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In order
to explain what TLC's Katherine Thomas School (KTS) has
meant to our son John, we first need to describe John's
experiences before KTS. Since John was an infant, we have
known that he would have developmental issues of some sort.
He was in a wheelchair and then a walker until he was three
until he had the muscle tone to hold his head up or walk.
Our life has been a journey of discovering John's
developmental issues, and helping John as much as we could
to give him the best chance in life.
John
started in Montgomery County's PEP program where we had a
good experience. Moving to Kindergarten and 1st grade, John
was part of a small special education class led by two
experienced and dedicated teachers who had led that class
together for nine years. John was a happy child who enjoyed
and looked forward to school. As a family, we were
generally pleased with the services we were receiving from
the Montgomery County school system.
In
second grade John moved to a new school, a new teacher, new
classmates, and new therapists. He was still in a special
education class, with a teacher and aide but with 50% more
students. During lunch and recess, John's class was mixed
in with the general population of the school.
John's
disabilities include speech/language and motor skill
delays. In plain language, he has difficulty communicating
and can be clumsy. In the helter-skelter of an elementary
school hall rushing for lunch, or open recess with several
hundred children outside, John could not keep up. Over the
course of that year, our happy, school-loving child
changed. He became withdrawn and no longer wanted to go to
school. He was not safe and did not feel safe. He withdrew
to protect himself. We tried that entire year to work with
the school staff to get John the attention he needed to feel
safe and make academic progress. It did not work.
John
started the third grade at the Katherine Thomas School. The
positive change was dramatic and immediate. You could see
it in his face and demeanor. Riding home from school after
just his 3rd day at KTS, my wife could see the change and
asked him how he liked his new school. Our once sullen and
uncommunicative son, despite his speech/language issues,
said "too many nice teachers to count!"
Space
does not permit us to explain all the ways that the KTS
program has helped our son. Suffice it to say that the KTS
program of integrating therapy with classroom activity,
small class sizes, frequent and regular communication
between parents and staff, and intensive individualized
instruction, is greatly helping us meet our goal to give
John his best possible chance in life despite his
disabilities.
John is now a student at KTS High School. He still has significant learning disabilities that
we and KTS work to help him overcome. We have much
work still to do. But John looks forward to school, remains a happy
child and continues to make progress every year. Placing
John at KTS is one of the best decisions we ever made.
This year, our son Moshe is able to attend KTS
kindergarten. Half the school year has passed, and we
couldn't be happier. Our son Moshe runs to the car to go to
school and is greeted at the carpool with hugs and smiles.
Moshe's teacher, Ms. Debbie, and the entire KTS team are
doing an incredible job helping our son achieve growth in
all areas.
Just to give a few examples, it used to take two hours of
physically holding Moshe every night to help him fall
asleep. Now, Moshe is more in touch with his body and can
put himself to sleep. Moshe is also much more socially
aware of others his age. We now only spend 15 minutes a day
helping Moshe with the bathroom. A couple of months ago it
was a few hours.
Moshe is also achieving beautifully in the academic area and
keeping up with everything he is taught. All that was
mentioned was achieved through the phenomenal support of his
teacher at team at KTS, and their hard work and dedication.
From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for giving our
son the chance to reach his goals that forever will impact
his quality of life.
Corey attended kindergarten at a private institution but
because of my health and lack of funds I had to remove him
from the school at the end of that year. I transferred him
to a public school near my home for the next four years.
Since the first grade I noticed that Corey was having
difficulties with his overall learning. Again, financially,
I was not able to get him to a school that could offer him
more. At the end of June, Corey's grades were very, very
low. For a fourth grader, his reading, comprehension, math,
etc. was on the level of a second grader.
I was very worried and concerned about my son. He was
constantly teased by the kids at his old school. He was
made to feel useless, and his self-esteem was very, very
low. I am a single mom and I try to instill high
self-confidence and values in Corey, but they were all
shattered when Corey attended his old school.
Early last year, I was informed by one of my colleagues at
work about KTS. In May we received an acceptance letter
from the school, but I could not afford the cost of
tuition. I further applied to the school for financial
assistance for Corey, and in late July we received the
letter offering us a scholarship. I was truly delighted,
and Corey was overwhelmed.
I know
KTS with their high academic program will give Corey the
opportunity of reaching and achieving his goals and
ultimately help him regain his overall self confidence. KTS
has truly made a difference in my child's life.
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