Admissions 101: The Open House

Thoughts From Jacquie & Verona…

There’s no denying it, the independent and boarding school admissions process can be overwhelming: the to-do list looks endless, the multitude of components can be bewildering, and the number of hoops to jump through feels convoluted. But it’s important to point out that there’s intentionality behind every step along the way: each school is simply doing its due diligence to determine if your child will be successful in their community.

So let’s dive right in and take a look at this week’s installment: The Open House.

This Week’s Lowdown: The Open House

Last year, schools were forced to rethink Open House formats due to the pandemic, with many pivoting to virtual events out of necessity. This year, many have returned to in-person admissions events, but some continue to offer online options only, while some are offering a hybrid menu of virtual and in-person events. Be sure to check out each school’s website carefully to take full advantage of all the options available.

So let’s dissect the Open House to understand its purpose and what it looks like…

The overarching objective of these events is to give you the opportunity to meet teachers, students, and parents from the community so that you can ultimately determine if it’s a good fit for your child. Whether being held in-person or virtually, the Open House generally features:

• Words of welcome from the Head of School

• Informal opportunities to engage with teachers

• Classroom visits

• Parent and/or student panels

• Campus tours

KQ Tips

As you will most likely be attending several open houses, we encourage you to take notes at each one to ensure you don’t forget important details along the way. It also goes without saying that if your child is old enough, have them attend the events with you and ask them to do the same so you can compare notes afterward. For example, as you listen to speakers, reflect on the substance of their words to determine:

• Will my child be seen and known at this school?

• Will my child thrive here?

• Does this school provide value in terms of programming and extracurricular activities?

• Does this school place emphasis on nurturing a love of learning and expanding moral character?

A final word from KQ …

Don’t forget that KQ is here to help you devise your personalized admissions plan, from identifying the school list through working on essays, preparing for interviews, and ultimately determining the best fit for your child. We’re always just a phone call or email away.

We can’t wait to hear from you!

Written by Keating Quigley | Educational Consultants

Summer Reads from The Hoot!

Sit back, relax and embrace the gift of time with Anne’s 2021 summer picks

Summer gives us the gift of time to read for pleasure with longer days, warmer weather, and more sunlight. Let’s see what our reading can look like this summer whether you’re sitting on a beach, on a road trip with your family,  in a bunk at summer camp, or just relaxing. After a year of quarantining and isolation, let’s make it a goal to turn off our phones and shut off computers to experience the joy of turning pages - paper or digital.

With that in mind, here are some of my favorite summer reads to consider. They run the gamut of gripping, endearing, educational, inspiring, and entertaining, so be sure to check them out. I’ve made sure to include something for everyone, so feel free to share the list with friends and family as well. Have a great summer filled with happy reading! 

Parents

• Deacon King Kong by James McBride: “Some novels about city life are poems of alienation, interior portraits of the existentially isolated, but James McBride’s vision of New York is one of overwhelming human profusion.” (New Yorker)

• A Place For Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza: Mirza's book gets to a universal truth: To be part of a family is to learn how to be more than one person, how to remain an individual while fulfilling the duties we have to those who love us, who made us. It is almost never easy; it is sometimes, in fact, impossible.” (NPR)

High School

• Oasis by Katya Becerra: A supernatural thriller about six teenagers stranded on an oasis in the desert

• Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo (novel in verse): Two teenage girls realize that they share a father

• Found by Joseph Bruchac: After witnessing a crime, Nick survives in the wilderness to escape the murderer

• Girl, Unframed by Deb Caletti: While spending summer with her movie-star mother, Sydney, 16, finds love but also finds danger

• This Is My America by Kim Johnson: Teenager Tracy fights against racism in the justice system

Middle School

• Danny Constantino's First (and Maybe Last?) Date by Paul Acampora: A Middleschooler, Danny reconnects with an old friend, who is now a celebrity

• Raising Lumie by Joan Bauer: Newly orphaned and living with the half-sister, Olive, 12, rediscovers hope when she trains a guide dog puppy

• Catherine's War by Julia Billet (graphic novel): Set in France during WWII, Rachel Cohen must goe into hiding after being separated from her parents

• One Last Shot by John David Anderson: Malcolm, 12, takes up miniature golf to make his athletic father happy

Elementary School

• You Can Do It, Yasmine by Saadia Faruqi

• Benny McGee and the Shark by Derek Anderson

• The Boy Who Grew Dragons by Andy Shepherd

• Great Escapes (five historical fiction books) by W.N. Brown

Happy summer from KQ!

