Would a Timid but Smart Boy Fit in at St. Albans?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He would be fine. Not all the boys at STA are loud jocks. If he doesn't like sports he can participate in Voyager, which is a pretty awesome program that does climbing and kayaking. To help get accepted your son should be able to interact with his teachers and the admissions folks in a meaningful way, but he doesn't need to be extremely loud or outgoing.

None of the boys I know in my 4 sons’ classes are “loud jocks.” None. Not sure that kind is found at STA at all.

[Anonymous]

There are still the lax bro community at STA for lack of a better word who are a bit jocky, but there is just as large if not larger group of 'quiet smart' kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP - Does anyone have a sense of how the earlier years are for non-BVR kids who go to STA? Thinking about applying next year for our DS but worried about a dynamic where there are a ton of kids who've been together at BVR since K and then a small group of truly new kids, and whether that creates weird cliques and whatnot that are hard to break into for the non-BVR kids.

It depends on the non-BVR kid. The ones who are friendly, sporty, and moderately smart will be accepted right away. The ones who are shy could take a little longer to find friends. Best to have your son enter at 4th in C Form. Form A can be a tough year for entry because that’s when the middle school social dynamics start to happen. If your son is having a hard time finding friends after a semester, you may want to talk to his teacher and counselors. The boys I’ve seen have trouble adjusting had some issues. One parent I knew blamed the BVR boys for being snobby when her son had trouble with basic social skills like taking turns.

Ah, the Beauvoir moms justifying their kids snobby behavior.

Op, the Beauvoir kids are cliquey at ncs and sta all thru high school. And beyond. It’s a definite downside to the social dynamic at both ncs and sta.

[Anonymous]

My kid entered on 7th a while back and is quiet and has a great group of friends, who all started at various entry points (BVR lifers, middle school and high school).

For my kid, the willingness to do a lot of work is what determines happiness, imo (although he says there is a group that does less and seem pretty happy too).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP - Does anyone have a sense of how the earlier years are for non-BVR kids who go to STA? Thinking about applying next year for our DS but worried about a dynamic where there are a ton of kids who've been together at BVR since K and then a small group of truly new kids, and whether that creates weird cliques and whatnot that are hard to break into for the non-BVR kids.

It depends on the non-BVR kid. The ones who are friendly, sporty, and moderately smart will be accepted right away. The ones who are shy could take a little longer to find friends. Best to have your son enter at 4th in C Form. Form A can be a tough year for entry because that’s when the middle school social dynamics start to happen. If your son is having a hard time finding friends after a semester, you may want to talk to his teacher and counselors. The boys I’ve seen have trouble adjusting had some issues. One parent I knew blamed the BVR boys for being snobby when her son had trouble with basic social skills like taking turns.

Ah, the Beauvoir moms justifying their kids snobby behavior.

Op, the Beauvoir kids are cliquey at ncs and sta all thru high school. And beyond. It’s a definite downside to the social dynamic at both ncs and sta.

I have seen zero of this with my sons. My kids did not go to BVR, enter in C form and have made strong friendships with kids who entered at different times and from a number of schools. There are no BVR cliques in their classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP - Does anyone have a sense of how the earlier years are for non-BVR kids who go to STA? Thinking about applying next year for our DS but worried about a dynamic where there are a ton of kids who've been together at BVR since K and then a small group of truly new kids, and whether that creates weird cliques and whatnot that are hard to break into for the non-BVR kids.

It depends on the non-BVR kid. The ones who are friendly, sporty, and moderately smart will be accepted right away. The ones who are shy could take a little longer to find friends. Best to have your son enter at 4th in C Form. Form A can be a tough year for entry because that’s when the middle school social dynamics start to happen. If your son is having a hard time finding friends after a semester, you may want to talk to his teacher and counselors. The boys I’ve seen have trouble adjusting had some issues. One parent I knew blamed the BVR boys for being snobby when her son had trouble with basic social skills like taking turns.

Ah, the Beauvoir moms justifying their kids snobby behavior.

Op, the Beauvoir kids are cliquey at ncs and sta all thru high school. And beyond. It’s a definite downside to the social dynamic at both ncs and sta.

We really haven't found this. Most of the bvr boys and families we met were among the nicest at the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP - Does anyone have a sense of how the earlier years are for non-BVR kids who go to STA? Thinking about applying next year for our DS but worried about a dynamic where there are a ton of kids who've been together at BVR since K and then a small group of truly new kids, and whether that creates weird cliques and whatnot that are hard to break into for the non-BVR kids.

It depends on the non-BVR kid. The ones who are friendly, sporty, and moderately smart will be accepted right away. The ones who are shy could take a little longer to find friends. Best to have your son enter at 4th in C Form. Form A can be a tough year for entry because that’s when the middle school social dynamics start to happen. If your son is having a hard time finding friends after a semester, you may want to talk to his teacher and counselors. The boys I’ve seen have trouble adjusting had some issues. One parent I knew blamed the BVR boys for being snobby when her son had trouble with basic social skills like taking turns.

Ah, the Beauvoir moms justifying their kids snobby behavior.

Op, the Beauvoir kids are cliquey at ncs and sta all thru high school. And beyond. It’s a definite downside to the social dynamic at both ncs and sta.

It is more the club crowd than beauvoir crowd that is like this. That crowd comes from a variety of schools. Lower school beauvoir families especially in 4th and 5th tend to have more of the club crowd so maybe that is why it feels that way.

