Private School Guide December 2009

2 Private Education 2009-2010 3 Private Education 2009-2010

PUBLISHER

Diane [email protected]

EDITOR

Jennifer O’Donnell [email protected]

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Tammy Lindquist [email protected]

ART DIRECTOR

Sherri Holland [email protected]

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Laura Barbour [email protected]

Katie Goenner [email protected]

BUSINESS MANAGER

Michelle Norman [email protected]

ADVERTISING DESIGNERS

Mary Ellen Carrier, Sherri Holland

Private School Guide is published annually. Cir-culation: 20,000. Distribution of this newspaper does not constitute an endorsement of informa-tion, products, or services. Tidewater Parent as-

sumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. Those not accompanied by an

SASE with sufficient postage will not be returned.

TIDEWATER PARENT150 W. Brambleton Ave. | Norfolk, VA 23510

(757) 222-3900 | fax (757) 446-2576 www.mytidewtermoms.com

Copyright 2009 Tidewater ParentAll Rights Reserved. ISSN 1081-23340

ContentsPrivate School Myths Debunked.................................................4By Alison JohnsonDo you think you know all about private school education? Think again.

Field Trip Ideas for Teachers, Schools and Parents......................8By Vincent SchillingHampton Roads offers plenty of rich learning experiences.

Managing School Paperwork...................................................14By Denise YearianIt’s hard to keep up with all the quizzes, tests, classroom updates, and student artwork. Here’s how to know what to keep and what to throw.

High Energy Foods for Busy Students.......................................18Students need nourishment to keep them going. These recipes are packed with energy and make yummy snacks for hungry learners.

Getting Through the College Application Process......................20By Kristen KirkIt’s not too late to get those applications in. Here’s what you need to focus on to make an impression.

Preschool Teaching Methods....................................................24By Jennifer O’DonnellNot all preschool philosophies are alike. Here’s how to tell what’s right for your child.

Easing School Anxiety..............................................................26By Alison JohnsonSchool anxiety can take place at any point in the year. Here’s what you can do to help.

Finding a Private School That’s Right for You............................30By Gina Roberts-GreyHow do you know if a school will be a good fit for your student? We offer up tips on finding the best school for your child.

Find the Interactive Online version of the 2009-2010 Private School Hampton Roads Guide online at www.mytidewatermoms.com


the NBG, we may all just have to agree that the beauty of these gardens rarely if ever fail to take our collective breath away.

That being said the NBG is a must-see for school field trips. To add to the dimension and beauty of the NBG,

they also provide to teachers and students a World of Wonders study guide/children’s adventure garden worksheet to enhance the learning experience.

Additionally, student and teachers can enjoy such exhibits as the Imagina-

The Virginia Opera

offers a number of

programs for schools

and organizations

to help student and

teachers learn about

the world of Opera.

tion Circle, the Web of Life Tree house, Dirt Factory and Plant Safari.

For more info www.norfolkbotanicalgarden.org

TAKE FLIGHT

Military Aviation MuseumAlthough the Virginia Air and Space

Center is an amazing attraction in Hampton certainly worth visiting, not many people know about another avia-tion friendly museum in Pungo.

Certainly more intimate than the VASC, this museum is a hidden trea-sure just off Princess Anne Road. With a wide array of planes and other re-lated wares, this place comes highly recommended.

1341 Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach - http://www.militaryaviationmuseum.org


or a quick snack during the day.”Besides giving your student an

all-natural burst of energy, Dulan has other school and sports nutrition tips:

• Avoid high calorie drinks: Use cal-orie-free water, organic low-fat milk, or 100 percent fruit juices.

• Pack healthy ingredients: Try mak-ing sandwiches on 100 percent whole wheat bread rather than white and use fun combinations: natural peanut but-ter and honey/banana, or natural deli meat loaded with veggies. Leftovers from a home-cooked meal also make excellent lunch options.

• Add color: Skip highly processed snacks. Opt for fresh fruits and veg-etables and complement them with all-natural honey, hummus or whole wheat crackers. Air-popped popcorn, Greek yogurt and unsweetened applesauce provide extra variety.