Written by Anne O’Reilly Connerty | Reading Specialist at Keating Quigley Educational Advisors

Reflections on Fatherhood

By Dave Olson, Former Middle School Head at Sacred Heart Greenwich and incoming Executive Director at the Waterside School, Stamford, CT

I am the proud father of an 11-year old son. I came to parenting later in life than many and had already spent more than 20-years as an educator before our son was born. Working with countless children and their families over the years has allowed me to develop some expertise, especially in the middle school years. I forever encourage parents to embrace the unpredictability of childhood and stay focused on the remarkable development their children will undergo over the span of their many years in school rather than focusing on the day-to-day successes, frustrations, and challenges.

Fatherhood has helped me embrace how difficult this is and has allowed me to learn the following additional truths:

It’s Not About You

I purchased a baseball glove for my son when he was three days old and soon after mounted a mini-basketball hoop in his bedroom. While I knew the pitfalls of being an overbearing parent I couldn’t resist exposing him to the things I loved and kept telling myself that I learned some of my greatest lessons through playing sports and being involved in competition. It turns out that my son has a mild interest in traditional sports, but really loves to read, skateboard, and create things with technology. Of course, my wife instantly fanned the flames of his interests, while I struggled to let go of my dreams of collegiate athletics, the Olympics, and additional feats of greatness in multiple sports. I am a recovering overbearing sports parent and working on supporting his interests so that he will continue to learn the valuable lessons that come from hard work in any venue and that he will experience the joy that comes from doing something he loves. I have even learned various skateboard terms like an “ollie” and a “frontside 180;” certainly I must be the hippest and proudest dad at the skatepark.

Be Present

One of my most salient fatherhood realizations is that my needs are secondary to the needs of my son. Being a father requires me to put the challenges of the day away when entering our home each evening so that I can be fully present for my son and wife. This is a work in progress. Thankfully, though, I have the most remarkable wife who picks up the slack regularly as I fall short. And while the pandemic created numerous profound challenges for schools and families, I found that it created greater opportunities for fathers to be more present in the lives of their children. We had a record number of working parents, many of whom are dads, participate in various virtual events this past year such as parent-teacher conferences. My hope is that fathers enjoyed the experience of being more intimately connected to their children’s education and that schools will continue to offer virtual options to encourage attendance. In addition, being quarantined for the spring of 2020 provided a profound experience for me as my son and I spent each afternoon playing outside together (yes, I “inspired” him to master the finer points of a jump-shot). When returning to in-person learning for the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year he earnestly asked “can you come home early from school each afternoon so that we can spend time together?” This hit me hard as I have spent so much of my life serving my various schools. Once again I am on the rocky road of mastering the simple concept of being present in my son’s daily life.

Enjoy the Ride

I often lament the lack of simplicity in the 21st Century, which is compounded by my tech skills as I am somewhere on the spectrum between a Luddite and digital native. Just like working in schools, being a father has forced me to embrace the sloppiness of each day and not get hung up on my utopian dream of having things arranged in vertical columns with neat bows. I am working on letting go of perfection, not getting sidetracked by complications, and simply enjoying time with my son. 

I salute all dads as we approach Father’s Day and encourage all to celebrate your small victories while remaining committed to being selfless, being present, and enjoying the greatest gift of being a father.

Starting an Independent School Search? Use the Four Rs ...

There’s no disputing it: applying to independent schools is a bewildering process that requires a significant investment in time and effort. In fact, a recent survey released by the Enrollment Management Association (EMA), shows that more than 50% of parents rate their anxiety level about the experience as a six out of ten or higher. That’s a lot of angst right there!

So, what is the best way to start the private school admissions process? And is there a way to make it less onerous? My advice? While there’s no big ‘fix’ that will suddenly make the legwork disappear, I always recommend using the Four Rs of Reflection, Research, Reinforce, Regroup.

Long story short, if an independent school search is on the horizon, I encourage you to follow these simple steps over the summer months. If all goes well, you’ll be ahead of the curve and ready to take a deeper dive into the admissions process by the time September rolls around.

A few words before we begin:

• When building your initial list of target schools, be as disciplined as possible. This preliminary diligence will help determine which schools you can discard and which one to explore on a more detailed level.

• Also, if they are old enough, be sure to include your child in all conversations around the search. Their input and opinions will lead to ownership of the process, which will ultimately result in better outcomes.

Since COVID, school websites have become the primary focus of the initial phase of the school search. Consequently, schools have enriched their site content to provide families with a deeper understanding of student life, academics, and extracurricular activities without even setting foot on campus. This is a huge gift to prospective students and their parents, so use it wisely!

To jump-start the initial legwork, reflect on these questions as you peruse each school website:

• At this school, will my child be seen and known?

• Will my child thrive?

• Does this school provide value in terms of programming and extracurricular activities?

• Does this school place emphasis on nurturing a love of learning and expanding moral character?

