Each year, we take dozens of prospective parents on private tours around our campus, answer their questions and help them determine if our school is the right school for their child. These 45-minute tours are conducted by Ruth Sulitzer, our Director of Admissions.
To make sure you get each and every one of your questions answered, we answered the most frequently asked questions already below. So, let’s get right to it:
Questions to Ask During a School Tour | How many students are in each class?
Cedar Hill Prep prides itself to provide an optimal environment for our students to study. According to studies by the Center of Public Education “a class size of no more than 18 students per teacher is required to produce the greatest benefits.”
We have small class size, that means up to 15 students in each class with two classes in each grade.
Questions to Ask During a School Tour | What is a daily class schedule like?
We like to provide our students with a structured schedule so they always know what to expect.
In between these subjects on designated days, the students enjoy further enrichment through additional subjects like art, music, gym, world language, writers’ workshop, and technology.
Questions to Ask During a School Tour |How do you handle diversity at the school?
We often joke that Cedar Hill Prep is a mini United Nations with 23 different countries represented.
To nurture an appreciation for diversity, we celebrate many holidays in different religions and cultures. Our philosophy is “we are all the same, all different and both things are wonderful.” We embrace and appreciate who each of us is.
What can I expect in terms of professional development of your teachers?
Our teachers are highly qualified and have either a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with years of experience to share. Experience teaches you everything!
Our teachers continually engage in professional development classes by attending workshops at school or professional development workshops at outside venues.
Do your teachers teach entire grade levels or by subject?
We believe that when teachers teach the same subjects they become better at it and the children benefit.
For example, Kindergarten – Grade 4 teachers teach two subjects each: One teacher teaches language arts and social studies and the other teacher teaches math and science. Kindergarten is contained and so both teachers are there during all academic time.
In grades 1-4, each grade’s subject is taught by the subject’s teacher to all students within that grade. In middle school, 5th and 6th grades have the same language arts teacher and the same math teacher. Grades 7 and 8 both share the same language arts teacher and math teacher.
How do parents and teachers communicate with each other?
Communication opportunities between parents and teachers are plentiful.
Besides parent-teacher conferences, report cards and newsletter’s, e-mail between parents and teachers is a faster way to communicate regularly.
Questions to Ask During a School Tour | What aftercare options do you have? What are the hours?
All of the aftercare groups are structured. We do not mix age groups. When children first enter aftercare they have a snack and then recess.
Preschool and Junior kindergarten will have a structured circle time, stories, and center time.
In Kindergarten – Grade 8 the children begin homework after snack and recess. Aftercare counselors provide homework help if needed.
What after school clubs/sports can my child choose from?
Cedar Hill Prep offers a great variety of sports and clubs to choose from – both during the day and in aftercare.
Physical education classes from PreK – grade 8 provide opportunities for children to play basketball, soccer, and sports games as part of the curriculum. We also offer a basketball club, soccer club, and amazing athletes as part of our after school clubs. The school is currently putting together sports teams!
We have chorus during the school day but have private voice lessons and instrument lessons in after school clubs as well.
How does your school prepare my child for 21st century technology?
We know our students will use technology to a much greater degree that we ever did when we entered the workforce.
We nurture an early integration of technology skills by integrating computers within each classroom and offer a smart board in every classroom in grade 1 – grade 8.
What does the school do to keep my child safe?
We conduct safety drills monthly which include fire drills, lockdowns, active shooter drills and bomb threats.
All external doors are locked from the outside at all times. We have cameras all over the campus. The cameras display the outside grounds and inside the school buildings.
