New school meeting questions

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I'm looking for suggestions on what to ask a potential new school. If I don't

make notes and write them down I will never remember. It is a private school,

so no CST or IEP, but they will adopt any strategies that the Dr. recommends or

any that will work for my son. He is going into 6th grade.

His last school closed and our public school has 2000+ going into 6th grade, I'm

afraid he will be so lost in that crowd,

Any thoughts on some good key questions?

Thanks in advance

Bobbie

[Guest guest]

I did have my daughter visit two potential schools and I was

suprised at her reaction and fears to one of them.

I found these school visit so helpful.

It really depends on your child I think.

But this is what I recently asked:

1. Academic stategies

2. Organizational supports

3. Homework policies

4. Counseling ? what kind?

5. what are the specials

6. What connection can your child make to school (music, science etc)

7. Is the class loosely structured or very structured?

8. How do they manage anxiety issues?

9. What is the social life like at school?

10. Do they understand AS syndrome?

Pam

>

> Hi all,

>

> I'm looking for suggestions on what to ask a potential new school. If I don't

make notes and write them down I will never remember. It is a private school,

so no CST or IEP, but they will adopt any strategies that the Dr. recommends or

any that will work for my son. He is going into 6th grade.

>

> His last school closed and our public school has 2000+ going into 6th grade,

I'm afraid he will be so lost in that crowd,

>

> Any thoughts on some good key questions?

>

> Thanks in advance

> Bobbie

>

[Guest guest]

Bobby,

I have no experience with private schools, but Pam sounds like she knows what

she's talking about. Since there is no IEP, I might also ask if the school

would be willing to have the staff attend an Autism Spectrum training. You

could even get the info together for the training if you needed to.

ah

> >

> > Hi all,

> >

> > I'm looking for suggestions on what to ask a potential new school. If I

don't make notes and write them down I will never remember. It is a private

school, so no CST or IEP, but they will adopt any strategies that the Dr.

recommends or any that will work for my son. He is going into 6th grade.

> >

> > His last school closed and our public school has 2000+ going into 6th grade,

I'm afraid he will be so lost in that crowd,

> >

> > Any thoughts on some good key questions?

> >

> > Thanks in advance

> > Bobbie

> >

>

[Guest guest]

we ended up picking the school that knew the most

about AS. You make an excellent point. The school we

picked was for kids with learning differences they

knew about NLD/AS kids.

Pam

> > >

> > > Hi all,

> > >

> > > I'm looking for suggestions on what to ask a potential new school. If I

don't make notes and write them down I will never remember. It is a private

school, so no CST or IEP, but they will adopt any strategies that the Dr.

recommends or any that will work for my son. He is going into 6th grade.

> > >

> > > His last school closed and our public school has 2000+ going into 6th

grade, I'm afraid he will be so lost in that crowd,

> > >

> > > Any thoughts on some good key questions?

> > >

> > > Thanks in advance

> > > Bobbie

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

>

> I'm looking for suggestions on what to ask a potential new school.

Hi Bobbie. We did private schools for a couple of years. Wish we could still

afford it.

There are books out on this subject (interviewing schools), if you really want

to get into it. But, first of all, you have the general questions anyone would

ask. Touring the school is probably a given--try to get a personal one,

one-on-one with a school staff person. Look at the classroom your child will be

in. Meet the teacher your child will have. Ask them to show you the

curriculum. They should pull out all the books and materials and talk about it.

Observe classes in session for at least a little bit. All of this will give you

quite a bit of information.

I didn't have a dx at the time, so I'm not sure how I would have handled that.

My thought would be to have the principal look over the evaluation ahead of your

interview with said prinicipal, the evaluation containing the recommendations

you are seeking, that is, and simply ask him/her what they think. Let them take

it from there and be ready to ask any questions on areas you are concerned about

still, and be ready to answer any of their questions.

I think it would be good to wait to talk to the principal about your child's

special needs until after you have done all the touring, looking over

curriculum, observing, etc. I would think you'll have something more meaningful

to talk about at that point. If they want to talk earlier, just tell them you'd

like to wait. Otherwise, you'll be doing too much guessing.

Not sure if this is what you were looking for--hope it helps!

Ruth

[Guest guest]

Thanks Pam,

I have two that I am torn between. One is more familiar with AS as they have a

few students there.

That is the one I am leaning toeards, my son is not. He did visit for a day and

liked it until recess.

I knew I should have picked him up before recess.

He was in Catholic school, untill it closed. Another Catholic school would be

the most " familiar " to him, but it is farther away and I don't think has the

same understandiing of AS. This school actually seems to have a

understanding/appreciation of AS.

Thank you for the ideas. I had a few but not all of them in mind.

Bobbie in NJ

> >

> > Hi all,

> >

> > I'm looking for suggestions on what to ask a potential new school. If I

don't make notes and write them down I will never remember. It is a private

school, so no CST or IEP, but they will adopt any strategies that the Dr.

recommends or any that will work for my son. He is going into 6th grade.

