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.