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.

Happy Earth Day!

I am struck with such a sense of appreciation for the Saints community and how we are working to reduce our carbon footprint. Our lower school chapel service inspired us all to make small changes to our daily lives to help the environment. Two fourth grade students made just such a change by creating a new morning commute plan to bike to school. I also read a blog entry written by a current 8th grader who was inspired by our Saints For Sustainability conference. It is being featured on the National Association of Independent Schools website. I am proud to be a Saint! 

This week at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes we have three events that will help reduce our carbon emissions.

Yesterday was "Green Your Commute Day". Carpooling, walking, or riding a bike made a difference. 

For three weeks SSSAS will compete against other schools to conserve our energy. Last I checked our schools have saved 64,138 kilowatts. 

Finally, in an effort to reduce the amount of waste leaving our three campuses - our Association of Parent and Teachers is hosting an Electronics Recycling Event on Saturday. 

We have reduced our carbon emissions by 29% since 2006. Leading our path is our Director of Environmental Stewardship, Brian Kane. Mr. Kane believes, "through knowledge, action, and compassion, we are working to make sustainable choices and empower our students to foster change for a more sustainable Earth." Click here to learn more about our daily Sustainability efforts. 

As you transition to your new school community I hope you and your child will embrace the many sustainable activities coming your way!


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.