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Frequently Asked Questions
Seattle Area German American School or SAGA School for short. The SAGA School is located at: University Heights Center Our school's mailing address is: Seattle Area German American School The school originally opened in Issaquah and then in 2006 in Seattle. What grades does the school offer? We currently offer Preschool and Kindergarten in Seattle. Additional grades and hours will be added as the student population grows and the long-term goal is to offer a complete education. What is the schedule at SAGA School? The academic school year is 10 months (September - June). Class is from 9:30 am until 1:30 pm. What is the current tuition and payment schedule? Tuition is due the first week of the month. Tuition is based on annual costs per child and is paid in 10 monthly installments from September through June regardless of when holidays, vacations or absences occur. No refunds are offered for missed days. The sibling discount is 10% for the second sibling. Our tax ID number is 20-2607873. Payment options include automatic withdrawal from a bank account on the first of the month or automated email bills reminding parents to arrange for debit from a bank account. Receipts for payment will be sent by email. Preschool tuition 2008/09:
Kindergarten tuition 2008/09:
After School German Program 2008/09:
Is there any type of scholarship or financial aid available? The SAGA School is able to offer scholarships to reduce tuition to those families who feel that they would benefit from assistance based on financial need. The SAGA School has limited funding available from parent donations, fundraising from our Pizza Party/Parents' Night Out and other activities to provide a tuition reduction to support any SAGA School family/child (preschool, kindergarten, after school program) who feels that they may benefit. Award amounts will vary from year to year based on donations, fundraising and the pool of eligible applicants. To apply, currently enrolled students must fill out the Scholarship Fund application. Deadline is November 1st for December-June tuition reduction. Families who encounter unexpected change in financial circumstances may apply for 1-2 months tuition assistance at any time. Will you be offering full-day preschool or extended care in the future? We would definitively like to, but currently, due to licensing restrictions, we can only offer 4 hours per day. At the beginning of each school year there has been a parent initiative to organize those in need of before and/or afterschool care for their child. This usually results in some parents taking turns watching each other's children during these times. To what extent is the SAGA School German-immersion? Our teachers strive for 100% total German immersion in both preschool and kindergarten, and only speak English in the rare case that a child who does not speak much German or is in distress. What are the benefits of a bilingual education?
What type of behavioral guidance is provided in the classroom? We at the SAGA School believe that discipline is about teaching and learning. This includes rules and consequences that children can understand and accept. Teachers use the "re-direct" method when encountering possible problematic situations. They teach the children techniques to solve their own problems. Please note that the SAGA School does not practice corporal punishment. In what ways are parent/guardians informed about what happens in the classroom? Teachers work with parent/guardians to assess the student's experience at the SAGA School. Scheduled biannual conferences give opportunities to share observations and perspectives of the child's development. Parent/Guardians are welcome to share their ideas or concerns with the teachers or the SAGA School Board at any time. Sprechstunde (office hours) are held weekly by all the teachers to allow for on-going opportunities for consultation between parents and teachers. Sprechstunde is by appointment. A monthly email newsletter is sent to update families on school and classroom related news. Is the school a non-profit organization? The SAGA School is a Washington State nonprofit corporation organized under section 501c3 of the IRS code. Is parent involvement required? Yes, The SAGA School asks each family to contribute 10 hours per school year for each child enrolled in the school. Parent hours serve several important purposes:
What counts as a parent hour task? There are lots of opportunities for parents to contribute both during school hours and at other times during the week and year. Non-school hour tasks include things such as:
Parents are also encouraged to contribute during school hours. Depending on when during the school day parents are present, teachers may request assistance with tasks such as:
What happens if parent hours are not completed by June 30th? Parent hours are a vital part of SAGA School and as such are valued highly. A fee of $25/hour will be assessed to each family for any of the 10 hours not completed. Families will be asked to remit this fee before the beginning of the following school year. For families unable to fulfill the time expectation, a financial contribution to the school at a rate of $25/hour may be substituted. What age can children begin preschool? Preschool entry is once a year in September. Our preference is that children be 3 years old on or before August 31st for September entry. However, we make every effort to accommodate students who fall near the cut-off date at the teachers' and the SAGA School Board's discretion. We strive for a multi-age classroom with a balance of all ages and developmental levels that serves all children, exceptions for children who fall near the cut-off date will take these factors in to consideration. What age can children begin kindergarten? In accordance with the Washington State public school standards, children should be age 5 by August 31st. If you are interested in testing early into Kindergarten, please check your local public school system for information. Do children have to be toilet-trained? Toilet training is desirable; however we will work with you to accommodate your child's needs. Is the SAGA School only for children who already speak German? No, the SAGA School is for kids of all language abilities. Do the parents have to speak German as well? Hopefully, a good share of our students will come from families where no German is spoken at home. As with other immersion programs, parents can learn along with their children and get involved with the school community groups for exposure. With immersion in German, will my child's English suffer? No, for several reasons: even though our school is committed to total German Immersion, the English language is still a large component of the daily life since we live in a predominantly English language environment. Depending on the child's home language(s) background slight to large individual variations in initial bilingual competence will balance quickly and the school will provide guidance in effective strategies for individual family needs. |
