Student Success Network Our goal is
your success
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The Student Success Network
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About us
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Questions and Answers
— Vision
— Leadership
Tutors — Selection Process Expectations
Services — Academic Subjects and Test Prep Enrichment and Specialized Services
— Logistics Registration
Contact us — Where to find us How to reach us
Success starts here. Miami Country Day School defines success as a combination of core values. The Student Success Network facilitates the whole child development by offering a broad range of services designed to enhance opportunities for achieving success.
Through the values of honor, respect, wisdom, and compassion, we support our students so that the entire family and our Miami Country Day School community enjoy a successful educational experience.
Updated December 2019
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Valerie Bosman Student Success Network Coordinator
Betsy started her tenure at Miami Country Day School in 1991 and became Director of the After School Club Program in 1994. She began to expand the program shortly therefafter-offering many more clubs and a highly professional staff. In addition to being the After School Club Director, she has been the Director of the Student Success Network since its inception and has brought the program where it is today.
Valerie tutored her way through Cornell University and Columbia University before realizing that tutoring itself provided the passion she sought... and that she had a knack for getting accepted to top colleges. Her 26 years as a professional tutor for the most prominent tutoring agencies, including nine years as a Master Tutor for The Princeton Review, garnered her renown for substantial student score increases on standardized exams such as the: SAT, ACT, PSAT, and LSAT. As Cofounder of the Student Success Network, Valerie is known for transforming student reading comprehension, writing skills, and overall GPA performance by igniting an enduring passion for learning and achievement. An obsessive bibliophile, Valerie lives a rainbow fairy life with her husband and their everexpanding coterie of rescue aninimals.
For 28 years Betsy Kaplan’s business experience and acumen have been assets to the programs she directs. Betsy’s diverse career has spanned from management and budget controls of Brand Marketing and Communications at Barry University to ten years in retail sales at Neiman Marcus. Her talents include the ability to fluidly work with children, parents, and staff members in order to facilitate the excellence of her programs.
Meet the team.
Betsy Kaplan Student Success Network Director
Struggling is hard; success is easy. Miami Country Day School’s Student Success Network employs highly specialized tutors who possess the magic required to transform complex concepts into relatable ideas, utilizing a myriad of creative explanations. All Student Success Network tutoring occurs on campus, where our academic tutors work with faculty members to ensure your child is receiving individualized support that complements his or her classroom learning. A private tutor can cut to the fundamental difficulties impeding progress, whether that means breaking down complex concepts, the need for consistent homework help, or a review of fundamentals that were somehow missed along the way. We search hard to discover exceptional tutors who have refined their own styles and techniques through a minimum of 5 years of professional experience. Additionally test prep tutors must score 97% or higher on ACT/SAT exams. These individuals coach your child’s academic performance while modeling consistency and persistence.
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Academic Tutoring
All tutors have five or more years of professional tutoring experience and have scored in the 97th percentile or higher on all test prep exams taught.
Test Prep
Our tutors have completed an extensive interview process and are continually evaluated
College Essay
Our mission is to deliver the best possible experience for our families. The Student Success Network facilitates the whole child development by offering a broad range of services designed to enhance opportunities for achieving success.
We love meeting and exceeding expectations. “The ACT was my worst nightmare; It was the only thing standing in between me and my dream school. Within one month of tutoring, my scores, as well as my confidence, skyrocketed. [My tutor] was as dedicated as I was to achieve my goals. She pushed me harder than anyone had ever done before, and I can’t thank her enough for it. Thanks to her, I am attending my dream school next year and could not be happier.” – upper school senior “We can’t thank you enough for the extra help you gave our daughter with her tutoring sessions. You always went out of your way to accommodate a session based on her schedule and her needs. She had been struggling with math until you were able to find the right tutor for her.” – upper school parent “Your SSN tutor has made all the difference in the world to our daughter. Because of her, our daughter was inspired, engaged, and felt looked after. Your tutor made it possible for our daughter to succeed. They have a special bond, and we will forever be grateful.” – lower school parent
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What’s available?
