Greenwich Education

Written by Maggie Caldwell- If there was one myth the organizers of last Thursday’s boarding school fair hoped to dispel, it was that boarding schools are elitist and take students only of a certain pedigree.

The event, held at the Greenwich Water Club and hosted by Greenwich Education and Prep, a college and educational counseling company, brought in representatives from more than 40 competitive New England boarding schools to meet with parents and prospective students. The purpose of the evening was less about recruiting students or buttering up admissions officers, and more about helping students identify the schools that best fit their individual educational and social needs.

Greenwich Education and Prep Supports Disaster Relief in Haiti

Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, was struck on January 12th by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. The survivors of this destructive earthquake need continual assistance from countries all over the world. Funds that are contributed now can determine how many lives can be spared in the days and weeks to come. Greenwich Education and Prep is committed to providing the necessary service to help those in need. Whether it be
individuals within our own community or those abroad, we realize the importance of continual service and the responsibility associated withhelping other people live longer, healthier lives.

Please help Greenwich Education and Prep join recovery efforts mobilizing around the world to assist earthquake victims. We have decided to support the Doctors Without Borders Haiti relief effort during this critical process. We are currently asking for monetary donations to help disaster victims rebuild their lives and their communities. If you would be willing to contribute a donation, pleasevisit our Firstgiving page:
http://www.firstgiving.com/annmariemangano.

You can donate on-line with a credit card. All donations are secure and sent directly to Doctors Without Borders by Firstgiving, who will email you a printable record of your donation. Please send our page on to anyone who might like to donate! Our goal is to raise $2,500.00 for the relief effort. If you have any additional questions please feel free to contact Associate Director Ann Marie Mangano at 203-661-1609 or
annmarie@greenwichedprep.com.

Greenwich Education and Prep & Doctors Without Borders thanks you for your time and service.

GEP Collecting Donations for Give 2 the Troops Drive Through January 15, 2010

Greenwich Education and Prep is holding our 1^st Annual Give 2 the Troops Gift Drive! As we celebrate the holiday season in the company of those we love, let us help brighten the lives of troops overseas by giving much needed items such as food, toiletries, and games. Give 2 the Troops is an organization created in 2002 by Andi Grant, a woman whose husband was deployed to Iraq. Compelled to show her unwavering appreciation for his mission, she created branches of Give 2 the Troops throughout the state of Connecticut. It is our goal to bring a little piece of home to our troops by taking the time to appreciate the sacrifice they make on a daily basis to protect our freedom.

Please take a moment to review the official list of items that can be found below. We will be collecting items in our Greenwich, New Canaan, and CSLS offices through January 15, 2010. If you have any additional questions or comments, please contact Associate Director Ann Marie Mangano atAnnmarie@greenwichedprep.com. All of us at Greenwich Education and Prep wish you and your family a happy & healthy New Year!

GEP’s Fall Food Drive: Accepting Donations Through November 20

This fall, we will be hosting our second Thanksgiving Food Drive. GEP has paired up with Neighbor To Neighbor, a local charity organization, to provide nutritious food products to members of our community. Our goal is to collect 10 boxes of canned goods by Friday, November 20th. Please contribute non-perishable food items to one of our GEP offices located in Cos Cob or New Canaan. We are requesting that you donate one of the following high priority items when you attend one of your academic tutoring sessions:

If your child is interested in organizing this event for community service hours at your local middle or high school, please contact Associate Director, Annie Mangano at Annmarie@greenwichedprep.com for additional information. We are looking for dedicated student-leaders who would be willing to assist throughout the fundraising process. Thank you for your continued support and dedication.

Whitby School Engages Greenwich Education and Prep to Provide Educational and Consulting Services to Whitby and Area Students

Whitby School has engaged Greenwich Education and Prep to offer Whitby and area students a range of academic services to help students attain their academic goals. These services, which will be provided on the Whitby campus, include private tutoring, standardized test preparation, school admissions counseling and a host of specialized educational services.

Whitby School will offer these supplemental services to its students. In addition, Greenwich Education and Prep will utilize the modern Whitby facilities to provide its services to non-Whitby students from PreK through grade 12. Doug Fainelli, Whitby’s Head of School, commented, “Whitby has always provided students with personalized, tailored attention, so we are thrilled to also offer the recognized high quality services of Greenwich Education and Prep.” Vicky Newman, Executive Director of Greenwich Education and Prep, is also enthusiastic about the partnership: “Greenwich Education and Prep is proud to partner with Whitby School and we look forward to helping more children develop a love of learning and achieve their educational goals.”