> >

> > His last school closed and our public school has 2000+ going into 6th grade,

I'm afraid he will be so lost in that crowd,

> >

> > Any thoughts on some good key questions?

> >

> > Thanks in advance

> > Bobbie

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Ruth,

We did tour with the Principal and my son spent half a day there.

Iliked it, he was not so sure. I know we all go through this at some point,

deciding what is best for our children.

He moved to a new school this year without positive results. I don't want him

to go to another new school to be unhappy all over again.

School hoppping is not an option, or at least not the answer.

Thanks for all the ideas

Bobbie in NJ

> >

> > I'm looking for suggestions on what to ask a potential new school.

>

> Hi Bobbie. We did private schools for a couple of years. Wish we could still

afford it.

>

> There are books out on this subject (interviewing schools), if you really want

to get into it. But, first of all, you have the general questions anyone would

ask. Touring the school is probably a given--try to get a personal one,

one-on-one with a school staff person. Look at the classroom your child will be

in. Meet the teacher your child will have. Ask them to show you the

curriculum. They should pull out all the books and materials and talk about it.

Observe classes in session for at least a little bit. All of this will give you

quite a bit of information.

>

> I didn't have a dx at the time, so I'm not sure how I would have handled that.

My thought would be to have the principal look over the evaluation ahead of your

interview with said prinicipal, the evaluation containing the recommendations

you are seeking, that is, and simply ask him/her what they think. Let them take

it from there and be ready to ask any questions on areas you are concerned about

still, and be ready to answer any of their questions.

>

> I think it would be good to wait to talk to the principal about your child's

special needs until after you have done all the touring, looking over

curriculum, observing, etc. I would think you'll have something more meaningful

to talk about at that point. If they want to talk earlier, just tell them you'd

like to wait. Otherwise, you'll be doing too much guessing.

>

> Not sure if this is what you were looking for--hope it helps!

>

> Ruth

>

[Guest guest]

Perhaps you could ask the school to put you in contact with some families with

kids at the school, preferably in the grade your son would be attending.

Although the school may " cherry Pick " only pro school parents, it can be good to

make contact and get some different views on the school.

> > >

> > > I'm looking for suggestions on what to ask a potential new school.

> >

> > Hi Bobbie. We did private schools for a couple of years. Wish we could

still afford it.

> >

> > There are books out on this subject (interviewing schools), if you really

want to get into it. But, first of all, you have the general questions anyone

would ask. Touring the school is probably a given--try to get a personal one,

one-on-one with a school staff person. Look at the classroom your child will be

in. Meet the teacher your child will have. Ask them to show you the

curriculum. They should pull out all the books and materials and talk about it.

Observe classes in session for at least a little bit. All of this will give you

quite a bit of information.

> >

> > I didn't have a dx at the time, so I'm not sure how I would have handled

that. My thought would be to have the principal look over the evaluation ahead

of your interview with said prinicipal, the evaluation containing the

recommendations you are seeking, that is, and simply ask him/her what they

think. Let them take it from there and be ready to ask any questions on areas

you are concerned about still, and be ready to answer any of their questions.

> >

> > I think it would be good to wait to talk to the principal about your child's

special needs until after you have done all the touring, looking over

curriculum, observing, etc. I would think you'll have something more meaningful

to talk about at that point. If they want to talk earlier, just tell them you'd

like to wait. Otherwise, you'll be doing too much guessing.

> >

> > Not sure if this is what you were looking for--hope it helps!

> >

> > Ruth

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Bobbie I live in NJ too. If you want to email on what schools

you are looking at feel free to do so.

Pam

> > >

> > > I'm looking for suggestions on what to ask a potential new school.

> >

> > Hi Bobbie. We did private schools for a couple of years. Wish we could

still afford it.

> >

> > There are books out on this subject (interviewing schools), if you really

want to get into it. But, first of all, you have the general questions anyone

would ask. Touring the school is probably a given--try to get a personal one,

one-on-one with a school staff person. Look at the classroom your child will be

in. Meet the teacher your child will have. Ask them to show you the

curriculum. They should pull out all the books and materials and talk about it.

Observe classes in session for at least a little bit. All of this will give you

quite a bit of information.

> >

> > I didn't have a dx at the time, so I'm not sure how I would have handled

that. My thought would be to have the principal look over the evaluation ahead

of your interview with said prinicipal, the evaluation containing the

recommendations you are seeking, that is, and simply ask him/her what they

think. Let them take it from there and be ready to ask any questions on areas

you are concerned about still, and be ready to answer any of their questions.

> >

> > I think it would be good to wait to talk to the principal about your child's

special needs until after you have done all the touring, looking over

curriculum, observing, etc. I would think you'll have something more meaningful

to talk about at that point. If they want to talk earlier, just tell them you'd

like to wait. Otherwise, you'll be doing too much guessing.

> >

> > Not sure if this is what you were looking for--hope it helps!

> >

> > Ruth

> >

>