Admissions Steps Overview

Like many independent schools in the Bay Area, we manage our admissions process through Ravenna, the online application program for private and independent schools.

You’ll use Ravenna to submit forms, to schedule an interview and to sign up for Information Nights and Workshops.

Admission Steps: ALL EVENTS ARE OVER ZOOM!

Step 1: Create an account in Ravenna

Step 2: Sign up for a ZOOM Information Night

Optional: Sign Up for a ZOOM School Tour

Taking a Zoom tour to see Helios in action is the best way to understand our approach more deeply, and is a requirement for application. Small group tours with current Helios parents and administrator offer parents the opportunity to see aspects of our program highlighted at Information Nights. You will see students engaged in learning and have the option to speak with them and gain their perspective of the school.

Please sign up on Ravenna.

Step 3: Submit your initial application and application fee

Applications for consideration are due by February 26, 2021 but we encourage you to submit an application as early as possible. Each year some parents report that they wish they had begun the process earlier.

You may still submit an application after the January 17 deadline. Please attend our abridged information night session in February for late applicants. Date to be published soon.

A submitted application is required to sign up for a workshop and parent interview. You can complete an assessment before you submit an application.

If the $100 application fee presents a hardship for your family, please contact admissions@heliosns.org and we will be happy to work with you.

Kindergarten age requirement: Turn age 5 by January of 2022

Step 4: Schedule a ZOOM workshop for your student

After you submit an application, you may do the following in any order:

Schedule and submit an IQ assessment

Please schedule your giftedness assessment as soon as possible to ensure completion before the NEW February 26 deadline.

We recommend you use Giftedness Support Center for your testing needs. You are welcome to use any other licensed clinical psychologist who is experienced in administering the WECHSLER Scale to children. More testing providers can be found here, including ONLINE OPTIONS.

Helios does not have a minimum IQ requirement for applicants. Our required IQ tests are:

WECHSLER INTELLIGENCE SCALE FOR CHILDREN:

WISC-V (for ages 6 and up)
WPPSI-IV (for under age 6)

Create and submit a video of your student

As a result of this season’s unique circumstance we won’t have the opportunity to work with your child for an in person workshop. We also recognize that Zoom can be overwhelming for some, and we often don’t see their full personality shine through. For this reason, please send us a short video (1-3 minutes) of your child sharing about an area of interest or a passion. It can be anything at all, for example: something they built or created, a favorite activity or an exciting adventure they went on.

Optional: Experiential ZOOM Parent Workshop

We highly recommend that parents also attend a parent workshop. Unlike our Information Nights that are designed to give you an overview of our Gifted Education pedagogy, this one hour long, hands-on workshop will enable you to personally experience some of the highlights of the program through short, fun activities.

You will meet our curriculum directors and some of our teaching specialists to explore our Maker Space (iLab) and Environmental Literacy program, our unique approach to teaching and learning Math, and the principles of our robust SEL curricula (Social-Emotional Learning).

Please sign up via Ravenna, and we will send you a reminder and zoom links a day prior to the workshop.

Schedule a parent/guardian ZOOM interview with Helios

The goal of the parent interview is for the school and applicant parent(s) to get to know each other better. It is a casual conversation and is an opportunity for you to share more about your child and also ask questions about Helios. This is a parent-only meeting and is a required step to complete the application.

You will meet with the Director of Admissions or a faculty member for approximately 30-45 minutes.

Sign-ups are available via Ravenna.

If two parents share guardianship of the child, both are required to attend the interview.

Optional: Explore Financial Aid

Admissions Decisions

Admissions decisions will be sent via Ravenna on March 17, 2021. Helios is part of the Independent Schools of the San Francisco Bay Area (ISSFBA), a consortium of schools that agree to release decisions on the same day. As well, we agree that the week starting March 17 and ending when decisions are due back from parents, March 25, is a "Quiet Week." Out of respect for parents' decision-making process, we will not contact you. However, if you would like to speak to anyone at Helios or come back for a tour, please call Noa Mendelevitch, Director of Advancement, at 408-475-0017. We are happy to speak with you and arrange a revisit.

Decisions from Helios will be one of three: acceptance to Helios, decline from Helios or entry in to the wait pool.

Students who apply and are not admitted due to inadequate space are automatically placed in the wait pool. The wait pool is not a hierarchical list. Students from the wait pool will be admitted based on current class makeup. Families will be approached as soon as possible if their student is a possible fit for an open class space.

NEW

Admissions Dates

Due on February 26, 2021:

Initial application
Characteristics of Giftedness Assessment Forms
Teacher Evaluation(s)
Report card & Transcripts
Student Video
IQ Test Results

Due on March 17, 2021: Admissions decisions released via Ravenna

Due on march 25, 2021, 10am: Enrollment Contracts and Deposits Due

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