Families interested in learning more should contact Greenwich Education and Prep at 203-661-1609.

About Whitby School: Founded in 1958, Whitby is a premiere, co-educational independent school for children 14 months through 8th grade. Whitby continue to be an innovative leader in education by building on its roots as America’s first Montessori school and incorporating the highly acclaimed International Baccalaureate (IB) programs for both the primary and middle school. Whitby’s dynamic approach to education provides children with the intellectual, personal, and social skills they need to learn, live and succeed in today’s global community. For more information visit www.whitbyschool.org, or call 203-869-8464.

Student Spotlight: Community Service Star

Zach Feldman, a sixth grade student in GEP’s alternative school program, has recently been involved in a very special community service project. With the hope that he could make a difference in the lives of other children in need, Zach collected more than 300 picture books and donated them to a first grade class at New Orleans Success Preparatory Academy, a charter school in Louisiana. First grade teacher, Mrs. Greeley, also Zach’s aunt, reported that the children screamed with excitement when they received the boxes from Connecticut. They wrote Zach letters in which they thanked him not only for his books, but for his love.

Zach is now doing monthly drives of dry erase markers, hand sanitizers, and Kleenex tissues, with a few boxes of cookies for afternoon snacks. He feels that even a small box sent each month makes a big impact on those who are really in need. Ms. Greeley stated her gratitude for Zach’s contributions to her classroom and shared that it is her mission to give every child an opportunity to learn to read. Zach is certainly helping his aunt complete this goal. When asked what this project has meant to him so far, Zach smiled and said, “I feel happy and proud because I’m donating books to kids who don’t have them, and I’m helping them learn.”

If you would like to contribute to Zach’s cause, please contact Meredith Hafer at meredith@greenwichedprep.com for more details.

Advanced Writing Seminar With Eric Burns Begins November 11

Join Eric Burns in this short survey course aimed at sharpening your writing skills across a number of genres. Burns will draw from his experiences as an award winning journalist and author to help make writing come alive for you. Critique of weekly writing assignments will be used to drive home points and encourage discussion.

As Eric Burns explains, “Unlike math or science or history, writing is more than a subject. Writing is actually a synonym for thinking, and thinking—as opposed to memorization—is the tool without which no learning, in any subject, is possible. The only difference between thinking and writing is that the former is done between your ears and the latter between the margins of a sheet of paper. But writing is the only ’subject’ taught in high school that will be with you for the rest of your life no matter what your field. Everyone has to think. Everyone has to place his thoughts on paper. (Or on a computer screen.) Even the mathematician, scientist or historian has to write. To write clearly, then, is to take the first step toward thinking clearly, which is in turn the first step toward mastering not only every subject in high school and college, but every possible job in the marketplace. There is nothing more important for a young scholar to accomplish.”

Eric Burns is a former NBC News correspondent who, in that position, was named one of the best writers in the history of television journalism. He also won an Emmy for media criticism.For ten years, he served as the host of Fox News Watch, the most critically-acclaimed program on the network. He has written eight books. Two of them were published by an academic press and won the highest award possible for such books, being named the “Best of the Best” by the American Library Association. Excerpts from his books are available on amazon.com.

This seminar is for students in grades 11 & 12 and their parents on Wednesday evenings, starting November 11, 2009 for one hour in GEP’s Greenwich office:

November 11
November 18
December 3
December 10

Price: $200 per person

Please RSVP to Peter Newman by November 8 at peter@greenwichedprep.com

Teacher Spotlight: Ann Marie Mangano

Ann Marie poses with 2002 Noble Peace Prize winner
and former President Jimmy Carter. Carter was among the first Albert
Schweitzer Institute Humanitarian Award recipients in 2007 at
Quinnipiac University.

We are thrilled to introduce Ann Marie Mangano. Since her arrival in August, Ann Marie has taken GEP by storm. Admired by students and colleagues alike, this Renaissance woman has brought refreshing spirit, insight, and creativity to GEP. Many of her high school and college professors have said that teaching is in her bones; however, she believes that it is her personality and ability to connect with others that draws her to the teaching profession. Whether as a teacher, coach, mentor, performer, or community servicewoman, Ann Marie positively impacts those she meets.

