Desperately seeking Beauvoir admission

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Most of what will get your child admitted is beyond your control, so relax.

You'll be surprised that usually it's the little things that count: gross and fine motor (knowing how to walk up and down the stairs of the school if it has stair for example), listening and following directions during the interview/playdate, being friendly and perky and generally happy to be there. They will take a happy child over a sad child. They will take a trusting child over one who doesn't want to leave his parents. Verbal helps unless the child prattles too much.

They will take a sibling with family connections.... Regardless
Of his or her skills listed above. Otherwise, one of the kids in my kid's class would "never" have gotten in. The kid can roll a dice, screams bloody murder whenever mom leaves, but enrolled nonetheless....

"Can't" roll a dice. Nepotism knows no bounds.

Beauvoir gives strong preference to siblings, but they are not automatically admitted.

And, being "friendly and perky and happy" is just a parent's guess at what's important to Beauvoir, not reality. They want a range of personalities, including quieter, more introverted kids as well as the outgoing, extremely verbal ones.

As someone whose child got in with no hooks, I think all the bitterness about Beauvoir being all about nepotism represents sour grapes.

We had no personal connections to the school. What we had was a very bright child (99+ percentile on the WPPSIs), very verbal, but also sweet and kind to other children. DC also has a great sense of humor.

It is somewhat easier for siblings to get in, but that's not nepotism. It's a policy that's designed to make things easier for parents and foster a sense of community/loyalty to the school. Anyone who lives in this area knows how much it sucks to do separate drop-off for multiple kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where is your child in preschool? That will play a big part on his/her chance of admission. I'd look at NPS and St. Pat's also, as they're both very similar. After touring all three, we decided not to even apply to Beauvoir. We chose NPS and it couldn't have been a better decision.

I don't know that this is true. We were admitted for PreK and our DC went to a local small daycare center close to our home that no on has ever heard of. I did notice that there was a lot of talk of what preschools kids were in prior to Beauvoir and found it rather comical that all of these people picked certain preschools hoping it would give them a leg up. The key is for your child to be at a preschool that gives them the right foundation. My DC's preschool used the Abekka (sp?) curriculum for phonics and integrates other curriculums into the day. It worked, I have been told my DC is one of the more advanced kids admitted -- even over those coming from those fancy preschools (think STA Preschool, NCLC, Franklin, etc.). My point being just find a GOOD preschool and that doesn't have to be one well known.

+ 1. Our DCs also entered from a "no name" pre-school that provided a solid foundation. They don't care about the preschool so much as the kid.

That said, parents who send their kids to NCRC and other elite preschools are more likely to apply to Beauvoir, so there are probably more kids from the "elite" preschool there. That doesn't mean those schools are feeders, just that more people apply from those schools.

However, Beauvoir telling any parent that their kid is more "advanced" than others admitted, that's BS. That totally goes against the school's philosophy. Besides which, it's untrue. There are many kids admitted who are reading at 3rd and 4th grade levels in K, so a kid who gets phonics is just not that advanced. Moreover, Beauvoir differentiates strongly in K and works very hard to avoid kids comparing themselves to other kids -- and also encourages parents not to compare their children either. This noncompetitive approach is part of what we love about Beauvoir.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where is your child in preschool? That will play a big part on his/her chance of admission. I'd look at NPS and St. Pat's also, as they're both very similar. After touring all three, we decided not to even apply to Beauvoir. We chose NPS and it couldn't have been a better decision.

I don't know that this is true. We were admitted for PreK and our DC went to a local small daycare center close to our home that no on has ever heard of. I did notice that there was a lot of talk of what preschools kids were in prior to Beauvoir and found it rather comical that all of these people picked certain preschools hoping it would give them a leg up. The key is for your child to be at a preschool that gives them the right foundation. My DC's preschool used the Abekka (sp?) curriculum for phonics and integrates other curriculums into the day. It worked, I have been told my DC is one of the more advanced kids admitted -- even over those coming from those fancy preschools (think STA Preschool, NCLC, Franklin, etc.). My point being just find a GOOD preschool and that doesn't have to be one well known.

+ 1. Our DCs also entered from a "no name" pre-school that provided a solid foundation. They don't care about the preschool so much as the kid.

