Anonymous wrote:Our orientations are in person and with the kids. The kids are taken to do a short activity while admin and teachers talk with parents.

This was how our school did it pre-covid. Since 2nd graders don't decide where they go to school, the information is presented to the parents only. The kids just get a nice first introduction to the school.

You can bring your kid to the orientations (in person or online), even if they’re geared toward parents. Nothing secret kids can’t hear, just might be boring!

Different parents feel differently. For me, I felt that my second-grader wasn’t capable of making this decision, and I didn’t see the point of dragging her in.

Anonymous wrote:I did not receive orientation details yet, is that normal? I waa holding off reponding "local" vs "center" until the orientations.

It’s spring break and no one is working. Yes, that’s normal.

I did not receive orientation details yet, is that normal? I waa holding off reponding "local" vs "center" until the orientations.

Also, not to dig in too deep, but "orientation" usually connotes something more than an info/Q&A session for parents. While I know each family makes their decisions differently, I would like my DC to feel like they had some input into where they attend for LIV, having never been in the center school.

Our center does an after school orientation for parents and kids.

Anonymous wrote:Is the online orientation a video or an actual online live meeting?

Our base school is having an online meeting to hear about the local offerings for those selected for LIV (which I heard about in the fall AAP info session).

Our orientations are in person and with the kids. The kids are taken to do a short activity while admin and teachers talk with parents.

Is the online orientation a video or an actual online live meeting?

Our LLIV orientation was for parents only, to explain the cluster model. The center orientation was for kids and parents to talk about curriculum.

At our center it's a student field trip. The my DD's second grade year they got ice cream. It was a great way to make sure the kids who didn't get in felt horrible. Since covid, it's been after school with gets getting a tour while parents heard from the principal, AART and teachers and could ask questions. The base school orientation is just parents and it's in person

Thanks. I think I had picked up that impression from other discussions so we had told DC they could hear from both schools to decide. I am pretty sold on the center model and think it's the best fit for DC. DC is also excited, especially if there are friends there (at least one close friend was accepted and the other was a strong candidate but I'm not close enough with the other parents to reach out and ask - - the kids will definitely tell each other when they are back). We also have friends with kids at the center (both for LIV and base school).

The orientation is usually parent only at our center school. And it has typically been in person.

The orientation is typically parent only.

We just received an email from our base school for the LLIV orientation. It seems to be directed at parents and is online. From what I heard about past orientations, I thought it was an opportunity for students to see which was the best fit for them. We are strongly leaning towards our center school, but my DC wants to hear more about the center and see which of their friends is in/going to the center (they won't see their friends to ask until after Spring Break).

Is the center orientation generally in-person and are they meant for parents or students?