Ann Marie joins GEP with an impressive array of accomplishments that includes: being captain of a Division One field hockey team, receiving awards such as the M.A.T. Leader Excellence Award, Albert Schwietzer Institute Humanitarian Award, and Outstanding Student Award (received all four undergraduate years for academic achievement), and organizing and hosting a professional development conference in Leon, Nicaragua. She also was the national anthem singer at the opening of TB Bank North Sports Complex, Relay for Life, 9/11 Candle Vigil, and all home sporting events on Quinnipiac’s campus.

Ann Marie’s life experiences and diverse array of talents undoubtedly contribute to her teaching philosophy. She loves playing and watching sports; lives for singing and dancing in front of large audiences; and most passionately enjoys learning about other people’s cultures. She believes it is necessary to combine a little bit from each of these elements into her teaching style to appeal to a greater variety of her students. Once she finds what her students are passionate about, she finds engaging ways to make real life connections to what they are learning and their lives.

We caught up with Ann Marie and asked what inspired her most about teaching. Here’s what she had to say:

“For as long as I can remember, education had always played a pivotal role in my life. Coming from a family in which both my parents are high school educators, I learned the significant role education can play when shaping the life of an individual. My parents, like many of those who came before them, wanted to prepare, motivate, and mold the future of our country. They wanted to teach, inform, challenge, and change the way we, as students, think, and I believe they did. It was through the lasting relationships five, ten, even twenty years after their students left their classrooms that I knew teachers made a difference. I continually saw how rewarding this profession was and how badly I wanted to become a part of something greater than myself. What better way to give back to my community, to my country than through sharing my knowledge and love for learning with future generations?

Lastly, I believe my experience teaching in Leon, Nicaragua has also shaped my desire to teach. Teachers in Nicaragua do not have many classroom resources, but what they are able to accomplish with their students on a daily basis is an inspiration to us all. I learned that I must look at each student with an open and accepting mind. I must also work to incorporate their various cultures into my lesson plans in hopes that they can all learn from one another. That is why I strongly believe that regardless of what subject area a teacher instructs, there are countless lessons that can be learned outside any textbook that will provide the underlying messages students need to succeed in life. The information students learn in school is secondary to the values students learn about cultural understanding and the importance of working well with others. In the process, students and teachers become life-long learners who are prepared for whatever they decide to pursue in life.”

Above, Ann Marie instructing administrators, teachers and students of Goyena and
La Ceiba in Leon, Nicaragua.

What To Consider When Choosing a School for Your Child

Choosing a school that will be the right fit for your child can be a confusing and daunting process for parents. There are, however, factors that can and should be considered. We recently sat down with GEP Educational Consultants Vicky Newman and Jacquie Quigley to ask them what every parent wants to know when selecting a school for their child.

What factors should I consider when choosing a secondary or independent school for my child?

VN: Go for the best fit. Look for courses that the school offers that will interest your child. Look at the extracurriculars, look at the sports, look at the mission of the school. Attend the open house. Ask yourself if you can see your son or daughter in this environment and as a part of this community.

JQ: I agree. It’s important to take a look at the whole child. One of the other things that is very different from a public school environment is that, at a private school, the individual grades each have their own personality. You want to get a flavor for the composition of the grade – their interests, their strengths, and the social aspect. When an admissions group is putting together a class, they are also looking at the dynamics of that particular grade and where they might need to fill holes. And there is a school for everyone – that’s the most important thing to keep in mind.

JQ: One of the biggest advantages of sending your child to a private school is really one of the most obvious: they offer smaller classes and the ability for a child to really create a relationship with their teachers. The other thing is that, unfortunately, public schools do not have the same type of resources and time to spend getting to know each child and understanding their individual learning styles. Private schools also give children the ability to participate in activities that may not be available to them at a public school. There are a lot more extracurricular activities, clubs and athletics. From an athletic standpoint, even a child that isn’t a super athlete will be able to play and participate.

VN: I also think that private schools make a greater investment in their students. I think they’re held to a higher accountability standard. And I think the relationships between parents, teachers, and students are a lot closer. They communicate more.

What will make my child’s application more attractive to top-tier schools?

