One of our readers asked whether she should apply for 1st grade and skip the kindergarten admissions craziness and competition?
One of our readers asked whether she should apply for 1st grade and skip the kindergarten admissions craziness and competition?
Reader question: Are twins are tested/evaluated separately or together as part of the admissions process?
Anne Simon, Beyond The Brochure co-author and former head of Wildwood Elementary School answers the question:
If the school has a one-on-one or paper and pencil assessment, of course the twins will be evaluated separately. If they are observed in a playgroup situation, an interesting question arises. There will probably be more than one group time for these playgroups. If the twins are headed into separate classrooms, it makes sense to have them in separate observation groups. If there is only on grade per class and they will be together if admitted, then I expect the school will want to see them together. It is generally the school’s call, but parents certainly should have a voice in the matter.
What is important is for each child to have a chance to show who he/she is in the best light, but also one that is realistic and replicates the setting the child will find if entering the school.
There seems to be an endless fascination on the part of us private elementary school types about feeder schools to Harvard-Westlake. Understandable, right? Unclear. The chatter continues…including at a boisterous and fun dinner party at my house last night (eight adults and eight kids). A few of the guests were very “in-the-know” about all things Harvard-Westlake. * Updated May 9, 2019 to add Laurence School.
Well, it happened. Despite my best intentions, bending over backwards, doing flips and dips and driving in the right lane, I have been booted from my private school carpool.
I’m not alone. Another family got the “goodbye” call as well. The reason? One child cannot handle being with so many other children. Plus, probably a plethora of private school politics I cannot possibly fathom. Sometimes, you’re just not one another’s kind of people. Anyway, the “don’t mess with the carpool” statement I made in my first carpool post has been undone: someone messed with the carpool.
So, we will all suck it up. Form a new carpool. A better carpool, damn it. And, in honor of that, I’ve adapted a popular twelve step program’s Twelve Traditions as the new carpool’s parameters. This is not meant as blasphemy. I just figure, if these Traditions could hold a sprawling, self-regulated organization in such good stead, they’d more than do for my measly little carpool.
The Twelve Traditions of Carpool (by Jenny)
Our common welfare shall come first; personal transportation depends upon carpool unity.
For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—the driver.
The only requirement for carpool membership is the desire to stop driving… daily.
The carpool should be autonomous.
The carpool has but one primary purpose—to drive the children to school.
The carpool ought never endorse, finance, or lend the carpool identity to any other carpool.
Every carpool ought to be fully self-driving and insured.
The carpool should remain forever nonprofessional, but we might employ special drivers in emergencies.
The carpool, as such, ought be organized only through cell phone and email.
The carpool has no opinion on outside issues. Unless it involves sirens.
The carpool’s public relations strategy is based on attraction and neighborhood convenience within a ten block radius, rather than promotion.
Safe driving and a clean car is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions; ever reminding us to place principles before our children’s personalities.
Hi Everyone,
Happyland Preschool will be holding their Annual Kindergarten Night on Tuesday November 16th, at 6:00 p.m. This event is open to the public.
This is an opportunity for parents to learn about public and private schools who will have representatives at the event to talk about their schools, along with a Q&A.
Schools that will be represented:
Public Schools: El Marino, Linwood Howe, Farrragut, El Rincon, Ocean Charter, Goethe Int’l. Charter, Overland, LAUSD Charter Schools (general overview), Westwood Charter.
Private Schools: Westside Neighborhood, Marina Del Rey, The Willows Community School, Culver City, Wildwood School.
Happyland Preschool is located at 4045 Lafayette Place, Culver City. Please RSVP to Yasmyn at yasmyn@happylandpreschool.org