Why did Children’s Health Council start Sand Hill School?

Children’s Health Council leaders started Sand Hill School to address a lack of options in the community for children who are showing emerging signs of challenge and to provide early support to mitigate problems from becoming more serious as academic demands increase.  Children’s Health Council is uniquely positioned with a depth and breadth of experience and resources under one roof to address the needs of Sand Hill School children and families.

What differentiates Sand Hill School from other private schools?

Sand Hill School stands out because of the extraordinary, immediate support that children receive from Children’s Health Council’s developmental specialists.  In addition to two qualified teachers in each classroom of no more than 10 students, the following support is woven into the fabric of the school and is included in the cost of tuition:

• An educational specialist provides small group instruction in reading, writing and math daily in each classroom.
• Children may also have the weekly support of an additional specialist.  Depending on a child’s needs, the teacher has the option to call on a psychologist, behavior specialist, speech-language pathologist or occupational therapist to work with the child on specific skills.
• Teachers may call upon Children’s Health Council specialists to observe children and suggest additional strategies.  Specialists who may be called upon include developmental pediatrician, Lynne Huffman, M.D., Joan Baran, Ph.D., young child psychologist, internationally known ADHD expert, Glen Elliott, Ph.D., M.D. and other Children’s Health Council staff.
• Additional services provided after the school day are not included in the cost of tuition.

How are Sand Hill School teachers trained? What is their experience?

Sand Hill School teachers are trained in proven, evidence-based instructional methodologies and best teaching practices, including effective use of structured, systematic, multisensory programs for reading, writing and math and effective strategies to identify and cultivate strengths, build resiliency and social-emotional awareness, motivate learners and manage behavior in the classroom.  Read more about our approach and method.

Teachers are experienced and accomplished.  They understand how to engage and manage different types of learners with varying needs.  Critical to their success is their care, warmth and passion to work with young  children who need special attention.  Research substantiates that these teacher abilities are the most important factors in determining success in the classroom.

What do you mean by “evidence-based” teaching strategies and instructional methodologies?

The term “evidence-based practices” refers to practices or programs that have been proven to have a record of success. While no single instructional program or method is effective in teaching all children, evidence-based practices provide the greatest opportunity for children to learn.

Some examples of evidence-based methodologies for reading instruction are: Lindamood Bell, Slingerland, Orton-Gillingham, Alphabetic Phonics, Language!, Project Read, Wilson Fundations and Wilson Reading

Programs we are using at Sand Hill School include: Reading: Fundations (Wilson), Writing: Step Up to Writing (Sopris West) and Math:  Math Expressions (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt).

Does Sand Hill School accept children with IEPs?

Yes, however, students are unable to receive public funds to attend Sand Hill School.  Sand Hill School is a tuition-based independent, private school and is not a non-public school (a state designation).

Will Sand Hill School students transition to Esther B. Clark School?

No.  Esther B. Clark School (EBC) serves students who have complex challenges—a different student population from Sand Hill School.  In addition, as EBC is a non-public school (a state designation), the great majority of EBC students receive public school funds to cover their tuition.

Do you offer financial aid?

Yes. Sand Hill School offers needs-based financial aid each year to its families and strives to meet as great a percentage of need as possible with the funds available.

I’m interested in Sand Hill School, but the distance we would have to travel concerns me. Do you have busing or carpool options?

We do not have busing options; however, Sand Hill School families travel from as far as north as San Francisco and as far south as Los Gatos.  Many Sand Hill School parents form carpools to ease the commute.  We can connect you with Sand Hill School parents in your area.

Is Sand Hill School a year-round school?

No.  We have a longer school year than the typical school calendar.  Students attend classes in July, do not attend in August and then continue September-June.

How will students make the transition to a traditional classroom?

Parents, teachers and specialists will work in partnership to determine both when the student is ready to transition and what kind of environment would best support the student.  Transition services are included in the cost of tuition.  Sand Hill School has relationships with many private schools in the area and can actively support the transition process.

How will children be assessed for admissions?

Because we don’t require a diagnosis or testing and evaluation, our admissions process is critical and includes:

• A Parent Visit to Sand Hill School
• Completion of online application (with $150 application fee)
• Completion of Teacher Recommendation (completed by current teacher)
• Shadow experience (child spends the day or part of the day in the appropriate Sand Hill School classroom)
• Child ‘interview’ (during the shadow experience, we spend about 20 minutes 1:1 with the child engaging him in some activities to see his responses)
• Completion of three rating scales: each of these inventories are completed by the parents and returned to us for scoring–BRIEF (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function), BERS (Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale), CBCL (Child Behavior Check List)
• Signed releases so we can contact any teachers and/or specialists working with the child
• A possible observation of the child in his current learning environment (usually done for incoming Kindergarteners)
• Parent interview (both parents should make it a priority to attend)