VN: Top-tier schools are looking for well-rounded kids. But they are also looking for motivated kids who already excel in one area. A child may still be looking for their passions, want to try more clubs, or try things that they’ve never tried, but they really need to be talented at something already. Whether it’s a sport, an instrument, or performing arts, schools look for that one thing that makes a child stand out, in addition to being well-rounded and having a good interview. They’re looking for a hook.

JQ: I think your points are well taken. The bottom line is that the top-tier schools are looking for students who shine. One of the important things about the application process is that kids really need to do their homework and research the schools they’re applying to, and then, based on what they learn about the school, be able to loop back into their own background and identify what is going to make them really stand out as an exceptional candidate for the school they’re applying to.

VN: There are a number of resources available to parents. One is calling the school and getting a viewbook. The second is online – look at each school’s individual website, read the blogs. You can also go to two different websites: www.boardingschoolreview.com and www.privateschoolreview.com are great resources. In addition, there are a number of guides out there that give a good summary of schools, day and boarding, such as Peterson’s. There is also the TABS book that summarizes each boarding school by state.

VN: Talk to friends who have kids at the schools. Attend the receptions that schools host.

JQ: Independent school fairs are great. They’re usually held in September, October, and the beginning of November, so now is the time to investigate.

VN: Yes, and if your child attends a Pre K-9 private schools, use your placement counselor as a resource. Educational consultants can also be a huge help. They visit the schools, know the programs, know the directors of admission, and have contacts at the school. A good educational consultant will be honest with you about each school’s strengths. And they’re able to match your child’s academic and special interest background to the programs at the various schools.

VN: All of the schools are looking for a well-rounded child. The ISEE or SSAT is one piece of the puzzle. It is the one thing, however, that puts all of the candidates on a level playing field. But keep in mind that it is just one piece of the puzzle.

JQ: The other thing to consider is the academics. Your child’s report cards, records, standardized test scores will also be another piece of this puzzle. They will take a look at your child’s special interests and athletic abilities. The interview plays an important part in the process as well. And there’s no real tell-tale formula. Even though the school may say that they want kids with an ISEE score in the 7th or 8th stanine, or an SSAT score in the 80-90th percentile, if they get a child with strong academic records, a good interview, and strong special interests, that kid is definitely a viable candidate.

VN: It certainly helps. But if a child can’t truly make it in that academic setting, they’re not going to take that child just because he or she is a legacy. But they will reach out to the parents and give them that advice. They will be honest, and they’re not going to take a kid they think is going to sink.

JQ: To the best of their ability, the admission staff will try to give a spot to a legacy candidate if he or she is the right fit, but they won’t do it unless they think that the child is going to be successful at that school.

What tips would you give about the interview process for applying to private schools?

JQ: I really hate to use the word “interview” when we talk about the process. When the interview comes up, I always tell kids that it’s really not an interview. It’s an information sharing session. Just as much as the school is there to learn about the child and see if he or she is a fit for their school, it’s also an opportunity for the child to learn about the school and decide whether or not he or she will be happy there. When the parents position it in this way, it doesn’t become such a frightening experience for the child. The bottom line is that you have children interviewing from elementary, middle, and high school, and it’s a life skill that will improve over time.

VN: I completely agree. I also think that you need to be yourself when you are interviewing, and you need to learn how to present yourself so that the school views you as a viable candidate.

VN: …and why you think you can make a difference at this school. They want you to want more. This is what comes out in the application process.

Everything You Need to Know About GEP’s Homeschool Program

GEP’s homeschool program has been gaining steam as a school alternative in recent years. We met with Director Meredith Hafer to get the low-down on how GEP’s program compares to traditional school options.

Why is your school program classified as homeschooling?

GEP provides comprehensive K-12 school programs for students as an alternative to mainstream schools. These individualized programs fall under the legal umbrella of homeschooling, which gives parents the right and responsibility to ensure that their child receives an appropriate education. In effect, parents contract with us to create and implement an educational program to meet their child’s unique needs.

Where do your students receive instruction?

The majority of our students attend classes at our centers in Greenwich and New Canaan. Our facilities are set up to accommodate one-on-one and small-group instruction, as well as music lessons, studio art, and physical education. Occasionally, we will work with students off-site; this may be necessary when we are working with athletes and actors. We can also implement our programs in-home if needed.

Who teaches them?

