Experiences entering Stone Ridge upper school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stone Ridge costs a fortune. For that you'll get elitist snobs. Other Catholic schools which are not concerned with huge profits, will probably serve you better.

signed a Catholic.

Aka a Catholic who has no experience with Stone Ridge and isn't really trying to help

I disagree, its a fair point.

The OP already decided to pay the tuition at Stone Ridge . . . and is looking for advice from parents of students who have attended Stone Ridge, to hear how their experiences were over time. And there are no independent schools around here making "huge profits" -- that doesn't even make sense.

It remains a valid point, and i hate to break it to you, but a school charging 30k or more per child in th burbs is definitely making profit. Those charging 10k are definitely not.

The ones charging $10K are supported by a parish, which is how they keep the priced so low. Stone Ridge is independent, hence the hefty price tag.

There are also often twice as many children in each class as compared to an independent, not to mention other differences in resources, staffing, etc.

[Anonymous]

We have friends who decided not to send their younger daughter to Visitation, even though she got in, because the older one was so bullied when she was there. Unfortunately bullying is a fact of high school life and the high priced privates aren't immune. That said, families have a right to demand action when they are putting out those kind of tuitions.

[Anonymous]

Being targeted and finding it hard to make new friends in a new school are two different things. We know several families that sent their girls to Stone Ridge, and they've spoke glowingly about it. That's not to say there haven't been rough patches. But on the whole they found it very inclusive for the girls. Give it some additional time, OP.

[Anonymous]

Talk to her teachers. The school will actually do something about this as it is not their intent for things to be that way.
My DD came in to 9th grade without anyone else from her school too a few years ago. She was happy to start fresh academically, but she missed the fun social dynamics of her old school and in contrast one girl in particular was being awful to her. We honestly said something to a teacher two (because some bad back stabbing stuff happened in their classes) and the school straightened it out somehow. The girls are now regular friends.

What the school said was there was a transition period in getting the girls to give up old cliques and habits. Sometimes the lifer girls take time to broaden their friend group too.

No one should be 'targeting' your DD with bad behavior either. Which parochial school are those girls from? That's awful.
I'd let the administration know so they can fix that one, unless they do that in a class and I'd let the teacher try to handle it.

Not acceptable.

[Anonymous]

Agree with 9:05, but when kids are targeted or bullied in a new school environment, it adds to the difficulty in making new friends. Many kids will avoid the kid being teased so that they stay out of the line of fire.

Freiendships will likely come over time, esp. once the targeting/teasing stops, but for a while the combination is painful to endure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have friends who decided not to send their younger daughter to Visitation, even though she got in, because the older one was so bullied when she was there. Unfortunately bullying is a fact of high school life and the high priced privates aren't immune. That said, families have a right to demand action when they are putting out those kind of tuitions.

stone Ridge will fix it. You have to let them know. They should be cognizant of it themselves and I can see being a little angry about if if they're not but they will fix it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have friends who decided not to send their younger daughter to Visitation, even though she got in, because the older one was so bullied when she was there. Unfortunately bullying is a fact of high school life and the high priced privates aren't immune. That said, families have a right to demand action when they are putting out those kind of tuitions.

stone Ridge will fix it. You have to let them know. They should be cognizant of it themselves and I can see being a little angry about if if they're not but they will fix it.

Current SR parent here - they have been extremely responsive to any of my concerns. Please do bring this up, they will resolve it.

[Anonymous]

It remains a valid point, and i hate to break it to you, but a school charging 30k or more per child in th burbs is definitely making profit. Those charging 10k are definitely not.

Just curious...where is there a catholic high school that charges $10k...sign me up!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
It remains a valid point, and i hate to break it to you, but a school charging 30k or more per child in th burbs is definitely making profit. Those charging 10k are definitely not.

Just curious...where is there a catholic high school that charges $10k...sign me up!

Brookewood in Kensington is 12k. It's bare bones facility wise but education wise it's okay and classes are very small.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry your daughter is having a hard time. Give it some time, and please tell the school. My daughter went to the Upper School there, not knowing anyone, and did quite well once she settled in. The school is very invested in making sure the girls have a good experience. Bullying is not tolerated and the school takes it seriously.

Previous posters are correct, the tuition does not cover everything, which is why fundraising is so important to the school.

[Anonymous]

Have you or your daughter reached out to her advisor? This could be good starting point to see what he/she might be noticing. If not the advisor, how about connecting with a favorite teacher or administrator?

