A Lifer's Experience

We are so fortunate to have many wonderful public, independent and parochial school options in this area. This blessing does not come without challenges. You are left to wonder...

What is the right match for my child? 

What would it be like for my child to attend an independent school? 

When is the right time to apply? Should we wait until Middle School or Upper School? 

Here are some tips:

• Think about your child's current learning environment. What setting does your child thrive in? What is the class size in their current setting? Does your child have a passion for science, music and art? Does your child need challenge? How independent is your child? Answering these questions will get you closer to finding the right fit for your child. 

• Talk to your admission director. Ask questions about what school would look like for your child next year. How many children would be in their class? What would the range of ability be in their class? What would it be like if you were a parent in that setting? 

• Ask if the school adds students in the Lower School after Kindergarten? Do they add students in Middle School or Upper School? They will be able to give you an idea of what the volume of applications looks like after Kindergarten. 

I had the privilege of hearing a senior speak about her experience at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School at our Lower School Curriculum Night. She joined the Saints community in Kindergarten. She is what we call a "lifer". Here are two of her reflections.  

 Expecting the exceptional.  It’s a central and frankly, very prevalent, theme at St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes. We are taught to think critically and to continually question, molding us into better members of the community and, as a result, opening the doors to endless possibilities. If you ever walk down the halls at St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes, you will notice there are no locks on lockers, there isn't any need for them.  We sometimes take for granted how lucky we are to go to school in such a safe environment.  An environment, that to most of us, feels like home.

When children feel safe they do their best work. They are able to take the beautiful academic, artistic, athletic and social risks. They will have the opportunity to grow. 

She also shared her thoughts about the faculty and staff. 

The teachers care about us as people, because we are more to them than just a name on a roster, we are an equal member of the community.  As a teenager in society, it is rare to feel so valued, and I feel valued every single day.   

 I, too, am a lifer. The happiest days of my life were spent at my independent school and I feel so fortunate to help families through the admission process so their children can have an amazing educational experience as well. 

I will close with a video. It is one of my favorites! 

The Value of Independent Schools 

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

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.

Putting it all together

Hopefully by now you have visited some schools and have upcoming events on your calendar! Do not hesitate to schedule a visit if you haven't already. 

If you are feeling a bit overwhelmed, you are not alone! You are putting pieces of a puzzle together and it takes time. Here are some factors to think about as you go through websites, materials and listen to representatives of the schools. 

The campus 

Are there multiple campuses, one campus or two? Is there movement during their day to different specials classes? Would your child be exposed to older children during their day? 

There is a great benefit in a child being able to be mentored and for a child to be a mentor. We have three campuses at SSSAS and if you are looking our way, I would absolutely request to see them even if you are looking at JK or K. 

Faith

Would your child go to chapel or mass during the week? Will they attend religious classes? Would they celebrate Christmas? Is the community religiously diverse? Could you come in and talk about your faith to the class? If you have any questions about what the faith component would mean for your family, ask your admission office for more information. 

The mission statement

The school's mission statement lays out the goals of the institution. Does the mission statement match your family values? 

Size

What are the average class sizes in the lower school? How many classes per grade? What is the student to teacher ratio? 

Diversity of the Student Body

What is the ethnic, racial, religious, cultural and socioeconomic diversity of the school? Read and listen to what diversity means to the school. 

Uniform

What would your little one wear? Think about if it would help make for an easier morning routine. 

Service Learning
What are the service objectives and learning objectives? Developing a sense of empathy is so critical to your child's future. Read and listen to what service means to the school. 

Technology

How is it blended into the curriculum? We need to prepare them for a complex and changing world.  

Specials

What additional classes would a student experience and how often? Some examples are: Art, Music, Library, Language, Technology, Religion, Physical Education and Science. 

Before and after care
What time can you drop off and pick up your child? Are there enrichment activities after school as well? 

Curriculum

How does the school incorporate teaching 21st Century Skills into their daily schedule?

Our job is to prepare our students for a future that is unknown. Pat Bassett, the former President of the National Association of Independent Schools, shares some insights in this short video. 

Knowing vs. Doing

Our Lower School Curriculum Night is Wednesday, November 20 at 7 p.m. Hope to see you there!

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.

The WPPSI-IV

   

Most independent schools require that your child take an aptitude test. If your child is younger than six years old they will take the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence for Children - Fourth Edition. You will hear it referred to as the WPPSI-IV or (whip-see-four). No preparation is needed or allowed for this assessment. A qualified examiner works one on one with your child and measures different abilities. The assessment takes about 45 minutes to an hour. 

The goal for us is to get a sense of how your son or daughter solves problems. Your child's development in the areas of verbal reasoning, visual-spatial problem solving, fluid reasoning, memory and visual-motor speed of processing will be measured and compared with the development of same-aged peers. 

Typically a week or so after the assessment you will receive a write up from the examiner. A Verbal Comprehension Index Score, a Fluid Reasoning Score, a General Abilities Index and a Full Scale IQ Score will be computed. 

Here is a comment I overheard from a child who just finished their WPPSI-IV:

"Can I come back tomorrow and play some more?"

How great is that?

Here are some tips: 

You will be able to find a list of testers on the school's admission website. You will likely see a variety of testing locations and fees. 

When you make your appointment with the examiner, please be sure to ask them questions and share any concerns. Your comfort with the tester is extremely important as children can read if you are a bit anxious or nervous. 

If your child sometimes has difficulty separating, discuss this with the tester beforehand. Having a plan in place will help ease your worries. 

Be sure to let your examiner know if you would like the results sent to a school's admission office. 

What can you do to help your child? 

Make sure your child gets a good night's sleep.  

If your child is sick the morning of the assessment, reschedule for another day. 

Provide a healthy breakfast or snack before the test to ensure they will be ready to go! 

Psychologists I work with encourage parents to tell their child they will be working with a grown-up and you will be waiting nearby. Telling a child they will get to play with blocks should help!

Don't forget:

The WPPSI-IV was designed for little ones. Children have a lot of fun doing the tasks! 

This is one part of the admission process. Understanding how your little one tackles problems can aid in how we teach them. 

All independent schools have a range of scores that predict success in their particular program. We want children to thrive in our environment and this assessment can be useful in determining a child's readiness for a particular program. 

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

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.