We maintain a teaching staff of approximately 20 full-time and 60 part-time educators, which includes both certified teachers and subject area specialists. We also recruit additional teachers as needed for specialized courses, from Russian and graphic design to marine biology and advanced ballet. It all depends on the needs of our current students. No matter what the subject, we seek out bright, passionate teachers who can engage students and make learning come alive for them.

So why do families choose GEP’s homeschool program?

Families choose GEP’s homeschool program as a school alternative for a variety of reasons. The reason cited most often by our families is that their child is not thriving in his or her current educational environment. We work closely with families to identify each student’s needs and devise a comprehensive plan to take their child’s education to the next level.

We also work with young professionals who need nontraditional educational solutions. Some students, such as actors, artists, and athletes, are often forced to choose between pursuing their passion and getting a quality education. Because of the flexibility of our year-round program, we are able to design creative, challenging courses of study that meet their scheduling needs, fulfill core requirements, and provide instruction within their fields of interest.

Because we are able to create a school program at any time of the year, GEP is also a good option for families that need a mid-year or summer transitional program. We can pick up right where students left off in their previous school and make sure that they receive credit for their hard work.

What is the philosophy of your homeschool program?

We believe that by giving our students a hand in directing their own education, we can foster a sense of self-reliance and inspire a life-long love of learning. We respect every student as an individual, and we leverage on their strengths in order to help them become stronger in their areas of relative weakness. We want to know what makes our students tick, what their passions are, and if they do not yet have any passions, then we will push them to get excited about something. Too often, I meet kids who are not having a positive school experience, and this has a huge impact on their sense of self. We want our students to be happy, successful, resilient, engaged, and empowered.

The way I see it, we have the opportunity to create an ideal learning environment for our kids. Our programs are informed by the current research on best practices in education. We involve our students in the planning process, engage them in self-directed learning, and challenge them to grow.

For some students, self-directed learning means setting goals and having a say in course selection. For others, it means actively creating a schedule and engaging in guided independent study. Ideally, we want to enlist our students as engineers of their own educations. This idea makes some parents and educators nervous. They think that, given the choice, students would opt for a school day filled with recess and lunch. But the fact is that the vast majority of our students know what they need as students. They respect their adviser’s guidance, and they want to succeed academically. By taking part in the planning process and having an active voice throughout the school year, our students become invested in their programs.

When it comes down to it, what is our end goal? To excel in seventh grade? To get into a top college? No. These are just means to an end. We are preparing our students to be healthy, successful, and fulfilled adults. This involves teaching them to make choices, define their path, feel comfortable with responsibility, cope with setbacks, and continue to challenge themselves every day of their life.

There are virtually no limitations to what our students can study at GEP. In the lower and middle school grades, we typically follow the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum and the Connecticut Curriculum Framework, supplemented with enrichment courses such as accelerated foreign language, art history, creative writing, music, and studio art. In the upper school grades, our students have a more active role in designing their programs, and are able to take classes in diverse subjects suited to their interests. Our classes are tailored to each student’s level, from introductory studies to all AP courses.

How do your students find a balance between their alternative school experience and a “normal” social life?

One of the things that we can’t offer is a large peer group. That is why we make sure that our students are enrolled in regular after-school activities to increase their socialization opportunities. We find that, with the confidence and life skills that they gain in our program, our students are even more prepared to flourish socially when they transition on to the next stage in their education.

GEP confers credit for completed coursework and provides grades, transcripts, recommendations, and academic portfolios. We facilitate placement and transfer of credit, and our students’ work has been recognized by public schools, private schools, boarding schools, and colleges.

How do students apply to your program?

To determine whether or not a student is a good fit for our program, we review his or her records, meet with the family, and meet individually with the student. Throughout this process, we answer any questions that the family may have. I am always willing to sit down with families to discuss whether or not our program may be a viable alternative for their child.

Do you provide special education?

In my mind, providing specialized instruction and therapeutic services is a natural extension of our mission to meet each of our student’s unique needs. Whether we are working with students with learning differences, gifted learners, English language learners, or students with behavioral and emotional needs, we always aim to leverage on their strengths in order to maximize their learning potential.

Through our Center for Specialized Learning Services, we are able to offer comprehensive, collaborative, interdisciplinary services. In addition to providing certified special education teachers, we can integrate speech and language therapy, clinical services (CBT, DBT), ABA and other behavioral interventions.

Recent Comments

Finding the right prep school