Here are excerpts from several recent articles by Sarah Meredith. Keep your eye out for new ones!

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It's bad enough that you've spent the last several months touring schools and writing application essays, having your child interviewed and tested. Now you've learned that your child's application has been placed on a "wait list." What does this mean, and what can you do about it?

Questions addressed in the article:

Who goes onto this "wait list?"

What is the most important thing you can do?

Does it help if you know somebody who knows somebody?

Are the lists ranked or numbered?

What happens when you don't hear from a wait-listed school before you must sign up your child?

Can you still hear from a school weeks after the deadline?

For a complete copy of this article by Sarah Meredith, please fill out the article request form.

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Commonly Asked Questions from Parents of 4 Year Olds, from Big Apple Parents Paper

1) When do I have to start planning for kindergarten?

2) How do I know what school my child will go to, and do I have any choice?

3) Are there ways to find out about different programs?

4) How do I figure out my child's learning style?

5) What about having my child tested to get into special public "gifted" programs?

6) Private schools offer different approaches. Will that make a difference to my child?

7) My child is so young, how do I know whether I'm making the right decision?

For answers to these and further questions, request a copy of the whole article.

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School's Out But Kids Can Keep On Learning, from Big Apple Parents' Paper, 1997

How can you maintain and expand your child's academic skills while your family is on vacation? Where will s/he go in July and August while you're at work? ... There's still every reason to look forward to summer and a wealth of satisfying learning activities right here in the city.

Our Local Parks & Laboratories: The Urban Park Rangers offer weekend summer programs ... The Wildlife Conservation Society offers week-long camps and day programs... Other students can plan ahead to apply for programs such as the Westinghouse Project Talent Search Competition program...

Day Camps Around Town: Have you seen the children playing all summer long at, say, P.S. 40 and wondered if the school had a summer camp? Well, it was the McBurney YMCA Day Camp ...

Independent Schools & Summer Camps: As schools, these institutions offer wonderful environments and faculty especially suited for early childhood groups, elementary grade children and older pre-teen groupings ...

Other Resources for Camp Information: ... Whether it's a special interest that drives you, or just a need for advice ... there are organizations to help. ...

For more details and many more suggestions, request a copy of the whole article.

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Sorting Through the Middle School Maze: How to Look at 6-8th Grade, from Big Apple Parents' Paper, 1998

Parents of 5th grade students have a new job this fall, thinking about their 10-11 year olds and sorting out the choices and procedures for schools that offer 6-8th grades. Beginning in October with district-wide fairs, booklets and pamphlets that describe school programs, and new testing and application processes, there are various sources for information and lots of ground to cover. What do parents need to know, when should they spring into action, and what can they expect to find?

Understanding School Structures: Middle school is not the same as the old junior high framework that most parents attended. Entering middle school after 5th grade brings children together during three important pre-adolescent transitional years with most of their school skills already in place. ...

Timing, Testing & Applying: Each district in the city follows slightly different patterns of disseminating information about school choice, and the procedures they will require of families in their districts. Most elementary school guidance counselors will begin having information for parents ...

Students still have some zoning priority for neighborhood schools in most districts. If you wish to look at schools outside your district, then you will have to request a variance from the desired school district. ...Independent schools, those private schools that are not religiously affiliated, all require that applicants take some sort of test to identify their basic knowledge base. ...

Making Choices Means Knowing Your Child: It is well worth taking some time to talk to teachers who really made connections with your child. ...Trying to answer questions about a child's personal habits and interests can help a parent interpret and analyze their child's school experience.

Touring Middle Schools: Tours are offered for parents and children in many schools starting in November, and in some districts going on as late as February or March. Parents are invited to come, often with their children, during a school day to see what is actually going on in the school. ...

For complete information , specific suggestions, and description of procedures in districts 2 & 3, as well as a short list of sample schools, request a copy of the whole article.

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