January 2010 Admission Events

The private school admission season is in full swing around San Diego, and many schools have scheduled events for prospective families during January 2010. These events give families the opportunity to learn more about a school’s program, meet administrators, teachers and current parents, and get a feel for the campus and facilities. Now is the time to RSVP for events coming up in January 2010. Be aware that...

ISEE: The Basics

The Independent School Entrance Examination, commonly referred to as the ISEE (pronounced eye-see), is an admission test that is administered by the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) and used by many private schools to evaluate prospective students. Three Levels The ISEE has three levels with a different test for each level. The Lower Level is for students currently in 4th and 5th grade who are seeking admission to...

Meet The Gillispie School

Right in the heart of La Jolla, nestled underneath shade trees just a few steps down Girard Avenue from the hustle and bustle of La Jolla Village, sits The Gillispie School, an independent school for approximately 300 students from preschool through sixth grade. The school was founded on its current site in 1951 by Ada Gillispie, a philanthropist who cared deeply about the community’s children. The school has...

Evaluating Preschools

How do you evaluate preschools and gauge the quality of the programs? A good place to start is by searching for schools that meet standards set forth by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Look for programs that follow these four guidelines. Preschools should focus on children. What type of opportunities does the school provide for children to interact with other children and...

With Preschool in Your Future…

by Mare Williams, Director of Aspirations School of Learning in Carlsbad, CA It’s the journey and not the destination, I keep reminding myself.  This statement rang true for a group of my parents recently when we enjoyed a discussion about the benefits of a junior kindergarten program versus a kindergarten program for their children. In consideration of this, many thoughts come to mind and as always, I let...