Devereux Glenholme School

Coordinates: 41°38′46″N 73°18′14″W / 41.646°N 73.304°W / 41.646; -73.304

The Glenholme School, also known as Devereux Glenholme School, is a coeducational therapeutic boarding school situated on over 110 acres (0.45 km²) in Washington, Connecticut. The school aims to provide a highly structured environment for children ages 10 to 21 who face challenges from various conditions, including high functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Asperger syndrome; ADHD, OCD, Tourette’s, depression, anxiety, and emotional and learning disabilities.

Program

Services include a comprehensive academic curriculum, sports, fine arts, and an emphasis on community service. The program includes residential treatment, day treatment, summer program and post-secondary college and transitional living services.

The school’s milieu therapy is intended to address varying levels of academic, social and special needs development. Glenholme aims to prepare graduates for higher education and post-secondary career opportunities.

History

Devereux Glenholme was established in 1968^[1] on the country estate of the Van Sinderen family, which had been donated to the Devereux Foundation by Jean White Van Sinderen, who had learned of the work of special education pioneer Helena T. Devereux and desired to create a school where children with special behavioral and learning needs could develop their potential.^[2] The school's administrative offices are in a colonial revival house originally called Glen Holme, designed by architect Ehrick Rossiter for industrialist William Leslie Van Sinderen (1856–1909) and completed in 1898.^[3]

In subsequent years the school was supported by Mrs. Van Sinderen's son, Alfred W. Van Sinderen, one-time Chief Executive Officer of Southern New England Telephone Company who died in 1998.^[2]

Accreditation and affiliations

Glenholme is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.^[4] and the Council on Accreditation. It also is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools and the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools and holds approvals from the California Department of Education, Connecticut Department of Children and Families, Connecticut Department of Education, Massachusetts Department of Education, New Jersey Department of Education, Illinois Department of Education, and New York Department of Education.^[1]

Innovative programs

During the 1990s, Devereux Glenholme was successful in instituting staff training that resulted in significant reductions in its use of physical restraints and time-outs, in spite of an increase in the severity of behavioral symptoms among its students. More recently, the school participated in a project supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration aimed at further reducing the use of restraints and seclusion in residential behavioral health care settings.^[5] The Communities of Character program for character education was developed by Devereux Glenholme, as the first school to bring the effort of positive school climate and character education to Connecticut in the mid-90s.^[6][7]

In the news

The school frequently enlists celebrities to assist in fundraising, thus garnering publicity. In 2012, filmmaker David O. Russell publicly supported the school's fundraising efforts while promoting his movie, Silver Linings Playbook. ^[8] and ^[9] Vanity Fair, Barneys New York and Weinstein Co. celebrated "Silver Linings Playbook" in support of the Glenholme School on Wednesday February 20, 2013 as part of pre-Oscar week in Los Angeles. ^[10] and ^[11] Mr. Russell and Parenthood producer Jason Katims assisted in another New York City Fundraiser to benefit the school's scholarship fund in October 2013, enlisting the support of actress Natalie Dormer.^[12]

In 2012, Glenholme culinary students enjoyed a private demonstration and hands-on lesson with chef Barbara Lynch of Barbara Lynch Gruppo (formerly No. 9 Group).^[13] In May 2011 comedians Jim Carrey and Tracy Morgan participated in the school's annual Parents’ Weekend and the opening events for the school's Center for the Arts.^[14] In August 2010, special culinary guests Johnny Iuzinni, of Bravo TV's "Top Chef," and David Arnold, director of the French Culinary Institute’s technology department, shared their passion for science and the culinary craft to concoct several out-of-this-world creations for the culinary connoisseurs at Glenholme.^[15] In May 2009, the school received media attention when it broke ground for a new arts center and held an auction fundraiser with the support of James Marsden and Jessica Biel.^[16]

The school attracted unfavorable media attention In June 2007 after three male students, ages 14, 10, and 11, stole a car and tried to drive it to Manhattan. The New York State Trooper who stopped the car in Putnam County, New York, reported that the boys had many stuffed animals in their possession.^[17] In October 2011 news media reported that a 27-year-old pregnant female staff member at Glenholme had been dismissed and was charged with the second-degree sexual assault of a 16-year-old male student.^[18]

Glenholme also receives local media attention for campus activities including annual events such as Grandparents' Day,^[19] Alumni Day,^[20] Boarding Recognition Week,^[21] Canine Collection,^[22] as well as various community service efforts including a recent fundraiser by the school's culinary program^[23] and traditional food drives. ^[24] and the honoring of American heroes in conjunction with Wreaths Across America every December.^[25] and ^[26]

Notable former students

• Nancy Spungen, girlfriend of Sid Vicious, attended in 1970-1971.^[27]

References

External links

• Official Web site