parent here, that makes me sad to hear...I know that the SN coordinator has changed a few times in recent years, the woman they used to have was wonderful, I think she may be at Haynes now. Is it just lack of experience on the part of the staff?

[Anonymous]

The new sn coordinator at St. C's is completely inexperienced, insensitive, and unintelligent.

[Anonymous]

Not OP, but interested in Lowell. Are the teachers trained to address 'special needs' within the classroom? Also, for those who are there, aren't there quite a few transitions throughout Lowell's day? (Interested in 1st and 2nd grade program) What types of 'needs' do they work with?