Sacred Heart Schools
the Heart
FROM THE HEAD &
INSIDE:
Nat Wilburn, Head of Schools
THE HIGH SCHOOL PROCESS - where do SHS grads go, and how do we help them along the way?
Nat Wilburn
Head of Schools
FROM THE HEAD
and the Heart
MARCH 2015
The High School process Where do our graduates go, and how do we help them along the way?
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t is this time of year that our current 8th graders are awaiting and receiving high school admission decisions. To those students and their parents, I extend my best wishes and full faith that every envelope will offer wonderful new opportunities. Each year when I receive calls from the principals of local high schools, I feel great pride both in our students and in our tradition here in Chicago. For all Sacred Heart families, this is a great time to study up on the high school process. Whether this landmark when I is coming up soon for you or is still several years on the receive calls horizon, it’s never too early to think about your options. from the principals of Although parents are the audience we have in mind local high when writing From the Head and the Heart, I encourschools, I age you to share this issue with your child—especially feel great the article on the students’ perspectives. The four gradupride in our ates of the Class of 2014 we interviewed (one each curstudents.’ rently attending a Catholic prep school, a CPS selective
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enrollment school, an upstart independent school, and an out-of-state boarding school) have many valuable life lessons to share. They also come across as such mature and insightful young men and women—I do believe that’s their Sacred Heart experience showing through.
FROM THE HEAD &
the Heart
Nat Wilburn, Head of Schools
This publication is emailed and posted online, saving trees and following Goal 3, Criterion 5: The school teaches respect for creation and prepares students to be stewards of the earth’s resources. Editor:
Diane Fallon
6250 N. Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL www.shschicago.org
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If there is one thing I would underline amid all the information in these pages, it’s that we’re here to help. Sue Heybach, Middle School Counselor, other staff and faculty, and I welcome your calls and emails as you plan your “life after Sheridan Road.”
Nat Wilburn Head of Schools
Class of 2014 speaks out on the High School process These 2014 graduates had more great feedback than we could fit!
Click here for the full interview. Sean Mooney – St. Ignatius College Prep Charles Shearon – Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts Margaret Mui – Northside College Prep, a CPS selective school Lily Hanson – Beacon Academy, a new Montessori-based school in Evanston
When did you and your parents start talking about high schools? Sean Mooney: Before my parents were even married, they agreed that their children would go to Catholic schools. In 7th grade we visited a few open houses, and we expanded that pool in 8th grade. I didn’t know whether I would apply to Loyola or Ignatius until a month before the entrance exam. Charles Shearon: I became interested in New England boarding schools during the 6th grade. My parents took me to visit several during spring break that year. By the beginning of the 8th grade we had worked with an educational consultant and identified schools that were a good fit. Margaret Mui: We started discussing high school options around 7th grade. For me, planning too far ahead never seemed like a good idea. Eighth grade was when we looked more seriously into different schools. Lily Hanson: We started exploring options in 6th grade and I attended High School Night in 7th grade. By the beginning of 8th grade, we had eliminated some choices and knew we wanted to take a closer look at others. How did you and your parents split up responsibility for the high school placement process? Shearon: I took responsibility for researching admission and application requirements and spent the summer before 8th
grade preparing for entrance exams. My parents helped me organize a calendar with the various schools’ deadlines. In the fall of 8th grade, I wrote the essays for the applications, and my parents suggested edits. Mui: Either my mom or dad would come with me to open houses, which was one of the main ways we learned more about schools. For filling out applications, my parents and I split up the work pretty evenly. Getting ready for entrance exams was mostly me taking a ton of practice tests. The practice tests were actually harder than the actual tests. Mooney: I chose the schools I was interested in, and we all went to the open houses. My parents spoke to a lot of other parents, I did the shadow days, I prepared for my exams in the month or two prior to the tests, and we both had sections of the applications we filled out. How do you feel about the support Sacred Heart provided in the high-school application process? Mui: Something I found really helpful was the High School Night in the gym, where different schools showcased their academics, athletics, extracurricular activities—and fantastic pens. Anyone in 6th and 7th grade should go! It’s one of the best times to ask questions. Mrs. Heybach was also very helpful throughout the process. Hanson: High School Night helped introduce us to a lot of the options out there. The formation sessions with Mr. Puricelli helped us think and talk about the different things we were interested in. But it was our one-on-one conversations with Mrs. Heybach that were the most helpful and ultimately led me to explore Beacon Academy. By the time you’re in 8th grade at Sacred Heart the teachers and administrators really know you well—and they’ve been through this process with hundreds of students before you. It’s really wonderful to have experts in your corner. Click for full interview.
