SchoolSchoolBack-to-Back-to10 Easy Ways to Help the New Kid in TheSchoolArtof AnxietyPerformanceOvercomeHelpLunchboxtheNoteKids SEPTEMBER 2022 Find the Right Educational Experience for your Child Why Consider Private Schools? Basic Timeline for Applying to a Private School Financial Aid: Basic Information You Should Know SCHOOLPRIVATEGUIDE
Prospect Sierra students engage in deep academic work, practice skills to hone greater self-knowledge, and demonstrate compassion and care for others. Immersed in a joyful school community, they develop a lifelong love of learning.
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2 Parents Press | September 2022
September 2022 | ParentsPress.com 3 PS JOY prospectsierra.org 28/10/2021 22.24 WINNER BEST OF Parents Press 2022 2022 ’
4 Parents Press | September 2022 www.parentspress.comContents SEPTEMBER 2022 18 Find the Right Educational Experience for your Child 18 Why Consider Private Schools? 22 Basic Timeline for Applying to a Private School 34 Financial Aid: Basic Information You Should Know Volume 42 • Number 1 Mailing Address: 875-A Island Dr, Ste 421 Alameda, CA 94502 www.ParentsPress.com 6 Good to Know • Teens and Texts • Reader’s Choice Awards • Pedestrian Safety Publisher | Parenting Media, Inc. Art Director | Debbi Murzyn Account Managers Carol Flores, Sophie Archer Advertising Sales & General Info sales@parentspress.com Copies of Parents’ Press are distributed to locations throughout the Bay Area. Send letters to the editor to editor@ Calendarparentspress.comsubmissionsare due six weeks prior to publication date. Send calendar information to calendar@parentspress.com Parents’ Press is published monthly. ©2022 Parents’ Press 10 The Art of the Lunchbox Note 10 EASY WAYS to Help theNew Kid in School 16 Help Kids AnxietyPerformanceOvercome8 Telling My Teen About the “OId Days” 12 PRIVATEGUIDESCHOOL Plus
THE
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TIP 3 Cross the street using signals and crosswalks. It is important to build the habit of constantly crossing the street at spots with traffic signals and/or at a crosswalk. Before crossing, make eye contact with the driver to ensure they see you. Always look left, right, and left again before crossing to ensure both cars on either side of the crosswalk acknowledge you. Do this as well despite the “walk” traffic signal, as drivers can run a red light or take a right turn on red. Practice safe crossing with your children, as kids can often underestimate the speed and distance of a traveling car. ✷
By Elise Hooper With back-to-school approaching in the Bay Area, children and teenagers will be making their daily commute to get educated. Whether walking to a friend’s house after school, going to the local park, or taking the family dog for a stroll—it is likely your child will need to utilize pedestrian safety tips. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, unintentional pedestrian injuries are the fifth leading cause of injury-related deaths in the United States for children ages 5 to 19. It is important not to overestimate your child’s understanding of safe pedestrian habits, especially teenagers. Teenagers account for more than half of all child pedestrian deaths. Shared pedestrian standards can help reduce injuries and deaths; therefore, it is important to educate your children on the rules of the road: both as a pedestrian and as a driver. No matter their age, it is never too late to ensure your children are safe. Here are some fundamental tips to get started on you and your child’s repertoire of pedestrian safety knowledge.
Pedestrian Safety STOP! LOOK LEFT, RIGHT, AND LEFT AGAIN
6 Parents Press | September 2022 Good to Know
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TIP 1Use sidewalks when available. Side walks are the safest place to be on foot, as it is an expected area for drivers to see pedestrians walking. If no sidewalks are available, walk facing traffic and stay as far away from the road as possible. Be especially careful and alert when walking around blind corners.
It’s not easy to pry your teen’s cell phone out of their hot little hands, but you may want to implement a no texting after dark rule.
Our annual Best of the Best issue is available online covering more than 100 different categories, including places to shop and dine, family fun attractions, school and enrichment programs and health professionals. Available online at ParentsPress.com under the Magazine tab.
READER’S CHOICE AWARDS
A study published in the Journal of Child Neurology showed that teens who continued to text after their presumed bedtime when lights were out slept fewer hours, making school more of a struggle the next day (no surprise there). Interestingly, students who turned off their phones or stopped texting within 30 minutes after the lights went out performed “significantly better in school” than others who did not.
Teens and Texts
LABORSeptemberDAY, 5th this year, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. Unofficially, this day marks a few milestones, end of summer for children going back to school, the beginning of football season and the end of wearing white for the society ladies. Well, it used to. Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894, and society eventually adopted it as the natural endpoint for summer fashion.
TIP 2 Remain visible always. At night, it is difficult for drivers to see pedes trians on or near the road from a distance. Wear light clothing colors, carry a flashlight, and wear reflective fabrics if possible. If you know you will be walking in the dark, be prepared by bringing a flashlight. Approximately 75% of teenage pedes trian deaths occur between 7 pm – 7 am.
September 2022 | ParentsPress.com 7 berkeleycityballet.orgCityBerkeleyBallet Ages 2 and up Boys ballet Dance EasyState-of-the-artBirthdaycampspartiesstudiosSprungfloorsEasyparkingonlineregistrationandpayment photo: andy mogg Let’s Dance! Register Now for Fall Classes. More info: AlamedaBallet.com | admin@alamedaballet.com Join class from home! Save a spot for your family in one of our award-winning music cases for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, big kids—and the grownups who love them®! Online classes in the Greater East Bay offered by East Bay Music Together and Music Together 916 Valley. Register today. Eas tBayMusic Together.com (510) 848-SING Teacher,firstresponderorhealthcareworker?Emailinfo@eastbaymusictogether.comforaTHANKYOUcoupon. WINNER BEST OF Parents Press 2022 ’ REGISTRATIONISOPENINDOORSOUTDOORS,andONLINE Enroll Now • Classes For All Levels! (925) 935-7984 • contracostaballet.org You can get there... from here! Mention this ad to waive the registration fee!
Telling My Teens Aboutthe
During most of my childhood, the phone was attached to the wall by a cord. If I wanted to know the weather or what time it was, I had to make a phone call. I also called the movie theater and listened to a recording of movie showtimes. Speaking of the movies, there were no movie theaters with stadium seating. If someone sat directly in front of me, then I got a view of half the screen and the back of someone’s head. My generation also endured the New Coke fiasco. New Coke replaced the original formula. But no one liked New Coke and we went back to old Coke. It was a confusing time. The internet did not exist. If I had a question, I had to ask some one, use an encyclopedia, or visit theTexting,library.Snapchat, and TikTok didn’t exist either. If I wanted to reach people, I wrote them a letter, passed them a note in school, or called them on the phone.
“What’s a 45 or a cassette?” my teen“JustSigh.asked.Google it,” I told him. “But we did have paper plates, kid!” I said with passion. “Don’t you ever forget it.” ✷ Katy M. Clark is a writer and mom of two who celebrates her imperfec tions on her blog Experienced Bad Mom
“Mom, did they have paper plates when you were little?” I looked at my teen who had just asked this question. He had to be joking, right? But he stared at me with all seriousness. My teenager thought we didn’t have paper plates when I was little? Yikes!“Believe it or not, we did,” I replied. Seeing that his history class wasn’t teaching him anything about the reality of life in the 20th century, I took it upon myself to educate him about the past. “But there are a lot of things you take for granted that were different when I was growing up,” I told him. And then I shared the 12 following facts about life in the olden days— otherwise known as the 80s:
“Old Days”
When I liked a song on the ra dio, I had three choices to listen to it again: tape it off the radio with a tape recorder; buy the cassette at the mall without listening to any of the other songs; or buy the single as a 45 and listen to it on my record player.
