SSSAS - what is the culture like currently?

[Anonymous]

I think you found a couple of girl parents with sour grapes, but that is not the mojo of this(8th) grade.

[Anonymous]

My experience at SSSAS Upper school has been really great. My son has loved his teachers his first year and the way the school values the close teacher- student relationship. The teacher care- they are not there just doing a job, but really there to help the kids and support them. Also, there were so many kids that welcomed him and made him feel a part of the school - from day one. He is not super athletic, but started playing on JV team sports (before Covid) and really loved it. I love the way there is the emphasis on character building and being a "good" person. It's a special place and we are so lucky to be there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you found a couple of girl parents with sour grapes, but that is not the mojo of this(8th) grade.

+ 1

[Anonymous]

I also have an 8th grade girl and I have not heard much about the girl drama!! My daughter has a great group of friends and seems to have friends in many groups. I don’t think the issue is nearly as dramatic as you describe - but there is ALWAYS going to be a parent who is unhappy for one reason or another. I also have an upper schooler, and we have been so impressed with the faculty and the close attention the students receive. It’s amazing how the teachers really know the students and take a sincere interest in them. We have been so grateful with how they handled COVID and so very happy to be there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
My experience at SSSAS Upper school has been really great. My son has loved his teachers his first year and the way the school values the close teacher- student relationship. The teacher care- they are not there just doing a job, but really there to help the kids and support them. Also, there were so many kids that welcomed him and made him feel a part of the school - from day one. He is not super athletic, but started playing on JV team sports (before Covid) and really loved it. I love the way there is the emphasis on character building and being a "good" person. It's a special place and we are so lucky to be there.

I have attended many SSSAS admissions events over years and read lots of posts on here. Parents on DCUM and kids (on the student panels) always go on and on about how special SSSAS is because it values giving to others, being kind and that the teachers “know” the kids. The kids literally all say this. This is absolutely not anything special compared to any other local private school. They literally ALL do this. Why does SSSAS think this is so special and unique to SSSAS? There is almost an arrogance to their statements. It is very off putting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
My experience at SSSAS Upper school has been really great. My son has loved his teachers his first year and the way the school values the close teacher- student relationship. The teacher care- they are not there just doing a job, but really there to help the kids and support them. Also, there were so many kids that welcomed him and made him feel a part of the school - from day one. He is not super athletic, but started playing on JV team sports (before Covid) and really loved it. I love the way there is the emphasis on character building and being a "good" person. It's a special place and we are so lucky to be there.

I have attended many SSSAS admissions events over years and read lots of posts on here. Parents on DCUM and kids (on the student panels) always go on and on about how special SSSAS is because it values giving to others, being kind and that the teachers “know” the kids. The kids literally all say this. This is absolutely not anything special compared to any other local private school. They literally ALL do this. Why does SSSAS think this is so special and unique to SSSAS? There is almost an arrogance to their statements. It is very off putting.

Academics are mediocre so they need something else to try to set them apart. Prior to Covid many classes were not full so it’s a sales pitch.

[Anonymous]

Nobody goes into teaching for the money so really that comment could be made about any school and the teachers.

[Anonymous]

Man, if kindness and community turn you off, or you think it “must” be a sales pitch, I just have no words for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Man, if kindness and community turn you off, or you think it “must” be a sales pitch, I just have no words for you.

They are incredibly important but I’d much rather be at a school where swift action is taken when issues occur, instead of a place that claims to be all about kindness and community with a formal program but looks the other way when bullying and mean behavior is taking place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Man, if kindness and community turn you off, or you think it “must” be a sales pitch, I just have no words for you.

It’s part of the pitch. The school decided a few years in rebranding itself, along with a new logo, to have a new motto of sorts- “goodness as well as knowledge”. They did this as way to try and distinguish themselves from other more prestigious schools because their college acceptances aren’t strong relative to the price tag So people might think, “well my kids are going to be around really nice people.” There are really nice teachers and kids at a lot of schools. And I am quite sure community service, which is required at SSSAS, is also required at most private schools too. There is nothing wrong with kindness, but it’s not unique to SSSAS.

I am sure someone from the board, spouse of staff member - or whomever they clearly get to do the responses on this blog - will counter.

[Anonymous]

No dog in the fight here — my kids go to Big 3 schools.

However, it is totally disingenuous to say that a grade is “lovely,” then say just because there’s a few bad eggs doesn’t mean it ain’t.

Middle school dynamics are challenging everywhere. However, if even a few kids are being bullied, that reflects badly on the entire school.

If an administration can’t respond effectively to social aggression among a few kids, those kids will set the tone for the school. So sad that people are delegitimizing the experience of girls who were bullied, saying it’s just a few parents with “sour grapes.”

If my daughters had been bullied and the school did not respond effectively, I certainly would sour on the school.

The fact that supposedly mature adults would say this about the way little girls were treated and minimize their pain says some ugly things about the SSSAS parent community,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you found a couple of girl parents with sour grapes, but that is not the mojo of this(8th) grade.

+ 1

- infinity

There are some very mean girls in that grade. And some very permissive parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No dog in the fight here — my kids go to Big 3 schools.

However, it is totally disingenuous to say that a grade is “lovely,” then say just because there’s a few bad eggs doesn’t mean it ain’t.

Middle school dynamics are challenging everywhere. However, if even a few kids are being bullied, that reflects badly on the entire school.

If an administration can’t respond effectively to social aggression among a few kids, those kids will set the tone for the school. So sad that people are delegitimizing the experience of girls who were bullied, saying it’s just a few parents with “sour grapes.”

If my daughters had been bullied and the school did not respond effectively, I certainly would sour on the school.

The fact that supposedly mature adults would say this about the way little girls were treated and minimize their pain says some ugly things about the SSSAS parent community,

No - we’re saying the school HAS responded as best they can to a difficult situation. Schools can stop actual bullying, but they can’t stop hurt feelings. If someone with inside information wants to share actual details about what the school failed to do, I’d love to hear it. But my understanding is this stems from a couple of parents who are upset they can’t 100% protect their kids from friendship drama.

Also goodness as well as knowledge has been their motto for decades, it isn’t new.

[Anonymous]

Emotional dramas aside, its just an intellectually incurious academically unsophisticated place. Kind is great--important--- but not if the academics are mediocre and kids don't really challenge each other --it was an easy place to pass on for us when we were looking--the spark of deep curiosity felt missing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No dog in the fight here — my kids go to Big 3 schools.

However, it is totally disingenuous to say that a grade is “lovely,” then say just because there’s a few bad eggs doesn’t mean it ain’t.

Middle school dynamics are challenging everywhere. However, if even a few kids are being bullied, that reflects badly on the entire school.

If an administration can’t respond effectively to social aggression among a few kids, those kids will set the tone for the school. So sad that people are delegitimizing the experience of girls who were bullied, saying it’s just a few parents with “sour grapes.”

If my daughters had been bullied and the school did not respond effectively, I certainly would sour on the school.

The fact that supposedly mature adults would say this about the way little girls were treated and minimize their pain says some ugly things about the SSSAS parent community,

No - we’re saying the school HAS responded as best they can to a difficult situation. Schools can stop actual bullying, but they can’t stop hurt feelings. If someone with inside information wants to share actual details about what the school failed to do, I’d love to hear it. But my understanding is this stems from a couple of parents who are upset they can’t 100% protect their kids from friendship drama.

Also goodness as well as knowledge has been their motto for decades, it isn’t new.

It is more than “friendship drama”. Spoken like a mama who defends her kid who is being a bully.