That said, parents who send their kids to NCRC and other elite preschools are more likely to apply to Beauvoir, so there are probably more kids from the "elite" preschool there. That doesn't mean those schools are feeders, just that more people apply from those schools.

However, Beauvoir telling any parent that their kid is more "advanced" than others admitted, that's BS. That totally goes against the school's philosophy. Besides which, it's untrue. There are many kids admitted who are reading at 3rd and 4th grade levels in K, so a kid who gets phonics is just not that advanced. Moreover, Beauvoir differentiates strongly in K and works very hard to avoid kids comparing themselves to other kids -- and also encourages parents not to compare their children either. This noncompetitive approach is part of what we love about Beauvoir.

I didn't say it was someone from Beauvoir -- meaning someone associated with the admissions team or administration. However, it was someone who has been able to observe a decent representation of the kids admitted. Lastly, I never said my kid only knows phonics -- LOL. My DC can actually read, and the phonics DC received, plus DC's learning ability made it possible.

[Anonymous]

I guess the OP is no longer following this thread, must have not been admitted. Hope OP had a back-up plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where is your child in preschool? That will play a big part on his/her chance of admission. I'd look at NPS and St. Pat's also, as they're both very similar. After touring all three, we decided not to even apply to Beauvoir. We chose NPS and it couldn't have been a better decision.

I don't know that this is true. We were admitted for PreK and our DC went to a local small daycare center close to our home that no on has ever heard of. I did notice that there was a lot of talk of what preschools kids were in prior to Beauvoir and found it rather comical that all of these people picked certain preschools hoping it would give them a leg up. The key is for your child to be at a preschool that gives them the right foundation. My DC's preschool used the Abekka (sp?) curriculum for phonics and integrates other curriculums into the day. It worked, I have been told my DC is one of the more advanced kids admitted -- even over those coming from those fancy preschools (think STA Preschool, NCLC, Franklin, etc.). My point being just find a GOOD preschool and that doesn't have to be one well known.

+ 1. Our DCs also entered from a "no name" pre-school that provided a solid foundation. They don't care about the preschool so much as the kid.

That said, parents who send their kids to NCRC and other elite preschools are more likely to apply to Beauvoir, so there are probably more kids from the "elite" preschool there. That doesn't mean those schools are feeders, just that more people apply from those schools.

However, Beauvoir telling any parent that their kid is more "advanced" than others admitted, that's BS. That totally goes against the school's philosophy. Besides which, it's untrue. There are many kids admitted who are reading at 3rd and 4th grade levels in K, so a kid who gets phonics is just not that advanced. Moreover, Beauvoir differentiates strongly in K and works very hard to avoid kids comparing themselves to other kids -- and also encourages parents not to compare their children either. This noncompetitive approach is part of what we love about Beauvoir.

I didn't say it was someone from Beauvoir -- meaning someone associated with the admissions team or administration. However, it was someone who has been able to observe a decent representation of the kids admitted. Lastly, I never said my kid only knows phonics -- LOL. My DC can actually read, and the phonics DC received, plus DC's learning ability made it possible.

Yeah, well, the fact your kid can read does not make them "advanced" as Beauvoir kids go, Many of them come in reading fluently, so your statement -- or the person who said it -- just doesn't sound very credible. You also sound like someone who has not been there long or knows many people, because if you did, you'd already know all this. Wondering if you're a troll, not a real Beauvoir parent.

[Anonymous]

Do many really come into Prek reading fluently??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where is your child in preschool? That will play a big part on his/her chance of admission. I'd look at NPS and St. Pat's also, as they're both very similar. After touring all three, we decided not to even apply to Beauvoir. We chose NPS and it couldn't have been a better decision.

I don't know that this is true. We were admitted for PreK and our DC went to a local small daycare center close to our home that no on has ever heard of. I did notice that there was a lot of talk of what preschools kids were in prior to Beauvoir and found it rather comical that all of these people picked certain preschools hoping it would give them a leg up. The key is for your child to be at a preschool that gives them the right foundation. My DC's preschool used the Abekka (sp?) curriculum for phonics and integrates other curriculums into the day. It worked, I have been told my DC is one of the more advanced kids admitted -- even over those coming from those fancy preschools (think STA Preschool, NCLC, Franklin, etc.). My point being just find a GOOD preschool and that doesn't have to be one well known.