8 Parents Press | September 2022
WHEN I WAS A KID
We had to lick the back of stamps before we stuck them on an enve lope. There were no self-adhesive stamps for us. We had to carry our luggage onto the plane. In fact, that’s why those small pieces of luggage are called carry-ons. They didn’t have wheels or retractable handles. People didn’t get cash when they won on Wheel of Fortune. They had to use their winnings to go shopping for things like a sofa and a ceramic dogWrappingsculpture.paper didn’t have lines printed on the inside. We had to wing it and hope that we could cut straight.Wefound our way to new places by using a map. No, not Google Maps. A folded paper version that you bought at a gas station and kept in the glove box.
By Katy M. Clark
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By Suzanna Parpos during that particular moment of a time. Each year, I had 180 nights to get my art on. Until the mutually agreed upon school day when the lunchbox notes got “pink-slipped.” My son didn’t need them anymore. My resignation as the “queen bee” of lunchbox notes came in the tran quility of gratitude. Why? Because the non-lovey-dovey notes weren’t about obliging the dodge of an em barrassment at the cafeteria table. And the elaborate, “Louvre-like” art wasn’t about the therapeutic benefits of coloring. It was about a mother giving her son comfort when he was (physically) away from her loving arms. It was about tenderly reassuring my son that he was safe in his home away from home and that his mom was, as she always will be, with him. My hope was that the 150% ef fort I put into those mini canvases of a mother’s expression of love would bring a smile to my son’s face during his school day. Es sentially, my lunchbox notes were my “Kissing Hand” to him. In fact, they often featured characters from books we read. Finding drawings of Fly Guy and Froggy with his mac and cheese and homemade Greek butter cookies would bring to mind our nestled-up bedtime reads, where warmth, laughter and security surrounded him in his mother’s embrace. THAT is why I stayed up all those late nights coloring elaborate lunchbox notes, so my son could feel, and visually see, the love all school day through. ✷ Suzanna Parpos works in the field of education. She is a single mom and writer fueled more by music than coffee. For ten years, Suzanna freelance wrote a bi-weekly newspaper column. Her work has also been published in Teaching PreK-8 Magazine, the Boston Metro, BLUNT Moms, Boston Parents Paper and Worcester Magazine, among other publications. She is known in her hometown for the traditional Greek moon-shaped cookies she bakes and delivers, all while wearing stilettos and a baseball hat. Visit her site at: www.suzannaparpos.com.
The Art of the Lunchbox Note
In the light of the moon, I sat at the table with my Crayolas. And since no true artist creates Louvre-like lunchbox notes without a black Sharpie, I also had that next to my cup of tea.
10 Parents Press | September 2022 Crayons – the sticks of pigmented wax used for col oring aren’t solely synony mous with school-aged children and the Marines. A box of Crayola was also a single mother’s go-to on many a late-nights. Before the days of, “bruh,” my preteen was a preschooler that loved getting lunchbox notes. I stretched out this written expres sion of love through as many of the elementary years as possible but much earlier than I would’ve liked, it became uncool for a boy to get a napkin with hand-drawn hearts on it from his mom. That’s what perplexes me – I wasn’t the mom that drew excessive symbols of love. My “canvas” wasn’t even a napkin; it was blank index cards. I put a wholehearted effort to ensure the notes were cool, partly at my son’s request that I not embarrass him, and partly because coloring elaborate lunchbox notes was oddly therapeutic… I confess: I was a single work ing mom in her thirties with a proclivity for staying up late at night to draw detailed lunchbox notes. In the light of the moon, I sat at the table with my Crayolas. And since no true artist creates Louvre-like lunchbox notes without a black Sharpie, I also had that next to my cup of tea. Yes, tea – not wine, because evidently in my thirties, I harbored the habits of someone in her nineties. Yes, I started my days with a coffee. Yes, I ended them with a tea. And yes, research abounds as to the benefits of coloring. Even for adults, it can relax the fear center of the brain and, “generate mindfulness and quietness, which allows your mind to get some rest after a long day at Iwork.”wasn’t conscious of the aforementioned when draw ing; I just knew it was relaxing to get lost in something creative. In the stillness of the night, I drew Minecraft and Star Wars, pirates and pumpkins, dinosaurs and ninja turtles…anything that retained my son’s interest
September 2022 | ParentsPress.com 11 WINNER BEST OF Parents Press 2022 2022 ’
By Katy M. Clark
Teach your kids to look for the new kids, not past them.
10 Easy Ways to Help the New Kid in School
12 Parents Press | September 2022
As I waited for the door to my classroom to open, I saw two girls whispering nearby. “Smile,” I thought to myself as my lips curled over my teeth, covered in braces. “Make new friends,” I could hear my mother’s voice inside my head coaching me. They approached, with the kind of confidence re served for kids who grow up in the same place their whole lives. “Are you the new teacher?” one of them asked. “No,” I replied. Then I froze. I knew I was taller than the average twelve-year-old, but had I just been mistak en for an adult? “I’m a new student here,” I told them. And then they walked away.
Iadjusted my off-the-shoulder sweatshirt covered in splatter paint. Inspired by the movie Flashdance, my sweatshirt did little to distract from the fact that I was a 5’8” tall twelve-year-old standing alone outside a middle school classroom. It was the first day of school and I knew no one. My family had just relocated to the area from several states away.
But on that uncomfortable first day, I was not thinking about what kind of statistic I was. All I knew was that I was alone, nervous, and scared. The experience of being the new kid has encouraged me to teach my own children to look for the new students in their schools and be kind to them. In a culture that is desperate for kindness, reaching out to the new kids is a tangible way to demonstrate it.
The experience of being the new kid has encouraged me to teach my own children to look for the new students in their schools and be kind to them. Being the new kid is a phenomenon that many children will experience in their lives. School districts and government agencies officially refer to it as student mobility, defined as any time a student changes school for reasons other than grade promotion. Student mobility can be voluntary, such as changing schools to participate in a magnet program, or involuntary, as was my case, due to a change in my father’s job.
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Later that day one of them told me she liked my watch band. It was a small comment, but it meant so much to me.
2
Sit with the new kid at lunch. Oh my word, just sit with him at lunch on the first day.
Did I mention just talk to the new kid? It’s okay if you’re not best friends. Maybe you won’t have anything in common. But if you never even talk to the new kid, then you won’t find out if you have anything in common or not.
Help the new kid find things like the gym and the cafeteria.
10
Compliment the new kid. Maybe she has a cool backpack. Maybe she’s wearing a shirt with a sports team that is also your favorite sports team. On my painful first day, remember those girls that walked away from me?
5
Parents, teach your kids to look for the new students and take any of these concrete steps to be kind and helpful. As a result, the new kid won’t feel so alone and will be one step closer to finding her way in a newAndschool.ifyou see any new moms or dads standing alone at the pick-up loop after school? Then it’s your turn to say hello. Ask where they are from. If you never even talk to the new parents, then you won’t find out if you have anything in common or not. ✷ Katy M. Clark is a writer who embraces her imperfections as a mom on her blog, ExperiencedBadMom.com
4 Invite the new kid to hang out after school.
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Below are 10 concrete ways I’m teaching my kids to help the new kid in school. May you find these helpful to share with your own kids as the school year begins:
Recognize that there will be new kids at school, kids who do not know anyone. Look for them, don’t look past them.
