Factors to Consider

Should your family celebrate Halloween I wish you all a safe and fun-filled holiday! 

Last week I stated that there is no single factor that determines readiness. What are the factors that DO determine readiness? 

• Your child's language development 

Are they able to express themselves? Are they able to comprehend what is being asked of them? Do they know their letter names, letter sounds and numbers?  Can your child follow a two or three step direction?

Ex. "Please go to your level book box, select a book and join us on the rug." 

Can they communicate their thoughts, needs and opinions? Can your child speak in complete sentences? Can they tell you a story? 

• Your child's fine motor ability

Using a pencil, pen, markers and scissors will be part of their day in Kindergarten. Can they write their name? Our JK and K students have writer's workshop everyday. A good grip can really help decrease frustration. 

• Your child's social and emotional readiness

Do they comply with adults? Are they able to make transitions smoothly? Do they share and get along with their peers? How do they handle conflict? Do they show respect and concern for others? Are they self-motivated? Are they curious and enthusiastic about learning? 

We are fortunate in the admission season to partner with parents to determine if a child is ready or not. We all want what is best for your little one. 

Next week I will be sharing information about the WPPSI-IV evaluation which truly helps us identify how your child learns. 

Time to head down to our Lower School Halloween parade! 

Sincerely,

Katherine 

Originally from Grosse Pointe, Michigan, where she attended an independent school from preK-12th grade, Katherine Carbo earned a bachelor’s degree in business and a law degree before returning right back to the independent school world. With experience at four different schools from coast to coast, she writes insights and observations from the front line of independent school admissions.  Mrs. Carbo is the Director of Lower School Admission at St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School in Alexandria, Virginia.  She may be reached at kcarbo@sssas.org.

Are they ready for K?

I have read articles in the New York Times, The Washington Post, studied Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers, perused the National Association for Education for Young Children, and watched a piece on 60 minutes. 

There is no single factor that can determine readiness for Kindergarten. It is rather a combination of factors – and we need to look at them all carefully. 

What should you do if you have a child with a summer, fall or winter birthday?

Here are some tips: 

Research why some parents wait to send their child to Kindergarten.

Parents hold them back because they do not feel their child is ready for the academic, social and emotional demands of a kindergarten class. 

Some parents call it "Red-shirting" based on the college strategy of benching athletes to lengthen their eligibility and give them more time to grow and improve their skills and endurance. 

Perhaps this could help a child with their athletic performance later on, but the more likely reason has to do with a child's emotional and social readiness and ability to keep up with a less play oriented more academic environment. 

If you question your child's readiness talk to someone about it. 

Talk to their preschool teacher or a trusted friend. Talk to your pediatrician. 

At SSSAS we are looking at the long-term journey. There is no rush to the finish line.

Every child is different. 
Take a deep breath and enjoy this special time. We do not have a crystal ball - be patient with your child and yourself. 

Next week I will share the different factors we look at to determine readiness. 

Wishing you a wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Katherine 

Originally from Grosse Pointe, Michigan, where she attended an independent school from preK-12th grade, Katherine Carbo earned a bachelor’s degree in business and a law degree before returning right back to the independent school world. With experience at four different schools from coast to coast, she writes insights and observations from the front line of independent school admissions.  Mrs. Carbo is the Director of Lower School Admission at St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School in Alexandria, Virginia.  She may be reached at kcarbo@sssas.org.

Coming Back Home and Getting Online

In a few short hours we will have the pleasure of welcoming the alumni and alumna back to campus! It is a time to celebrate memories and create new ones. 

I hope you have had the opportunity to schedule a few visits to schools by now. A great deal of your research about school communities will be online as well. 

Here are some tips:

Check the news feed. 
Most schools will update for their internal and external audiences new events that have just taken place on campus.

Read about the campus life.
This give a sense of the day to day feel of a school. Check the online calendar for upcoming events that could bring you back to campus. 

Discover what other parts of the community are highlighted.
Arts, athletics, diversity, sustainability, clubs and service learning are all wonderful aspects of independent schools. 

What are graduates doing now? 
Most schools have either college counseling information or a list of schools their graduates attend. How would your child be counseled as they enter the next stage of their education?

Taking the time to research a school online is so important because this will be their new home away from home. 

Wising you all a wonderful week!

Sincerely,
Katherine 


Originally from Grosse Pointe, Michigan, where she attended an independent school from preK-12th grade, Katherine Carbo earned a bachelor’s degree in business and a law degree before returning right back to the independent school world. With experience at four different schools from coast to coast, she writes insights and observations from the front line of independent school admissions.  Mrs. Carbo is the Director of Lower School Admission at St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School in Alexandria, Virginia.  She may be reached at kcarbo@sssas.org.

Touring Season is here!

The leaves are changing! This is my first true sign that our admission season has begun.

I just finished my annual parent tour guide meeting last week. My parent tour guides are a real gift. If you are lucky enough to be toured by a parent, be sure to ask them what the community is like for their family.

Over the next several months I will be sending insights and hints to have a smooth admission journey. Touring is step one!

Start early. Call or email the admission office to request a tour.

Experiencing the thrill of a school hallway, an art studio or a library can truly bring you back to when you were a child. When should you get started? That really depends on what program you are seeking out. Most admission seasons begin in October and parents will tour in the fall/winter - a year before they hope their child will start school.

Some schools have a Prekindergarten or Junior Kindergarten so it is important to ask when the school formally begins. Their entry will likely depend on what month and year your child was born. Most schools have cut off dates. Be sure to ask when your child would be eligible to attend.

There has been a trend over the last 20 years that older children are going into Kindergarten. You might have heard it referred to as “redshirting”. I will tackle this topic in a future post.

Visit Several Schools. Most of the information you collect through reading and conversations will be reliable. The right match for your child may be vastly different than your neighbor’s child or co-worker’s child. This is why touring different schools is important.

During this visit consider:

• How comfortable do I feel in this environment?
• Do the faculty appear passionate and enthusiastic about teaching? 
• Are the students focused and engaged?
• What is the overall philosophy of the school? Is the approach traditional or progressive?
• Keep your eyes peeled for the number of children in the classroom and try to get a feel for their daily schedule. Do the students transition to different classrooms during their day?
• Could you imagine your child working and playing with the students and teachers you see?

Visiting a school provides you as parents with one snapshot of the community. Learning more about that community takes time. 

See if these schools have other events where you can get back on campus. Are there fall festivals, Homecoming events or plays? Our Upper School will be putting on Alice in Wonderland by Madge Miller this coming November and our Homecoming/Lower School Festival is October 19. I know some of my lower school families might want to attend to get a feel for the SSSAS community. All are great ways to learn more.

Trust your gut. Each school has their own distinct feel. It is up to you to visit and see what seems to be a good fit for your family.

Wishing you all a wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Katherine

Originally from Grosse Pointe, Michigan, where she attended an independent school from preK-12th grade, Katherine Carbo earned a bachelor’s degree in business and a law degree before returning right back to the independent school world. With experience at four different schools from coast to coast, she writes insights and observations from the front line of independent school admissions.  Mrs. Carbo is the Director of Lower School Admission at St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School in Alexandria, Virginia.  She may be reached at kcarbo@sssas.org.