Services
Academic Subjects
Math and Science Singapore Math Algebra I, II Geometry Pre-calculus Calculus Science Physics Biology Chemistry Marine Biology Environmental Science
Private: $110/hour Semi-private: $85/hour
Humanities
Social Studies History European History World History American History Human Geography Civics Government Economics Macroeconomics Language Arts English Genres American Literature World Literature British Literature Comparative Literature Contemporary Literature Public Speaking Journalism Essay Writing Music Theory
World Languages Spanish 1-5 Spanish Literature French 1-4 Mandarin 1-3 ESOL
Additional Subjects Time Management Organizational Skills Reading Comprehension
Honors and AP available where applicable.
Small Group: $65/hour
Athletic Enrichment In conjunction with Country Day’s Ahtletic Department, we now offer private and semi-private lessons for Lower, Middle, and Upper School students. • • • •
Baseball Basketball Lacrosse Soccer
*upon request
Private: $90/hour
Private: $140/hour Semi-private: $85/hour
ACT AP Exams PSAT SAT SSAT/ISEE TOFEL
Enrichment
Small Group Test Prep
Small Group Tutoring is a great way to learn with your friends! Find a group of three or four, and we will design a schedule and material tailored to your needs.
Drums Guitar Piano Violin/Viola Voice
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Q
When are you open? Weekday hours: 8:30 AM – 9:00 PM Weekend hours: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Do you provide other services?
Yes! We offer specialized services like speech therapy and occupational therapy.
Did you know? Every Saturday and Sunday our tutoring students can come to campus to take a free official test prep exam. Call us to schedule a practice exam!
Questions? We have the answers. Who are your tutors?
What is your cancellation policy?
Most of our tutors hold advanced degrees in their subject areas. All tutors have five or more years of professional tutoring experience and have scored in the 97nd percentile or higher on all test prep exams taught. Our tutors have completed an extensive interview process and are continually evaluated. We look for tutors who have been awarded recognition for their accomplishments and who demonstrate a passion for helping every student, every day.
If it becomes necessary to cancel a session, please contact Valerie Bosman or Betsy Kaplan 24 hours in advance. Failure to cancel an appointment in advance will result in your account being charged for the cost of the session. For any other reason, please contact Betsy Kaplan.
What types of tutoring are available? Tutors are available for all core subject areas, standardized exams, organizational, time management, and test-taking skills. If you do not see your subject or exam listed, please contact us and we will match you with an expert in that field.
How do I pay for tutoring? Parents register for tutoring online. For assistance with registration, please call Betsy Kaplan at 305.779.7211. After registration is complete, tutoring may be scheduled through Valerie Bosman at 305.297.2955. Sessions that are missed without notifying the Student Success staff are billed as “noshows” and charged the standard rate. All tutoring must be paid in advance.
What does the student bring to a tutoring session? Students are expected to bring all necessary materials (books, class notes, tests, quizzes, review sheets, etc.) in order to make the session as productive as possible.
What if a student or parent is late? If a student is late for an appointment, the lesson will still end at the scheduled time. Payment will be for the entire period scheduled.
When do I schedule a tutoring session? Please try to schedule appointments as far in advance as possible to increase the chances of getting an appointment at the day and time preferred. However, we understand that last-minute quizzes, exams, and anxiety are all part of academic life. For this reason, you can schedule appointments at any time by calling Valerie Bosman.
Can I switch to a different tutor? Of course you can. Tutoring is a subjective construct dependent upon student-tutor compatibility. Understand that there are a variety of tutor “flavors” and tutors have different styles of helping just as students have different styles of learning. If you would like to change tutors, please notify Betsy Kaplan.
What’s next? For program information and general questions, please contact
Betsy Kaplan, Student Success Network Director, 305.779.7211 or kaplanb@miamicountryday.org
For assistance with tutoring or evaluations, please contact
Valerie Bosman, Student Success Network Coordinator, 305.297.2955 or bosmanv@miamicountryday.org
You can also visit us at our office in Primary Hall or online at www.miamicountryday.org/studentsuccess
Let’s go!
Auxiliary Programs | Student Success Network 601 Northeast 107th Street | Miami, Florida 33161 studentsuccess@miamicountryday.org | 305.779.7211 miamicountryday.org/studentsuccess