Be welcoming and inclusive in group work in class. Remember, the new kid knows no one and things may have run differently at his old school.
Tell the new kid about clubs, sports, or other activities at school. When I was invited to join the basketball team, I gained a whole team of friends.
Say hi. Ask where the new kid is from. Does she have any pets or siblings?
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<<< Continued from page 13 14 Parents Press | September 2022
8 Sit with her on the bus or stand with him at the pick-up loop. Even if it’s just for a day or two.
September 2022 | ParentsPress.com 15 March 2014 | East Bay | Parents’ Press 11 HEALTH & WELLNESS Cindy Rasicot, MFT | cindy.rasicot@gmail.com | 510.332.0463 For additional information about the group and to schedule a free introductory meeting DENTAL LISTINGS For more information and to see if you qualify, contact: City of Berkeley WIC Program 830 University Ave Berkeley, CA 94710 510.981.5360 Migrant families are welcome! Visitwicprogram@cityofberkeley.infousatwww.cityofberkeley.info/publichealth Are you pregnant, breastfeeding, or have children under 5? You may be eligible for no-cost nutrition advice, breastfeeding support, community referrals, and EBT to buy healthy foods! Working families may be eligible for WIC! Do you need help with health care? Do you need care while you are pregnant? Please call Berkeley Public Health at 510-981-5300. We can help with community programs for low and middle income families. (Medi-Cal and CHDP) This institution is an equal opportunity provider. ALAMEDADENTISTS Richard Tabor, DDS 1821 Santa Clara Ave. www.alamedadentist.com510-865-2900 PINOLE Thea S. Dosanjh, DDS 2000 Appian Way,Suite 303 www.eastshorepediatricdental.com510-964-0168 Teri L. Kim, DDS 2000 Appian Way,Suite 303 www.eastshorepediatricdental.com510-964-0168 ThesedocTorsareamong thebestfamilydentistsand ortohodontists inThe PP EB MAR 2014_1-16.26rm.indd 11 2/25/14 11:27 AM Do you need help with health care? Do you need care while you are pregnant? Please call Berkeley Public Health at 510-981-5300. We can help with programs for low and middle income families. (Medi-Cal, Healthy Families, CHDP and other community programs) March 2014 | East Bay | Parents’ Press 11 www.parentspress.comNo one can imagine what daily life will be like with a new baby. Of course, no one has the time or energy to talk about this, so it’s no wonder thatboth parents can wind up HEALTH & WELLNESS A Group for Parents of Struggling Teens DENTAL LISTINGS be so delighted to see her dad that you’ll see her get excited and animated just see ing his face. So be patient, support each other through this difficult time, and you’ll all emerge intact. For more information and to see if you qualify, contact: City of Berkeley WIC Program 830 University Ave Berkeley, CA 94710 510.981.5360 Migrant families are welcome! Visitwicprogram@cityofberkeley.infousatwww.cityofberkeley.info/publichealth Are you pregnant, breastfeeding, or have children under 5? You may be eligible for no-cost nutrition advice, breastfeeding support, community referrals, and EBT to buy healthy foods! Working families may be eligible for WIC! Do you need help with health care? Do you need care while you are pregnant? Please call Berkeley Public Health at 510-981-5300. We can help with community programs for low and middle income families. (Medi-Cal and CHDP) This institution is an equal opportunity provider. ALAMEDADENTISTS Richard Tabor, DDS 1821 Santa Clara Ave. www.alamedadentist.com510-865-2900 2000 Appian Way,Suite 303 www.eastshorepediatricdental.com510-964-0168 Teri L. Kim, DDS 2000 Appian Way,Suite 303 www.eastshorepediatricdental.com510-964-0168 ThesedocTorsareamong thebestfamilydentistsand ortohodontists 2/25/14 11:27 AM Do you need help with health care? Do you need care while you are pregnant? Please call Berkeley Public Health at 510-981-5300. We can help with programs for low and middle income families. (Medi-Cal, Healthy Families, CHDP and other community programs) We are providing services over the phone during COVID-19, call 510-981-5360 Preschool • Pre-K • Jr.-K • Toddlers • Kindergarten • School Age www.tcdschools.com Dynamic Education Optimizing Each Child’s Potential Enrolling for Fall 2022 Contact Us For Information • Language & Literacy • Math & Science • Problem Solving • Art & Creativity • Social Skills Low HighlyRatiosTrained Teachers FAMILY OPERATED SINCE 1976 ANTIOCH 925-754-0144 SAN 925-820-2515RAMON PLEASANTON925-462-1866 925-284-7092LAFAYETTE 925-376-5110MORAGA Lic# 073406638 073406639 Lic# 073406845,0734068460734066634 Lic#013420525013420524 Lic#073406633073406632 Lic#073406849073406850 TOP 5 BEST OF 2022 2022 Parents Press ’ DayTheChildSchools, LLC Dedicated to finding you the perfect nanny! – Full and part time –permanent nanny placement – All candiates –personally screened Phone www.nannyconnection.com925.743.0587 Servicing the entire East Bay for over 20 years! No fee unless nanny is placed!
16 Parents Press | September 2022
Performance anxiety is the fear or worry about one’s ability to perform well on a specific task. Kids and teens experiencing performance anxiety may worry about not doing well even before the event has taken place. They may believe that if they don’t succeed, rejection and failure will Performancefollow.anxiety can occur with any assignment and can vary among individuals. Dr. Elizabeth Hut ter, Principal at San Jose-based New Ballet School and Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology) recommends a few steps to help kids and teens overcome their performance anxiety:
• Share feelings with a trusted teacher, coach, or mentor.
• Work with a trusted advisor to create a custom ized goal-achievement plan to overcome what’s holding the individual back.
Expert Advice on How to be Mentally Prepared to Face Challenges Head-on
• Acknowledge the worries.
any kids experience a little nervousness before taking a test, giving a speech, playing a competitive sport, or performing in a per formance or recital. But for some children and teens, the thought of doing these types of activities can cause performance anxiety.
M
Help Kids PerformanceOvercomeAnxiety
“The results of mental training are not just better performances,” says Dr. Hutter. “We also see people feeling happier, experiencing less burn-out and injury, achieving greater learning curves in their training, and overall hav ing more satisfaction. First and foremost, it’s important that kids and teens have supportive mentors who help them work through their mental or emotional obstacles.”
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For example, Dr. Hutter says, “a five-year-old may not know he’s nervous about his performance debut until right before his entrance on stage. With rehearsals that explain what to expect and even mimic the performance, his nerves can stay productive instead of troublesome. A more senior competitive student can get control over her performance anxiety through a combination of individu alized goal planning, progressive muscle relaxation, envi sioning ideal performances step-by-step, and establishing pre-performance routines that soothe and focus.” In all these situations, Hutter says, “when kids and teens face their challenges, they inspire others to take the next step forward.” ✷ Dr. Elizabeth Hutter is a Principal at San Jose-based New Ballet School, the only American Ballet Theatre Certified School on the West Coast. Dr. Hutter was recently elected President of the Performance Psychology Section within the American Psychologi cal Association. She is known internationally in the fields of ballet and psychology and is also the Informational Papers Chair for the Dance/USA Task Force on Dancer Health. Dr. Hutter strives to lead the way in supporting the emotional and mental health of ballet dancers and students. it’s important that kids and teens have supportive mentors who help them work through their mental or emotional obstacles.
