Beyond The Brochure – Page 68 – Beyond the Brochure

Los Angeles Private School Tuition: A List

March 6, 2013September 3, 2015 admin 30 Comments

* Here’s an updated tuition list for 2015-16

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.

Elementary Schools:

Brawerman Elementary of Wilshire Blvd. Temple: $24,000 (non Temple members) $21,500 (Temple members)

Buckley: $28,846 (most expensive)

Brentwood: $28,250

Campbell Hall: $25,990

Carlthorp: $21,864

Center For Early Education: $24,435

Crossroads: $26,600

Curtis: $23,950

John Thomas Dye: $24,650

Laurence: $23,000

Mirman: $23,950

Oakwood: $27,370

PS#1: $23,950

Pilgrim: $12,360

Stephen S. Wise: $22,080

St. Paul The Apostle: $11,000

Temple Israel of Hollywood: $16,705 (not including Temple membership)

Viewpoint: $26,515

Westland: $19,020

Westside Waldorf: $18,768

Wildwood: $25,985

Willows: $24,800

Secondary Schools:

Archer: $30,925

Brentwood: $32,950 (most expensive)

Buckley: $32,475

Campbell Hall: $30,990

Crossroads: $31,900

Harvard-Westlake: $31,350

Loyola Boys School: $15,240

Marlborough: $32,485

Mirman: $26,250

Oakwood: $32,050

Pilgrim: $14,340

Wildwood: $32,425

Viewpoint: $31,205

Windward: $31,648

* Source: Individual School Websites

** Private school tuition rises about 4 percent annually

Here’s Part 2 of Tuition List

Thank You Cards: The Best Advice I Got!

March 2, 2013January 9, 2020 admin 4 Comments

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.

Cool New Educational App! The LeapFrog MyRobot Friend iOS App (Sponsored Post)

February 27, 2013March 9, 2013 admin 10 Comments

My son testing out the new Leap Frog MyRobot iOS app — 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 Leap Frog MyRobot iOS app — 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.

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 link HERE

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

Style: What’d I’d Wear To A Parent Coffee or Admissions Event

February 23, 2013February 23, 2013 admin 7 Comments

Recently, we’ve received several reader emails asking what they should wear to parent coffees and other private school admissions events. A few moms said they were very nervous about what to wear (in addition to being anxious about the events!). I was also stressed about what I should wear for our daughter’s kindergarten admissions events so I know the feeling!

Here are a few tips:

Wear an outfit that makes you feel confident and comfortable
Avoid flip flops, sweatpants and very casual yoga wear
Don’t wear anything too low cut or too tight
If you could wear it to a night club, it probably isn’t right for these events
Your outfit doesn’t have to be expensive and you shouldn’t feel compelled to buy anything new if your current wardrobe will suffice. But, if it makes you feel good, purchase something new to update an outfit!

I’m no fashion expert (or fashionista) by any means, but I have learned a few things after going through the admissions process twice. You will see every type of outfit imaginable at these events, from head to toe Chanel to grunge rocker. When I attended admissions events, I usually chose a blazer, trench coat or casual jacket, black or dark wash jeans and silk tops, with accessories, for my events. The look that’s best for me is effort at “Mom On The Go”. I’m tall (5’10) so I usually wear flats. See photos below for what I’d wear!

Trench: Prada, Top: J. Crew, Skinny Jeans: The Gap, Flats: J. Crew, Earrings: Fred Segal, Bracelets, Alexis Bittar, Noni Boutique, Watch: Rolex — Trenchcoat: Prada, Top: J. Crew, Skinny Jeans: The Gap, Flats: J. Crew, Earrings: Bettina Duncan at Fred Segal, Necklace: Lulu Frost, Bracelet: J. Crew, Handbag: Prada, Watch: Rolex

Jacket: J. Crew, Top: Diane Von Furstenberg, Earrings: J. Crew, Necklace: Kyler Designs

L to R: Gold necklace: Kyler Designs, Diamond Earrings: Bettina Duncan at Fred Segal, Bangles: Noni Boutique, Bracelet: Alexis Bittar, Gold Earrings: J. Crew, Pave Bracelet: J. Crew, Necklace (bottom) Lulu Frost — L to R: Gold Circle necklace: Kyler Designs, platinum diamond earrings: Bettina Duncan at Fred Segal, Bangles: Noni Boutique, Bracelet: Alexis Bittar, Gold earrings: J. Crew, Pave gold Bracelet: J. Crew, Necklace (bottom) Lulu Frost

Jacket: Elie Tahari, Tank Top: Prabal Gurung for Target, Jeans: Loft, Booties: Piperline, Handbag: Reed Krakoff — Jacket: Elie Tahari, Tank Top: Prabal Gurung for Target, Jeans: Loft Skinny Jeans, Booties: Piperline, Handbag: Reed Krakoff, Necklace: J. Crew, Earrings, Kyler Design, Cuff: Anthropologie

Outtake photo: With our pitbull rescue, Cocoa!

Jewelry: Bracelet: Alexis Bittar, Earrings: Kyler Design, Cuff Bracelet: Anthropologie — Jewelry: Bracelet: Alexis Bittar, Earrings: Kyler Designs, Cuff Bracelet: Anthropologie

Fund(rais)ing L.A.’s Private Elementary Schools on The Daily Truffle and Huffington Post*

February 19, 2013January 5, 2015 admin 1 Comment

I’m so thrilled to be guest blogging over at The Daily Truffle, one of my favorite sites. The site is written by private school graduates from L.A. (Harvard-Westlake, John Thomas Dye and others) and calls itself A Los Angeles Social Diary. – Christina Simon

Here’s an excerpt of my piece :

Springtime in L.A. is the season when private grade schools host auctions, gala events, and swank soirees at fancy hotels, studio lots, and LA country clubs designed to raise additional funds to pad the $25,000 base fee of sending kids to ‘John Dye’, Buckley, Curtis, the ‘Center’ and all the other early educational top LA tickets.

That might sound high but the $25k tuition doesn’t even cap the operating budget of any private elementary school and additional money is always needed for teacher salaries, employee benefits, school supplies, and financial aid.

To continue reading, click on the The Daily Truffle

*This piece is also featured on The Huffington Post today (Feb. 25).