The Devereux Glenholme School
Encyclopedia
The Glenholme School, also known as Devereux Glenholme School, is a coeducational therapeutic boarding school
for children situated on over 100 acre (0.404686 km²) in Washington
, Connecticut
. The school aims to provide a highly structured environment for children ages nine to 18 who face challenges from various conditions, including Asperger syndrome
, ADHD, behavioral problems, and emotional and learning disabilities.
The school’s milieu therapy
is intended to address varying levels of academic, social and special needs development. Glenholme aims to prepare graduates for continued education in traditional day or boarding school
s or for higher education
.
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. 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.
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.
by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges
. and the Council on Accrediation. 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.
s and time-out
s, 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.
The Communities of Character program for character education
was developed by Devereux Glenholme.
and Tracy Morgan
participated in the school's annual parent weekend and the opening events for the school's Center for the Arts. 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. 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
.
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 animal
s in their possession. In October 2011 news media reported that a female staff member at Glenholme had been dismissed and faced criminal charges for having an inappropriate relationship with a male student.
Glenholme also receives local media attention for campus activities including annual events such as Grandparents' Day ,
Alumni Day ,
Boarding Recognition Week ,
Canine Collection ,
as well as various community service efforts including a recent fundraiser by the school's culinary program .
Therapeutic boarding school
A therapeutic boarding school , alternatively known as an emotional growth boarding school, is a boarding school based on the therapeutic community model that offers an educational program together with specialized structure and supervision for students with emotional and behavioral problems,...
for children situated on over 100 acre (0.404686 km²) in Washington
Washington, Connecticut
Washington is a rural town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, in the New England region of the United States. The population was 3,596 at the 2000 census. Washington is known for its picturesque countryside, historic architecture, and active civic and cultural life...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. The school aims to provide a highly structured environment for children ages nine to 18 who face challenges from various conditions, including Asperger syndrome
Asperger syndrome
Asperger's syndrome that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction, alongside restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. It differs from other autism spectrum disorders by its relative preservation of linguistic and cognitive development...
, ADHD, behavioral problems, and emotional and learning disabilities.
Program
Services include a comprehensive academic curriculum, sports, fine arts, an emphasis on community service. The program includes residential treatment, day treatment, summer program and post-secondary services.The school’s milieu therapy
Milieu Therapy
Milieu Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that involves the use of therapeutic communities. Patients join a group of around 30, for between 9 and 18 months. During their stay, patients are encouraged to take responsibility for themselves and the others within the unit. Milieu therapy is thought to...
is intended to address varying levels of academic, social and special needs development. Glenholme aims to prepare graduates for continued education in traditional day or boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
s or for higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
.
History
Devereux Glenholme was established in 1968 on the country estate of the Van Sinderen family, which had been donated to the Devereux FoundationDevereux
Devereux is a surname found throughout the French-speaking world and in many other countries. It is of Norman origin, meaning d'Évreux or "from Évreux", a town in Normandy, France...
by Jean White Van Sinderen, who had learned of the work of special education
Special education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
pioneer Helena T. Devereux and desired to create a school where children with special behavioral and learning needs could develop their potential. The school's administrative offices are in a colonial revival house originally called Glen Holme, designed by architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Ehrick Rossiter
Ehrick Rossiter
Ehrick Kensett Rossiter was an American architect known for the country homes he designed. He was educated at Cornell University....
for industrialist William Leslie Van Sinderen (1856–1909) and completed in 1898.
In subsequent years the school was supported by Mrs. Van Sinderen's son, Alfred W. Van Sinderen, one-time Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Southern New England Telephone Company who died in 1998.
Accreditation and affiliations
Glenholme is accreditedEducational accreditation
Educational accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of educational institutions or programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met...
by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. is the U.S. regional accreditation association providing educational accreditation for all levels of education, from pre-kindergarten to the doctoral level, in the six-state New England region. It also provides accreditation for some...
. and the Council on Accrediation. It also is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools
National Association of Independent Schools
The National Association of Independent Schools is a U.S.-based membership organization for private, nonprofit, K-12 schools. Founded in 1963, NAIS represents independent schools and associations in the United States, including day, boarding, and day/boarding schools; elementary and secondary...
and the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools and holds approvals from the California Department of Education
California Department of Education
The California Department of Education is a California agency that oversees public education. The department oversees funding and testing, and holds local educational agencies accountable for student achievement...