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), “performance psychologists are experts in help ing athletes and professionals overcome problems that impede performance. Some teach strategies that help cli ents maximize their physical prowess; others work with clients to overcome anxiety or a traumatic experience, such as a ski fall, that is affecting their confidence. Other clients might need help communicating with colleagues or teammates or accepting a coach’s critiques.”
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Dr. Hutter shares that “The ballet and sports worlds have come a long way in recognizing the value of mental training. This includes addressing performance anxiety, which is common at all stages from young children to professionals. Some degree of nervousness or “jitters” prior to a show actually helps us perform better. But too much anxiety can backfire.” To help keep the jitters under control, Dr. Hutter stresses the value of rehearsal. “Good preparation reduces anxiety and builds confidence. Rehearsing well includes both physical and mental preparation.”
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any parents feel that their children will thrive better in what they believe is a smaller, safer environment with more room for personal attention. And while public schools must follow a curriculum heavily influenced by state standards, private schools have more freedom to customize lessons to students’ individual ways of learning. Private schools can also point to low student-teacher ratios, freedom from state standards and testing, and lots of extras like music, foreign languages, STEM resources and art that are underfunded or nonexistent in public schools. Private schools are often well-equipped with current educational technology to facilitate in class and virtual instruction. Rest assured, promise school experts, there is a school out there to suit every child. There are two primary sorts of private schools— independent schools and parochial schools.
Take the guesswork out of finding the right private school for your child, from start to finish. The following articles are excerpts from the 2022/23 Annual Private School Guide produced by Parents’ Press, covering Why Consider a Private School, Private School Search Timeline and Information on Financial Assistance from this award-winning guide. The complete 2022/23 Annual Private School Guide leads parents chronologically along the school-selection path, beginning with the value of private education and how to start the process with an emphasis on the all-important application process, including interviewing tips, required testing information, and essay writing tips as well as the ins-and-outs of financial aid. There are school profiles and a comprehensive list of regional private schools sorted by city. Your road to the ideal school just got simpler! Access the Annual Private School Guide for free at ParentsPress.com and tap the Our tab to view.
18 Parents Press | September 2022 M
Magazines
Why Consider a Private School?
2022 -2023 Find the forExperienceEducationalRightyourChild Continued on page 26 >>>
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS are defined as nonprofit private schools with their own governing board of trustees.
September 2022 | ParentsPress.com 19 Montessori Elementary Intermediate School of Alameda – MEISA Right now, we need schools that respond to injustice and teach children how to be culturally responsive – MEISA creates change-makers. WINNER BEST OF Parents Press 2022 2022 ’ 510.521.0595 1400 6th Street • office@thechildunique.orgAlameda www.thechildunique.org At mind-changingMontessoriMESA,iseducation Award-Winning Montessori Elementary/Middle School Moreau Catholic High School 27170 Mission Boulevard | Hayward, CA 94544 510.881.4300 | www.moreaucatholic.org Your BeginsJourneyHere Applications for the school2023-24year are now open! Use the QR code to more.learn
20 Parents Press | September 2022 Fearless, We COMMUNITY Find out more at
September 2022 | ParentsPress.com 21 Fearless, We Pursue COMMUNITY more at shcp.edu/visit
August (of the year before you want your child to attend)
• Don’t miss deadlines: Most schools’ applications are due in February at the latest
• Create a calendar of pertinent admission and financial aid deadlines for the schools to which you are considering applying
• Visit schools during open houses, attend information sessions, and take tours
• Register for any standardized tests required for admission
• Visit schools during open houses, attend information sessions, and take tours
• Watch for school decisions starting in mid-March
• If your student is accepted by multiple schools, decide which school your child will attend April • Sign and return enrollment contracts and send deposits
• Start working on applications, financial aid forms, student questionnaires, and essays December • Continue to watch for any open house or school events of inter est • Request transcripts at the end of your child’s first semester
September • Browse schools’ websites to learn more about their pro grams and philosophies
• Attend local school fairs to gather material and impres sions from multiple schools
• Note application deadlines. Some schools have December deadlines. January
• Find schools that match your child’s needs • Research and ask questions of schools on your preliminary list
• Complete questionnaires,applications,andessays
• Pay attention to deadlines: Most applications are due in January or February, along with test scores, references, transcripts, and financial aid fworms February
• Watch for financial aid decisions
• Continue scheduling tours, interviews, class visits, and standardized or school-based tests
While each school follows its own schedule, here is a typical admissions timeline. Many schools are transi tioning to virtual admission events and individual tours.
• Attend events and activities for new parents and Reprintedstudentswith permission from the National Association of Independent Schools, www.nais.org
22 Parents Press | September 2022
• Call schools to schedule individual tours, class visits, interviews, and “shadow days” if available October
• Review the test websites to learn about procedures and test dates, see sample questions, and purchase test-preparation books
• Visit schools and/or have your child participate in a student shadow day March
FOR
• Request recommendationsteacher from your child’s current school
• Finalize the list of schools to which you will apply
• Request admissions and financial aid material by phone or online • Review admissions materials to determine which schools to visit
• Ask elementary schools about their test schedules and make appointments
Basic Timeline APPLYING TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL
• Notify schools that you applied to but decided not to attend May to September
• Define your ideal school
• Take required standardized admission tests November • Continue scheduling tours, interviews, class visits, and standardized or school-based tests
September 2022 | ParentsPress.com 23 Since 1956 2727 College www.maybeckhs.orgAvenue (510) 841-8489 Be curious. Be inspired. Be yourself. Berkeley’s Only Independent CollegeHighPreparatorySchool TOP 5 BEST OF 2022 2022 Parents Press ’ Since 1972 For event information, contact admissions@maybeckhs.org Connected Community, Diversified learning School Tours Available INFORMATION NIGHTS • Nov 10 and Jan 11 RSVP: spnadmissions@csdo.org WINNER BEST OF Parents Press 2022 ’ OPEN HOUSE • Jan 29, 2017 • 10:15 AM – 12: 15 PM INFORMATION NIGHTS • Dec 1, 2016 and Jan 11, 2017 • 7PM TUESDAY TOURS • Please call to schedule a tour school.spnalameda.org • facebook.com/saintphilipnerischool 1335 High Street, Alameda, CA 94501 • 510-521-0787 Discover why families have been returning for generations. TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 8TH GRADE PRESCHOOL THROUGH 8TH GRADE INFORMATION NIGHTS • Dec 1, 2016 and Jan 11, 2017 • 7PM OPN HOUSE • Jan 29, 2017 • 10:15 AM – 12: 15 PM TUESDAY TOURS • Please call to schedule a tour school.spnalameda.org • facebook.com/saintphilipnerischool 1335 High Street, Alameda, CA 94501 • 510-521-0787 Discover why families have been returning for generations. TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 8TH GRADE
