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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
Can you explain how a preschool would prioritize prepping for private K? [/quote]

NP - It comes from the parents and not the preschool. When you start hearing about 4 year olds that can read, you start to worry whether your child is falling behind. Some preschools are play-based learning so the director will tell you not to worry and all childrens will learn to read soon enough in K. You start to feel the need to supplement outside the preschool. [/quote]

TTs want smart kids not prepped kids. Beyond being smart there are obviously other qualities that matter. I would focus more on making sure the kid is curious, enjoys learning, has a great personality, communicates well with peer and adults, and can control emotions well. Rather than teaching math or reading early. [/quote]m

Agree. Great advice. Let them love learning and it will all fall into place. Have faith in your child and their personality. [/quote]

Exactly, best gift we can give them is a happy childhood. It will all fall into place. Counter to some common perceptions, most TTs put more weight in evaluating the kids themselves than anything else, so really for the right kid it doesn’t matter if it’s TT preschool, no name preschool, public preschool, your child will shine no matter any of that.[/quote]

I second this.  Based on my observation of my kids’ classmates at TT school. When my kids were in K, their K class  had a decent number of kids from public schools or no name preschools. Some of them were clearly academically advanced but some were not. But what I noticed all of them had were the qualities where I can see them doing well in any setting. They were engaged, social, knew how to listen directions, curious, and etc.That made me think that these admissions people know what they are doing.

Let your kid shine. Just don’t get in the way by being obnoxious or annoying parent during the tour or interview:[/quote]

Exactly this. Schools don't want parents who think they can force some kind of outcome for their kid. It risks becoming a nightmare later on.

My kid got into a "TT" school too and they stressed during the admitted parents event that reading is not required heading into K. They try and pick out what the above poster called out: bright, curious, engaged. [/quote]

I was the first one to not care about tiers but simply making my DC happy and give them tools and enablement to thrive because I noticed their eagerness to learn. We enrolled in a non-feeder independent private play-based preschool. My DC is a force of nature in a good way and now at a TT K getting amazing feedback about their attention, engagement levels, and being made an example in class by their teachers.

My DC got 2 acceptances in K from TT single gender schools and none from coeds. We were still happy with the outcome and our 1st choice came through but that made me start thinking whether coming in as an unconnected family from a non-feeder might not be the best approach for my 2nd DC who is very different from the 1st. Our PSD while lovely is quite new with no strong ties or experience in exmissions, we had to do this process a lot by ourselves last year and it ran us to the ground with much stress involved and surprises. I’m worried how this might go for my very introverted 2nd DC so I wonder if I should look into feeders for them. What would you do in my case?[/quote]

You guys sound awesome! Happy it worked out for DC.  I'm the poster who is strongly considering picking a non-feeder (awaiting preschool results at end of this month).  Do you mind sharing what you mean by "we had to do this process a lot by ourselves last year and it ran us to the ground with much stress involved and surprises"?  We would also love to target SS schools like a Collegiate or St Bernard's eventually.[/quote]

Sure and thanks! So I started overly relaxed being the European I am and finding all this a madness. I witnessed the madness in the open houses and laughed secretly with my spouse that we’re no those people and we’ll be fine, we trust our DC and us to have a solid outcome.

I didn’t get any input on my school list when I presented it to my PSD, which is fine I guess. My PSD didn’t provide any tips or advice other than hand holding which I’ll also take. It was clear they didn’t know the schools much other than some intro events these schools host for PSDs. There was zero input or connecting me with other alumni to get insight because there were no other alumni in those TT schools other than pre-pandemic here and there. I had to rally and own it up to collect insights beyond my own visits. There was no feedback coming in either and when I pushed to get them to obtain some it was very unclear and vague in most cases. When my PSD asked those unclear schools to come visit they said no. The results were 2 very strong acceptances out of the 8 we applied and a couple waitlists. Another example, on decision day I had no idea what we’re getting, my PSD knew a bit earlier and was happy but wouldn’t tell me. Then all the rejections were coming in and the 2 acceptances came in last so that’s where I struggled mentally. I’d like to have some more pointers and insights on round 2.

We initially were going to put more effort in coed schools because we have 2 different gender kids. But after touring we steered and liked the SS ones more for our DC. So it’s only inconvenient that we have to go through this again otherwise very much worth it.
If your PSD is strong and has knowledge and experience you will be totally fine from a nonfeeder and usually I’ve heard can work for their favor. Although I do see large number concentration of certain preschools at my DC’s K which advisors would say “they can’t get too many from one feeder.” It seems like the opposite to me so far but maybe things change each year.[/quote]

Given you have one DC in at a good school already, one other option is to just ask your current school's admissions director how separate DC at another school is seen.

I strongly believe you get at least some additional weighting during the process, as one thing I've come to understand is that schools prefer parents that "get it." Part of this is expressed in legacy + sibling preferences, but beyond that they look for other signals too. And if you've been a collaborative, non-dramatic parent at one other known DC, that sends a very strong signal that you're likely going to be a good partner at any other schools you apply your other DC to.

And who knows, your admissions director might confirm that they all do talk to each other! Which may help put your mind at ease too.

[/quote]

I agree with this. Schools want parents who get it. They do not want any obnoxious parents. It seems like you (poster asking about their second dc) already get it. The ss you are interested for second dc will definitely note that your first dc is in opposite gender ss. That works for you in a big way.[/quote]

You may also have a leg up by simply sharing that you have firsthand knowledge of what SS education is like and value it for your second DC -- some schools may really value that for the "fit factor" aspect. [/quote]

All very fair points and what we’re capitalizing on for our 2nd DC. We truly appreciate the SS education and we plan on expressing that in the opposite gender SS when it’s time. Indeed showing that our first born is enrolled in one should be the proof. I have also wondered if my 2nd DC would be more of a coed fit as they grow, but I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it and seeing what kind of learner they will be. [/quote]

For what it is worth, my child is at a TT co-ed school, and in her class there are several boys with older sisters at SS schools. I do not personally know of any girls in her class with older brothers at SS schools, but they may exist too. This is all to say that you should free to apply to co-ed and single sex for your second child. No need to feel pigeon holed into SS.[/quote]

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