An Informational Newsletter about Collegiate’s Kindergarten Admission Process

September 2013

COLLEGIATE’S SHARED VALUES

honorlove of learningexcellencerespectcommunity

In late June, my daughter ecstatically loaded the back of our car for her stay at overnight camp. She was giddy… bursting at the seams with excitement. She’s never completed a task so quickly. As we drove onto the camp’s grounds, the flood of emotions my daughter was feeling was palpable. I turned to her and said, “Are you so excited to be back?” And she smiled this beautiful, contented smile and said, “I am back home.” As a parent, there is nothing better than seeing that kind of happiness in your child. Leaving your child for an extended period of time – whether it’s for weeks or even just

a day – can be daunting. Such a huge part of feeling good about the separation resides in your belief in the place and the people. As I drove away from camp and my daughter, I thought about how confident I felt leaving her there. I thought about her deep faith in this place she calls

“home.” And I realized these feelings are similar to those we share when I drop her off at Collegiate each morning. The characteristics of both places allow for these feelings. As a parent, I have complete faith in Collegiate and the people who will be guiding and teaching my children each day. As students, my children have formed connections with teachers and friends who have become “family.” Both places have strong, long-standing traditions; meaningful and guiding values; a long history of excellence; an emphasis on character, honor and integrity… all things that make a place feel like home, and give it a sense of spirit you wish you could bottle. Look for this sense of spirit when you are choosing a school for your child. Visit each campus. Walk around and observe. Ask questions. What are the school’s values? What is the faculty like? Who will be caring for your child? Pay attention to facts and figures – they are important. But also ask yourself this: do you get a sense of community and spirit that transcends the impressive statistics? School choice can feel overwhelming. At the end of the day, once you’ve gathered all the facts – be still. Listen to the voice inside you. Try to tune out the rest of the world. Because only you know what’s right for your child, and only you can identify the kind of place – the kind of

“spirit” – that will bring out your child’s best. Thank you for your interest in Collegiate. We are eager for you to visit, and encourage you to call for a private tour. When you do, we hope that you, too, will feel the spirit that has made this place home for so many.

Anne Bruce AhearnAssociate Director of Admission

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The kindergarten admission process formally begins one year prior to entry, though we welcome new applicants at any point during the year.

A child must be 5 years old by Sept. 30 of the kindergarten year. We encourage children with summer birthdays to go through the process. Many children will be socially, emotionally and academically ready to begin school. Others may need to wait another year, in which case they will be candidates for admission in the following year. Our primary objective is to make a decision that is in the best interest of the individual child.

Admission decisions are based on the child’s profile, which consists of three different components of information:

1. Individual testing with a qualified psychologist2. Group readiness testing with our Lower School teachers3. Preschool report

We know that the assessment of young children is imperfect and that it is difficult to predict a 5-year-old’s potential for success. We strive, however, to place children at Collegiate when it appears that our academic programs will meet particular learning needs and capabilities.

Individual Testing and AssessmentIndividual TestingWechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI)This is an individual evaluation. Each child spends approximately one hour with a psychologist. The activities range from informal conversations to visual motor activities. The session is child friendly. This assessment can be conducted at Collegiate and is offered to all kindergarten candidates between October and late January. The cost is $115. Appointments are scheduled in the morning when your child is alert and well rested. Your child should eat a good breakfast and wear comfortable, casual clothing. No preparation of any kind is necessary! Even if you are applying to more than one Richmond independent school, your child will take the individual test only once. The scores will be shared as you specify on the Request for Testing form.

Group Readiness Testing Small groups of children (4-6) will work with our Lower School teachers in January. There will be individual and group activities designed to assess your child’s social, emotional and cognitive readiness for kindergarten. The activities are very similar to your child’s preschool experiences.

Preschool ReportWe will send a confidential form to your child’s preschool in December so that we may incorporate the observations and insights of his or her current teacher. The Admission Committee may observe children in their own preschool settings, if necessary.

At the conclusion of the admission process and after notification letters are mailed, parents are encouraged to schedule an appointment to review the results of the admission assessment.

Admission Overview

Collegiate School strives to instill a global perspective in its students in order to prepare them for the opportunities and challenges of today’s world. This effort inspires students’ intellectual curiosity and promotes strong qualities of character: respect for others, resourcefulness, and self-confidence. This fall, Collegiate will host our third annual

International Emerging Leaders Conference. Beginning October 5, 2013, approximately 65 students and teachers from around the world will converge on our campus for a week-long design innovation challenge, including sessions with the Science Museum of Virginia, the University of Richmond, MeadWestvaco, VCU and Dominion. Collegiate students will work collaboratively with students from our partner schools in China, India, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, South Africa, and Spain. The entire Collegiate community welcomes our international guests and contributes to the success of our program. Upper School families host the international students; international teachers shadow our faculty; the international delegations visit Middle School advisory programs; Lower School students experience personal connections with the international students through extended classroom visits, a Town Hall meeting, and a highlight of the week, the Cultural Fair and Performances. Lower School students connect with students from countries relating to their curriculum or language study, generating life-long awareness of communities around the globe.

