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| Education: Choice is the key word |
Southern Nevada families have many wonderful choices for schooling including, public, private, independent, parochial, proprietary, home schooling and boarding.
As a person who has served in both the independent and public school communities, I am often asked which type of school is better? Instead of looking at which is better, my answer is to focus on what each type of school offers to the individual child and how does it meet his or her needs and interests. We are fortunate that there are many educational resources available throughout Southern Nevada to ensure that every student can become a successful student.
As a parent you determine which educational option best fits your child. You are the person who knows your child’s needs; therefore, you should consider yourself the expert in determining the best fit for your youngster.
To offer a starting point please allows me to share some questions to consider in making your choice.
After you have done the preliminary research on the types of schools and narrow down your choices, set-up a time to visit and tour each school you are interested in. Consider the visit to be a first look at the environment of the school. Reflect on the way in which you were greeted at the school. While touring the school imagine how your child would fit in to the environment. Make sure to take time and look over bulletin boards, posters and announcements for school events. Watch classroom teaching and learning in action. How engaged are the students? Do you have the impression that the students are the most important people on campus? Regardless of the age of your child it is valuable to have your child participate in the process. Scheduling a second visit with your child is a key factor in the process.
My last tip is to not wait until the last minute. Many schools begin enrollment during the first part of the calendar year, so to ensure a place in the school of your choice plan your visit(s) accordingly. Do your homework during the summer and fall months preceding the application time – visit websites, call for admission brochures, talk to families who are currently at the schools being considered. Most important advice of all, don’t stress. Our Southern Nevada community has a school for most every child. n
As a person who has served in both the independent and public school communities, I am often asked which type of school is better? Instead of looking at which is better, my answer is to focus on what each type of school offers to the individual child and how does it meet his or her needs and interests. We are fortunate that there are many educational resources available throughout Southern Nevada to ensure that every student can become a successful student.
As a parent you determine which educational option best fits your child. You are the person who knows your child’s needs; therefore, you should consider yourself the expert in determining the best fit for your youngster.
To offer a starting point please allows me to share some questions to consider in making your choice.
- Who will be educating my child?
- Is the size of the educational setting important for my child?
- What is the school’s mission and how does that fit into our family values?
- How will the school know my child as an individual?
- What extra curricular activities are offered to meet my child’s needs?
- Does my child have special needs and will they be accommodated?
- Will the curriculum challenge my child?
- Is my child emotionally and physically safe at school?
After you have done the preliminary research on the types of schools and narrow down your choices, set-up a time to visit and tour each school you are interested in. Consider the visit to be a first look at the environment of the school. Reflect on the way in which you were greeted at the school. While touring the school imagine how your child would fit in to the environment. Make sure to take time and look over bulletin boards, posters and announcements for school events. Watch classroom teaching and learning in action. How engaged are the students? Do you have the impression that the students are the most important people on campus? Regardless of the age of your child it is valuable to have your child participate in the process. Scheduling a second visit with your child is a key factor in the process.
My last tip is to not wait until the last minute. Many schools begin enrollment during the first part of the calendar year, so to ensure a place in the school of your choice plan your visit(s) accordingly. Do your homework during the summer and fall months preceding the application time – visit websites, call for admission brochures, talk to families who are currently at the schools being considered. Most important advice of all, don’t stress. Our Southern Nevada community has a school for most every child. n
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Nevada consistently ranks high among the favored states ...
