Parents with children in private school understand that with an investment in their child’s education early on can help nurture their development in academics, global perspectives, independence, and personality. And we, at Our Kids Media, understand this process is a highly personal one, and requires the right blend of atmosphere, community, and guidance from a school, specific to each individual child. This is why it’s our goal to help parents navigate through the overwhelming choices in schools and find the perfect fit for their family. Here is one such family that is embarking on their own school search.
Kelly, Natalie, and Leann Hill. PHOTO BY: Nicole Goddard.
Kelly, Natalie, and Leann Hill. PHOTO BY: Nicole Goddard.
Making the Move
Leanne and Kelly Hill know that the search for the perfect private school is long and complex – even if they’ve already found it.
Kelly, who works in finance, and Leann, a stay-at-home mom, have lived in the Seattle, Washington area for over twenty years. In that time, they’ve made a home for themselves across the street from Kelly’s parents, started a family with young Natalie (four and a half) and Chandler (three months), and found the ideal school community in the Evergreen School, which Natalie began two years ago. When they, and others as well, noticed that Natalie was advancing at a faster pace than her peers, like creating categories with her toys and counting past 100, they followed positive suggestions of the Evergreen School and never looked back. Immediately they felt a part of the school community, closely connected with the teachers, and the environment that supported curiosity and mutual respect. It was a match made in heaven.
“For our family, the peer group is what makes the school choice for us. We feel strongly that you are only as successful as the people around you. Evergreen teaches Highly Capable children and we know that the teachers meet Natalie at her level – she is not bored,” Leann says. “This is a new generation, a new world and your school is not your child’s school. So much has changed! In private, I feel like my voice is heard and my child is known, really known for all she is and can become.”
But with recent economic and political changes in the United States, as well as better job prospects for Kelly, a homesick Canadian and former student of St. Michael’s University School in Victoria, B.C., the time has come for the Hills to make the move northward to Vancouver. It’s an exciting change, but with it comes certain challenges. They don’t currently know anyone in the area, and are struggling to find the right replacement for the Evergreen School.
Natalie and Chandler. PHOTO BY: Nicole Goddard.
“We have a family here and I’m scared we wont be able to find this feeling, this experience again. I know I need to have faith, but it’s a difficult change,” Leann says.
They’re leaving neighbourhood and time of the move flexible until they choose Natalie’s school, which they’ve found difficult since they already know exactly what they’re looking for. They want a coed, non-religious school with a strong parent community and an arts-integrated curriculum that encourages qualities in a child beyond academics – including curiosity, a global mindset, a relationship with their environment .
“We hope for teachers that are aware of emotional intelligence and philosophies such as “Tools of the Mind,” “Emotional Coaching,” and “Positive Discipline,” she says. “Diversity is a huge component for us. Not simple diversity such as assuring a mixture of skin color in the classroom – but rather the teaching of respect and tolerance.”
Their Search
Our Kids Media is helping the Hills through this difficult transition by assisting in their school search. So far, Leann and Kelly have used the Our Kids School Search to narrow down the type of school they’re looking for and investigate possible neighbourhoods and communities. Next, we’ll be meeting up at the Vancouver Private School Expo where they can meet with school representatives face to face, and get first-hand advice from Robin Hinnell, Executive Director of the Independent Schools of British Columbia, and Tim Davies, a Financial Consultant with Investor Group Financial Services Inc.
Here’s the plan for how the Hills will approach the private school search:
- Start with knowing our kid and your family values
- The the internet, collecting info.
- We then narrow things down with an Excel work sheet (compare class size, mission statements, tuition, location, etc).
- Formulate questions, compare schools
- Go to a school Fair – ask questions
- Go on school tours – ask more questions
- Allow the journey to organically unfold, like any good relationship.
Stay tuned to the blog and follow Leann, Kelly, and Natalie on their quest for the right school!
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Do you have any suggestions for the Hills, or any questions about your own school search? Post them in the comment section below!
