What Parents Most Want to Know on a Campus Tour

by Kelsey Yeager

“Since taking on my new role as Admissions Director last fall, one of the best parts of my job is leading parents on school tours. I love getting to witness parents physically begin to relax as they get a small glimpse into who Donum Dei is and what it provides to families across the Bay Area. They've seen many classrooms, but something is here is noticeably different.”

One parent offers a nervous chuckle; the other clears their throat. You can feel the nervousness in the room of parents on the school hunt for the first time, trying to navigate the intricacies of the San Francisco schooling options for their young child (or children).

Since taking on my new role as Admissions Director last fall, one of the best parts of my job is leading parents on school tours. I love getting to witness parents physically begin to relax as they get a small glimpse into who Donum Dei is and what it provides to families across the Bay Area. They've seen many classrooms, but something here is noticeably different.

So what do parents usually want to know (after, of course, what exactly is classical education)? Parents often have questions relating to technology in class, class size, parent involvement, and discipline. I'll share with you what I often tell parents.

What does technology look like at Donum Dei?

When parents notice that our students are not on devices in class, they are often curious about how much of a role technology plays in the everyday lives of our students. We are intentionally low tech in that we do not provide a device for each student. What we do provide is access for our logic students to a computer that they can check out while at school to complete school assignments. Our Logic I (sixth grade) students take a typing class which also tackles the topics of digital citizenship and media literacy to help them develop a healthy relationship with technology.

Some might wonder, “Why are we intentionally low tech, especially here in the land of tech?” Like most things in life, we believe technology in moderation is such an incredible tool that we have at our fingertips. As we encourage our students to seek out the true, good, and beautiful, we want them to first experience this through embodied engagement and learning to be present to the physical world around them. Our hope is to encourage our students to get their noses into actual books, to notice and respond to nature surrounding them, and to have face-to-face conversations with the people in front of them.

What are class sizes at Donum Dei?

As a school we are committed to small class sizes. We cap all of our classes at 15 students per grade, with the exception of the Nest which is currently capped at 12 students. There is much evidence that shows that small classes offer many benefits to students and teachers, including individualized attention for students and higher rates of student engagement. This also provides opportunities for teachers to really see, know, love, and prepare their students. All four of these are things that we promise parents in our partnership with them as a school.

What does parent involvement look like at Donum Dei?

Donum Dei is a parent partnership school. When I say this to prospective parents I can see the sheer panic in their eyes before I explain what I mean by “parent partnership.” As parents navigate the preschool through eighth grade school years, our desire is to truly know parents and be in community with them, not just see them if or when there is a problem or at parent teacher conferences. We have no required number of hours that parents must dedicate to the school, although we would happily receive any and all hours! We are always looking for chaperones, help for events, and grade level celebrations. (And if you love fundraising, please call me!)

Most of all, we want to partner with you in educating your children and making it possible for you to fulfill your calling here in the city.

What does discipline look like at Donum Dei?

At Donum Dei our ultimate goal is not to have 4.0s across the board. I mean, it would be incredible, but, first and foremost, our goal is to help shape well-rounded individuals who love God, love others, and pursue excellence in all that they do. This is developed through character formation that begins with our youngest students and continues through graduation.

Whether it is our TK students learning jingles or our Logic III students having challenging conversations with teachers and peers, our goal of discipline at Donum Dei is to teach love and respect for others. We do this through accountability, holding our students to a certain standard, and teaching respect for a greater authority, which is our ultimate goal as Christians living in submission to God. Holding to these foundations of discipline brings goodness and order to our lives.

Does Donum Dei sound intriguing to you? Schedule a campus tour and I can answer all of these questions and more! Are you a current family and know someone who you think would be a great fit? Tell them about us! Or, better yet, offer to come with them to check out Donum Dei.

Schedule a campus tour today!

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Mrs. Kelsey Yeager partners with Donum Dei Classical Academy as our Admissions and Advancement Director. She is passionate about classical education and has worked and volunteered with children and adolescents in a variety of settings, ranging from camps to therapy, since 2004.