Our August 2022 Newsletter

Education Connection Advisors- Gearing up for School!

Welcome to our August newsletter. We are so excited to start our 20th year of helping families understand the importance of choosing a school and looking at all the options. Whether you are focusing on private school or public school, where to live, knowing what to look for in a school, or just trying to figure out how your child learns, we are the specialists that are here to help. We are now scheduling in-person and zoom meetings for new clients.

With our team approach, we are always reaching to know more, understand more and help more. Helping your family is our main goal. As Mr. Rogers once said, “As human beings our job in life is to help people realize how rare and valuable each one of us really is, that each of us has something that no one else has or ever will have. It is our job to encourage each other and to discover that uniqueness and to provide ways of developing its expression.” 

This year we placed our families in over 20 different area schools, including boarding schools and specialized schools and helped other families with their specific educational questions. We look forward to helping you figure out your plan for your family’s future. 

This year we will again be hosting two very important programs:

Tuesday, October 4th: “Life After Preschool” 

We are hosting this event with the Preschool at PRUMC and it is open to all families of preschool age children. This event is not just for families applying to private schools. Psychologist, Dr. Carol Drummond will also join us to discuss child development and the JATP. 

Tuesday, October 18th: “Navigating the Admission Process”

This virtual event will include admission directors from Atlanta area independent schools, who will be discussing various topics about the admission process.

Stay tuned on how to sign up and be a part of learning!

As we all strive to do our best, here are some easy tips for starting school:

• Prioritize and schedule family time. Time gets away from us quickly.
• Make a weekly schedule for the family and for each child and keep it in a central place. Post assignments, doctor’s appointments, family events and activities. 
• Start your school routine before school starts: going to bed earlier, limiting screen time, getting clothes out the night before and packing the backpack. Have a special place for each child to remember where their things are located.
• Find a “studying place” for each child that is a distraction free zone.
• Children do get nervous before school starts. Be sure and discuss feelings, their worries and concerns. If need be, drive the route to school, talk about new changes in the school, or meet new kids from their class. You want your child to feel comfortable.
• Talk about a specific time for homework and how things can be accomplished, especially if there are activities in the afternoon.
• Establish your family code of ethics about devices. Will they be used during the week? Where do we put them when you get home? Is TV allowed and how much? Is texting allowed during homework time? These are important questions to talk about before the school year begins.
• Communicate and listen to your children. Their thoughts are important. 

Schools are still getting things in order. You can not sign up for anything as yet. This is the time for you to get your house ready for school, the activity schedule and your whirlwind of action. As parents, this is a time of readjustment for you as well.

Call us today and we will help you create your plan! From homework strategies, to mental health, to finding the right specialists for your child, we’re here to help with your concerns. 

Barbara Levy, Fontaine Draper and Betsy Metcalf

Education Connection Advisors