You have probably noticed on your admission checklist your child will be invited to visit and spend some time on campus. You might have received an invitation already or you might receive one in the next month or so.
Here are some tips:
Have an early bedtime
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 school.
Make sure your child has a good breakfast
We all want your little one to be ready to go. A good snack or breakfast before helps a great deal.
If the instructions do not say to bring a snack, please do not send your child in with one. The visits are brief and we are always mindful of food allergies.
Have a quick chat with your child before hand
At SSSAS we ask parents tell their child the following:
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.
Who will drop off?
Does your child separate from one parent better than another? If so, consider having them drop off for the visit day/playday.
Arrive at your designated time
If you have any questions about the arrival time, please ask the Admission office. At SSSAS we stagger our visits to ensure our groups are small which means we have multiple groups in a given visit day. Every minute is valuable and fun. If you come too early your child may run into another group leaving or 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.
Resist the urge to ask an adult how they did when you are reunited
Your child will love a warm hug when you reunite. 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. 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!
Is your child under the weather?
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 you for another day, no worries!
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.
Have an early bedtime
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 school.
Make sure your child has a good breakfast
We all want your little one to be ready to go. A good snack or breakfast before helps a great deal.
If the instructions do not say to bring a snack, please do not send your child in with one. The visits are brief and we are always mindful of food allergies.
Have a quick chat with your child before hand
At SSSAS we ask 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.
Who will drop off?
Does your child separate from one parent better than another? If so, consider having them drop off for the visit day/playday.
Arrive at your designated time
If you have any questions about the arrival time, please ask the Admission office. At SSSAS we stagger our visits to ensure our groups are small which means we have multiple groups in a given visit day. Every minute is valuable and fun. If you come too early your child may run into another group leaving or 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.
Resist the urge to ask an adult how they did when you are reunited
Your child will love a warm hug when you reunite. 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. 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!
Is your child under the weather?
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 you for another day, no worries!
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.
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