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How to Choose a Private School
By Shirley K. Fegan
January and February are important months in the education of your
child; this is the time when private schools are enrolling for the
next year and many of them hold open house sessions giving parents
ample opportunity to inquire and learn about their programs.
Choosing a school for a child can be difficult, but is also one of
the most important processes with which parents must deal.
When looking at any school, the overriding question is just how far
will said institution go to provide the best for its students? Four
main points should, without a doubt, present themselves and be taken
into careful consideration: the mission statement and philosophy of
the school; the advanced educational opportunities provided; the
extracurricular activities offered; and the ability of the school to
accommodate the specific needs of each student and family.
When initially looking at a school, first and foremost, read the
mission statement. The statement undoubtedly forms the foundation
and sets the general tone of the school, allowing the entire
community to work toward a single goal of fostering the academic,
social, and emotional growth of each child.
When it comes to academics, parents should look at the curriculum
offerings and ask themselves if they do indeed go above and beyond
the basic schooling criteria. In today’s society, it is imperative
that we are proficient in many areas of our lives, including
language fluency and technology skills. Early childhood is an
opportune time to introduce children to another language with some
schools starting as early as Kindergarten and continuing through the
upper schools with advanced language studies.
In addition, inquire if the school integrates technology throughout
the curriculum. Technologically-capable schools offer students
abundant opportunities to build skills in basic operations and
concepts, tools of productivity, communication, research, social and
ethical issues, and problem solving and decision making. Forward
thinking schools know the importance of preparing students for a
technologically advanced world.
Children thrive in creative atmospheres conducive to the exploration
of emotions. This philosophy is oftentimes illustrated when infants
and toddlers gravitate toward musical instruments and art centers
during their free time both at home and in the childcare setting. In
choosing a school, look for ways music and visual arts are
incorporated into the curriculum. Schools that respect music and art
demonstrate a whole approach to child development. Throughout the
past decade, we, as a society, have come to learn about the
importance of music and visual art in the intellectual development
of our children, as has further been evidenced through the
mass-marketing of products from the classic Sesame Street videos to
the more recent Baby Einstein line.
Physical fitness is also important in the developmental success of a
child, and, in an age of video games and concern for childhood
obesity, physical education, sports programs, and general health
education should play a key role in the school curriculum. Physical
education and sports programs not only introduce students to
individual skills and the principle of sportsmanship, but also help
to foster strong relationships and behavioral growth. Schools that
provide daily instruction in PE and other varying forms of health
management are likely to see the holistic development of their
students.
Since it is of utmost importance to acknowledge each child’s entire
body of needs, a school should also have an extensive
extracurricular activities program. As educators, many of us in the
academic environment realize that a child needs to find his or her
own passion(s). Thus, schools should strive to provide various
opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom. Such
activities may include intramural, junior varsity and varsity
sports, yearbook, student senate, newspaper, band, choir, and
theatre productions. Participation in these helps to foster a sense
of personal accomplishment and further emphasizes the importance of
finding, developing, and nurturing one's own desires.
The ability of a school to accommodate the specific needs of each
student and family helps to provide a safe and stimulating
environment in which children can develop in all areas. Programs
such as before-and-after school care help to provide a safe and
secure place in which this can occur. Other desirable services may
include bus transportation, onsite healthcare, and academic
assistance.
Ultimately, parents should have the comfort of knowing that the
climate in which their children are learning is one which nurtures
individual growth and allows for a sustained partnership between
school and home in the effort to acknowledge each child’s special
gifts and contributions.
Shirley K. Fegan is Head of School at The Congressional Schools of
Virginia which enrolls students from preschool through grade 8 at
its campus in Falls Church, Virginia. You can learn more about The
Congressional Schools by visiting their website at
www.congressionalschools.org or by calling 703-533-9711.
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