You’ve followed all the advice in Step 1 and by now, you’ve compiled a list of idealized schools. However, it’s now time to zero in on what matters most and build the definitive list. A word of caution: websites may start to blur and blend together after a while. That is why it is important to scrutinize the content beyond the jargon and take copious notes to determine how it makes you ‘feel’. 

With this in mind, be methodical. Research the answers to these two questions as you explore websites.

• Does the school’s mission statement resonate with me?

• Am I curious to learn more?

You’ll be surprised at how your replies will validate first impressions and organize your thoughts even more.

Well done … You’re making excellent progress. Your finalized list is in sight, but you’re not quite there yet!

After the website, a school’s most powerful tool in attracting new students is word-of-mouth recommendations. So, it’s important to actively solicit third-party opinions to reinforce and validate your thoughts.

To that end, seek out feedback from current parents, students, and alumni. Ask probing questions about what it means to be part of the school community; listen carefully to their personal experiences and anecdotes, and consider how this information aligns with your personal values.

You’ve fine-tuned the parameters and criteria of your search, browsed every website, listened intently to your neighbors’ storytelling about XYZ School, and you’re now proudly in possession of your child’s list of desirable schools. What an amazing achievement - and the new academic year hasn’t even begun! 

Yes, there is still a lot of work to be done, but for now, give yourself a congratulatory pat on the back and regroup. The rest can wait until September!

If you’re still unsure about which way to turn, Jacquie and I are just a phone call or email away. Whether you’re looking for advice on which schools to include on your child’s school list, seeking guidance for the interview, or looking for more comprehensive support, we’re here to help you work through the complexities of the school search. In the meantime, have fun putting the Four Rs to good use!

Written by Verona Keating | Founding Partner | Keating Quigley Educational Advisors

Why Boarding School?

In conversation with families, we are frequently surprised that more students don’t have boarding schools on their radar screen. Why is that? Could it be that the perception of this type of educational experience is stuck in the past? Or, is it that families simply don’t understand what they have to offer?

To answer these questions, we invited our colleagues at Great Boarding Schools (GBS) to share their perspectives on the benefits of a boarding school education.

The Benefits of Boarding School…

Who we are…

The Great Boarding School group consists of fifteen top boarding schools from the Northeast. We come together as a consortium to offer interested families a look at a wide spectrum of benefits and options of the various signature programs and 21st-century teaching and learning models embodied by the individual member schools.

Our goal is to help enlighten families regarding boarding school options including; educational philosophies, academic curriculum, extracurricular offerings, single-gender education, and residential life curriculum. We share a unified belief in the positive outcomes a boarding school experience can have on your child.

So, as you embark on the admissions process, let’s answer that refrain ‘why boarding school?’ To do this, we narrow in on the four differentiating pillars of campus life that every parent and candidate should examine when contemplating a boarding school education.

#1 Community

Boarding schools are more than just schools — they are communities. Communities made up of talented and diverse students, accomplished and caring faculty and staff members, and loyal and dedicated alumni and families. They are communities designed to challenge and support, encourage and celebrate. Communities built on relationships that extend beyond the classroom and into dorms and dining halls, onto playing fields and stages, and far from campuses. They are communities that enhance all aspects of the educational experience, instilling in students the value of connection and collaboration, and preparing them to be leaders in the years to come.

#2 World-Class Academics

The Goal: To foster academic exploration, feed curiosity, and challenge students as independent learners and thinkers. 

Small class sizes help students learn to share ideas, ask questions, and work collaboratively as they build relationships with their peers and with faculty. Students are encouraged to self-advocate and their needs are seen and understood by teachers who are engaged, passionate, and dedicated to each student’s individual growth and development. Learning continues beyond the classroom at boarding school. Faculty live on campus and serve as coaches, club sponsors, and dorm parents. This affords the opportunity to create teachable moments beyond the classroom - further enriching the student academic experience.

#3 Athletics

Athletics at a boarding school is about more than wins and losses. No matter what your path in life, physical activity plays an important role in your health and well-being. 

Under the careful mentorship of our experienced and passionate coaches, you learn important life lessons that transcend sport. Our varsity squads routinely compete against the best competition, but also offer great sub-varsity options for developing talent. Whether you play for the love of the game or are bound for college glory, we have a team for you.

While many students choose to play team sports all three seasons, each school offers athletic alternatives and recreational sports.

#4 Arts

The opportunity to engage in creative endeavors like music, dance, theater, and visual arts is one of the hallmarks of a boarding school education.  Each boarding school has a unique arts curriculum complete with light-filled studios to provide the perfect setting for students to immerse themselves in the creative process.  Whether you want to explore the basics of many different art forms or immerse yourself in your particular passion project, there is something for every kind of artist at boarding school.

