HOW TO APPLY
1. Visit our school
Before applying to Black Pine Circle School, we encourage parents to attend both an Admissions Information Day and to schedule a classroom tour during which you may learn first hand about the classroom your child is entering.
Admissions Information Days
Join us at one of the Admissions Information Days to learn about Black Pine Circle School’s strong arts and academic curriculum, meet our experienced classroom teachers and specialists, and participate in a variety of hands-on activities in the classroom. Children are welcome.
Kindergarten Admissions Information Day, Saturday, October 22, 2011, 10 am–12 pm.
K-8 Admissions Information Day, Sunday, November 13, 2011, 1-3 pm
6-8 Admissions Information Day, Sunday, December 4, 2011, 1-3 pm
Weekly Classroom Tours
Classroom tours are scheduled twice weekly and are led by current parents or Admissions personnel. A meeting with an Administrator follows, during which we discuss our educational philosophy and answer your questions. Tours are by appointment and are for parents/guardians only. We begin scheduling in September for tours starting in late October. Please contact Faye Wu, Director of Admissions and Outreach to schedule a tour 510-529-2714. email fwu@blackpinecircle.org or fill out our online inquiry form.
K-5th grade tours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00-10:30 a.m.
6th-8th grade tours are Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00-10:30 a.m.
2. Complete the application form and send with non-refundable application fee.
We accept Kindergarten applicants for children who will be turning five years of age by October 1st, 2012.
$55.00 for Kindergarten application fee (non-refundable).
$65.00 for 1st – 8th grade application fee (non-refundable).
3. Submit two Recommendation Forms for your child’s teachers to complete.
Two recommendation letters are required as part of your child’s application (We may accept one recommendation for K applicant.) Please send the “Teacher Recommendation Forms” to the teachers you have named on the application form, one of whom must be your child’s current teacher. Teachers should mail their recommendation letters directly to Black Pine Circle School, Attn: Admissions, 2027 7th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710.
4. Submit a copy of your child’s report card/transcript. (For 1st-8th grade applicants only)
For applicants entering grades 1-8, we require a copy of your child’s transcript including the last two year’s report cards/progress reports. Send the Transcript Release Form to your child’s current school.
5. Submit Student Questionnaire (For 6th-8th grade applicants only).
6. Schedule a Student Interview (all applicants).
After the application is received, we will contact parents to arrange a student interview. Interviews begin in January and continue through February, or until the class is filled. They run from one hour (for the lower grades) to one and one-half hours (for the upper grades).
APPLICANTS ENTERING K-5TH GRADES
Each child is interviewed by the prospective classroom teacher. Kindergarten interviews occur in a small group format that includes an individual meeting with the teacher during the allotted time period. First through fifth grade interviews occur individually to assess basic skills (including reading, written work, and math) and social and academic potential.
APPLICANTS ENTERING 6TH-8TH GRADES
Interviews usually occur in a small group with an individual interview by two teachers, and a brief English (reading and written work) and Math assessment. Black Pine Circle School does not require ISEE, a standardized test, for admission.
7. Schedule a Student Visit (3rd-8th grade applicants only)
Applicants for grades 3-8 will visit a class of her/his current and/or expected grade level of entrance. To make your child feel comfortable, we match a student with similar interests to be your child’s host for the day. Visits begin in January and will continue through February.
Black Pine Circle School is a member School of EBISA (East Bay Independent Schools Association) and POCIS (People of Color in Independent Schools). Black Pine Circle School has an institutional commitment to the principles of diversity. In that spirit, Black Pine Circle School does not discriminate in violation of the law on the basis of race, religion, creed, color, sexual orientation, age, physical challenge, nation of origin, gender, or any other characteristic.
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Download School Overview Brochure
Tours Start in October
Contact Faye Wu, Director of Admissions and Outreach to schedule a tour:
510-529-2714 or fwu@blackpinecircle.org or fill out our inquiry form.