The letter

Just recently I heard a story from a Saints parent that I had to share with you all. The parent’s oldest daughter is a sophomore in college and every year - on her birthday -  she receives a card from her St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes Junior Kindergarten assistant teacher. For 16 years she has done this! The teacher included a birthday card in her envelope and asked if the mother could send the card to her college dorm - here is a part of the letter the teacher sent to the mother. (I did cover the child's name...)

She wrote earlier in the letter, “I debated sending a card this year. By now, she might think that it is totally silly to still be receiving a birthday card from her JK assistant teacher. I just believe that kids need to know that someone cares about them outside the family.” 

It's countless stories like this one that make St. Stephen's & St. Agnes such a wonderful community.

Have a great week!

Sincerely,

Katherine

Your child has been invited…

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! 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 Frequently Asked Questions about the visit.

How can I prepare my child?

There are a few ways actually. Aim for an early bedtime the night before and a great breakfast in the morning.

What should I tell my child?

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.

At SSSAS prospective students will work one on one with a teacher, in a small group with other students, and in a large group as well. Sharing with peers, listening to directions from an adult, and following directions are important parts of their visit. Preparing them for this will help.

My child sometimes has trouble separating from me. How should I plan for this?  

Does your child separate from one parent or caregiver better than another? If so, consider having them drop off for the visit day/playday. In addition, at SSSAS we always have fun and creative ways to ease the transition.

Should I arrive early for the visit?

If you have any questions about the arrival time, please ask the Admission office. If you come too early your child may run into another group leaving or have to wait for their visit to begin - which can be overwhelming for your child. We recommend arriving a few minutes early - but no more than ten minutes.

What should they wear?

Check if there are any instructions on 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.

Helpful hint: Resist the urge to ask an adult how they did when you are reunited.

Your child will love a warm hug when you reunite. 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!

What if my child is feeling sick or has a fever the morning of 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 you for another day, no worries! If a child is not feeling well during their visit we will reunite them immediately with their parent or guardian.

Final hint - 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 children each and every day. They will put them right at ease.

Wishing you a wonderful start to this festive season!

Sincerely,

Katherine

Kindergarten Readiness

On Friday I spoke to a wonderful group of parents about Kindergarten Readiness. I started off by asking parents if they were excited - AND if they were a little nervous about their child starting Kindergarten. It is perfectly normal to be both!

I want children to feel ready so they can take advantage of all the wonderful aspects of Kindergarten. Here are some resources I highlighted from my talk:

Apps to Explore

• A great website that reviews apps, games and programs: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/
• Storytelling with a Felt Board app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/felt-board/id492342753?mt=8
• Letter and Number Formation with Handwriting Without Tears app: http://wetdrytry.com/

Media tips for parents from the American Academy of Pediatrics

https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/Children-And-Media-Tips-For-Parents.aspx

Recommended new (and fun) reading from our Lower School Librarian

• Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast by Josh Funk
• Please Mr. Panda by Steve Antony
• Goodnight Already by Jory John and Benji Davies
• Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena
• Waiting by Kevin Henkes

Helpful Articles

• Bedtime Stories for Young Brains (NYT, August 2015):  http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/17/bedtime-stories-for-young-brains/
• 1000 Books Before Kindergarten (many public libraries--Arlington & Alexandria--are involved in this initiative):  http://1000booksbeforekindergarten.org/

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 & Financial Aid at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School in Alexandria, Virginia.  She may be reached at kcarbo@sssas.org.

What do I do next year?

If your child has a late spring, summer, fall or winter birthday you might have been asked this question.

“Are you going to hold them back or send them to Kindergarten?”

It is a controversial topic with no easy answer and it seems everyone has an opinion!

Part of what I love about admissions work, particularly Lower School admissions, is helping parents sort through this very question. Here are some tips.