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Find out more at upcoming GBS Workshops

One last thing…if boarding school is on your child’s horizon, it’s never too early to start the search process. To help you on your way, GBS is hosting a series of virtual workshops on May 4, 6, and 11. These interactive discussions will provide an excellent opportunity for parents and prospective candidates to meet students, who will talk about their personal experience with dorm life and co-curricular programming. Admissions officers will also be available to address topics such as:

• How COVID-19 has changed the way that students and their families research, identify, and select boarding schools

• Tips on how and when to visit a campus

• Applying and interviewing

• Financial Aid

Click here to register for any or all of these events. And if you’d like to dig in deeper, email us at KQ any time!

The GBS member Schools are:

• Bishop’s College School

• Cardigan Mountain School

• Emma Willard School

• Gould Academy

• Holderness School

• Kimball Union Academy

• Milton Academy

• Northfield Mount Hermon School

• Pomfret School

• Proctor Academy

• Salisbury School

• Tabor Academy

• The Governers Academy

• Westminster School

• Williston Northampton School

Ditch the flashcards: play these fun games instead!

There’s only one word to describe Alissa’s math workshop last week: ENLIGHTENING! It certainly provided us with a lens into today’s math teaching and methodology. The content was illuminating and the Q&A session covered thought-provoking topics. 

As promised, Alissa is sharing some of her top number fluency games to keep the math conversation going at home. Although it’s only April, we know that many of you are already thinking about the summer and how to keep your children engaged while they are out of the classroom. We all want to avoid the summer slide and even more so, the dreaded summer math packet! So grab a deck of cards, read her easy-to-follow instructions, and get ready for some fun quality time with the family! Remember, keeping your children engaged is half the battle when trying to instill a love of learning… 

One last thing: Alissa is available for group and one-on-one tutoring sessions, so email us any time to connect. And lastly…a HUGE thanks to Alissa’s kids for being such good sports and exemplary math game models!

how to Develop number fluency through fun exploration

Developing fluency with numbers starts with exploration. Leave the flashcards behind and give your children opportunities to play around with numbers in order to build confidence and strategy. Give them the option to use their fingers, number lines, hundreds charts, and tangible manipulatives. The more a child can visualize a number and its relation to other numbers, the more connections they can make. 

A deck of playing cards might be the best tool for practicing number fluency. Below are three games that can be used with children as an alternative to flashcards. Have fun!

Head to Head

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This game can be used to practice sums, differences, quotients, and products. It’s a game that not only encourages number fluency but allows students to practice communicating like mathematicians using the appropriate vocabulary. Additionally, students need to think flexibly about the operations in order to solve the mystery of the number on their heads.

Players : 3

Set up:

• Remove the face cards from the deck. You can add them back in when the children are ready. (J = 11, Q = 12, K = 13)

• Two players take a card from the deck and place it facing out on their forehead without looking at it. 

• The third player says the sum, product, difference, or quotient of the two cards. The first two players try to solve for the number value that is on their head. 

Example:

• Player A has a 3 card on their head. 

• Player B has a 6 card on their head.

• Player C might say, “The sum is equal to 9!” Player A would see the 6 on Player B’s head and deduce that they must have a 3 on their own head. 

War

This game is a fun way to practice all four operations.

Players: 2 or more

Set up: 

• Remove the face cards from the deck. You can add them back in when the children are ready. (J = 11, Q = 12, K = 13)

• Deal out all the cards equally to each player. All players turn over 2 of their cards and determine the sum. The person with the highest sum gets to keep all the cards. Play continues until one player has all the cards. 

Variation: This game can be played using sums, differences, and products. 

Target Number

I love this game because it can be played in pairs, small groups, or independently. It's a game that allows children to use any combination of all 4 operations if they are comfortable, or just addition and subtraction if they prefer. Later on, it can be played with older students using the order of operations and introducing parentheses. This is a game that can be adaptable as children’s skillsets grow. 

Players: 1 to 4

Set up:

• Remove the face cards from the deck. You can add them back in when children ready (J = 11, Q = 12, K = 13)

• Deal 5 cards to each player and leave them face up in front of the player. 

• Turn over one card and place it in the center. This is your Target Number. 

• Each player uses the 5 cards in front of them to create an equation that equals the target number. The goal is to use as many cards as possible. If playing against other people, the person who uses the most cards in their equation wins that round. If playing solo, the child should challenge themselves to use as many cards as possible. 

• For the next round, each player sets aside the cards they used and collects new cards from the center pile so that they again have 5 cards in front of them. Turn over a new Target Number. Play continues until all the cards are used up. 

Example:

• Target Number: 5

• Cards drawn: 7, 4, 2, 3, 1

• Child could play:  

  • 2 points:  4 + 1

  • 2 points:  7 – 2

  • 3 points:  (7 + 3) ÷ 2

  • 5 points:  [(7 + 3) × 2] ÷ (4 × 1)