[Anonymous]

Our DC was a lifer BVR-STA grad and I offer this perspective:

St Albans is designed to challenge your son to grow and develop academically and socially and physically through mandatory sports participation.

There is no way around the fact that the course work will be very challenging and that your son will respond well to that if he is very bright, but he also needs to be disciplined, organized and respectful of his peers in the classroom.

He doesn't have to be a naturally gifted athlete, but he will have to accept that he is part of a team, give his best effort and encourage/ work with his teammates.

Above all- never brag. I've seen some really smart kids coming from DCPS fail at this last social/ cultural expectation at STA. I don't know - maybe its because in public school they got so used to trying to shine above the rest and stand out.

At STA all the boys come to know what so and so is really great at ( usually multiple things) and everyone there is very strong in many areas and they respect each other.

So, yes, a shy but bright kid will fit in and be respected. A loud bragger will not.

Good luck to your DC

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a better fit for St. Anselm's.

[Anonymous]

At St. Albans, there’s a popular alternative outdoors sports program for boys not into traditional team sports. It’s called Voyageur and it’s co-ed with NCS. Your son may or may not be interested.

[Anonymous]

My son started at 6th grade from another private school in Montgomery county. He is pretty smart but nothing out of ordinary and he was a very competitive tennis player at that time. He loves his time at STA and he thinks to manage the school and be happy you need to be independent worker and have a thick skin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP - Does anyone have a sense of how the earlier years are for non-BVR kids who go to STA? Thinking about applying next year for our DS but worried about a dynamic where there are a ton of kids who've been together at BVR since K and then a small group of truly new kids, and whether that creates weird cliques and whatnot that are hard to break into for the non-BVR kids.

It depends on the non-BVR kid. The ones who are friendly, sporty, and moderately smart will be accepted right away. The ones who are shy could take a little longer to find friends. Best to have your son enter at 4th in C Form. Form A can be a tough year for entry because that’s when the middle school social dynamics start to happen. If your son is having a hard time finding friends after a semester, you may want to talk to his teacher and counselors. The boys I’ve seen have trouble adjusting had some issues. One parent I knew blamed the BVR boys for being snobby when her son had trouble with basic social skills like taking turns.

Ah, the Beauvoir moms justifying their kids snobby behavior.

Op, the Beauvoir kids are cliquey at ncs and sta all thru high school. And beyond. It’s a definite downside to the social dynamic at both ncs and sta.

It is more the club crowd than beauvoir crowd that is like this. That crowd comes from a variety of schools. Lower school beauvoir families especially in 4th and 5th tend to have more of the club crowd so maybe that is why it feels that way.

What club are you talking about? Is it a particular after school club that the “in crowd” joins?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP - Does anyone have a sense of how the earlier years are for non-BVR kids who go to STA? Thinking about applying next year for our DS but worried about a dynamic where there are a ton of kids who've been together at BVR since K and then a small group of truly new kids, and whether that creates weird cliques and whatnot that are hard to break into for the non-BVR kids.

It depends on the non-BVR kid. The ones who are friendly, sporty, and moderately smart will be accepted right away. The ones who are shy could take a little longer to find friends. Best to have your son enter at 4th in C Form. Form A can be a tough year for entry because that’s when the middle school social dynamics start to happen. If your son is having a hard time finding friends after a semester, you may want to talk to his teacher and counselors. The boys I’ve seen have trouble adjusting had some issues. One parent I knew blamed the BVR boys for being snobby when her son had trouble with basic social skills like taking turns.

Ah, the Beauvoir moms justifying their kids snobby behavior.

Op, the Beauvoir kids are cliquey at ncs and sta all thru high school. And beyond. It’s a definite downside to the social dynamic at both ncs and sta.

It is more the club crowd than beauvoir crowd that is like this. That crowd comes from a variety of schools. Lower school beauvoir families especially in 4th and 5th tend to have more of the club crowd so maybe that is why it feels that way.

What club are you talking about? Is it a particular after school club that the “in crowd” joins?

Country club is what the poster means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son started at 6th grade from another private school in Montgomery county. He is pretty smart but nothing out of ordinary and he was a very competitive tennis player at that time. He loves his time at STA and he thinks to manage the school and be happy you need to be independent worker and have a thick skin.

Can you say a little more about the "thick skin"? We know the standards are very high from the school, so are you referring to the ability to take criticism and feedback? Or are you referring to what "thick skin" can often mean in school settings, which is an ability to tune out bullying and/or give back as good as you give?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP - Does anyone have a sense of how the earlier years are for non-BVR kids who go to STA? Thinking about applying next year for our DS but worried about a dynamic where there are a ton of kids who've been together at BVR since K and then a small group of truly new kids, and whether that creates weird cliques and whatnot that are hard to break into for the non-BVR kids.

It depends on the non-BVR kid. The ones who are friendly, sporty, and moderately smart will be accepted right away. The ones who are shy could take a little longer to find friends. Best to have your son enter at 4th in C Form. Form A can be a tough year for entry because that’s when the middle school social dynamics start to happen. If your son is having a hard time finding friends after a semester, you may want to talk to his teacher and counselors. The boys I’ve seen have trouble adjusting had some issues. One parent I knew blamed the BVR boys for being snobby when her son had trouble with basic social skills like taking turns.

Ah, the Beauvoir moms justifying their kids snobby behavior.

Op, the Beauvoir kids are cliquey at ncs and sta all thru high school. And beyond. It’s a definite downside to the social dynamic at both ncs and sta.

+1. The dead giveaway is BVR mom calling out fourth graders for not "taking turns." Please. They aren't 5 years old.