Holton Arms v Stone Ridge

[Anonymous]

Are you sure? My DD is there and has heard nothing about changes to US head. This sounds like rumor to me.

[Anonymous]

Yes. He announced to his staff first. Watch your inbox.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t had interaction with the interim LS head. I’ve only heard good things so far though! The previous LS head was amazing and GDS is lucky to have her. Big shoes to fill.

Truthfully, our family is growing a bit disillusioned with how Holton has been handling this new Head of School transition— too many great teachers and administrators leaving Holton. Today I learned from a friend that the head of upper school is leaving too. Not for a new job. Just leaving to find other opportunities after 30+ years. So that makes all 3 division directors, the DEI director, 2 comms directors, a college counselor, an assortment of advancement staff, at least 2 chorus directors and several beloved teachers and coaches gone since she took the reins. I never thought a new Head would matter so much. I just wish someone would acknowledge the exodus and tell us how they are addressing.

UGH. This is sad and disappointing. Hoping the board didn't make a bad call with this Head choice.

If they did (and they definitely DID) they are likely too stubborn to admit it. Or at least the ones that remain and didn’t leave the board last year— 2 women resigned and 1 woman was dismissed bc she was too emotional in her appeal. All lodged very real concerns about her fitness for the role. The board also never responded to a groundswell of parents of color who sent letters of concern last spring. I’m not sure the board is equipped to handle their duties.

[Anonymous]

This is no coincidence. Penny Evins is driving away talent and strong leadership at Holton-Arms. She is belligerent and abusive.

When will the Board of Trustees act?

[Anonymous]

Something that I don’t think has been pointed out here - SR is a Catholic School in theory - in fact a Sacred Heart school which is supposed to be run a certain way ie Catholic. Since Covid, SR has been inundated with non-Catholics who don’t want to pay for private school so came to SR (and holy child) because they are cheaper than Holton, NCS, etc where these people would have gone normally. So the first question that should be asked SR vs Holton is are you Catholic? If not, please go to Holton and leave the Catholic schools to the Catholic kids.

[Anonymous]

I have 2 graduates of SR. We are Catholic. My daughters’ friends were not all Catholic. I don’t know families who espouse what is posted above. The families we knew were respectful. They don’t need to be Catholic, IMO.

[Anonymous]

The email about Holton’s Upper School principal stepping down is out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t had interaction with the interim LS head. I’ve only heard good things so far though! The previous LS head was amazing and GDS is lucky to have her. Big shoes to fill.

Truthfully, our family is growing a bit disillusioned with how Holton has been handling this new Head of School transition— too many great teachers and administrators leaving Holton. Today I learned from a friend that the head of upper school is leaving too. Not for a new job. Just leaving to find other opportunities after 30+ years. So that makes all 3 division directors, the DEI director, 2 comms directors, a college counselor, an assortment of advancement staff, at least 2 chorus directors and several beloved teachers and coaches gone since she took the reins. I never thought a new Head would matter so much. I just wish someone would acknowledge the exodus and tell us how they are addressing.

UGH. This is sad and disappointing. Hoping the board didn't make a bad call with this Head choice.

If they did (and they definitely DID) they are likely too stubborn to admit it. Or at least the ones that remain and didn’t leave the board last year— 2 women resigned and 1 woman was dismissed bc she was too emotional in her appeal. All lodged very real concerns about her fitness for the role. The board also never responded to a groundswell of parents of color who sent letters of concern last spring. I’m not sure the board is equipped to handle their duties.

What exactly is she doing to cause so much turnover?

[Anonymous]

SR parent here. I don’t understand the leave Catholic schools for Catholics comments because we didn’t experience that attitude when DD was there (we are not Catholic). Maybe we were oblivious but I really don’t think so.

Also, I don’t think families are selecting SR because it’s cheaper than other schools. The difference in tuition between SR and other area privates is minimal if at all. We had girls leave for SJC in HS and that is definitely a lot cheaper

[Anonymous]

People who knew about PBE have been telling you this was going to happen from the moment her appointment was announced.

It’s only going to get worse during the upcoming hiring cycle when the former LS and MS heads poach all the best people who will have had the ample time to prepare their exits this year which they didn’t have last year

[Anonymous]

Stone Ridge tuition for lower school is $34,600 and for Holton it’s $55,250.

For high school, SR is $46,900 and HA its $55,250 - so that’s a difference of $20k for the lower grades and almost $10k for the upper.

That to me is a significant difference. Also this year’s 9th grade at SR is about 20 students oversubscribed which means girls aren’t making sports teams, classes are crowded, lunch is crowded, the parking lot will be crowded. If this was the case when your girls were there you might think differently about all the non Catholics that are there.

[Anonymous]

What point are you trying to make? Read the room. If anything you’re making a case for more non Catholics to leave Holton and come to SR. Have you not read any of the previous post? Holton families may be looking for other options and you’re basically pointing out how inclusive it is and also a lot cheaper!

[Anonymous]

My point is that maybe SR admissions and parents should be a little less inclusive as they took too many for 9th grade already and it’s a problem. Catholic Schools are for Catholic kids. Sorry that Holton is super woke and hired a head that apparently isn’t going over well with teachers and staff but that’s not SR’s problem to solve. Maybe the Holton people should try to make NCS happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The email about Holton’s Upper School principal stepping down is out.

When is the US head leaving?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stone Ridge tuition for lower school is $34,600 and for Holton it’s $55,250.

For high school, SR is $46,900 and HA its $55,250 - so that’s a difference of $20k for the lower grades and almost $10k for the upper.

That to me is a significant difference. Also this year’s 9th grade at SR is about 20 students oversubscribed which means girls aren’t making sports teams, classes are crowded, lunch is crowded, the parking lot will be crowded. If this was the case when your girls were there you might think differently about all the non Catholics that are there.

I went to SR in the 1990s and there are about the same percentage of non Catholics now as there seemed to then. I do know it’s a lot more competitive to get in now, especially in middle and upper school.