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QUESTIONS TO ASK
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SUNSET MESA SCHOOLS' ANSWERS
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| 1.
How do I know if this school is a match for
my child and my family? |
You
need to know your child, know yourself, and
know the school.
Some
key facts about Sunset Mesa can help you decide
your answer to this question. Two of
the traditional values practiced at Sunset
Mesa are respect for authority and willingness
to cooperate with friends. These combine
to create an orderly learning environment that
is also collegial and enjoyable.
Academics
at Sunset Mesa are rigorous. Although
expectations are age-appropriate, pacing of
work is quick, organization is necessary, and
a willingness to work is required.
Families
must be willing to invest their time in order to
maximize the opportunities at Sunset Mesa. Students
must devote appropriate amounts of time for study. Parents
help their children by assisting with organization
and planning of work, by helping with projects,
by volunteering for special events, by attending
programs and activities, and by participating in
meetings and conferences.
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| 2.
What is the maximum class size for each grade
level? This is different from “student:
faculty ratios” that may include all
school staff. |
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Preschool
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16
with one teacher and one assistant
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Kindergarten
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16
with one teacher and a shared assistant
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Prefirst
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10
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Grade
1
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16
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Grade
2
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17
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Grades
3, 4, and 5
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19
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| 3. What
is the school’s expectation for students’ behavior
and how is discipline implemented? |
Sunset
Mesa makes every effort to maintain a standard
of respect, kindness, morality and honesty. The
basic method of accomplishing this is by creating
a positive learning environment in which students
are respectful of authority and responsible
for their actions.
The
Sunset Mesa discipline philosophy encourages
self-respect, self-discipline, cooperation,
good behavior, and development of problem-solving
skills.
All
staff members who work directly with children
are required to complete the assigned reading
and attend trainings on Positive Discipline
(Nelsen, 2007).
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| 4.
How do I know my child will be physically and
emotionally safe? |
The
preschool campus has a single building with
a walled playground and entry points which
are only unlocked at dismissal and arrival
times.
The
K-5 campus is fenced with limited entry points.
Sunset
Mesa is a small community where “unknown” persons
are the exception. These people are recognized
and helped when they enter.
Students
are dismissed directly from a teacher to a
parent or someone authorized by a parent.
Children
are always supervised.
Adults
model and teach that people should respect and
care for one another. Administrators and
faculty devote significant time and energy to developing
a sense of community and friendship among students;
as a result, students can feel physically and emotionally
safe among their peers. |
| 5.
What sets your school’s use of curriculum
apart from that of other schools? |
High
quality curriculum is chosen to provide foundational
skills as well as opportunities for teachers
to challenge students.
The
school makes a significant investment in curriculum
training for teachers.
Teachers
and administrators work diligently to have
a continuity of curricular implementation from
pre-school through fifth grade.
K-5
faculty has weekly grade level meetings with
administrators. A regular topic is ensuring
continuity of pacing and presentation in each
classroom.
Teachers
provide classroom environments and experiences
that recognize and utilize each child’s unique
learning style through the theory of multiple intelligences.
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| 6. How
is the curriculum enriched? |
Teachers
provide multiple cross-curricular opportunities
for learning and emphasize higher-level thinking
skills.
Curriculum
expectations, presentation, and pacing target
the average to high-end learner.
Weekly
instruction by six full-time enrichment specialists
on the K-5 campus enhances each student’s
education and provides a variety of avenues
for children to reach their full potential.
Preschool
students have instruction twice a week with specialists
in P.E. and music.
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| 7. How
can families be involved and informed? |
Parents
can join the Sunset Mesa Parent Association,
an organization designed by parents to support
the school in providing their children with
a quality education along with helping to foster
a community network for the school’s
families.
Parents
can volunteer in classrooms for special projects,
field trips, community events, and to make
special presentations in their fields of expertise.
Opportunities
for information include classroom newsletters,
teacher correspondence, curriculum meetings,
frequent student progress reports, semi-annual
parent-teacher conferences and additional parent/teacher/administrator
conferences.
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| 8. Does
the school administer standardized tests? What
are the students’ scores? How does
the school use the test results? |
Sunset
Mesa uses the Iowa Test of Basic Skills for
grades 1-5. This test series provides
scores and analyses in comparison to students
and schools nationwide.
The
students’ scores at every grade level
are among the highest in the nation. Scores
by grade level in reading and math are published,
and families receive comprehensive information
on their child’s results each summer.
Test
results have two broad uses at this school. First,
comparing Sunset Mesa students’ scores from
year to year against a national standard is one
tool for evaluating the effectiveness of curriculum
and instructional practices. Second, standardized
tests are one tool (among many) for assessing the
performance of individual students; this assessment
can indicate needs for particular focus, emphasis
or assistance for that child. |
| 9. How
can I be confident that my child will be ready
for middle school? |
For several
decades, Sunset Mesa has had an exceptionally
high acceptance rate into the Albuquerque
independent middle schools; these private schools
test and interview extensively to insure that
admitted students are “ready.”
Specific
discussions with middle school administrators
and teachers indicate that Sunset Mesa students
are well-prepared and successful in the various
middle schools.
Study
and organizational skills are practiced and
emphasized at all grade levels.
Foundational
academic knowledge and skills are emphasized
at all grade levels.
Sunset
Mesa students develop a healthy attitude toward
education that customarily makes them eager to
apply their abilities in the middle school environment. |
| 10.
What is the financial cost? What fundraising
does your school do? |
The
tuition that families pay covers almost all
costs. There are no separate charges
for instructional materials, activities fees,
technology fees, or gross receipts tax. Families
do purchase their own school supplies, and
are occasionally asked to pay a small amount
for a classroom activity or field trip expense. Other
optional expenses include hot lunch, milk
or juice, and a yearbook for preschoolers
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PRESCHOOL
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Program
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Yearly
Tuition
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Deposit
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Monthly
Payment
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2
full days
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$4,500
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$500
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$400
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3
full days
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$7,500
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$750
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$675
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4
days
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$8,900
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$900
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$800
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5
half days
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$6,100
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$600
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$550
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5
full days
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$10,600
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$1,000
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$960
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KINDERGARTEN
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Program
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Yearly
Tuition
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Deposit
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Monthly
Payment
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Kindergarten
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$10,600
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$1,000
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$960
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GRADES
PREFIRST - 5
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Program
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Yearly
Tuition
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Deposit
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Monthly
Payment
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Grades
Prefirst-5
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$11,600
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$1,100
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$1,050
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TUITION
INSURANCE
Grade
K $188
Grades
Prefirst-5 $208
SIBLING DISCOUNT
The oldest child
in a family pays full tuition. Additional
children deduct the following amounts from
their total annual tuition.
Preschool
(3 & 4 year old programs) $300
Kindergarte
$300
Prefirst-5 $400
APPLICATION
FEE
The $100 fee is
required with all applications and is NON-REFUNDABLE.
DAYCARE
PROGRAM
$5.20 per hour (includes
gross receipts tax)
FUNDRAISING
Sunset Mesa will not ask you to give to an annual fund, pledge to a building
campaign, or include the school in your estate planning. No development officer
or outside fundraiser will ever contact you.
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