, Connecticut Department of Children and Families
Connecticut Department of Children and Families
The Connecticut Department of Children and Families is a state agency of Connecticut providing family services. Its headquarters are in Hartford.-Bureau of Juvenile Services:...
, Connecticut Department of Education, Massachusetts Department of Education, New Jersey Department of Education
New Jersey Department of Education
The New Jersey Department of Education administers state and federal aid programs affecting more than 1.4 million public and non-public elementary and secondary school children in the state of New Jersey. The department is headquartered in Trenton.The Department is responsible for ensuring that...
, Illinois Department of Education,and New York Department of Education.
Innovative programs
During the 1990s, Devereux Glenholme was successful in instituting staff training that resulted in significant reductions in its use of physical restraintPhysical restraint
Physical restraint refers to the practice of rendering people harmless, helpless or keeping them in captivity by means such as handcuffs, fetters, straitjackets, ropes, straps, or other forms of physical restraint...
s and time-out
Child time-out
A time-out involves temporarily separating a child from an environment where inappropriate behavior has occurred, and is intended to give an over-excited child time to calm down and thereby discouraging such behavior. It is an educational and parenting technique recommended by some pediatricians...
s, 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
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is charged with improving the quality and availability of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitative services in order to reduce illness, death, disability, and cost to...
aimed at further reducing the use of restraints and seclusion in residential behavioral health care settings.
The Communities of Character program for character education
Character education
Character education is an umbrella term loosely used to describe the teaching of children in a manner that will help them develop variously as moral, civic, good, mannered, behaved, non-bullying, healthy, critical, successful, traditional, compliant and/ or socially acceptable beings...
was developed by Devereux Glenholme.
In the news
The school frequently enlists celebrities to assist in fundraising, thus garnering publicity. In May 2011 comedians Jim CarreyJim Carrey
James Eugene "Jim" Carrey is a Canadian-American actor and comedian. He has received two Golden Globe Awards and has also been nominated on four occasions. Carrey began comedy in 1979, performing at Yuk Yuk's in Toronto, Ontario...
and Tracy Morgan
Tracy Morgan
Tracy Morgan is an American comedian who is best known for his eight seasons as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and currently known for playing the role of Tracy Jordan on the NBC series 30 Rock.-Early life:...
participated in the school's annual parent weekend and the opening events for the school's Center for the Arts. 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. 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
James Marsden
James Paul Marsden is an American actor, singer and former Versace model. He is known for playing the superhero Cyclops in the first three X-Men films and for his roles in other commercially successful films such as Hop, Superman Returns, Hairspray, Enchanted, The Box, and 27 Dresses.-Early life...
and Jessica Biel
Jessica Biel
Jessica Claire Biel is an American actress, model, and occasional singer. Biel is known for her television role as Mary Camden in the long-running family-drama series 7th Heaven...
.
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
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. The New York State Trooper who stopped the car in Putnam County, New York
Putnam County, New York
Putnam County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the lower Hudson River Valley. Putnam county formed in 1812, when it detached from Dutchess County. , the population was 99,710. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. The county seat is the hamlet of Carmel...
, reported that the boys had many stuffed animal
Stuffed animal
A stuffed toy is a toy sewn from cloth, plush, or other textiles, and stuffed with straw, beans, plastic pellets, cotton, synthetic fibres, or other similar materials. Stuffed toys are also known as plush toys A stuffed toy is a toy sewn from cloth, plush, or other textiles, and stuffed with straw,...
s in their possession. In October 2011 news media reported that a female staff member at Glenholme had been dismissed and faced criminal charges for having an inappropriate relationship with a male student.
Glenholme also receives local media attention for campus activities including annual events such as Grandparents' Day ,
Alumni Day ,
Boarding Recognition Week ,
Canine Collection ,
as well as various community service efforts including a recent fundraiser by the school's culinary program .
Notable former students
- Nancy SpungenNancy SpungenNancy Laura Spungen was the American girlfriend of Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious. Spungen has been the subject of controversy among music historians and fans of the Sex Pistols.-Early life:...
, girlfriend of Sid ViciousSid ViciousSid Vicious was an English musician best known as the bassist of the influential punk rock group Sex Pistols...
, attended in 1970-1971.