Gesell Testing

As educators, we are committed to working with each child so that his/her experience in school will be successful, and that the child will have the opportunity to grow spiritually, academically, psychologically, and socially.  As partners with parents in the educational process, we strive to maintain a high standard of excellence in our school and believe that our goal as teachers and parents is to set high expectations for children and assist them in

reaching their full potential.

The administration and faculty of Ss. Simon & Jude School are in full agreement with the developmental philosophy of the Gesell Institute.  Some of our teachers have been trained to administer and evaluate the Gesell Test of Development, and we have found it to be very accurate in determining a child’s readiness for school.

The Gesell Test of Developmental Age is an assessment of a child’s behavior

during a one-to-one session between the child and the teacher.  It is not an I.Q.

test or a reading test.  There are no right or wrong answers.  No child fails the assessment.  The Gesell Test gives the developmental age of the child, and it is the developmental age that is most important in evaluating the child’s readiness for and success in school.

The goal of the Gesell Test is proper placement for school success.  To

have the greatest chance for success in Kindergarten, a child needs to have a developmental age of 5 to 5 ½ years; to be a successful first grader, a child needs to have a developmental age of 6 to 6 ½ years.  Research shows that up to 30% of children are not developmentally ready for Kindergarten or first grade even though they are the proper chronological age.

After the assessment is completed, the results are evaluated by the teacher

who administered the test.  A team conference is held after all children

are assessed, and one of the following recommendations for placement will

be made:

Register your child at Ss. Simon & Jude School for Kindergarten or first grade.

Place your child in Kindergarten rather than first grade.

Give the child “The Gift of Time” which may be another year in preschool, pre-kindergarten, or place the child in a half-day Kindergarten program.

If your child is not where you think he/she should be, just remember that not all babies walk on the day they turn 1 year old.  Most babies begin to walk anywhere between 8 ½ months and 15 months.  Each child grows and develops at his/her own pace.  Our goal as educators and parents must be that each child be given the opportunity to succeed in school through proper placement.

We suggest that parents do not emphasize the test or the concept of passing or failing, but encourage your child to cooperate with the teacher.  It also helps if the child is well rested, has been fed, and has gone to the

bathroom.  Hopefully this will help to make the child feel relaxed and comfortable in the school setting before the assessment begins.

Application Process

Thank you for considering Ss. Simon and Jude School for your child’s education. 

We use the following criteria when accepting students for enrollment in

Kindergarten and First Grade:

Child must be five years old by 9/1/2009 for Kindergarten; six years old by 9/1/2009 for First Grade.  This is a requirement of the Arizona Department of Education and adhered to by our school administration.

1. ✤Test score on the Gesell Readiness Test
   

1. ✤Siblings already registered at the school.
   

1. ✤Contributing registered member of Ss. Simon and Jude Parish
   

Completing and application form assures that you will be contacted in February 2009

inviting you to an information meeting about the Gesell Developmental

Placement Program.  Kindergarten and First Grade parents will be able to sign up for a testing appointment at that meeting.  No new students will be accepted before the testing is completed.

Every child develops at a different pace.  The Gesell test will allow the

teacher and parents to determine the academic and social readiness for each

candidate.

Thank you for your understanding of our process, and you can look forward

to hearing from us this spring.

Sincerely,

Sr. Raphael Quinn, I.B.V.M

Principal