The following recipes, courtesy of the National Honey Board, focus on all-natural ways to fuel busy schedules. For more recipes featuring honey, visit honey.com

Chicken Sesame Nuggets with Honey Apricot Dipping Sauce

Makes six servings

Ingredients:• 1/3 plus 1/2 cups honey, divided• 1/3 cup soy sauce• 3/4 cup rice vinegar, divided• 1 tablespoon ginger, freshly grated• 1 teaspoon onion powder• 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into nuggets• 3/4 cup dried apricots, finely diced• Salt and pepper, to taste• 2/3 cup sesame seeds

Directions:In a medium bowl, combine 1/3 cup

honey, soy sauce, 1/4 cup vinegar, ginger and onion powder. Add chick-en; cover and refrigerate to marinate 30 minutes.

To make dipping sauce, in a small saucepan over medium high heat, bring remaining 1/2 cup honey and 1/2 cup rice vinegar to a boil. Add apricots and return to a boil. Simmer two to three minutes. Remove from heat; cool slightly, then puree to de-sired consistency in a blender or food processor. Season with salt and pep-per; set aside.

Preheat oven to 375 F. Line a bak-ing sheet with parchment paper. Place sesame seeds in a shallow dish. Coat nuggets with sesame seeds and place on prepared baking sheet. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, or until fully cooked. Serve warm nuggets with Honey Apricot Dip-ping Sauce.

Super Spread Sandwich StarsMakes 10 sandwiches

Ingredients:1 apple, peeled, cored and coarsely chopped 1 cup roasted peanuts 1/3 cup honey 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon Sliced sandwich bread

Directions:To make Super Spread: place apple

pieces, peanuts, honey, lemon juice and cinnamon in food processor fitted with chopping blade or blender. Pulse the food processor several times until

ingredients start to blend, occasionally scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to help mix. Process for one to two minutes until mixture is smooth and spreadable.

To make a Sandwich Star: spread about one tablespoon of the Super Spread on each of two slices of bread. Stack them together, spread side up. Top with a third piece of bread. Place star-shaped cookie cutter on top of the sandwich and press down firmly and evenly. Leaving the cookie cutter in place, remove the excess trimmings with your fingers or butter knife. Re-move the cookie cutter. Make more Sandwich Stars as desired.

Mixed Berry Roller-upsMakes four servings

Ingredients:1 cup diced strawberries 1 cup blueberries 1 cup raspberries 1/3 cup honey 1 tablespoon grated orange peel 4 10-inch flour tortillas 1/4 cup light cream cheese

Directions:In medium mixing bowl place ber-

ries; gently stir in honey and orange peel. Arrange torillas on work surface. Spread one tablespoon cream cheese evenly over one side of each tortilla. Spoon about 3/4 cup honey fruit mix-ture down center of each tortilla. Fold in ends, and then roll, starting at one side, to form a burrito-like roll. Serve at once.

Courtesy of ARAcontent


Freshman Year• Get involved with extracurricular activities to see what sparks your interest and explore opportunities. • Start building a resume/activities list.• Get to know your guidance counselor; he/she will be an important part of your high school career, particularly in help-ing you make plans for the next four years and beyond.• Become familiar with NCAA requirements if you may want to play sports in college. • Study hard and work to get the best grades you can to build a strong transcript. Sophomore Year• Register for and take PSAT for practice (if appropriate by math placement) and/or PLAN test.• Continue to explore and participate in extracurricular activities inside and/or outside of school.• Continue to build resume, keeping track of hours of in-volvement and memorable experiences in activities.• Start visiting colleges to get a sense of “turn-ons” and “turn-offs” (process of elimination is important)• May choose to take SAT II in June (ONLY if qualified and teacher recommends it) • Start thinking about career options and necessary edu-cation for these goals.• Consider taking a summer course or participating in a summer program in an area of interest or enrichment. Junior Year• Sept./Oct.: Register for and take PSAT• Nov.-June: Begin thinking more formally about post-sec-ondary plans.• Continue to visit colleges and begin to formulate a list of potential colleges/vocational/technical schools • Feb-April: Be aware of registration deadlines for SAT I, SAT II, ACT, TOEFL. (LD/504 Students make special ar-rangements for alternate testing situation).• Spring: Select a challenging course load for senior year. • Spring: Attend college fairs to talk to college represen-tatives and gather information about potential schools.• Spring: Meet with guidance counselor and/or private counselor to discuss post-secondary plans.