Admission Calendar 2013 – 2014Request for Testing and Permission to Release forms due by Monday, Sept. 23

Parent Admission ProgramsAll programs are in the Estes Multipurpose Building on the Lower School campus.

Thursday, Oct. 17, 9:00 – 11:45 a.m.Tuesday, Oct. 29, 9:00 – 11:45 a.m.Tuesday, Nov. 19, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.*

*Tours of our campus will not be offered during the evening program.

Admission Testing Dates1. Individual Testing October 2013 through January 2014

(beginning Tuesday, Oct. 1) Appointment schedules are generally mailed

two weeks prior to your child’s testing.2. Group Readiness Testing Your child will be assigned to one of the

following dates: Boys Saturday, Jan. 11 Thursday, Jan. 16 Girls Thursday, Jan. 23 Saturday, Jan. 25 * Snow make-up testing,

Saturday, Feb. 1

Financial Aid FormsIn early January, forms will be mailed to families who have requested information. Forms must be returned by the specified date in order to receive aid information prior to the contract due date.

Collegiate’s admission process is designed to let children be children. The assessment is gentle, and children enjoy both individual attention and small group work. It is through this journey that you are able to learn more about your child’s social, emotional and cognitive readiness. The feedback you receive will enable you to make an informed educational choice for your child and for your family.

We are so excited to welcome John Wilson as our new Director of Admission. John received a BA from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and has spent the last 17 years in independent schools. He coupled teaching and admission work at The Kildonan School in Amenia, NY; served as the Associate Director of Admission for six years at the McLean School of Maryland; and most recently completed a seven-year tenure as the Lower School Dean of Admission at Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills, MI. John and

his wife Wendy, who will also be joining the Collegiate School community this fall as a Kindergarten Assistant, have two daughters, Shelby and Ellie, a kindergartner.

Visit our campus! It’s the best way to learn about Collegiate. Spend time in a Kindergarten classroom; observe passionate teaching and children excited about learning; check out the art, music, science and world language spaces; talk with our Lower School faculty; ask questions.

Give us a call (741-9778) anytime to set up your private tour. We look forward to seeing you!

Notification letters will be mailed on Friday, Feb. 21, 2014.

Kindergarten contracts are due by noon on Thursday, Mar. 6, 2014.

Collegiate’s International Emerging Leaders Program

Meet John Wilson

Take a Tour

Collegiate strives to make its educational opportunities available to students without regard to financial circumstances. Several different payment schedules and financing options are available to families. In addition, Collegiate has a need-based financial aid program. The amount of financial aid granted is based upon an annual assessment of the financial ability of the student’s family. Collegiate seeks to make its program accessible to families who demonstrate need as determined by the School and Student Services in Princeton, NJ. The school will safeguard the confidentiality of all information provided by a family. Families interested in applying for financial aid should indicate this on the admission application. In early January, you will receive the necessary forms and instructions. Provided that all of the information is submitted by the dates indicated, you will receive your financial aid response shortly after the admission decisions are made. A request for financial aid has no bearing on admission decisions. For more information or to ensure that we know you want to be considered for financial aid, please call Taylor Kell at 741-5471.

103 North Mooreland Road, Richmond, VA 23229804.740.7077 / www.collegiate-va.org

The Collegiate School is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or national origin in the administration of its educational, admission or financial aid policies, or any other programs administered by the School.

How Collegiate Approaches CoeducationAs parents considering various educational options for your child, you probably have been intrigued, and occasionally confused, by conflicting information in the single-sex versus coeducation debate. In the midst of all of the competing research and resulting opinions, one important lesson emerges: children learn more effectively in schools that pay attention to the role of gender both in and out of the classroom. At Collegiate, we take the differing developmental needs of boys and girls seriously. Our Lower School program fosters healthy cross-gender friendships in a coeducational setting as children learn how to establish relationships with peers. The onset of early adolescence in the Middle School dictates a single-sex environment as students experience a time of rapid and unsettling physical and emotional growth. Finally, a coeducational setting in the Upper School is enhanced by designating leadership opportunities for both boys and girls through all grade levels. Of course, neither a single-sex nor a coeducational structure can guarantee results for any child. At Collegiate, we are committed to meeting the individual needs of each of our students. It is this commitment, together with a deliberate approach to issues of gender, that we believe provides the optimal setting for learning and growth.

Keith A. EvansHead of School

“Schools, teachers and parents need to recognize that there is, on every available measure, considerable overlap between males and females. Some girls are more competitive than many boys, some boys are more nurturing than many girls. In striving to become aware of educationally relevant gender differences, educators must not lose sight of all that is gender shared.” – Anne Chapman’s A Great Balancing Act, a publication from the National Association of Independent Schools

Financial Aid