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Secondary School Placement

Newsletter

August 2021

Greetings from the Valley,

I trust that summer continues to move along at a somewhat familiar pace and that you are all enjoying the time with family and perhaps even a few friends.

I have been in touch with many of you at some point over the summer and look forward to growing a strong partnership with everyone as the year progresses. I wanted to write with a couple of important points regarding secondary school placement and planning.

While I did take some much needed time off early in the summer, I have been busy planning and preparing for Rumsey’s reopening. In addition, I am in contact with admissions offices at many secondary schools as they prepare for their reopenings. Many of their plans remain fluid. Most are very hopeful that there is a return to a more normal approach to the admissions process including in person interviews and visits, but they are also well aware that they may need to pivot quickly. Rest assured we all want the same thing, but we will be prepared to change course if we need to. It will be best for you to check with schools in the upcoming weeks on any decisions that they have made regarding the admissions process.

I am hopeful to see as many of you as I can during the fall term either in person or if need be via Zoom. Enjoy the last month of August as days grow shorter and we near the return to the Valley. We look very much forward to your children returning to campus this September!

Regards,

Clayton Ketchum P’14, ‘17

Director of Secondary School Placement and Financial Aid

SECONDARY SCHOOL INTERVIEWS -

Yes, secondary school admissions offices are very hopeful that they will be able to host candidates on campus. Rumsey has reserved the entire week of October 18, 2021 for Seniors to visit and interview in person at secondary schools. We are aware that some parents will not be able to make this trip due to travel restrictions and quarantine hurdles. In these instances, we will be able to provide a quiet place for students to interview virtually here on campus. Either way, it is best to schedule interviews and visits during the week of October 18, 2021 so students do not miss valuable class time.

TOEFL SCORES

If your child has taken the TOEFL during these last several months, please be sure to forward a copy of the scores to me or Julie.

SSAT SCORES & DESIGNATING RUMSEY AS SCORE ADVISOR

If your child has taken the SSAT over the last several months, it is essential that you designate Rumsey Hall as your Score Advisor. While we will not send any of your child’s scores on to schools, this does give our Placement Office access to your child’s test results so we can continue to work on your child’s behalf. You can add a Score Advisor during or after registration for a test. Instructions are available under Resources/Links at the end of this Newsletter or contact Julie at jfred@capodannoitalia.net and she will send you the instructions.

SSAT PREPARATION

As stated in previous Newsletters, 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 and the SSAT online practice tests in the ssat.org portal. The pricing ranges from $69.95 to $1095.00, depending on which service you use. If interested, please take a look at the recording of the May 24th Zoom and/or products and pricing structures offered:

May 24 Zoom Recording with Test Innovators: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/Uw1CjbBTIx82nUKrRu8gRi6ttlitro9Kw8yKBzIAEQLIeMZcMpHosWlC0v8MLK_u.FB9UGMhevxz12lCI

SSAT Prep Options: http://www.ssat.org/prepare/practice

SSAT TESTING OPTIONS FOR THE FALL

We assume that there are still questions regarding the SSAT. In conversations with secondary school admissions offices, they clearly understand that the SSAT will continue to be a tool, but one that they need to be flexible in considering. Many schools have indeed announced plans to remain test optional for this year, some are returning to the SSAT. Rumsey is a designated testing center, and we will administer a paper based test on November 13, 2021. There will be no need for you to sign up for this test; we will do this on our end.

There are other test dates in the fall if you would like your student to take the test more than one time. Signing up for these additional tests, however, will be your responsibility. Please communicate any other scheduled test dates with Julie. Additionally, SSAT still offers an At Home Test though this is available only in the United States At Home Tests. It is important to note that an At Home Test cannot be taken at Rumsey, it must be taken while at home.

To Do List – based on the last few Newsletters:

Schedule interviews at secondary schools the week of October 18, 2021. Keep in mind your child’s academic and programming commitments during the fall term when choosing other dates and times.
If English is not your child’s first language, register your child for a TOEFL or forward any recent scores to Julie.
Designate Rumsey Hall as your child’s SSAT Score Advisor. Email Julie Fredlund if you need assistance with this.

Links