March 8, 2010
Attitude of Gratitude
When I met with the girls one week ago, I encouraged them to adopt an attitude of gratitude. I explained that I thought it would be helpful to spend some time each day thinking about what they are grateful for on that day, cultivating a positive mindset for the days ahead. Either writing out or making a mental checklist of five things they are grateful for is a grounding and sometimes challenging practice. Within their advisories, they’ve begun to adopt this practice.
This week, girls will receive information from boarding schools. By the end of the week, letters regarding Lowell admissions should begin to arrive in your mailboxes. For boarding schools, as with independent and parochial schools, girls will either be accepted, wait-listed, or denied admission. Lowell does not have a wait list so information from them is definitive.
Please take time to talk over the information from each school as a family and remember that it is simply that: information. It is not a measure of one’s worth. Admissions committees have been working at a feverish pace over the past six weeks to cull through applications, review interview notes and discuss applicants. It is safe to say that their decisions are derived from a very thorough process. Nonetheless, it’s not easy. Most schools have seen an increase in the total number of applicants and there are often multiple applicants for every space available to the class of 2014. Financial assistance requests are also up this year, with more families requesting aid than ever before.
For those that have applied to boarding schools, you have a month to make a decision. If you have received a letter of acceptance and would like to revisit a boarding school, please read the information you received from that school to understand their process for revisits. No doubt, they have set aside specific dates for such opportunities. Please be mindful that day school decisions are due a few weeks before final boarding decisions. You should plan to revisit your boarding school(s) in time to make decisions before March 26th, if independent and parochial day schools are part of the equation. Lowell must be notified by March 26th if you would like to secure a spot there.
Do not accept spaces at multiple schools! For instance, do not accept a space at a day school as you perhaps await information regarding a boarding school’s wait list. This will mean that another student will not come off of a day school wait list, even though you may give up that spot later. Moving through this time period in an ethical fashion is of the utmost importance.
Since the start of school last September, I’ve spent a good amount of time on high school campuses, seeing new construction, visiting classes, or having lunch with Burke’s girls. I always enjoy spending time on the amazing campuses throughout the Bay Area, running into Burke’s girls at every turn, seeing kids engaged and happy in their high school community but also thrilled to step back into that familiar role of Burke’s girl, even for a moment. I’m reminded that they all move on, find their place, and continue to blossom into wonderful young women.
I say this to remind you that we are truly fortunate to have such rich educational opportunities in the Bay Area. Whether your daughter moves on to a public, parochial, or independent high school, she will no doubt be taught by some of the finest teachers in the country, in welcoming, thoughtful communities. Keep this at the forefront as you receive information from high schools. While it may not be possible for all to get their first choice, every girl will end up at a wonderful high school next year.
This week, as information is made available by some schools, it is important for students and parents to maintain a self focus and to remain grounded in the present. If you wish to discuss results as they come in, please call or e-mail me to make an appointment.
Lastly, I would like to invite all parents to our assembly on Friday. In her Tuesday Note last week, Ms. Wargo related that we are welcoming Kevin and Hannah Salwen, authors of The Power of Half at 10:15 Friday morning. Please take time to reread Ms. Wargo’s note to refresh yourself regarding the content of the assembly and mark off time on your calendars for Friday morning. It should prove to be an excellent assembly for students and adults!
Thanks,
Lisa