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Where Are They Now ? Sacred Heart graduates of the last four years currently attend: American School of London Beacon Academy British School of Chicago Chicago Academy of the Arts Culver Academies Deerfield Academy DePaul College Prep (FKA Gordon Tech) Evanston Township High School Francis W. Parker School Jones College Prep Lane Technical College Prep Latin School of Chicago Lincoln Park High School (Double Honors and International Baccalaureate Programs) Loyola Academy Mercersburg Academy New Trier High School Nicolas Senn High School (International Baccalaureate Program) North Shore Country Day School Northside College Prep Notre Dame College Prep Regina Dominican High School Roycemore School St. Benedict High School St. Ignatius College Prep St. Patrick High School Taft High School Trinity High School University of Chicago Laboratory Schools Walter Payton College Prep Whitney M. Young Magnet High School Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart
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“Everyone Goes To
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amilies choose Sacred Heart Schools knowing that they will move on to a new school for 9th grade. For all the virtues of spending these crucial early years in an exclusively K-8 environment, the high-school transition can be a big step—a rehearsal, in some ways, for going off to college a few years later. It is a process that many parents and children approach with some trepidation, and emerge from with a great sense of accomplishment and new beginnings. At Sacred Heart, high school placement starts with Mrs. Heybach. Sue Heybach, our High School Placement Counselor for nine years, allays anxieties over the process with a motto familiar to everyone who has been through it with her: “Everyone goes to high school!” She recommends starting the process early—as in 6th and 7th grade. It is healthy for parents and students to explore their options together, about a year ahead, as opposed to sticking to a long-held script. The best place to start is with your own mindset, says Heybach. “Have realistic expectations for your child based on report cards, test scores and extracurricular activities. Know that although the high school application process is detailed, it can be accomplished step by step. Remain calm throughout the process. Help your child to remain calm, too.” She encourages parents to learn as much as they can about a variety of high schools and develop a timeline for the process. “You should initiate a family conversation about what is most important in your child’s education, and discuss with your child which of you is going to make the final decision,” she says. A parental meeting with Heybach is an important way to narrow the list
of schools that may be a good fit. For a practical first step, try to attend a few high school open houses in the fall of 7th grade. They are scheduled early in the school year, so getting a few under your belt will help orient you to the process— and make it possible to take a second look a year later if you wish. A 7th or 8th grader—one with the level of responsibility and maturity their years at Sacred Heart have cultivated—can be expected to do a lot of the legwork. Your child should attend open ‘Our students houses with you, browse the website of a larger numbe every school on your are in a positio list, shadow at several high schools and quiz older students on their experiences, and attend Sacred Heart’s annual High School Night in September, where more than 40 high schools are represented. What are some of the trends Heybach is noticing? “Our students are now applying and getting accepted to a larger number of schools, so more of them are in a position to choose between offers. Also, each year new high schools are opening that expand the choices for our students.”
Where do SHS students go?
There are three broad categories (aside from neighborhood public schools). Of the Sacred Heart class of 2014, 62% went on to Catholic schools. More than half the class went to just Sue Heybach, Counselor two schools: St. high schools with SHS s
High School!” Ignatius (34%) and Loyola Academy (23%). A few went to Regina Dominican or Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart. Our applicants are accepted at St. Ignatius, Loyola and Woodlands at more than a 90% rate. Last year, 19% of graduates went to Chicago Public Schools selective-enrollment high schools, including Walter Payton College Prep, Jones College Prep, Lane Tech and Northside College Prep. Families exploring this option must do
are now getting accepted to er of schools, so more of them on to choose between offers.’ their research, even if they have been through it with an older child. The application process is more apt to change from year to year than at private schools. The CPS selection process is based on a 900-point scale, evenly weighted between a student’s 7th-grade report card, MAP Test scores, and an entrance exam. Students are accepted to only one school. (It is also notable that CPS selective schools offer open houses, but do not allow shadowing prior to acceptance.)
r, shares all the most recent literature on students.
Independent schools claimed 12% of the class of 2014, chiefly going to the new Beacon Academy and the Latin School. The acceptance rate for applications to Middle School Counselor, Sue Heybach, works individuindependent schools is ally with each student to select choices right for them. around 75%. A handful of 2014 grads are at other represented in the class of 2014; none of them had more than four or five SHS public schools, and two 2014 graduates graduates moving on together. went to out-of-state boarding schools. Coming from single-sex classrooms Some students may want to enter on a co-ed campus, Sacred Heart stuhigh school in the company of famildents are usually comfortable continuing iar faces, while others want to make a in either tradition. Most of the leading fresh entrance on the 9th-grade stage. Chicagoland options are fully co-ed, St. Ignatius and Loyola Academy have and most SHS students follow this path. a significant peer group of Sacred Heart Exceptions include Woodlands Academy, graduates. Still, these schools are rather Regina Dominican and Trinity High large, so the SHS contingent is only School for girls, and and Notre Dame about 7% and 3%, respectively, of the College Prep and St. Patrick’s for boys. student body. Sixteen other schools are
High School Process TIMELINE 6th and 7th grades
September – students attend Sacred Heart High School Night, and attend again in 8th grade. October – parents attend a Parent-to-Parent Chat about applying to high school, and attend again in 8th grade. Students should focus on maintaining good grades. Parents should help students manage unreasonable stress and anxiety. Research school options together.