1. Determine the age cutoffs at the schools you are interested in your child attending.
2. If your child does not make the age cutoff see if there is a program for younger students. For example, we have a Junior Kindergarten with a later age cutoff than our Kindergarten cutoff.
3. If your child does make the age cutoff for Kindergarten, but you are curious about your options, talk to the admission office. Speak to your child’s preschool teacher, talk to a friend and/or your pediatrician. We do not have a crystal ball, but it does help to think it through with people you trust.  
4. Be open with the admission director or the school about your concerns. We are here to help you with this decision.

I will be discussing this and other topics associated with Kindergarten Readiness on our Lower School campus on Friday, November 13, 2015, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. To register, CLICK HERE or visit our Community Programs page. Bring your questions and join the conversation!

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 &Financial Aid at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School in Alexandria, Virginia.  She may be reached at kcarbo@sssas.org.

Time to schedule the WPPSI!

The Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-IV) is a test your child will take if they are applying to SSSAS and most other local independent elementary schools. Here are some frequently asked questions about the WPPSI.

What is this test?!

The WPPSI-IV is a tool given by a licensed tester to measure the cognitive development of your child. It costs approximately $350 and the length of the test is around 45 - 60 minutes. You will receive a write-up from the tester about a week after the assessment. A Verbal Comprehension Index Score, a Fluid Reasoning Score, a General Abilities Index and a Full Scale IQ Score will be provided.

Why do we require this?

As Admission Directors we hope 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 are measured and compared with the development of same-aged peers.

When should I schedule this?

If you are hoping for your child to start school in the fall of 2016 you can schedule your child’s test today! Most schools in the area would like the results by mid to late January. (Our deadline is January 15, 2016.) If you call now you can get a date that works for you! If you wait until January you may be more limited in appointment options. Look carefully at your calendar and try to avoid days that might be hard for your child to focus. For example, the morning of your child’s birthday party or the Monday after a big family gathering might be distracting for your child.

Where can I get a list of testers in the D.C. area?

Please click here, and then select Individual Testing for a list of testers.

How many times can my child take the WPPSI-IV?

Your child can take the test once per year. If your child took the WPPSI when they were three years old, call the admission office to see if they need to take the WPPSI-IV.

If my child takes the WPPSI-IV and we decide to wait a year to apply will he/she have to take it again?

Not necessarily. Be sure you ask the admission office what you should do in this case.

The WPPSI-IV sounds interesting - is there a test my older child could take?

Yes! For the most part students after the age of 6 will take the WISC-V.

What do I do to prepare?

No preparation is needed or allowed. Just make sure he/she has breakfast and a good night's sleep. If your child wakes up the morning of the test and they are sick - just reschedule!

Have a great week and Happy Halloween!!

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 & Financial Aid at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School in Alexandria, Virginia.  She may be reached at kcarbo@sssas.org.

Recess

Mister Fred Rogers, a beloved child educator, once said, "Play is often talked about as if it was a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood." Be sure to ask during your school search about the frequency and length of recess. Our students have at least thirty minutes per day of recess and they are learning wonderful life skills during that time. They are sharing, imagining, and communicating with their peers. They are growing!

An online article in the Stanford Report shared research and noted, "a high quality recess program can help students feel more engaged, safer and positive about the school day."

I am happy to report we have two new playgrounds on the lower school campus - and the students were even involved in designing them! Click here to see a fun video!

Have a great 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 & Financial Aid at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School in Alexandria, Virginia.  She may be reached at kcarbo@sssas.org.

Homecoming

Learning about a school's history is a wonderful part of the school search. What is the school’s story? When was it founded? What are some long standing traditions? It’s fun to learn how a school has evolved over the years.

It's Homecoming and Reunion Weekend here at SSSAS! It's a time when alumni return home and connect and reminisce with faculty and classmates. They may be here for their five year reunion and they may be here for their 40th. It is a reminder that at SSSAS we truly are a community and we are a family.

