The school visit? The playday? What does this mean?!!

We have just finished decorating our campuses for Christmas! Everything looks so festive!

You might have received an invitation for your child to come for a "school visit" or "playday". You might have one tomorrow. Here are some tips.

Get your child to bed a little early
A good night's rest is so important. Even though the visit may fall on the weekend, treat Friday night as you would a night before preschool. 

Make sure your child gets a good breakfast
I know this goes without saying, but we all want your little one to be ready to go. A good snack or breakfast before helps a great deal. 

Have a quick chat with your child before hand
We ask that parents tell their child the following: 

 You and other children have been invited to visit a School.  You will work with some teachers and play with children just like you do at school.

Why do we use that wording? If they think it is only a play day they may get confused why their friends aren't there. They also need to be prepared that they will do some fun activities with a teacher. At SSSAS prospective students will work one on one, in a small group, and in a large group. Sharing with peers, listening to directions from an adult and following directions are important parts of their visit. Preparing them for this will help. 

Arrive at your designated time
We stagger our visits to ensure our groups are small which means we have multiple groups in a given visit day. Trust me when I say every minute is valuable and fun time spent with your children. If you come too early your child may have to wait for their visit to begin. 

Note what type of clothing your child should wear
We recommend children wear play clothes and comfortable shoes. On our visit they will have an opportunity to run around, transition to different rooms and play. Children who are able to be mobile tend to be more comfortable.  

Resist the urge to ask an adult how they did when you are reunited
Various educators will be working with your child. We are looking at different skills and recognize that your child is going to have wonderful strengths and areas where they need a little support. Your child will love a warm hug when you reunite. All of the information we gather will be helpful in determining your child's readiness for our program. We all want what is best for your child!

If your child is ill or if they get sick during the visit
If your child is not feeling well the morning of the visit we ask that parents call and let us know that their child is ill. We will reschedule for a different day. Please do not worry. If a child is not feeling well during their visit we will reunite them immediately with their parent. 

Take a deep breath
We will do all that we can to ensure they feel safe and secure. The teachers working with your child work with little ones each and every day. They will put them right at ease.

Wishing you a wonderful start to this festive season!

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.