"top 10 things I learned in the college application process" by Anon.
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I don't take guest blogs, but I got this wonderful email from a parent whose child graduated from one of my favorite NYC public schools this spring (not Bard or Beacon or Stuy - keep guessing). She is a kid who squeezed the best out of her good old Brklyn high school experience and her hard work was rewarded by the kind of college placement you all dream of. It is so right on the money that I though I would share it with you. Edited slightly for space. My comments in italics.
Read Morewhat the heck is a PA/PTA really?
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By Joyce Szuflita
I find that parents are confused about what a PA (Parents Association) or a PTA (Parent/Teacher Association) really is. The responsibilities, political or financial alignment, governance, fiscal impact on the school are generally a total mystery. Check out this really awesome website, PTAlink.org that lays it all out for you.
rising 8th graders: what about high school?
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You know that the high school search is going to be taking up most of your fall. What should you do right now to prepare?
Come to my High School Choice: Calm and Clear talk on July 9 at 7pm at Hootenanny Art House. There are tickets still available and if you wait until the fall when I hold the last one (I will be scheduling shortly) you may be a little behind the 8 ball.
Read MoreI wasn't there, but I have an opinion
/By Joyce Szuflita
This is classic - she doesn't show up to the Public Forum: “Reimagining the Middle School Admissions Process in District 15”, but she has an opinion about it. I did have a good excuse: the first of two college graduations. I applaud everyone involved! and I will make every effort to attend and support all discussions on this issue. From the reports that I have read, there were many thoughtful and diverse perspectives of the effects of the current process and some options mentioned for possible models. I really like one possible option over the others and I want to tell you why.
Brooklyn! lets start a new neighborhood school search culture
/By Joyce Szuflita
There are a lot of freaked out 11 year olds out there. This middle school 'choice process' is not kind. The kids that got their heart's desire are relieved, but it is hard to be happy when your friends are not. There are some kids who got great placements but it was not the one they wanted or where their friends are going and there are kids who are headed into the unknown (or even worse - the unpopular known) and that is scarey for everyone. I know that you all feel at the mercy of this process and that your children are being tortured by an unfeeling algorithm. You have a case.
I do think that there is a very significant thing that we, as parents, can do.
Read Morein zone kindergarten wait lists
/By Joyce Szuflita
The unofficial word is that fewer zoned schools than last year have in-zone wait lists. We are waiting to hear who they are. If you were not placed in your zoned school (and you wanted to be), let me know.
expectations management @ kindergarten
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By Joyce Szuflta
We should all be hearing about placements shortly. Remain calm.
2015 prek round up
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By Joyce Szuflita
You have until Fri. April 24 to apply for Universal Prek.
You can apply online here or at a Family Welcome Center or by phone 718-935-2067
You can find the Prek Directories here but there are also Updated Directories with many new seats available.
I have listed some notable changes below. This is not a comprehensive guide. You need to scour the lists for yourself.
ranking - I am only going to say this one more time!!!
/By Joyce Szuflita
This blog was specifically written in response to families asking me about prek and k admissions which have a geographic priority that factors into placement.
Your chances of getting into a school are NOT tied to how you rank them. RANK THE SCHOOLS IN THE ORDER THAT YOU LIKE THEM. You will not be disadvantaged by putting a long shot first or by putting your favored zoned school last.
Read Morehuzzah! new ms 839 in district 15
/By Joyce Szuflita
New school alert. We knew it was coming- the beautiful new building on E. 8th St. between Kermit and Caton is almost done. PS 130 has been rezoned and "split-sited" and will be occupying part of the building. MS 839, a small school (300 students when they are at capacity in 3 years) will be opening in the fall. If you are interested, sign up for email alerts on their website. All District 15 5th graders can apply by asking for a "New School Application form" from your school. That application is separate from your main application. If you receive an offer to MS 839, you will still have your main round middle school offer and you choose between the two. A little more school information here. Can't wait to learn more!
down the rabbit hole with prek for fall 2015
/By Joyce Szuflita
The dates and new procedures have been announced for the public prek process. Submit one application for prek in public schools as well as Community Based Early Childhood Centers (CBECC) between March 16 -April 24.
sex, drugs and money
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By Joyce Szuflita
Ron Lieber, New York Times money Columnist, has written a wonderful book called "The Opposite of Spoiled". Speaking as a "thrifty person" (he discusses it and I embrace the epithet!), this book is well worth the money!
read aloud to your teenagers at bedtime
/By Joyce Szuflita
Check out the interesting stats from Scholastic here. "Eighty percent of children between 12 and 14 years old admitted they liked or loved it when their parents read aloud to them, and 83 percent of high schoolers aged 15 to 17 said they liked or loved it."
eenie, meanie: sorting public, charter and gifted kindergartens
/By Joyce Szuflita
Mentally sort elementary schools into three different catagories:
DoE programs (zoned, un-zoned, out of zone)
Charter schools
Gifted and Talented programs
You will be applying to these programs in 3 different ways.
Read MoreAck! changes to Dual Language admissions
/By Joyce Szuflita
Last year you could list dual language programs as separate entries on your kindergarten application. This year you cannot.
tips for ranking kindergarten choices
/By Joyce Szuflita
Magical thinking is good in literature and bad in school ranking.
PS 8's overcrowding
/By Joyce Szuflita
It is not new news that PS 8 is very very crowded and their kindergarten class may be "capped" in fall of 2015. That means that there may not be enough seats available for all in zone families at K. I have found, in other neighborhoods where this has been a problem (look to Park Slope and Kensington for Brooklyn prototypes), that the families who have the best outcomes are the ones who stop shaking their fists in frustration and try to affect change and/or avail themselves of the system which may also provide them with a wide range of school options. The DoE will do what the DoE will do, but they are not against listening and numbers will always get attention. You will feel frustrated through this process and rezoning (which will happen with a new plan or building) is always painful for someone.
venting about middle school
/By Joyce Szuflita
I have heard too much distress from parents in the wind and now I just have to weigh in. It seems like so many people are unhappy about the fact that there are too few "good middle school options".
I have to ask. Do you mean schools with high test scores?
If you are clinging to the safety of high test scores, then you are empowering the tests and you will be supporting that culture; the stress, the prep, the high stakes and anxiety. Live by the sword, die by the sword.
If it is not high test scores, what makes a good school?
Read Morehigh school fair report
/By Joyce Szuflita
It was business as usual at Brooklyn Tech today; crowded, noisy and hot hot hot! It was also awesome. Thanks SO much to the wonderful educators, students, school security officers and DoE Enrollment officials (and my husband who is a school search widower)! I know a lot of you are now freaked out and just plain tired, but I feel very optimistic and energized!
Here are some take-aways:
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