This afternoon I am sure I will get some visitors to my office, which at one time was a dorm room for St. Agnes students who boarded. Our third graders will have an opportunity to interview our Golden Saints (who are here for their 50th reunion!) and all of our lower school students will have a pep rally featuring girl and boy captains for our upper school sports teams. Tomorrow we will have a Fall Family Festival on our Upper School Campus (1000 St. Stephen’s Road in Alexandria) from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. There will be a magic show, spirit tent, bouncy houses, carnival games, rock climbing wall, food, and more! All are welcome.

To read a little more about our school’s history click here.

Have a great 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 & Financial Aid at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School in Alexandria, Virginia.  She may be reached at kcarbo@sssas.org.

The Mission

The National Association of Independent Schools generated a list of ten questions to ask yourself as you visit schools and look at their materials (printed or online).

10 Questions to Ask

The first question is so incredibly important. "What is the school's mission, and does its philosophy appeal to you?" All independent schools have mission statements and at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School our mission to pursue goodness as well as knowledge. It guides us each and everyday. As you learn more about schools ask yourself if their mission statement matches well with your child's needs and your hopes for a school.

To learn more about the SSSAS Mission statement click here.

Have 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 & Financial Aid at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School in Alexandria, Virginia.  She may be reached at kcarbo@sssas.org.

Events on Campus

The school year is well underway! We had our school pictures taken (remember those?!) and parents were on campus last Thursday evening for our Lower School Back to School Night. What a wonderful way for parents to learn about the exciting things that are happening in their child's classroom!

Admissions is bustling with activity! Yesterday morning our Lower School admission team met with our parent tour guides. If you tour our lower school you will have the opportunity to talk to our parents who are living our mission everyday. We are also scheduling tours and sending out materials to prospective families.

The admissions calendar is a busy one. Staying on top of deadlines is important when you are going through the admission process. See if schools have an admission checklist to keep you on track. Application deadlines or registration deadlines and playday/school visit days are all good to note in your calendar. Ask if there are fall festivals and curriculum events so you can get back on campus. The directors at SSSAS are here to help guide you through the process - please never hesitate to reach out with questions!

Next Thursday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. on our Lower School campus we will have our Annual Blessing of the Animals outdoor chapel service. All are welcome! Bring your dogs (on leashes), cats (in carriers), and any other creatures whom you love. There will be a token for each pet that is blessed and refreshments for all. I 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 & Financial Aid at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School in Alexandria, Virginia.  She may be reached at kcarbo@sssas.org.

Happy New School Year!

The 2015-2016 school year has begun! It is so wonderful to see our families back on campus!

If you are starting the admission process this fall you probably have a great deal of questions. Here are a few frequently asked questions - hopefully they will help as we start the journey together!

What can parents expect during the admissions process?

At SSSAS, we look at the admission process as an exciting time for families to get to express their hopes and dreams for their child. We get to partner with them and guide them through the process. Our job is to introduce families to our community - and when we do this they have a better sense if this is an environment that fits with their family. I love admissions because of the personal connections I get to make with families. I particularly love being the Director of Lower School Admissions because I know the foundation years are so crucial for children - the growth during these years is extraordinary.

When do I get started? 

Start early - The admission season starts one year prior to when you want to begin. So if you’re looking to enroll in fall of 2016, you’ll start visiting schools and applying this fall. The application deadline for most schools in our area is late December or January.

How do I learn more about options for my child?

You can search for local independent schools by visiting our regional organization: The Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington. You can also visit our national organization: The National Association of Independent Schools. Both websites provide information about independent schools in general and you can search for schools in your area.

I have researched some schools online and would like to get more information and schedule a tour. How do I go about doing this?

You can request more information by calling or emailing the school's admission office directly and/or you can submit an online inquiry form. As we navigate this admission season together I will share some questions to consider as you start to visit schools.

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 & Financial Aid at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School in Alexandria, Virginia.  She may be reached at kcarbo@sssas.org.