• Spring: Begin requesting recommendation letters for the following fall.• May: AP exams for junior AP courses• Summer: Start writing practice college essays (stream of consciousness)• Summer: Begin requesting college applications from colleges• Summer: Continue to do more college visitations. Senior Year• Sept.: Attend regional college fair for additional infor-mation about schools on your list• Sept.: Finalize school selections and meet with counselor to discuss.• Sept.: Request recommendation letters from teachers, coaches, etc.• Sept.: Finalize activities resume.• Sept./Oct.: Begin to file applications for schools with rolling admissions.• Sept./Oct.: Register for SAT I, SAT II, ACT, TOEFL for final time (if desired). Make sure to have all scores sent di-rectly to colleges to which you are applying! (November is the latest recommended testing date for Early Decision/Early Action applicants). • Fall: File CSS Financial Aid Profile if required by your list of schools.• Nov./Dec.: Be aware of ED/EA and all other dead-lines.• Dec./Jan.: Submit remaining applications.• January 2nd: Submit FAFSA for eligibility for federal financial aid.• Jan.: Submit mid-year grades to colleges.• Jan./Feb.: If you were deferred, submit extra materials to support application. • Spring: Try to avoid senioritis! Colleges have been known to revoke acceptance if there is a major downturn of grades. • May: AP exams for senior AP courses.• Keep copies of everything! Occasionally things do get lost. Keep copies of college applications, financial aid applications, essays…everything!

See www.collegecoachdeb.com for more information.

College Search Consultant Deborah Shames recommends that students utilize

the following timeline to maximize their success in the college process.

College Planning Timeline


Below are a few of the more common preschool teaching philosophies you might encounter in your search. Acquaint yourself with the methods before you at-tend and open house or informational meeting.

THE LEARN THROUGH PLAY METHOD: Learn through play preschools operate under the belief that young children learn best in an unhurried environment in which they learn through play, games, stories, art, puppetry and social interaction. “Age-appropriate” are the buzz words you’ll hear with this method. A large block of time is set aside for children to choose their own activities and recess is a promi-nent part of the daily program.

Learn-Through-Play preschools (also known as child-centered classrooms) en-courage children to develop at their own pace by encouraging them to follow their own interests and goals. These schools also adopt a problem-solving approach to social or disciplinary problems.

THE MONTESSORI METHOD: The be-liefs of Dr. Maria Montessori, an early childhood educator in Europe at the turn of the twentieth century, are the founding principles of the Montessori method. Mon-tessori believed that children teach each other best, rather than being lectured by an adult. In a Montessori preschool it’s not uncommon to find younger students min-gling in the classroom with students two, three or four years older. In a Montessori preschool, students progress at their own pace and are free to move around the classroom to explore and learn. They may work alone, in pairs, or in groups and most

Montessori preschools encourage children to choose their own projects. Snack time is determined by the student and clean-up is his responsibility.

THE WALDORF METHOD: Founded by Dr. Rudolph Steiner in the early part of the 20th century, the Waldorf method is prob-ably the least known of the preschool cur-riculums. Steiner believed that education should engage the minds of children as well as their bodies and spirits.

The Waldorf preschool places a great deal of emphasis on teaching through the arts and on hands-on learning. In a Wal-dorf school, students stay with the same teacher from preschool through grade 8. Waldorf schools stock their toy chests and bookshelves with all-natural toys made from wood and natural fibers. Plastic toys and Crayolas are generally not permitted. Instead, students use beeswax and other natural products.

THE ACADEMIC METHOD: Also called content-centered schools, the academic method devotes less time to free play and more time to whole-class activities in which there are specific instructional goals. In an academic preschool, students are prepared for Kindergarten and the early years of elementary school by learn-ing to read by sounding out letters and by participating in early writing activities. Early math is also emphasized in a con-tent-centered school and discipline may be less flexible than in a learn-through-play curriculum or other teaching method. In a content centered school, homework may be assigned.

THE CO-OP METHOD: Parents and children working together is the funda-mental principle of a co-op preschool. In co-ops, parents contribute time, energy, talent and ideas to the school. Parents are likely to help develop the class curriculum, teach on a regular basis and develop the school’s rules, guidelines, and disciplinary action. In a co-op setting parents may even be responsible for finding a location for the school, paying the bills, hiring the teachers, director, etc.

