Katherine Carbo
Originally from Grosse Pointe, Michigan, where she attended an independent school from preK-12th grade, Katherine Carbo earned a bachelor’s degree in business and a law degree before returning right back to the independent school world. With experience at four different schools from coast to coast, she writes insights and observations from the front line of independent school admissions. Mrs. Carbo is the Director of Lower School Admission & Financial Aid at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School in Alexandria, Virginia. She may be reached at kcarbo@sssas.org.
What do I do about Kindergarten next year?
If your child has a late spring, summer, fall or winter birthday you might have been asked this question.
“Are you going to hold them back or send them to Kindergarten?”
It is a controversial topic with no easy answer and it seems everyone has an opinion!
Part of what I love about admissions work, particularly Lower School admissions, is helping parents sort through this very question. Here are some tips.
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Determine the age cutoffs at the schools you are interested in your child attending. In Alexandria and many Northern Virginia cities, your child
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Topics:
Kindergarten,
PreK,
choosing a school,
junior kindergarten,
jk
Why do most independent primary schools require an aptitude test for admission?
As an admission director, I want the children who join our community to thrive in our environment and this assessment can be useful in determining a child's readiness. I hope to get a sense of how your son or daughter solves problems. Your child's development in the areas of verbal reasoning, visual-spatial problem solving, fluid reasoning, memory and visual-motor speed of processing will be measured and compared with the development of same-aged peers. Tests are just one part of the admission process to understanding how we may best teach your child.
What is the difference between the WPPSI-IV and WISC? What is the right test for my child?
- If your child is younger than six years old and entering either Junior Kindergarten or Kindergarten they will take the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence for Children - Fourth Edition. You will hear it referred to as the WPPSI-IV (whip-see-four).
- The test for children between ages 6 and 16 is the WISC. This stands for the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children.
- The objective of the exams is to understand the student’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses.
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Topics:
School search,
become ready,
Kindergarten,
Looking at private schools,
junior kindergarten,
jk
I want to start by saying our Saturday School Visit may just be the best day of my year. Something magical happens the day your children visit our school.
As a parent you might be opening the email invitation with apprehension. You could be thinking: will they separate without crying, will they participate, will they listen?!!!
This is what we are thinking on the other end:
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Topics:
School search,
become ready,
Kindergarten,
PreK,
Looking at private schools,
junior kindergarten,
jk
We are so fortunate to have many wonderful primary public, independent and parochial school options in the Northern Virginia / Washington D.C. / Maryland area. This blessing does not come without challenges. You are left to wonder...
What is the right match for my child?
What would it be like for my child to attend an independent school?
When is the right time to apply?
Should we wait until Middle School or Upper School?
Here are some tips on questions to ask when searching for a school?
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Topics:
School search,
Kindergarten,
Looking at private schools,
choosing a school,
junior kindergarten
