Guest Blogger Kim Hamer: Parent Faux Pas At The Secondary School Fair

A Pretty, But Misguided Gift For Admissions Directors 

Two weeks ago, I attended the  Secondary School Consortium event. Think Kindergarten Fair for Los Angeles private schools grades 4 – 12.  

 
It was an evening event in a crowded, small room.  Here are a two mistakes I observed parents making.  
 
My first observation was that there were quite a few 5- 6th grade kids there who were with their parents. This was an adults only event.
 
Then, I noticed one mom had sprigs of lavender tied together with an organza ribbon. Her daughter had on a purple top.  The mom guided her daughter to several tables to meet the admissions director. The daughter then handed the lavender to the admissions director.  The two admissions directors she handed them to that I saw were NOT the kind who would appreciate sprigs of lavender. 


I was appalled that these moms thought it was OK to ignore the “adults only” rule that the admission directors as a group set!  


I was also appalled at that one mother thought it was a good idea to have her daughter, who is not even supposed to be there, introduce herself and hand the admissions directors her gift in a blatant attempt to make an impression! 
 
She did make an impression and it is one she will have to work past just to be even with the other candidates! 
 
These events are not for kids and they are NOT the place to try and make an impression.  Please don’t make that mistake!


Kim Hamer is a former private school expert. Her children attended PS#1 School in Santa Monica and Windward School. 

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Christina Simon: Los Angeles, California, United States I'm the mom of two kids who attended The Willows School in Culver City and Viewpoint School in Calabasas. My daughter is a graduate of Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism ('23) and my son is a sophomore at UPenn/Wharton ('26). I live in Coldwater Canyon with my husband, Barry, and our dogs. Contact me at csimon2007@gmail.com

One thought to “Guest Blogger Kim Hamer: Parent Faux Pas At The Secondary School Fair”

  1. I went to that Middle-School evening, and I have to confess, I was disappointed with myself that I bought into the hysteria and hype.

    I did see a number of children at this event, and I too thought it inappropriate. I can't imagine what those parents were thinking by taking their children to such high-pressure, competitive, insanity fest!

    I sat in on a presentation by the Head of School at Archer. I was blown away! She was AMAZING.

    I wonder if the mom with the lavender bearing daughter is the same mom who was very blatantly bragging about her rising 8th graders' math ability. Proclaiming she needs advanced work in HS because she's a math genius. Yawn!

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