Co-ops require parents to work in the classroom under the guidance of the teacher or director. Just how much time parents must contribute varies – some co-ops require parents to help out weekly, others say once or twice a month is suf-ficient. Because of the parental support, child/adult ratios are typically very low in a co-op setting.

Jennifer O’Donnell is the editor of Tidewater Parent magazine in Norfolk, Virginia

Some preschools place a great deal of importance on the academics of early learning – prepar-ing children intel-lectually for Kinder-garten and the early elementary years. Others place more of an importance on play and social interaction.


Affording a Private School

• Contact the admissions or business office to learn about available financing options, schol-arships and grants.

• Private student loans can pre-vent dipping into savings or using high-interest credit cards. These loans are usually credit-based and spread out tuition payments mak-ing the tuition more manageable.

• Working and/or volunteering at a private school may make you eligible for reduced tuition. Ask if opportunities exist in the office, cafeteria, library or as a play-ground supervisor to offset some of the costs.

• If you have more than one child, ask about a quantity dis-count on your tuition.

• Participate in a uniform exchange to defray some of the costs of clothing.

education a consideration? Should the school be single sex or co-educational? How far is your child willing to commute to attend school?

Assess the BasicsCurriculum and academic opportunities

are often the basis for choosing a school. When considering a school, review the average class size, teacher:student ra-tion, and faculty turn-over which all lend stability and continuity to the educational process. Determine the expected study habits and disciplinary action for missing assignments. Review the enrichment op-portunities such as artistic, music, drama and foreign language programs. Are the libraries and facilities usually equipped and staffed with specialist teachers and do they offer any specific resources you child may need?

Private schools can range in size from less than one hundred students to over one thousand. Assess your child’s social skills very carefully. “Our son and daughter are very different students and individu-als. One is a social butterfly and makes friends easily while the other is quiet and reserved and more comfortable in a small, family like atmosphere. Because of their differences, we chose two different private schools that each met both of their person-alities and academic needs,” says Carly Winters of Ames, Iowa.

The chance to participate in organized sports at school is also another note-worthy factor that might appeal to your child’s muscles as well as his mind. “We put some facilities on the list of potential schools when we learned they offered in-tramural sports clubs as well as organized school sponsored teams,” adds Winters.

Specialty SchoolsMany parents and educators feel that

children benefit from the minimal dis-tractions offered by a single sex school setting. Others feel just as strongly that a co-educational school offers young people a valuable social laboratory in

which to practice the skills so necessary in today’s politically correct world. “At-tending a co-educational school is a very personal decision and one that needs to be assessed individually,” says McCarthy noting that “single sex and co-educational schools both offer unique and beneficial learning environments.”

Personal religious requirements or beliefs should be considered when contemplating faith based schools. It is important to understand that children may attend religious services and regular reli-gious classes, or be expected to practice the faith embraced by that school. Most denominational schools require students to attend religious services, while non-denominational schools usually do not make adhere to one particular faith, but are often Christian based.

There are also private schools who tai-lor their curriculum toward specific areas of interest. Although still maintaining a concentration on core subjects such as math and science, some schools offer a more concentrated focus on subjects such as art or music.

Pay a visitOnce you’ve made a list of three to five

schools that you and your child think could fit, arrange a tour of the schools. Guide your child to formulate a list of his or her questions to ask the administrator or tour guide, in addition to compiling your own list of questions. “It is usually a good idea to bring a copy of a child’s most recent report card and standardized test results if applicable,” says guidance counselor, Tom Westervelt of San Jose, California, “I once met with a family that brought a few of the books the children were currently using to compare them to the books in our school.”

Ask to visit while classes are in session to see the dynamics of children in the gym-nasium, hallways and cafeteria. Sample the food served for lunch and peruse the library and computer lab. “I always sug-gest families visit more than once to see the school in many lights,” notes Westervelt.

Remember that regardless of whether you choose a private school, or another form of educational style, is it vital that your child feel comfortable and secure in his learning environment. Solicit input from your child on his impression of the school, uniforms, distance from home and the fa-cilities. “Reviewing all aspects and options will help to make an educated decision that will benefit everyone,” says Westervelt.

For information on private school rat-ings please visit www.privateschoolreview.com

Private School Guide December 2009

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