Affiliation / LanguagesNotes
Saint Joseph Notre Dame High School 1011 Chestnut St. Alameda • www.sjnd.org510-995-9458
15:1Co-EdPS-8 EnglishCatholic $8,260 - $9,670 WASC, WCEA
TildenAlbanyPreparatory School 1231 Solano Ave. Albany • www.tildenprep.com510-525-5506
The Child Unique Montessori School - Pacific Campus
15010:1Co-EdK-8 English,IndependentSpanish $30,500 - $32,600 FA Available CAIS
2001:1Co-Ed6-12 subjectscoursesRegular/Honors/APIndependentinallhighschool WASC, UC Regents Approved, NCAA Approved TheBerkeleyAcademy 2722 Benvenue Ave. Berkeley • www.theacademyschool.org510-549-0605 1056:1Co-EdK-8 French,NondenominationalLatin $28,250 - LS $31,500 - US FA Available ISSFBA
Stud-FacGenderGradesRatioEnrollment
Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley 1009 Heinz Ave. Berkeley • www.eb.org510-549-3867 41516:1Co-EdPS-8 French,IndependentSpanish, Mandarin $32,140 - $36,665 AEFE (French Ministry of Education), CAIS, NAIS, Maybeck High School 2727 College Ave. Berkeley • www.maybeckhs.org510-841-8489 5:1Co-Ed9-12 English,IndependentSpanish, French FA$42,500Available POCIS , WASC, ISSFBA School of the Madeleine 1225 Milvia St Berkeley • www.themadeleine.com510-526-4744 30011:1Co-EdK-8 English,Catholic Spanish $11,200 - $12,600 FA Available NCEA, WCEA, WASC
256:1Co-EdPK-8 instructionArabicNondenominationalandSpanish FA$1,625-$1,933Available AMS, IMC, CQEL, NAEYC
Coastline Christian Schools 1801 North Loop Road Alameda • www.coastlinechristian.org510-522-0200
2212 Pacific Ave. Alameda • www.thechildunique.org510-521-9227
Montessori School - Encinal Campus
2226 Encinal Ave. Alameda • www.thechildunique.org510-521-9227
3158:1Co-EdK-8 English,ChristianMandarin $12,900 - $14,000 FA Available WASC, ACSI Montessori Elementary Intermediate School of Alameda 1400 Sixth St. Alameda • www.montessorielementaryalameda.org510-521-0595
42014:1Co-Ed9-12 EnglishCatholic $20,643 WASC, WCEA St. Philip Neri Catholic School 1335 High St. Alameda • www.spnalameda.org510-521-0787
Tuition Range Tuition Assistance Accreditation/Associations
TheAlamedaChildUnique
instructionSpanishNondenominationalandThai $622 - $1,933 FA Available AMS, IMC, CQEL, NAEYC
24 Parents Press | September 2022 East Bay Private Schools
The Berkeley School (K-8 Campus) 1310 University Ave Berkeley • www.theberkeleyschool.org510-665-8800
The Crowden School 1475 Rose St. Berkeley • www.crowden.org510-559-6910 403:1Co-Ed3-8 FrenchEnglishNondenominational(6-8) $28,300 Grades 3-5 $30,900 Grades 6-8 ISSFBA
18mos - 3yrs 4:1Co-Edand 5:1 20
The Child Unique Montessori School - Taylor Campus 1400 Sixth St. Alameda • www.thechildunique.org510-521-0595
306:1Co-EdPK-1 MandarinJapaneseNondenominationalinstruction/instruction $622 - $1,933 FA Available AMS, IMC, CQEL, NAEYC
446:1Co-EdPK-1 immersionTagalogNondenominationalandSpanish $622 - $1,933 FA Available AMS, IMC, CQEL, NAEYC
OUR SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY LEADS SUCCESS FOR small class environment ensures that every student is known and under stood, allowing teachers to meet students where they are and provide the challenge, the support, and the positive reinforcement they need to succeed.
TO GREATER
September 2022 | ParentsPress.com 25 A COLLEGE PREP SCHOOL LIKE NO OTHER We pair the challenge of a college preparatory curriculum with a supportive environment and faculty relationships that ensure student success, connection, and confidence. In our intimate and open-minded community, students devel op strong voices, deep compassion, and the skills and confidence they need to have a powerful impact on the world.
ALL Our
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE PREPARES STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE…AND LIFE At Holy Names, we believe young women can choose their own trajectory free of constraints based on gender, gender identity, race, culture, or economic circumstances. AT HOLY NAMES, STUDENTS THRIVE HOLYNAMES HIGHSCHOOL EST1868 OAKLAND,CA Holy Names High School LEARN MORE & SCHEDULE A CAMPUS HNHSOAKLAND.ORG/ADMISSIONSVISIT: parkdayschool.org(510)653-0317 K-8 progressive education in Oakland‘s Temescal.
26 Parents Press | September 2022
Julia Morgan School for Girls in Oakland, CA, is a vibrant, immersive learning environment that allows each student to thrive both academically and socially as their authentic self. For more information, contact Liz Campbell at 510.632.6000 x110 Grades 6www.juliamorganschool.org8
High academic standards. Independent schools nurture intellectual curiosity, stimulate personal growth, and encourage critical thinking. A larger percentage of students at independent schools are enrolled in advanced courses than in public, parochial, and other private schools.
<<< Continued from page 18
And most important: An education that will pay dividends for a lifetime.
The opportunity to choose a school with a mission. You can select a school for which the philosophy, values, and teaching style resonate with both you and your child.
TOP 5 BEST OF 2022 2022 Parents Press ’
Excellent teachers. Educators usually teach in their areas of expertise and are passionate about what they do. With more autonomy within the classroom, teachers are able to develop a full understanding of how each student learns and what motivates and inspires each child.
Greater likelihood of a student completing a bachelor’s degree or graduate degree. Independent schools nurture not just students’ intellectual ability and curiosity but also their personal and social growth and civic conscience. Opportunities extend well beyond the classroom to athletic competitions, artistic pursuits, and school leadership experiences. Education for the whole child. Independent schools nurture not just students’ intellectual curiosity but also their personal/ social growth and civic purpose. Opportunities extend well beyond the classroom to athletic competitions, artistic pursuits and school leadership offerings.
Inclusiveness. Schools maintain diverse and vibrant student communities and welcome and respect each family.
When considering private school education, think about these benefits as outlined by the Independent Schools of the San Francisco Bay Area (www.issfba.org):
Small classes and individual attention. Independent schools have low student-teacher ratios that encourage close connections with students.
A community of parents who actively participate in their children’s education. Independent schools promote regular communication among students, parents, and teachers to ensure everyone is working toward the same goals for the student.
SCHOOLS, where tuition is typically one-third that of independent schools, offer traditional instruction and have solid reputations. Families who are “in-parish,” that is, who live within the schools’ official parish boundaries or volunteer and participate regularly in the parish, get first priority. Otherwise, the application procedures are similar to independent schools.
While most people commonly refer to independent schools as private, lumping them in with parochial and for-profit schools, they are distinct because they are nonprofit and selfgoverning.PAROCHIAL
Where a girl’s imagination can soar...