[Anonymous]

My daughter just started at SR and is having the opposite experience. I have never seen her so happy. She went with another girl from her school but other than that knew no one (and they are acquaintances/not super close friends but have both made new friends). I'm sure doing a fall sport helped her as well. However, she has also made lots of other friends through classes. Whoever posted about the lunch thing has no idea what they are talking about. We chose to NOT provide the school lunch for our daughter bc we were already paying such high tuition and we told her that was a sacrifice she'd have to make if she wanted to go there. A few girls have asked her why she doesn't get the lunch but it has been a non-issue other than the first week when others were curious. No one knows who is on financial assistance and the girls who are receiving aid certainly aren't forced to sit at a table together. My daughter and we as her parents would have absolutely no idea who those families/girls are nor would my daughter care in the least. We have been extremely impressed and happy with the staff and her experience so far and it makes me sad to hear of your daughter's current situation. I wish I knew who you were so my daughter could invite her to sit with them at lunch. The group she is hanging out with seems to be a nice group of girls who are very welcoming. Her group also includes lifers as well as new girls so it is a mix. I do know a mom whose daughter started off having a tough time at the school probably 5-6 years ago as as freshman. She went as far as to apply out for her sophomore year but by the time decisions came out, the girl had found a nice group of friends and wound up loving SR. Her mom even switched another daughter over bc she was so happy - but it definitely took time and didn't happen overnight. Please reach out to the school. They do care and I'm sure could offer suggestions as to how to help. I have heard they will send girls over to include the left out girls so getting them involved is key. Hang in there - I know as a parent there is nothing worse than seeing your child excluded or hurt. I do know from my daughter that there is a group of girls she isn't interested in hanging out with and I'm imagining it is the group you are mentioning here. She says hi and is pleasant but is wary of them. But those mean girls will be at any school. The key is that the other 85-90 girls in the class aren't in that clique and are very open to having new friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stone Ridge costs a fortune. For that you'll get elitist snobs. Other Catholic schools which are not concerned with huge profits, will probably serve you better.

signed a Catholic.

Aka a Catholic who has no experience with Stone Ridge and isn't really trying to help

I disagree, its a fair point.

The OP already decided to pay the tuition at Stone Ridge . . . and is looking for advice from parents of students who have attended Stone Ridge, to hear how their experiences were over time. And there are no independent schools around here making "huge profits" -- that doesn't even make sense.

It remains a valid point, and i hate to break it to you, but a school charging 30k or more per child in th burbs is definitely making profit. Those charging 10k are definitely not.

The ones charging $10K are supported by a parish, which is how they keep the priced so low. Stone Ridge is independent, hence the hefty price tag.

Exactly. The parishes are the ones pillaging for a profit. Makes it even worse honestly.

[Anonymous]

I love how everyone says "my daughter loved SR but I guess starting a Fall sport helped!" Duh.

The question is what does SR do for non-Fall sport kids that are new? Do they have sister families, do they have extra curriculars, do they have clubs, do they have have things outside of the school for 9th graders?

My DD started Holton new in 9th and they had everyone either do a fall sport or a 2 day type of day retreat before school started. They also had a day of new 9th grade orientation for all the new girls to get to know each other and the school. They paired us up with another family with a 9th grader and that was so nice. We went out to dinner with them and then the girl invited her to a sleepover with some friends the first weekend. They had some events outside of school too. A day retreat inside the school where they were put in groups of 5 and went to various locations to do fun things. Her favorite was the Markoff's Haunted Field night. All the 9th graders stayed after school, ate pizza and then got on a bus for the night. The 9th grade dean put them in groups. She was able to make a lot of different friends and form a few various friendship circles.

I am sure SR has things similar to this. If they don't, I would recommend asking. No girl should feel left out, let alone targeted. Do they have advisories? Was she paired with another 9th grader? Somethings.

Good Luck OP - I am sure it will work out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love how everyone says "my daughter loved SR but I guess starting a Fall sport helped!" Duh.

The question is what does SR do for non-Fall sport kids that are new? Do they have sister families, do they have extra curriculars, do they have clubs, do they have have things outside of the school for 9th graders?

My DD started Holton new in 9th and they had everyone either do a fall sport or a 2 day type of day retreat before school started. They also had a day of new 9th grade orientation for all the new girls to get to know each other and the school. They paired us up with another family with a 9th grader and that was so nice. We went out to dinner with them and then the girl invited her to a sleepover with some friends the first weekend. They had some events outside of school too. A day retreat inside the school where they were put in groups of 5 and went to various locations to do fun things. Her favorite was the Markoff's Haunted Field night. All the 9th graders stayed after school, ate pizza and then got on a bus for the night. The 9th grade dean put them in groups. She was able to make a lot of different friends and form a few various friendship circles.

I am sure SR has things similar to this. If they don't, I would recommend asking. No girl should feel left out, let alone targeted. Do they have advisories? Was she paired with another 9th grader? Somethings.

Good Luck OP - I am sure it will work out.

With all due respect, the very detailed description of what's done at Holton is arguably even less helpful to someone at SR than talking about fall sports or reports from actual SR families . . .

Yes SR has big sisters, fun outdoor and orientation events at beginning of year for frosh, advisors & small advisory groups, tons of clubs, etc. All of those things help break the ice, allow girls to start to feel part of the community, and have a closer knit group within it. But sometimes even outgoing freshmen (at many schools) take a while to form the kind of deep friendships and wider circles that will help them feel really comfortable. OP I hope as your daughter joins some clubs and/or teams, gets to know more girls from class, and just with a bit more time, that she will start having a happier experience.