We recently posted a list of L.A. private school tuitions that quickly became our most popular post. Here’s Part 2 of the list. Part 3 will be a list of Pasadena school tuitions (coming soon!).
With my friend, Robinne Lee, co-star of the romantic comedy, “Miss Dial” at L.A. screening. Super-fun movie with Gabrielle Union and Sam Jaeger, available 3/12 on iTunes and Netflix. Robinne’s kids attend a westside private school.Porcha Dodson and Christina Simon at Project Knapsack’s backpack stuffing event at California Pizza Kitchen this morning. Project Knapsack, founded by Porcha, delivers school supplies to children in AfricaThe knapsacks filled with pencils, dictionaries, composition books and more!Christina’s daughter writing a pen pal letter to a friend in Africa at Project Knapsack event at CPK
You’re right. L.A. private school tuition isn’t cheap. And, tuition doesn’t even cover the full cost of educating a child at a private school. So, in addition to writing the big check, a parent can expect to contribute to annual giving, auctions or gala fundraisers and numerous other events throughout the year. Tuition typically rises about 4 percent per year, depending on the school.
Still, we think the cost is worth every penny. The quality of education at L.A. private schools is generally superb. Excellent teachers, fully integrated and staffed technology programs, low student/teacher ratio, tight security, gardens bright, large classrooms and state-of-the-art facilities are just a few of the resources you’re paying for. Your kid’s opportunity to build life-long friends and colleagues who may become future movers and shakers is also a priceless benefit that is built into the hefty price tag.
The importance of sending a thank you card to admissions directors shouldn’t be underestimated. If you’re anything like I was when we were applying to private elementary schools, the remaining aspects of the school application process during the last two weeks are never far from your mind. That brings me to the what I’m calling the “heartfelt note”.
I was on the phone late one night in February 2006 with a Willows School mom (a friend of a friend) during our application for kindergarten for my daughter. She was planning to write us a letter of recommendation for the school. I was telling her that if we were accepted, we’d definitely accept the Willows’ offer of admission. I told her how much we loved the school and how it would be an amazing school for my daughter. Being a very savvy TV/Film agent, she said “you need to write a heartfelt note to the admissions director telling her everything you just told me.” “Don’t hold back,” she said. “Really express your thoughts and tell her how much this means to your family. That’s what I did,” she told me.
Following her advice, I did exactly that. I got out a note card, had a glass (or two) of wine and wrote a personal note to Kim Feldman, The Willows School admissions director. I’ll never really know what (if any) impact it had on the school’s decision to accept my daughter. Still, I like to feel that I did everything possible to get my kids into a great private elementary school.
The heartfelt note is just one more example of “insider” advice that I would not have come up with on my own. I’m grateful to the mom who gave me the idea for sharing her experience and suggestions. Now, I’m sharing her (and my) advice with you.
My son testing out the new LeapFrog MyRobot iOS app
The LeapFrog MyRobot Friend iOS app is a fun, fast moving educational strategy game that requires kids to utilize basic programming skills to guide a robot through a maze to find a chest of gold.
My 9 year-old son loves math, numbers, games and computer apps. So, I figured this app would be perfectly suited to his age and interests. I was right! He was captivated by it from the minute I downloaded it to his iPad.
Sitting at our dining room table, he quickly became engaged in the game for more than an hour. My 12 year-old daughter burst into the room and asked him what he thought of it, since both my kids have used many Leap Frog products over the years.
“It’s really cool!” he answered before shouting “Yeah!” after completing a level and moving onto the next one.
The LeapFrog MyRobot Friend iOS has 80 levels, increasing in difficulty from basic to increasingly advanced math, reasoning and directional calculations the user must program for the robot to successfully conclude a level and advance to a higher level. Along the way, animals and other obstacles are encountered and must be dealt with for the robot to capture the chest of gold.
Detail of LeapFrog MyRobot iOS app
The MyRobot Friend iOS is basically an introduction to robotics, currently one of the most popular elementary and middle school programs right now. Similar to robotics, this app requires the user to program a robot through various obstacles, each with an increasing level of difficulty.
Source: LeapFrog
As he explained it, my son was able to program the robot using numbers, addition, subtraction, directions (North, South, East, West) and other instructions before setting the robot off on its course. If the user makes a mistake, “undo” is available. The higher the level, the more complex the user instructions must be. I gave it a try at one of the lower levels and with my son’s help, was able to get to the chest of gold.
With names like “Drone Target” and “Boom Boom” this app totally intrigued and challenged my son. He progressed to level 13 before we stopped for dinner and he’s excited to continue with the higher levels tomorrow! Determined to advance to level 80, this clever app promises to be a regular part of his iPad use.
The LeapFrog MyRobot Friend iOS app, with its colorful, 3-D animated touch screen graphics and the potential for a challenging degree of difficulty is perfect for my son.
I like the fact that this app requires a kid to think through a short or very long sequence of navigational steps and actions the robot will make before hitting the button to allow the robot to move. If the kid’s strategy is correct he or she has successfully programmed the robot to capture the chest of gold!
Available for $3.99 for iPad and iPhone. Ages 7+. To purchase the LeapFrog MyRobot Friend iOS, click on the linkHERE
I was selected for this opportunity by Clever Girls Collective but content and opinions expressed here are my own. To take the LeapFrog Reading Month pledge, please visit their Facebook page. #LFReadingMonth #spon
