Experiences entering Stone Ridge upper school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.


+1

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.

[Anonymous]

OP here. We've definitely turned a corner! There are several girls my DD is now calling "friends" and whatever incident may have happened before has gone away. We just explained to her that people put into new and stressful situations react differently and act out differently. Just give it some time, which she did. I know they'll be more bumps in the road but that's life. It's true. You just need to give it time.

[Anonymous]

Wonderful!

[Anonymous]

great

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My started SR as a freshman as well and did not come in with friends either. She has had a very good experience, but I do think it was an easier transition for the girls who played on a team in the fall of freshman year (she did not) -- gave them a good circle of friends right away. She's made some really nice friends and is very comfortable there, but it did probably take her a little while. I actually don't believe SR is perceived to be particularly cliquish compared to other girls' schools in the area, from the inside or the outside; I think it's seen as a less social and more academic school. Although at any girls' school you probably have some challenging social dynamics, from what I can tell the SR girls are supportive of one another, and friendly even to those who are not among their closer friends. I have heard about a lot more social pressure and drama at some of the other girls' schools. I am really surprised to hear that about lunch -- I don't want to completely discount someone's experience but I find it really hard to believe. My perception is that there are a lot of families receiving financial aid, so good economic diversity compared to some other girls' schools, and overall less of a "rich girls" atmosphere, or haves vs. have nots, than you might have at some other schools.

FA aid information 'gets out' when you don't vacation on your private island and you pickup in a mom beater minivan instead of a Range Rover or Mercedes.
Even the nannies are driving a Mercedes...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:.

FA aid information 'gets out' when you don't vacation on your private island and you pickup in a mom beater minivan instead of a Range Rover or Mercedes.
Even the nannies are driving a Mercedes...

We don't have a daughter at SR but we have looked. We also have been on campus for many, many sports events. The above is a loaded statement and very hard to believe based on our visits. Ax to grind much?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My started SR as a freshman as well and did not come in with friends either. She has had a very good experience, but I do think it was an easier transition for the girls who played on a team in the fall of freshman year (she did not) -- gave them a good circle of friends right away. She's made some really nice friends and is very comfortable there, but it did probably take her a little while. I actually don't believe SR is perceived to be particularly cliquish compared to other girls' schools in the area, from the inside or the outside; I think it's seen as a less social and more academic school. Although at any girls' school you probably have some challenging social dynamics, from what I can tell the SR girls are supportive of one another, and friendly even to those who are not among their closer friends. I have heard about a lot more social pressure and drama at some of the other girls' schools. I am really surprised to hear that about lunch -- I don't want to completely discount someone's experience but I find it really hard to believe. My perception is that there are a lot of families receiving financial aid, so good economic diversity compared to some other girls' schools, and overall less of a "rich girls" atmosphere, or haves vs. have nots, than you might have at some other schools.

FA aid information 'gets out' when you don't vacation on your private island and you pickup in a mom beater minivan instead of a Range Rover or Mercedes.
Even the nannies are driving a Mercedes...

This is nonsense. We have a daughter at SR and nobody goes around talking about who gets FA. Frankly it seems that the families who don't receive aid actually welcome that their daughters are with lots of people from many different walks of life. And if nothing else, the only way that information can get out is if the school says something. And they don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:.

FA aid information 'gets out' when you don't vacation on your private island and you pickup in a mom beater minivan instead of a Range Rover or Mercedes.
Even the nannies are driving a Mercedes...

We don't have a daughter at SR but we have looked. We also have been on campus for many, many sports events. The above is a loaded statement and very hard to believe based on our visits. Ax to grind much?

+1