New STA parent seeking advice, suggestions, or just plain "I wish I had known X" info
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Anonymous
Not false. One teacher, VERY WELL KNOWN FOR HELLISH AMOUNTS OF HOMEWORK. If you are not a fake post, you CERTAINLY know it is true. |
Anonymous
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I have a 6th grader (called A Former for those that actually have them) and he has the "tough" teacher of the 3 and let me just say the following:
(a) it isn't as if the other 2 teachers are cake walks (b) the tough teacher is WONDERFUL (c) the hw level is a step up from b form, but in no way shape or form is it 5 hours a night. That is insane, and if your son is doing 5 hours a night, something is wrong and I would urge you to talk to the teacher or the academic dean or even the head of the school. Should your son be doing more than 2 hours, cut him off and send him to bed. It is 6th grade for crying out loud. There is time in school to get some hw done. Mine is not the best organized, has lots and lots of extracurriculars and at the most has spent maybe 3 hours once because he forgot about the science test 9as his grade the next day sort of showed) and had math, spanish, history and vocab all in the same night. This is either a fake poster or someone out of control who is hung up on academic awards or something. Sixth grade is manageable. Just wait till you get an upper school boy and they are not even done with their school commitments until after 6 pm!! |
Anonymous
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Maybe my son wasn't organized. He did MANY nights of 5 hours, although it's true he probably dilly dallied. But he certainly wasn't striving for an academic award. He just wasn't able to sleep without feeling like he had finished his ridiculously insane amounts of homework in A form (I mention 6th grade because I'm very sure that most people don't know what the hell A form, refectory, prison yard, and the other StA jargon is, but I apologize if that seemed to cast suspician on my vadility).
I'm glad your son is able to handle the hard teacher. Mine did fine in 5th and 7th, and in 6th grade we got wise by around November to just do the homework that was helpful (such as the first 4 long division problems, not the remaining 39) and then call it a day. |
Anonymous
| It sounds like the teachers are just as uneven at sta as they are at our big three school (sidwell.) |
Anonymous
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No the teachers in 6th grade are not uneven. One though is rumored to give more hw which just isnt true. There is no way there is 5 hours a night. Spanish is like 15-20 minutes, and any vocab is about the same. Math I know depends on the level of the student as some kids certainly will take longer. Science labs also take longer but they always have 2 nights (minimum) to get them done. History/English depend upon the assignment but there is nothing, except a big project (which are mostly done in school to avoid helicopter parents doing any/most/some of the work) which would take so long. There is no hw for art or music in A Form.
If the PP's son was doing five hours just because they needed to finish, they were neither organized nor focused. They probably frittered away their time in school too. It just is not possible, and we have had multiple boys through A form so we would know. I would suggest STArt smart for your son as a way for him to be more organized and focused. It is an after school program for all lower school boys who want to come (and some whose teachers send them there) to get hw done, get help if needed and be supervised. And it is is free too! |
Anonymous
| How important is it to attend the auction. One is this weekend. I told DH we must go (it is our first year at the school). He thinks it'll be a drag and that we won't be missed. What do you think? |
Anonymous
You won't be missed. It can be fun if you know some other people going. |
Anonymous
| Agree with 16:22-- go if you think it would be fun, but not out of a sense of obligation. |
Anonymous
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Disagree. It isn't that you won't be missed (you won't -- it is in the gym and Mr. herman is not taking names at the door (!) it is hard to know who is there and who isn't in some ways).
But I would urge you to go as it is FUN. It is low key there are no seating charts requiring you to put in who is at your table months ago. It isn't ball gowny. Even the auction is low key as it is silent and you don't have to know that your friends the Jones just bid 25k on the african safari so there is no need to keep up with the Jones! Silent auctions are so much better as there is something for everyone and if you buy nothing it is not a big deal. There is an open bar but also a wine tasting, the food is good and there is a band in case you like to dance. It is only $50 too which is reasonable compared to other schools similar events. I would urge you to go because there are few events that have the parents there only. It is a chance for you to connect to the school community. You may meet new people, you may see old friends. Most of the teachers go. That alone makes it fun to see them in a social element. There will be lots of C form parents there. We have always enjoyed ourselves, it isn't like some magical beautiful night, but it is for a good cause (teachers), gets you into the holiday mood, gives you a chance to connect to the St. Albans community -- which can be daunting for someone new to the school, and you can always leave early (since it is not a seated dinner, people come and go a lot!). Please come! |
Anonymous
| Is there a discernable "lacrosse culture" at STA? |
Anonymous
| Yes, up to a point. The STA lax players too like to call themselves "bros" and are oddly captivated by long hair ("flow") that will show to advantage under a helmet. But they are not singled out for preferential treatment, and the fact that STA has a strong, but not powerhouse, program probably helps keep them grounded--as does the fact that many are strong students as well as good athletes. |
Anonymous
Despite not being a powerhouse, STA does attract college LAX recruiters, right? |
Anonymous
| Yes, lots of kids go on to play at both the Division I (Navy, Yale, UVA, Johns Hopkins, Brown, and Villanova in the past few years, for example) and Division III level (good NESCAC schools like Middlebury and Bowdoin are a favorite). Not as many Division I players as Landon or Prep, but a very good record. Strong coaching staff with good values for the kids to model. |
Anonymous
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[quote=Anonymous]also my child is 9. really you cant be over careful in these days in times. there was a child molester at beauvoir for christ sake. sta is fabulous - my girls are at ncs, obviously I think the cathedral system is great, but the lack of supervision after school would make me a bit nervous. we are in the middle of a city.[/quote]
As the mother of a BB, who I hope will one day be an STA boy, I absolutely love the idea of him having some freedom! This is very important to a child's growth. Thank you STA for being an island of sanity. |
Anonymous
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[quote=Anonymous]For reasonably priced blazers, try The Children's Place, where you can usually get a blazer for around $35. But I agree with the other parents: for everyday use, get a used blazer from the school consignment store. It's unbelievable how the boys abuse their jackets; the're usually in a heap on the dirt playing fields! Plus they lose them all the time.[/quote]
Where is the school consignment store and can Beauvoir Moms shop there too or does your child have to be at STA? I heard about the swap day, but is there a store that is open regularly ? Thanks |