September 2022 | ParentsPress.com 27 East Bay Private Schools Stud-FacGenderGradesRatioEnrollment Affiliation / LanguagesNotes Tuition Range Tuition Assistance Accreditation/Associations Shu Ren International School - Berkeley Campus 2125 Jefferson Ave. Berkeley • www.shurenschool.com510-841-8899 PK3,PK2Co-EdPK-56:1K4 8:1 K-5: 11:1 140 SpanishImmersion,MandarinNondenominationalandEnglishInstruction PK $25,350 K $26,950 G1-G5 $27,450 FA Available IB World School WASC, NAIS Castro Valley Redwood Christian Schools Castro Valley • San Lorenzo www.rcs.edu510-889-7526 70015:1Co-EdTK-12 MandarinEnglish,ChristianSpanish, $12,000 - $14,000 FA Available WASC, ACSI Shepherd’s Heart Christian School 19835 Lake Chabot Road Castro Valley • www.ashcscv.com510-581-8086 11:1Co-EdK-12 EnglishChristian OrionConcordAcademy 1868 Clayton Rd. Concord • www.orionacademy.org925-377-0789 648:1Co-Ed8-12 LatinSpecialNondenominationalNeeds $43,600 - $48,500 FA Available WASC Tabernacle School 4380 Concord Blvd. Concord • www.tbs.org925-685-9169 18:1Co-EdK-8 SpanishNondenominational Call WASC, ACSI AthenianDanvilleSchool 2100 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Danville • www.athenian.org925-837-5375 53510:1Co-Ed6-12 English,IndependentFrench, Spanish, Chinese $0-51,000 for day $0-78,000students for boarding students CAIS, NAIS, WASC
CAIS, NAIS, POCIS, Green Ribbon School, Ashoka Changemaker School
Non English,ReligiousSpanish Varies by program WASC, CPSTEME Stratford School 38495 Fremont Bl. Fremont • www.stratfordfremontblvd.com510-713-8900
22:115:112:1Co-EdPS-5(PS)(K)(1-5)
BASIS Independent Fremont - Upper 39706 Mission Blvd Fremont • www.fremont.basisindependent.com510-405-3408 6059:1Co-Ed6-12 Mandarin,IndependentLatin, French, Spanish $29,300 for TK–grade $30,7004 for grades 5–10 NAIS Stratford School 43077 Osgood Rd. Fremont • www.stratfordfremontosgood.com510-438-9745 22:115:112:1Co-EdPS-8(PS)(K)(1-8)
CaliforniaHaywardCrosspoint Academy 25500 Industrial Blvd Hayward • www.crosspointacademy.org510-995-5333 4977:1Co-EdPS-12 SpanishEnglish,ChristianMandarin, HS $17,800 MS $15,650 ES $13,750 FA Available WASC, ACSI, CAIS, Cognia
1000 Upper Happy Valley Road Lafayette • www.bentleyschool.org925-283-2101 Oakland:K-12 6508:1CoedLafayette:K-89-12
Non English,ReligiousSpanish Varies by program WASC, CPSTEME
Non English,ReligiousSpanish Varies by program WASC, CPSTEME
Moreau Catholic High School 27170 Mission Blvd. Hayward • www.moreaucatholic.org510-881-4320 80013:1Co-Ed9-12 English,Catholic Spanish,Mandarin,French $22,524 WCEA, WASC
4709:1Co-EdTK-8
NAIS, CAIS, WASC, IBO, Green Business
Independent English, Spanish TK: $25,135 ES: FAMS:$30,820$34,920Available
BentleyLafayetteSchool
StratfordDublinSchool 6665 Amador Plaza Road #1 Dublin • www.stratforddublin.com925-744-7341
PS to 15:112:1Co-EdK(PS)(K)
East Bay Private Schools Stud-FacGenderGradesRatioEnrollment Affiliation / LanguagesNotes Tuition Range Tuition Assistance Accreditation/Associations
EastEmeryvilleBayGerman International School 1070 41st St. Emeryville • www.ebgis.org/510-380-0302
4004-8K-3PKCo-EdPK-88:111:118:1 MandarinSpanishNon-denominationalImmersion,Instruction PK: FA6-8:K-5:$27,360$31,695$33,975Available
2207:1Co-EdPS-10 German,IndependentSpanish, French FA$22,000-$27,000Available WASC, WDA, IB Candidate School, PASCH
El ProspectCerritoSierra School 960 Avis Drive 2060 Tapscott Ave. El Cerrito • www.prospectsierra.org510-809-9000
6059:1Co-EdTK-5 Mandarin,IndependentLatin, French, Spanish $29,300 for TK–grade $30,7004 for grades 5–10 NAIS
Mandarin,English,NondenominationalSpanish,French,Latin Upper FAK-5:6-8:$50,450School:$38,230$34,990Available CAIS, WASC, ISSFBA
BASISFremontIndependent Fremont 3300 Kearney Street Fremont • www.fremont.basisindependent.com510-571-4163
28 Parents Press | September 2022
Escuela Bilingüe Internacional Grades 2-8 4550 San Pablo Ave. • Emeryville PK - Grade 1 - See Oakland www.ebi.school510-652-7094
September 2022 | ParentsPress.com 29 A Seven Hil s education is based on the whole chi d philosophy as we educate not just the mind but the heart, and attend to the entirety of the student experience From our Reggio inspired Preschool and developmental Kindergarten to our adventurous Lower School classes and hands on Middle Schoo program Seven Hills students are on a journey of curiosity and exploration success and setbacks awareness of self and contribution to others Serving Preschool Through 8th Grade in the East Bay Since 1962 Sign up for a tour on our website and see our community in action! www.sevenhillsschool.org | 925-933-0666 975 N. San Carlos Drive, Walnut Creek At the edge of Heather Farm Park ValleyLivermoreMontessori School 1273 N Livermore Ave. Livermore • www.vmschool.org925-455-8021 400G1-8Co-EdToddler-812:1 Non English,DenominationalSpanish $5,500 - $18,000 FA Available AMS, CAIS, WASC TheMoragaSaklan School 1678 School St. Moraga • www.saklan.org925-376-7900 14010:1Co-EdPS-8 SpanishIndependent $17,000- $33,000 FA Available NAIS, CAIS, WASC ChallengerNewarkSchool - Ardenwood 35487 Dumbarton Court Newark • www.challengerschool.com510-739-0300 Co-EdPS-8 Non EnglishDenominational $4,910 - $22,400 Challenger School 39600 Cedar Blvd. Newark • www.challengerschool.com510-770-1771 Co-EdPS-K Non EnglishDenominational $4,910 - $22,400 AuroraOaklandSchool 40 Dulwich Road Oakland • www.auroraschool.org510-428-2606 916:1Co-EdK-8 English,IndependentSpanish K-5: $7,7136-8:$30,850$8,531FA$34,125Available NAIS, POCIS East Bay Private Schools Stud-FacGenderGradesRatioEnrollment Affiliation / LanguagesNotes Tuition Range Tuition Assistance Accreditation/Associations 10 Bay Area locations Challenger School offers uniquely fun and academic classes for preschool to eighth grade students. Our students learn to think for themselves and to value independence. Unmatched Academic Results! Visit ChallengerSchool.com to learn more. An independent private school offering preschool through eighth grade © 2022, Challenger Schools Challenger School admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin. ENROLLING!NOW Preschool – Grade 5 (510) 841-8899 2125 Jefferson Avenue Berkeley, CA 94703 Shu Ren inspires students with a love of learning through an inquiry-based, Mandarin immersion program that prepares students with the heart and mind to thrive in an evolving global society. shurenschool.comSanJoseCampus 540 Sands Drive, Bldg B San Jose, CA 408-508-625995125 Mandarin WeInquiry-BasedImmersionCurriculumacceptlearnersofallMandarin levels! Preschool license numbers: Berkeley: 013423047, San Jose: 434417015
NAIS,
CAIS,
CAIS,