8th grade Students and parents meet individually with Mrs. Heybach about high school options. Prepare for entrance exams. September – all-parent meeting on the high school process October, November and December – shadow days at many independent and Catholic schools October, November and December – open-house events at all Catholic, independent and selective schools November and December – application deadlines for most independent schools January – application deadlines for most Catholic schools February and March – admission decision letters, first from the Catholic schools, then from CPS, then from the independent schools. Deadlines for accepting offers are several weeks later.
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Parent Panel Parents of alums share advice on navigating the high school process
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O’Neil
O’Grady
ive parents of 2014 grads relate the concerns they heard from current parents when they participated in a parent-to-parent panel discussion last fall.
Patricia Steeves O’Neil, mother of a freshman at Jones College Prep, and two older SHS alumni who graduated from St. Ignatius Steve Moravec, father of a freshman at the Latin School Mary Oelerich, whose daughters have gone to Woodlands Claire O’Grady, whose daughters have gone to St. Ignatius Laurie Bish, whose twins are freshman at Loyola Academy, and whose older daughters went to Whitney Young
What seems to be the main concern of parents going into the process? Laurie Bish: In my opinion, the main concern is, “where will my child get in?” Can they achieve the scores needed for CPS [selective enrollment schools]? What Catholic school will we consider? Can we get in? Can we afford the independent schools? Will we consider moving to the suburbs? Claire O’Grady: Parents all seem to be concerned about the high school being the ‘right fit’ for their child and whether their child will be able to get into the one best suited for them. Steve Moravec: The process is confusing, given the different admission requirements and materials for the various types of high schools. What are the most common questions they have? O’Grady: For the all the schools, parents seem to be concerned about the rigor of the academics. Also, about the testing process and how much that matters. Some other concerns would be whether it matters if you’re not Catholic but want to go to a Catholic high school, whether your child will be able to participate in the athletics/extracurricular activities and how many hours of homework there are each evening. Patricia Steeves O’Neil: I think parents have a lot of questions on CPS since most of us have never experienced it. What were you able to relate from your personal experience that would allay any of their concerns? O’Neil: Set reasonable expectations. It isn’t that difficult to honestly assess if your child is going to get into a school and then if it’s the right fit. When expectations don’t meet reality,
Bish
Moravec
Oelerich
it can be a let-down. Moravec: Start early and keep a checklist of all items needed for each school you’re applying to. Seek out the guidance of Mrs. Heybach early. Keep expectations realistic. Mary Oelerich: Look and listen for that “little birdie on your shoulder” for a sign to help in their decision making process. This is a family decision, not just a 14-year-old’s. O’Grady: It sounds like a cliché, but if guided correctly, I do think kids end up at the high school that best suits them. I think being honest and objective with yourself and your child about their strengths/weaknesses is crucial throughout. Your family’s values are also very important, and parents should take the lead in guiding their children to the right decision. I think parents can alleviate the burden from their child by letting them know they will take everything the child has to say into account but that they (the parents) will make the final decision. Bish: First and foremost... Everyone goes to high school! Relax and don’t stress your children out. Don’t use every social situation to discuss the process with other parents—especially when kids are able to hear! Be open. Sometimes things turn out differently than you expected, but that’s okay! Finally, let it be known what your family’s “non-negotiables” are. If there are places that you as a family will not consider, let your child know that, so there are no disappointments. What do you think is the most beneficial part of the SHS process? O’Grady: I think this process is very valuable for families in evaluating their student’s strengths and weaknesses and their family’s values. That being said, everyone involved must be honest and objective. As a family, it helped us see each of our daughters individually and evaluate what high school they might be best suited for. It’s not easy, as there are many choices, but it was a very beneficial exercise—which also helps when you start to look at colleges! Oelerich: I think that Sue Heybach’s guidance with each family is the most beneficial part of the process. Bish: The most beneficial part of the process is having your children really think about their future and what they desire. It also helps them focus on school and working hard. Finally, it is a great time for families to work together and discuss important decisions and goals.
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