Anonymous wrote:OP here. Our DC does not qualify for anything in public school except related services, which we already have in place.

We are looking for a supportive place for a couple of years of elementary school, nothing more than that, and we are just parents trying to do what is best for our particular kid. Please, I really just want to hear from current McLean and Siena parents. This is already stressful enough for us.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again. In reading previous threads about McLean I see a lot of stuff about divorced parents, trophy wives, plastic surgery, Lamborghinis, etc., none of which apply to us. Can any current parents comment on this?

I also see concerns that the new HOS does not have a teaching background. The heads of each division seem to have very strong education backgrounds, however, so I would think a HOS with good administrative and financial skills would be a fine leader - perhaps even better. Can current parents comment on this?

That was one poster who rattled off that ridiculous list and was quickly shot down by several of us. I do not know of a single parent who fits that description. When pressed on the idea of "Lamborghinis" (because I have never seen one anywhere near McLean) the poster admitted it had been on the school grounds as a novelty item during truck day when the youngest students in lower school explore various vehicles. I don't remember my DS even having truck day so its possible that even that was made up but if true all it means is that one time such a car was borrowed for a school event.

My other DC has attended two other DC privates where there were an equal number, or more, divorced parents, trophy wives, plastic surgery, etc . . . Which is all to say just ignore this BS.

Really? Orchestrated? DO you compare notes? No one has ever told you that the Special Needs thread is supposed to be helpful and kind? Do you mothers routinely get together, have coffee and decide whom to "shoot down"? And, BTW, I was the Lamborghini poster which I saw at a car wash. You, as a collective, did not "shut me down". And I did not "admit it had been on the school grounds as a novelty item during truck day when the youngest students in lower school explore various vehicles". I've never heard of truck day (?) at the McLean School. I never saw "truck day" (why would a Lamborghini be at "truck day" anyhow? Methinks you are making this up). The gull wing lamborghini is there every year at the car wash. I am truly sorry you feel so defensive about the expense of the school and the money, but when an OP is exploring schools for a SN child and I can help, I will. OP, go tour the school; view the cars in the parking lot on a parents' day event; and ask for a current catalogue and check how many mommies and daddies have different addresses and phone numbers. And as for the bar mitzvahs, yes, it is unfortunate they all fall in one year so every single Saturday is booked and then jr. is wrecked for church the next day. We even got "save the date" cards 8 months in advance for one. It's also very uncomfortable to be driving jr. to a bar mitzvah and attending (not driving yet) and then for the huge hotel event in the evening when both the mother and father of the bar mitzvah kid is fighting. One mom even asked me to start setting her up.

But that's not why we left. WE left because of too much homework and uncoordinated projects and exams (all on the same day) and teachers that seemed to have forgotten they were teaching in a special needs school. Our kid was too stressed. OP, check out your public with an IEP - MUCH better move.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again. In reading previous threads about McLean I see a lot of stuff about divorced parents, trophy wives, plastic surgery, Lamborghinis, etc., none of which apply to us. Can any current parents comment on this?

I also see concerns that the new HOS does not have a teaching background. The heads of each division seem to have very strong education backgrounds, however, so I would think a HOS with good administrative and financial skills would be a fine leader - perhaps even better. Can current parents comment on this?

That was one poster who rattled off that ridiculous list and was quickly shot down by several of us. I do not know of a single parent who fits that description. When pressed on the idea of "Lamborghinis" (because I have never seen one anywhere near McLean) the poster admitted it had been on the school grounds as a novelty item during truck day when the youngest students in lower school explore various vehicles. I don't remember my DS even having truck day so its possible that even that was made up but if true all it means is that one time such a car was borrowed for a school event.

My other DC has attended two other DC privates where there were an equal number, or more, divorced parents, trophy wives, plastic surgery, etc . . . Which is all to say just ignore this BS.

Anonymous wrote: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 wrote:

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 wrote:

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).

You sound like a selfish lunatic.

Gentile here who thought that the bar/bat mitzvahs (service and celebrations) added a lot to DD's middle school experience. She learned about other religions, gained confidence in various social situations, and quite frankly was happy to support her classmates in one of the biggest days of their lives. She never complained about going, even when the service was 3 hours long. She loved all the parties whether they were fancy or casual.

I'm happy that my DD was invited to as many as she was (upwards of 20). What's the other side of it... that your child would not be invited? That sounds great... for you and your second home visiting... blech.

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).

Anonymous wrote:

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. [/quote]


OP specifically asked about the Lamborghini (which, I too, saw) at 9:21 and a current parent took up the issue as did another at 11:21.