4 Reasons to Consider Private School

4REASONS TO CONSIDER PRIVATE SCHOOL

By Pam Moore

From the moment our kids are born, we’re tasked with deciding what’s best for them. All that decision-making can be exhausting. We caught up with experts in the education field to help you make an informed decision when it comes to one of the most important choices of all – your child’s education. We asked why parents should consider private school. Here’s what they had to say.

SMALLER CLASSES

One of the greatest strengths of any private school is smaller class sizes. At Nativity: Faith and Reason in Broomfield, Colo., smaller classes ensure each child is being met where they are at and encouraged to meet their potential. “Every child is known and loved in a safe environment that is more conducive to learning by way of smaller class sizes, more challenging curriculum and more individualized attention and teaching,” says principal Holly Peterson.

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING

Social-emotional learning (SEL) gives children the skills to manage their own emotions so that they can ultimately make better decisions and be better citizens. According to the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning, it’s based on five core competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. And data show it’s effective. According to a 2011 meta-analysis published in Child Development, students who were exposed to school-based SEL curricula demonstrated notable improvements in social and emotional skills and behaviors as well as improved academic performance. Meanwhile, a 2017 Society for Research in Child Development study showed that children who participated in school-based SEL programs had higher graduation rates and safer sexual behavior than their peers, even 18 years post-intervention. Many private schools emphasize SEL curricula. At Temple Grandin School in Boulder, for example, SEL is valued just as much as academics. "Of equal importance [to academics] is integrated social-emotional learning, so their children can develop meaningful friendships,” says Lea Anne Paskvalich, the school’s director of admissions and public relations. Similarly, at Colorado’s Boulder Valley Waldorf School, there’s a focus on creating “a student-focused environment for the whole child,” adds Ruth Godberfforde, director of advancement. She described an emphasis on “the academic, social-emotional and the physical,” or “head-heart-hands” that is foundational to every aspect of the Waldorf curriculum.

EXTRACURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES

Oftentimes, parents gravitate toward pri-

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vate education because of the extracurricular activities it offers. Because private schools tend to specialize in specific areas (e.g. math and science or the arts), students get to enjoy more specialized afterschool activities. That said, private school can also offer opportunities for a wide range of extracurriculars. According to Susan Boyle, the director of admission and marketing at Boulder Country Day School, the chance to expose kids to a wide array of experiences, starting at a young age, is a key advantage of private school. She listed a diverse range of activities, offered at Boulder Country Day, including world language, visual and performing arts, and science/STEM.

COMMUNITY

One of the top reasons many parents choose private school is the strong community it offers. According to Tom Mecsey, principal at the Broomfield, Colo. Sacred Heart of Jesus School, “The community and level of parental involvement in private schools is very special. Families who choose this option often have a lot in common, as they have made an intentional decision to send their child to a particular school (often for similar reasons) rather than base it on a neighborhood, etc.” Meanwhile, he says, that enhanced sense of community fosters deepens children’s learning experiences. “We have found that there tends to be greater parental interest and involvement in the day-to-day activities of their children. This, in turn, fosters greater communication,” Mecsey explained. “The communication between school and home enables the school to be more responsive to students’ needs.”

Pam Moore helps women push through fear to become their best selves. To get her free guide to crushing Impostor Syndrome, visit pam-moore.com

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