+ 1. Our DCs also entered from a "no name" pre-school that provided a solid foundation. They don't care about the preschool so much as the kid.

That said, parents who send their kids to NCRC and other elite preschools are more likely to apply to Beauvoir, so there are probably more kids from the "elite" preschool there. That doesn't mean those schools are feeders, just that more people apply from those schools.

However, Beauvoir telling any parent that their kid is more "advanced" than others admitted, that's BS. That totally goes against the school's philosophy. Besides which, it's untrue. There are many kids admitted who are reading at 3rd and 4th grade levels in K, so a kid who gets phonics is just not that advanced. Moreover, Beauvoir differentiates strongly in K and works very hard to avoid kids comparing themselves to other kids -- and also encourages parents not to compare their children either. This noncompetitive approach is part of what we love about Beauvoir.

This is not only not true, it's completely crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where is your child in preschool? That will play a big part on his/her chance of admission. I'd look at NPS and St. Pat's also, as they're both very similar. After touring all three, we decided not to even apply to Beauvoir. We chose NPS and it couldn't have been a better decision.

I don't know that this is true. We were admitted for PreK and our DC went to a local small daycare center close to our home that no on has ever heard of. I did notice that there was a lot of talk of what preschools kids were in prior to Beauvoir and found it rather comical that all of these people picked certain preschools hoping it would give them a leg up. The key is for your child to be at a preschool that gives them the right foundation. My DC's preschool used the Abekka (sp?) curriculum for phonics and integrates other curriculums into the day. It worked, I have been told my DC is one of the more advanced kids admitted -- even over those coming from those fancy preschools (think STA Preschool, NCLC, Franklin, etc.). My point being just find a GOOD preschool and that doesn't have to be one well known.

+ 1. Our DCs also entered from a "no name" pre-school that provided a solid foundation. They don't care about the preschool so much as the kid.

That said, parents who send their kids to NCRC and other elite preschools are more likely to apply to Beauvoir, so there are probably more kids from the "elite" preschool there. That doesn't mean those schools are feeders, just that more people apply from those schools.

However, Beauvoir telling any parent that their kid is more "advanced" than others admitted, that's BS. That totally goes against the school's philosophy. Besides which, it's untrue. There are many kids admitted who are reading at 3rd and 4th grade levels in K, so a kid who gets phonics is just not that advanced. Moreover, Beauvoir differentiates strongly in K and works very hard to avoid kids comparing themselves to other kids -- and also encourages parents not to compare their children either. This noncompetitive approach is part of what we love about Beauvoir.

I didn't say it was someone from Beauvoir -- meaning someone associated with the admissions team or administration. However, it was someone who has been able to observe a decent representation of the kids admitted. Lastly, I never said my kid only knows phonics -- LOL. My DC can actually read, and the phonics DC received, plus DC's learning ability made it possible.

Yeah, well, the fact your kid can read does not make them "advanced" as Beauvoir kids go, Many of them come in reading fluently, so your statement -- or the person who said it -- just doesn't sound very credible. You also sound like someone who has not been there long or knows many people, because if you did, you'd already know all this. Wondering if you're a troll, not a real Beauvoir parent.

+1. I'm going with troll. I have never heard anyone refer to any one child as being more advanced than another. My DC could not read when he started and no one ever referred to him as behind or not advanced.

[Anonymous]

I am not a troll. My DC (who I was speaking of) will be going into K and I have an older DC going into 2nd grade. I'm very familiar with the school. If you want to actually believe there are no comparisons made and people don't speak of which kids are advanced then you are delusional. No the school does not promote competitiveness, but they also can't prevent parents and other from chatting about their observations. My DC can read, but I would not call it fluently or for comprehension. Nonetheless, DC is not one of the many that can already read. DC is one of the few that can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not a troll. My DC (who I was speaking of) will be going into K and I have an older DC going into 2nd grade. I'm very familiar with the school. If you want to actually believe there are no comparisons made and people don't speak of which kids are advanced then you are delusional. No the school does not promote competitiveness, but they also can't prevent parents and other from chatting about their observations. My DC can read, but I would not call it fluently or for comprehension. Nonetheless, DC is not one of the many that can already read. DC is one of the few that can.

