Greetings from the Valley to Rising VIIth Form Parents and Guardians:
Summer is in full swing, and though persistent East Coast rain has made doing things “summery” difficult, I have been able to find my windows of opportunity. I trust that you and your students are getting used to more time together! We surely miss the energy and joy they give to us during these quiet summer months. As I look back on the past year, I smile and understand that it was a wonderful one. As I look to the upcoming year, I smile with anticipation at what it might become in the hands of this Senior Class. The Commencement tent in the picture up there seems a long way off but this class will be standing in it before you know it!
We will continue to use this Newsletter format to keep the group updated generally on the important steps and information in the process of securing post-Rumsey education plans for the Class of 2024.
Please know that these Secondary School Counseling Newsletters contain time sensitive information. Archived copies can be found on the Secondary School tab of our website.
I know many of your children are already fully engrossed in various summer plans that will enrich their lives and prepare them for the steps ahead. Awesome! I love seeing the occasional email in my inbox letting me know what your sons and daughters are up to!
As we consider the initial research and steps in this process, you may wish to speak by phone, Zoom, or connect via email. It is best to go through Julie at jfred@nhfilmexpo.com to set up an appointment time.
We continue to look forward to working with you on this important process! Please, enjoy the time with your family. Your children will need the days of sleeping in, reading a good book, or going on a long bike ride as they prepare for the upcoming school year.
Clayton Ketchum
Director of Secondary School Counseling
In your email on July 12!
Rising VIIth Form families will receive an email from Julie on July 12 with an attached letter from Clayton which will include an initial list of recommended schools to investigate. There may be an alternate communication depending on your family’s plans. The recommended list of schools will be based on information your family has provided through meetings with Clayton, on the Parent and Student Questionnaires, end of year teacher comments, as well as assessing your child’s strengths, needs, and interests and projected growth, development and maturity. The first step for you will be to go online and do some research. The second step is for you to schedule interviews / tours at the schools you wish to visit. We have reserved the week after Fall Parents’ Day (October 16 - 21) for families to do their Senior School Visitations. We anticipate and expect schools to continue to offer tours and interviews on campus, though virtual options will continue to be a tool they employ.
SSAT Preparation
It seems that many schools will continue to remain test optional this upcoming admissions cycle, but we will still proceed with an on campus test on Saturday, November 11th. While our area does not have the resources to provide support for test preparation and practice, parents and students can utilize online preparation platforms detailed below.
As I have said in the past, test preparation is only as effective as the prepper, but families have had great success with their children using the services and practice offered by Test Innovators, Summit Educational Group and the SSAT online practice tests in the ssat.org portal.
Test Innovators:
http://testinnovators.com/
Summit Educational Group
http://mytutor.com/
SSAT Prep Options:
http://www.ssat.org/prepare/practice
SSAT Testing
As Rumsey’s Academic Calendar indicates, 2023-24 Academic Calendar, the Class of 2024 will take the paper-based SSAT here at Rumsey on Saturday, November 11, 2023. The Secondary School Counseling Office will register your child for this test, so please do not do this on your own.
The two (2) remaining fall National Test Dates for paper-based testing take place on Parents’ Day (October 14), and December 9. If you would like your child to take an additional SSAT test (aside from November 11), please try to avoid October 14. At Home Online Testing is also an option. Learn more about this at SSAT At Home . Note that the At Home Online Test cannot be administered here on Campus and International students, in most cases, remain limited to paper-based tests.
TOEFL
Regardless of your child’s immigration status, if English is not your child’s first / native language, OR your child’s TOEFL score result is more than two (2) years old, you need to strongly consider having your child take the TOEFL this summer, as certain schools may require it. Please be sure to forward any scores to Julie at jfred@nhfilmexpo.com.