March 2024 Newsletter

The Building of Our Practice

In 2003 Barbara Levy M.Ed and Fontaine Draper joined together as partners to build an educational practice focusing on finding the best educational fit for families from preschool to high school. With the addition of Betsy Metcalf, our educational team reflects the true meaning of what an educator is. We bring backgrounds in admissions, teaching, coaching, counseling, curriculum writing, and advising. We feel fortunate to have built a brand of excellence, service and knowledge in a field of public and private schools that has helped so many in the Atlanta area. 

With clients from all over the world moving into our city and families who already call Atlanta home, we have helped countless families through this intricate process with diplomacy, advice and compassion. We work hard to utilize medical professionals and other specialists as needed. Individualization is our strength as each family and child come with their own set of gifts and strengths.

Who may currently benefit from our services: 

-Families who receive a waitlist decision and need guidance on next steps

-Families whose children were not accepted and need some advice

-Families moving from another city or country who want to know what schools to look at or if there is any space available.

We officially start with new families at the end of April for the 2024-25 school year. 

Educational Question of the Month:

What are executive functioning skills?

The frontal lobe of the brain controls what we remember. When we think of these skills it can be complicated- our brains help us set goals, plans and get things done. This skill is critical for our lives at school, home and work.

As you think about your own executive functioning, ask yourself 

”Are you…”

• Paying attention?
• Starting tasks and finishing them?
• Remembering Instructions?
• Self controlled and self regulated?
• Setting priorities?
• Thoughtful in decision making?

We are not born with these skills. You and your children may need “scaffolding” help to develop these skills.

As parents you can help by:

• Having a routine
• Creating a warm and supportive environment at home
• Fostering creative play and socialization
• Making time for outside exercise and play
• Helping with coping skills and stress factors
• Giving your child age appropriate responsibilities around the house

Kids with poor executive functioning skills don’t know where to begin on a project or their homework, may get overwhelmed and stressed out and can even develop negative emotional reactions.

Some strategies to consider:

• Break a task into smaller steps. 
• Make a checklist for everything.
• Check off what gets accomplished. This helps show that progress is being made.

If these concerns resonate with anyone in your family, you may need an “outside coach” to work and develop better skills. If you are interested in exploring this topic more, we highly recommend this article on executive functioning published by Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child. 

This is the season of planning. Email us if you have a question or a concern. We are here for you.

Barbara, Betsy, Fontaine and Margo