Parent Education Speaker Series: Parent Like A Coach by Jane Singleton

Discover how to “Parent Like a Coach” and empower your teen to build independence, confidence, and essential life skills. Join Jane Singleton as she shares practical strategies to help parents foster growth and prepare teens for success in college and beyond. Learn tools to set realistic goals, adapt communication, and support your teen’s journey to adulthood.

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From Graduation to Greatness: Learn How a Gap Year will Enhance Your Teen’s Growth Trajectory

The transition from high school to college can feel overwhelming for both teens and their families, especially when considering a gap year.

That’s why we’ve invited Seth Kessler, Co-Founder of GapWell, to speak to our parents about “From Graduation to Greatness: Learn How a Gap Year Will Enhance Your Teen’s Growth Trajectory.”

In this presentation, we’ll explore the benefits of a gap year, how to determine if it’s the right fit for your teen, and strategies for planning a meaningful gap experience. Join us for valuable insights and practical advice to help your teen thrive during this important stage.

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Your Neurodiverse Teen and the Launch to College

The transition from high school to college can be incredibly challenging for neurodivergent teens and their families.

That’s why we’ve invited Dr. Andrea Malkin Brenner to come speak to our parents about “Your Neurodiverse Teen and the Launch to College”.

In this presentation, we’ll explore how parents can support their teens in building the self-advocacy skills they need for academic and social success while transitioning from a “fixer” role to a “supporter” role. Join us for helpful insights and practical strategies to guide your teen through this critical stage.

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Empowering Lifelong Learners: The Self-Directed Approach at The Sycamore School

TSS Teacher with Student

The Sycamore School’s vision is to cultivate curious, independent, lifelong learners. Supporting self-directed learning is foundational to this goal.   Traditional learning often involves a teacher lecturing the class and students receiving instruction. It can feel passive with an overfocus on compliance. At TSS, we want students to actively engage in their learning, asking questions, and ultimately driving their own learning.  In middle school, this starts by helping students build self-awareness, goal-setting, and problem-solving skills.  We often begin by teaching students how to be ready to learn. Ready to learn means you are present, focused, and attending to the present task. We make learning purposeful. At the beginning of a class, teachers will work with students to create a specific goal they want to achieve during that class. This helps them focus their efforts, knowing they will return to that goal at the end of class.  At TSS, students are actively engaged…

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School Fit: A Teacher’s Reflection

teacher and student at private school

Can a school really make a dramatic difference to a student? I began my classroom teaching career at another independent private school in the region, which was in many ways the diametric opposite of The Sycamore School. Their respective approaches to education and student support diverged from the start. Early Emphasis on AP Classes The first school I taught at was founded on the idea that American schools failed to challenge their students.  Their solution was simple: lots of AP classes as early as possible and challenging curricula, even at the middle school level. Sixth graders tackle “Julius Caesar” while “Macbeth” is slated for 7th graders. Students are pushed from 5th grade onward to focus on tests and grades almost exclusively.  Starting in 6th and 7th grade, students take a test halfway through the year and another at the end.  Each test counts 50% of that semester’s grade. The pressure…

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College and Career Readiness

High school Junior researching colleges

As the new College & Career Readiness counselor, I’ve had the unique opportunity to help our Juniors and Seniors establish clarity and progress on their goals in preparation for high school graduation. Students may choose to attend a university or a trade school while others may wish to launch directly into the workforce. It is also common for students to take a gap year. Our mission here at TSS is to help students accomplish their goals and foster their independence.  All Juniors and Seniors take our Seminar course, where they explore career interests, develop a resume, practice informational interviewing, and research internship opportunities. Students also receive considerable support with their college search and application process. We take students on college visits, invite college counselors to speak with our students, and meet with students and their parents to develop a comprehensive plan to prepare for life beyond high school. We also…

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A New Year. A New Space.

Middle and HIgh School staff in Rosslyn private school

A new year in a new space for The Sycamore School! After months of planning, veteran students and staff joined newcomers in our expanded middle and high school space at 1550 Wilson Blvd in Rosslyn, just up the hill from the Metro. Reasons Behind the Move Why the move? The imminent redevelopment of the hotel-office complex in Ballston that housed the school since it opened in 2017 certainly figured highly. TSS is also growing at a measured pace, making more room in a newer building very attractive. But, finding building space that can accommodate an independent school’s requirements takes work. A school can only occupy lower floors, and the building must be ready to deal with dozens of students coming and going simultaneously. So, TSS had to widen its search beyond Ballston. Staff and students loved the Ballston area, especially the diverse offerings around the Ballston Quarter Mall. Rosslyn offers…

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Six Tips to Start the New School Year Strong

School Counselors discuss how to start the new school year strong

A new school year is always full of excitement and possibility, but it can also bring with it some fear and anxiety. Whether you are a student, parent, or teacher, the beginning of a new school year brings a unique sense of anticipation. This can be especially true for students starting in a new school or a new grade. What are the teachers going to be like? Will the other kids be friends with me? These are questions students might be asking themselves. As parents, we know you want your child to be happy and successful. Let’s explore six tips to start the new school year strong for parents and students. 1. Embrace Change Every new school year is a chance to start over. You can think of a new school year as a fresh start, a time to embrace the “what-ifs” and potential for growth. Though new beginnings can be…

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Summer. A New Beginning.

Middle School students enjoying school

I’ve always thought of time in the context of school: that the beginning of the year starts in September and ends in August.  I’m often puzzled when people speak about the end of the year in December, celebrating New Year’s Eve, and making resolutions reserved only for the new calendar year.   For me, that time of reflection is in the summer. Summer is the treat we get after a long school year.  It’s a time to reset.  We can (hopefully) relax, connect with old friends, get around to reading that book that’s been sitting on our nightstand, and refinish that shelf that’s been in the garage for a while. Summer gives us a time to reflect and think about what we want to focus on and how we want the upcoming fall to go.  Rosslyn Expansion This summer has been less about relaxing and more about prepping for the…

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From Struggling Student to Successful Teacher: My Journey with Executive Functioning Challenges

Middle School Boy and Girl Collaborating at School

I was a backpack stuffer.  All the papers I received during the day were crumpled and stuffed at the bottom of my backpack, crushed by the weight of objects I didn’t need. I couldn’t find anything. Homework assignments were turned in late or not at all. Permission slips never made it to my parents. And I would rather not discuss what happened to my lunch.  I failed every binder test. I didn’t know how to put papers in my binder or manage my time. I couldn’t break down long-term projects into manageable chunks. I struggled. All of this conspired to tank my self-esteem. I wanted to do well in school but didn’t know how.  Does this sound familiar to anyone? Looking back, I now know I needed help with executive functioning.  Executive functioning is managing time, focusing attention, remembering instructions, prioritizing, and completing multiple tasks. This applies to school, home,…

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Social Media as Creative Writing Curriculum

The Sycamore School’s Journalism & Yearbook Class is a daily elective where students actively contribute to our school’s social media. This class empowers them to contribute to the narrative and culture of TSS while developing their capacity to make ideas visible with words, pictures, and videos. Social Media as Collaboration The student social media unit began with the selection of a holiday/ day of celebration. Students went through guided practice with immediate feedback on their post copy and graphic.  As their skills developed, students worked collaboratively to research holidays and celebrations, adding them to a planning calendar and claiming which posts they would like to create. When students claim a holiday, they create the graphic, write the copy, and choose a minimum of three hashtags. Upon completion, the post is approved by a teacher and scheduled on the school’s social media platforms. Students have total control over the posts and…

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