Thursday, February 4, 2010 was Private School Appreciation Day in Oregon. The Governor issued a proclamation. But I, and I suspect a few others, might not have known about this news were it not for a tweet on Twitter. So, that leads me to this question for your Friday: "How many states have an official private school appreciation day?" If you have some answers and information, please tweet them to me at PRIVATESCHL.

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Most private schools will require applicants to take a standardized admissions test. The most common tests are the SSAT and ISEE. Applicants have to take them so that the school can determine what your child has learned in core subject areas such as math and language arts. The test results also help the school place her in the appropriate proficiency level if she is accepted. Many Catholic schools use the COOP, HSPT or TACHS as their standardized admissions test.

If your child has never taken a standardized admissions test, then you would be smart to have her work a couple of practice tests. There are several commercially available test books. The individual test sites also offer test tips and practice tests. Summer is a good time to begin this project so that she is confident and well-prepared by the time the actual test takes place in November or December.

You can follow me on Twitter at PRIVATESCHL.

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Today's spotlight takes us to Chicago, Illinois, the home of The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. UCLS is a large school which consists of four schools: Nursery and Kindergarten, Lower, Middle and Upper School. The schools are located on the University of Chicago campus in Hyde Park.

Read UCLS' profile. If you went to The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, share your experiences with us. We want to know what you thought of the school. Please post your response here.

You can follow me on Twitter at PRIVATESCHL.

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The comments from Vivian and Tiffany on one of my blogs about cyberbullying make me wonder if we can ever control that kind of negative behavior. I keep coming back to the fundamental question which never seems to go away: "Why do children have to be so mean?" Most parents intrinsically try to do and say the right things as they raise their children. I know that. But what frustrates me is the negative effect so much of popular culture instills in children. It is very difficult to counter.

So, my question to parents and teachers alike: are you being vigilant? Are you watching what your children and students watch on television and DVD? Are you setting the best possible example? Are you taking a principled stand on issues which matter? It's your best defense against cyberbullying.

You can follow me on Twitter at PRIVATESCHL.

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