Can someone explain to me why some Beauvoir parents think the majority of kids going into PreK there can already read fluently if this is not the case? As someone thinking about applying, it would be useful for me to know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not a troll. My DC (who I was speaking of) will be going into K and I have an older DC going into 2nd grade. I'm very familiar with the school. If you want to actually believe there are no comparisons made and people don't speak of which kids are advanced then you are delusional. No the school does not promote competitiveness, but they also can't prevent parents and other from chatting about their observations. My DC can read, but I would not call it fluently or for comprehension. Nonetheless, DC is not one of the many that can already read. DC is one of the few that can.

Perhaps your incoming K "genius" child can read (many PKs can), even at the laughably inflated level that you are suggesting, but there is simply no way that your special little one is comprehending a thing if you are providing "3rd grade" material. It's developmentally impossible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a troll. My DC (who I was speaking of) will be going into K and I have an older DC going into 2nd grade. I'm very familiar with the school. If you want to actually believe there are no comparisons made and people don't speak of which kids are advanced then you are delusional. No the school does not promote competitiveness, but they also can't prevent parents and other from chatting about their observations. My DC can read, but I would not call it fluently or for comprehension. Nonetheless, DC is not one of the many that can already read. DC is one of the few that can.

Can someone explain to me why some Beauvoir parents think the majority of kids going into PreK there can already read fluently if this is not the case? As someone thinking about applying, it would be useful for me to know.

They don't understand the difference between a child's ability to read words (fluency) and to actually understanding sequencing, theme, etc. Parents like this are all over the place - don't worry. They like to yelp and complain that their children aren't being challenged in their reading assignments; what they feel the need to ignore is that children should not move on from a level of text if they are not deciphering the important parts of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a troll. My DC (who I was speaking of) will be going into K and I have an older DC going into 2nd grade. I'm very familiar with the school. If you want to actually believe there are no comparisons made and people don't speak of which kids are advanced then you are delusional. No the school does not promote competitiveness, but they also can't prevent parents and other from chatting about their observations. My DC can read, but I would not call it fluently or for comprehension. Nonetheless, DC is not one of the many that can already read. DC is one of the few that can.

Perhaps your incoming K "genius" child can read (many PKs can), even at the laughably inflated level that you are suggesting, but there is simply no way that your special little one is comprehending a thing if you are providing "3rd grade" material. It's developmentally impossible.

I actually said while DC can read that I would NOT call it fluent OR for comprehension.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a troll. My DC (who I was speaking of) will be going into K and I have an older DC going into 2nd grade. I'm very familiar with the school. If you want to actually believe there are no comparisons made and people don't speak of which kids are advanced then you are delusional. No the school does not promote competitiveness, but they also can't prevent parents and other from chatting about their observations. My DC can read, but I would not call it fluently or for comprehension. Nonetheless, DC is not one of the many that can already read. DC is one of the few that can.

Perhaps your incoming K "genius" child can read (many PKs can), even at the laughably inflated level that you are suggesting, but there is simply no way that your special little one is comprehending a thing if you are providing "3rd grade" material. It's developmentally impossible.

Not PP, but it's entirely possible. Come over and meet my kid. She's a freak, we didn't do anything to create it ( other than just have a bunch of books around and go the library all the time.). It's not like she had to grow a third leg to read well. That's what I would call "developmentally impossible."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a troll. My DC (who I was speaking of) will be going into K and I have an older DC going into 2nd grade. I'm very familiar with the school. If you want to actually believe there are no comparisons made and people don't speak of which kids are advanced then you are delusional. No the school does not promote competitiveness, but they also can't prevent parents and other from chatting about their observations. My DC can read, but I would not call it fluently or for comprehension. Nonetheless, DC is not one of the many that can already read. DC is one of the few that can.

Perhaps your incoming K "genius" child can read (many PKs can), even at the laughably inflated level that you are suggesting, but there is simply no way that your special little one is comprehending a thing if you are providing "3rd grade" material. It's developmentally impossible.

Not PP, but it's entirely possible. Come over and meet my kid. She's a freak, we didn't do anything to create it ( other than just have a bunch of books around and go the library all the time.). It's not like she had to grow a third leg to read well. That's what I would call "developmentally impossible."

We know, PP. It's Washington, where all children are astronomically "above average."