9008:1Co-EdK-12 SpanishChinese,NondenominationalFrenchLatin, $35,700FA$51,000Available CAIS, NAIS, WASC, ISSFBA, BADA Holy Names High School 4660 Harbord Dr. Oakland • www.hnhsoakland.org510-450-1110 Girls9-12 Only 1507.5:1 French,Catholic Spanish, ASL FA$21,500Available NCGS, WCEA Julia Morgan School for Girls 5000 MacArthur Blvd. Oakland • www.juliamorganschool.org510-632-6000 Girls6-8 Only 1328:1 SpanishIndependent FA$38,000Available CAIS, NAIS, ABC POCIS, ICGS East Bay Private Schools Stud-FacGenderGradesRatioEnrollment Affiliation / LanguagesNotes Tuition Range Tuition Assistance Accreditation/Associations 5951-B College Ave | Oakland, CA 94618 | www.MentoringAcademy.org510-410-0801 Every person is unique. Our mission is to provide for each student, the most effective, personalized, vibrant, human, compelling and engaging learning environment possible. Engaging students in grades 8 -12
Escuela Bilingüe Internacional PK - Grade 1 410 Alcatraz Ave. • Oakland Grades 2-8 - See Emeryville www.ebi.school510-653-3324 4004-8K-3PKCo-EdPK-88:111:118:1 MandarinSpanishNon-denominationalImmersion,Instruction PK: FA6-8:K-5:$27,360$31,695$33,975Available CAIS, WASC, IBO, Business Head-Royce School 4315 Lincoln Ave. Oakland • www.headroyce.org510-531-1300
30 Parents Press | September 2022 BeBeYou. Salesian College Preparatory salesian.com 510-234-44332851 Salesian Ave. Richmond, CA Bentley School 1 Hiller OaklandDr.• www.bentleyschool.org510-843-2512
Oakland:K-12 6508:1CoedLafayette:K-89-12
Mandarin,English,NondenominationalSpanish,French,Latin Upper FAK-5:6-8:$50,450School:$38,230$34,990Available WASC, ISSFBA 6100 www.college-prep.orgOaklandBroadway•510-652-4364
College Preparatory School
Green
3709:1Co-Ed9-12 Spanish,English,NondenominationalMandarin,Latin FA$51,990Available NAIS, WASC, ISSFBA
The East Bay German International School (EBGIS) is a dual-language immersion school offering preschool through high school programs. Our integrated curriculum combines bilingual German and English instruction with project-based learning and a cross-cultural experience. We offer exceptional academics, a diverse international perspective, and a vibrant community of students, parents and teachers. No prior knowledge of German is needed to join our Preschool and Kindergarten programs. Students need not be fluent in German to join our Elementary and Middle Schools. Talk to us about individualized language support. We prioritize in-person instruction with proven health and safety Onlinemeasures.Info Sessions are offered for all programs. Register admissions@ebgis.org(510)380-0302Emeryville,107010JanuaryOctoberOpenadmissions/visit-ushttps://www.ebgis.org/at:House29,202214,2023am-2pm41stStreetCA94608
September 2022 | ParentsPress.com 31
Private2022/2023SchoolGuideComingOctober Finding the Right School for Your Child From the publishers of PRIVATE2021/2022SCHOOLS EAST BAY GUIDE TO www.parentspress.com To include your school info@parentspress.comcontact *Grades offered vary by location. Preschool State License: 434410807 Copyright © 2022 Stratford Schools, Inc. EXTHETRAORDINARYHAPPENS WHEN YOU BALANCE LEARNING WITH INQUIRY Learn More & Sign up for a Tour at StratfordSchools.com JOIN US FOR A TOUR Explore Stratford’s advanced, intentionally designed STEAM-based curriculum and see firsthand how we foster creative-thinking, innovation, and collaboration. EnrollingNowPreschoolTHROUGHGrade8* Locations throughout the Bay Area Mentoring Academy 5951 College Ave. Oakland • www.mentoringacademy.org510-410-0801 3:1Co-Ed9-12 EnglishIndependent FA$32,000Available WASC Mills College Children’s School at Northeastern University 5000 Macarthur Blvd. Oakland • www.millscollegechildrensschool.org/510-430-2053 Infant-5th grade 7520:1Co-Ed EnglishIndependent K-5: $21,924 FA Available Park Day School 360 42nd St. Oakland • www.parkdayschool.org510-653-0317 3208:1Co-EdK-8 academies:afterEnglish,NondenominationalSpanish,schoollanguageMandarin and French K-5 $32,800 6-8 FA$34,400Available CAIS, AISAP, POCIS, ISBOA, ISSFBA, NAIS, NBOA, PEN Redwood Day 3245 Sheffield Ave. Oakland • rdschool.org510-534-0800 4258:1Co-EdK-8 Spanish,NondenominationalMandarin Inclusive Tuition Model $31,790TA$35,630Available CAIS, WASC, NAIS, POCIS The Renaissance International School 3650 Dimond Ave. Oakland • www.therenaissanceschool.org510-531-8566 Toddler-6 years old and 7th-9th Grades 908:1Co-Ed Montessori, Independent, Music, Art, Language Spanish,ImmersionFrench $27,700 - $40,100 FA Available AMI, IMC, ISSFBA St. Paul’s Episcopal School 116 Montecito Ave. Oakland • www.spes.org510-285-9617 37010:1Co-EdK-8 EpiscopalIndependent(non religious) Spanish K-5 $32,500, 6-8 FA$37,030Available NAIS, CAIS, WASC, POCIS East Bay Private Schools Stud-FacGenderGradesRatioEnrollment Affiliation / LanguagesNotes Tuition Range Tuition Assistance Accreditation/Associations
Educating Global Citizens
OrindaOrindaAcademy 19 Altarinda Rd. Orinda • www.orindaacademy.org925-254-7553
The Renaissance International School 5201 Park Blvd. Piedmont • www.therenaissanceschool.org510-531-8566
Grades 1-6 508:1Co-Ed Montessori, Independent, Music, Art, Language Spanish,ImmersionFrench $27,700 - $40,100 FA Available AMI, IMC, ISSFBA StratfordPleasantonSchool 4576 Willow Road Pleasanton • www.stratfordpleasanton.com925-737-0001
Co-EdK-8 EnglishLutheran Call NLSA, WASC Redwood Christian Schools Castro Valley • San Lorenzo www.rcs.edu510-889-7526
East Bay Private Schools Stud-FacGenderGradesRatioEnrollment Affiliation / LanguagesNotes Tuition Range Tuition Assistance Accreditation/Associations
32 Parents Press | September 2022
25115:1Co-EdK-8 SpanishCatholic $9,131 - $10,019 FA Available WASC, WCEA
Walnut Creek Berean Christian High School 245 El Divisadero Avenue Walnut Creek • www.bereanchristian.com925-945-6464 42512:1Co-Ed9-12 English,Baptist Spanish, ASL FA$11,990Available WASC, ACSI, CollegeBoard
22:115:112:1Co-EdPS-5(PS)(K)(1-5) Non English,ReligiousSpanish Varies by program WASC, CPSTEME Stratford School 3800 Stoneridge Drive Pleasanton • www.stratfordpleasantonms.com925-621-8908
Tilden Preparatory School 1475 N. Broadway Walnut Creek • www.tildenprep.com925-933-5506 200Co-Ed6-12 subjectscoursesRegular/Honors/APIndependentinallhighschool
22:1Co-Ed6-8(6-8) Non English,ReligiousSpanish Varies by program WASC, CPSTEME SalesianRichmondCollege Preparatory 2851 Salesian Ave. Richmond • www.salesian.com510-234-4433 40015:1Co-Ed9-12 English,Catholic French, Spanish forAvailableFA$19,600&Scholarships-Callinfo WASC, WCEA San CalvaryLorenzoLutheranSchool
757:1Co-Ed9-12 Spanish,IndependentASL FA$46,438Available WASC, NAIS, CAIS, POCIS
17200 Via Magdalena San Lorenzo • www.calvaryslz.org/school510-278-2598
CorpusPiedmontChristi School 1 Estates Drive Piedmont • www.corpuschristischool.com510-530-4056
70015:1Co-EdTK-12 MandarinEnglish,ChristianSpanish, $12,000 - $14,000 FA Available WASC, ACSI
