SECONDARY SCHOOL SPRING 2024 KICK OFF
Evan Diamond and Cathy Marrero
Timeline / Overview
•Spring Kick-Off Coffee, Thursday, April 25, 8:00-9:30 a.m.
•Secondary School Admissions Panel, Wednesday, May 1, 6:30-8:15 p.m.
•Benchmark SSAT Friday, May 3, 8:30 a.m. at Brookwood
•Public School Coffee, Tuesday, May 14, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
•Meeting with Evan (May through July)
•SSAT Prep (Summer / Fall)
•Mock interviews, studying, autobiography, web browsing
•School visits; refine school list
•Follow up mtgs. to address any questions
•Take SSATs as needed (Oct., Dec.-Brookwood hosts)
•Follow up mtgs. with Evan
•Complete applications and submit
Spring Coffee, Admissions Panel
•Offer overview of the entire process
•Ease concerns
•Set priorities moving forward
•Demystify action steps
•Gain inside perspective
•Get organized
•In attendance for Panel:
• Brooks School
• The Governor’s Academy
• Milton Academy
• Pingree School
• St. John’s Preparatory School
Public School Coffee
•Don’t miss this event!
•Everyone should be interested in learning more about public options
•Great opportunity to inquire
•Lottery
•More there than you might think…
•In attendance, subject to confirmation
• Beverly High School
• Hamilton/Wenham Regional High School
• Manchester Essex Regional High School
• Masconomet Regional High School
• Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School
Meeting with Evan (May – July)
Let’s make a plan...
•One-hour launch meeting for parents
•Complete questionnaire (a few days prior to meeting)
•Discuss priorities (pub/ind, day/board, size, geo, coed/single, FA)
•Develop initial list of schools (open-minded, cast wide net)
•Learn more about SSAT (discuss benchmark scores), set
SSAT prep plan
•Discuss Financial Assistance and its implications on applications
•Answer any and all questions in a clear manner to instill process confidence
•Discuss ebb and flow of process (help guide student/family expectations)
SSAT Prep (July – December)
•Early indications are that the SSAT will be back for this cycle…sorry :(
•Benchmark Upper Level SSAT test, May 3 at Brookwood
•Afternoon SSAT Prep Classes @ Brookwood (Class will be held right after school on same day each week, TBD)
•Discuss Benchmark SSAT result, develop prep plan (during meeting with Evan)
•SSAT registration, score recipient, score advisor
•Prep options (Test Innovators, Brookwood teachers, online)
•Accommodations?
Student Work at Brookwood (Sept.– Oct.)
• Secondary School Prep Class: September - October
• Mock interviews
• Students matched with faculty for practice interviews
• Often more than once
• School work
• Studying, top performance, top priority
• Applications
• We offer guidance
• Stay on top of it
• Use breaks and weekends
• Autobiography
• Helps us advocate better
• Take time to ensure it’s complete/thorough
• Evan will work with students
• School time devoted to completion
School Visits / Refine List (Oct.– Dec.)
•North Shore Secondary School Fair: Tuesday, 9/24 at Glen Urquhart School
•Secondary School Process Review for Parents: TH 9/26
•Use school visit dates
• Thursday 10/3 (no school; Rosh Hashanah)
• Monday 10/14 (no school; Indigenous Peoples’ Day)
• Parent/Teacher Fall Conference Dates (Dates TBD)
• Wednesday 11/27 (no school; Thanksgiving break)
•*Inquiries are key for communications from schools*
•Keep a journal
•Consolidate visits (use Saturdays)
•Keep priorities clear
•Ask lots of questions
Follow up meetings
•Use us early and often
•We are a great resource for
• SSAT materials, dates
• Applications (SAO, Gateway, Ravenna, School-specific) & Brookwood Standard Forms
• Timelines
• Organization
• Materials
• FA materials
•Office hours (to be scheduled next fall)
• No appointment necessary; drop by/call/email with questions
Applications (Oct.– Jan.)
•St. John’s Prep/parochial, Dec. 15 deadline
•Most schools, Jan. 15th, Jan. 31st, Feb. 1stdeadline
•Start over Thanksgiving or earlier depending on number of schools applying to
•Use Holiday Break!
•Think deeply about essays
•Prepare FA materials if needed
•School Choice (public options)
• Survey local districts
• Enter lotteries
• Excellent options!
• Varies annually
Our role throughout the process
•Attending Secondary School Fair on September 24
•Visiting schools; in-person, campus visits
•Tracking your info as you provide it to us
•Meeting with admissions personnel
•Providing relevant, time sensitive information through monthly newsletters
•Offering routine guidance, as well as 1:1 support to families and students as needed
•Organizing materials
•Coordinating efforts of Secondary School Committee
•Writing recommendation letters
Final Thoughts
•Let us guide you
•Don’t fear unknown; ask any questions
•Focus on excitement of next step
•Everyone finds a good landing spot
•Be flexible! Process shifts may occur, but we’re always on top of this
Do Now
•Arrange appointment with Cathy for launch meeting with Evan
•Complete parent questionnaire