Seven Hills School 975 N. San Carlos Drive Walnut Creek • www.sevenhillsschool.org925-933-0666 4248:1Co-EdPS-8 English,NondenomationalSpanish, French $19,730 - $34,950 CAIS, NAIS, WASC, ISSFBA
WASC, UC Regents Approved, NCAA Approved San Francisco Private Schools
Lick-Wilmerding High School 755 Ocean Ave. San Francisco • 415-333-4021 www.lwhs.org 15:1Co-Ed9-12 English,IndependentFrench, Spanish, Mandarin $35,996 WASC, NAIS, NACAC, ISSFBA
September 2022 | ParentsPress.com 33 Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory 1055 Ellis St. San Francisco • 415-772-6626 www.shcp.edu 1,35012:1Co-Ed9-12 English,Catholic Spanish French, Japanese, Mandarin, ASL $23,000 Tuition, $1,500 Reg. Fees $5.8M in FA. Over 330 receivestudentsaid WASC, WCEA St. Anthony-Immaculate Conception 299 Precita Avenue San Francisco • 415-628-2008 Principal:www.saicsf.orgBarbara Moodie 18020:1Co-EdK-8 Roman Catholic English $6,100 - $7,800 WASC, WCEA Stratford School 301 DeMontfort Avenue San Francisco • 415-333-3134 www.stratfordsfdemontfort.com K - Grade 5 VariesElemKCo-Ed15:122:1 Non English,ReligiousSpanish Varies by age WASC, CSSES Stratford School 14th Avenue 645 14th Avenue San Francisco • 415-742-4254 www.stratfordsf14.com 12:1(PS)Co-EdPS-6 15:1(K-6) Non SpanishEnglish,ReligiousMandarin, Varies by Program WASC, CPSTEME Stratford Middle School 75 St. Francis Street San Francisco • 415-715-8648 www.stratfordsfms.com 15:1Co-Ed6-8 Non English,ReligiousSpanish Varies by Program WASC, CPSTEME Stratford School Parkside 2425 19th Avenue San Francisco • 415-564-6250 www.stratfordsfparkside.com 12:1(PS)Co-EdPS-PK 15:1(K) Non SpanishEnglish,ReligiousMandarin, Varies by Program WASC, CPSTEME San Francisco Private Schools Stud-FacGenderGradesRatioEnrollment Affiliation / LanguagesNotes Tuition Range Tuition Assistance Accreditation/Associations ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR FALL 2023 Discover a world-class academic program at BASIS Independent Fremont, a TK–12 private school. Students engage in a globally inspired curriculum that spans STEM and the liberal arts, designed to fuel ingenuity and independence from day one. RSVP at fremont.basisindependent.com. Join us at our fall Open House on October 23! The EastinEducationRedefiningSchoolPrivatetheBay
Reprinted with the permission from National Association of Independent Schools, nais.org.
TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE
E very aboutownschoolprivatehasitspolicieswho receives financial aid, what types of aid are awarded, and how much aid a particular fam ily will receive. In most cases, the financial aid office cannot tell you if your family will qualify for financial aid until you submit an appli cation that allows the school to evaluate your unique situation.
To determine your eligibility for financial aid, you must submit an application form and financial statements. There is no income limit that automatically makes your family ineligible for finan cial aid. Financial aid officers take into account your income, assets, and expenses, includ ing educational costs for other children.
Grants are the most common type of financial aid offered by private schools. They are awarded annually to students who demonstrate financial need, and students must re-apply each year. Grant money comes from the school’s budget and does not have to be paid back.
Sibling discounts are designed to help families with more than one child enrolled in the same school. Many schools are shrink ing these discounts, or phasing them out altogether. Even so, it’s worth asking if this situation ap plies to you. Most families pay for tuition through a combination of these options. The school’s financial aid officer can help you create a financing plan that fits your family’s needs. Don’t hesitate to ask questions and explore all the options available to you.
HOW SCHOOLS DETERMINE
BASIC INFORMATION YOU SHOULD KNOW
Merit scholarships awarded by the school are rare and are usually reserved for students who have a special talent that the school is seeking, such as art, music, or academics. Gener ally, scholarships are based on financial need. They may be awarded once, annually, or as long as the student meets the scholarship criteria. Scholarships from outside organizations are also rare, and often awarded by local chap ters of national groups like the Rotary Club. Ask the school for a list of organizations that have provided scholar ships to their students in the past, and check the list on parents.nais.org. Each scholarship program will have its own eligibil ity rules, application, and deadlines. Tuition loans are per sonal loans provided by a private lender. You must apply directly to the lender, and your loan amount and interest rate will depend on the lender’s credit require ments. Some use loans to pay for expenses not covered by a grant.
Financial Aid:
WHEN TO APPLY Every school has its own financial aid schedule, and the deadlines are different for schools with rolling admissions. In general, most financial aid ap plications are due in January or February. Check with your school of choice for the deadline. You will receive a financial aid deci sion shortly after your child is admitted to a particular school.
Tuition Payment Plans allow you to make monthly payments rather than writing one or two large checks each year. Schools offer payment plans through a third-party financial services company, which charges a rela tively small fee.
Bottom line: If you feel your family cannot afford to pay the full cost, regardless of your in come, it’s worth the effort to sub mit a financial aid application.
34 Parents Press | September 2022
ELIGIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL AID
At Bentley, students develop deep intellectual curiosity and profound awareness of their responsibilities as citizens. Though each will embark on a unique path, every graduate shares the knowledge that they can make a di erence in the world of tomorrow K-8 Campus, Oakland 510-843-2512 LEARN MORE AT: bentleyschool.org/admissions 9-12 Campus, Lafayette 925-900-4038 WE CHALLENGE STUDENTS To Think Beyond Themselves CHART YOUR OWN COURSE AT SJND. VISIT US TODAY! 1011 Chestnut Street, Alameda, CA 94501 | (510) 995-9458 A COLLEGE PREPARATORY HIGH SCHOOL LOCATED IN ALAMEDA, WWW.SJND.ORG/ADMISSIONCA. 2100 Mt. Diablo Scenic Blvd • Danville • 925-837-5375 • www.athenian.org Life is an adventure of intellectual exploration and contribution.meaningful An Athenian education prepares students for a life of purpose and personal fulfillment 75-acre campus of rolling, oakcovered hills lies at the base of Mt. Diablo in Danville, CA just 32 miles East of San Francisco. Athenian buses transport students to and from many East Bay communities. Join us at an Open House: Middle – Nov 5 | Upper – Nov 12
