St. Andrew's Questions

[Anonymous]

Starting a new thread to address various questions/comments, if any, re St. Andrew's. There was a provocatively negatively title on another topic that many posters have been posting positive things under about the school just because it was the only recent topic with the school's name in the title. So each positive comments cycled the provocative title to the top of the list. Suggest use of this thread with a neutral heading as alternative for new posts. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Thumbs up!

[Anonymous]

Great. Can anyone reflect on what it was like to enter as a new kid in high school (we have a dc at a K8 where they will graduate from)

[Anonymous]

We're also interested in the upper school. We've been hearing very positive things from current parents and students, as well as recent grads. I'd love to know more about the vocal music program in particular.

[Anonymous]

I'm curious what effect the hiring of the former Landon assistant lacrosse coach has had -- is St. Andrews ramping up lacrosse or athletics significantly? Some said it was an effort to boost the enrollment of boys.

[Anonymous]

How prevalent is the religious aspect? Chapels, classes, etc.?

[Anonymous]

Current upper school parent -- will take a stab at each of the questions from 13:17 through 16:37.

1. Integration of the new and old kids generally goes very well. Our DC''s transition to St. Andrew's was surprisingly smooth from Day 1, and that is much more typical than not. Obviously, the more things a student is involved in the quicker it goes - kids who play a fall sport actually sometimes meet new classmates during late August practices before school starts in 9th grade. Kids in band, etc. connect with each other on that level outside of academic classes early in the school year. The musical (discussed below) in the second trimester is a great way to solidify one's integration into the class, and the school organizes other activities each year (I believe early in the year but don't recall details) to build class spirit. We have always been pleased that the St. Andrew's culture seems to promote a cohesive -- not divisive -- class.

2) My DC isnt' a singer, but I have heard the chorus perform on performing arts night and the high school a cappella group at homecoming -- both very impressive. The upper school puts on a musical every year -- a very big deal -- and a very significant number of students participate in it -- either as performers, musicians, set builders or the tech crew. The performing arts generally are alive and well at the school. Last year, we had a few seniors attend some very strong colleges to follow those passions (Eastman school of music, Oberlin conservatory, etc.) and I know several keep singing and doing musical theatre in college while majoring in non-artsy subjects. For more details thought, need a more knowledgeable parent to weigh in.

3) Lacrosse. Lacrosse has ramped up some. I have talked to students who were on the team both before and after the new coach arrived they are really positive on him -- a real coach/teacher type of guy. St. Andrew's is feeling its way through a bit in other sports. On the one hand, many families like the fact that it is not an over-the-top sports-centric school and that a good student who likes to play historically could get much more playing time there than at a big public school or the elite Catholic sports schools. On the other hand, there are some who feel they want more competitive teams because everyone who plays prefers to win more than not and they have pushed some sports in that direction (e.g. basketball). In some other sports (golf, cross country, etc.) the school has been historically pretty strong without making any changes in its practices. I think girls soccer has picked up quite a bit recently. So the answer depends on which sport you're talking about and what one's starting perspective is on the sports issues. Kids who don't play sports at all or who don't play well, have no problem fitting in at St. Andrew's side by side with the kids who win individual or team sports awards at the league or state-wide level.

Hope that helps.

[Anonymous]

For the person asking about religion /chapel -- do you mean at high school or younger?

[Anonymous]

@18:03 thanks for the honest and comprehensive answers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the person asking about religion /chapel -- do you mean at high school or younger?

6th grade and thereabouts.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your responses, 18:03. We're keeping our fingers crossed for DC's acceptance!

[jhuber]

One of my sons enrolled into St. Andrew's high school (after attending the PS-8 where I am Head), and he has enjoyed a truly wonderful two years there so far. I continue to be impressed with the thoughtfulness of the faculty in my meetings with them.

We have not found it to be a predominantly religious environment, though there have been Chapels and religious elements to such areas as community service. It does not upset me to have my son put on a tie now and again for a Chapel.

The lacrosse program appears to have received time and attention toward strengthening, though I can't speak to its previous state. My son is part of the team and enjoys the challenges it provides. Some schools have been stiff competitors (such as Potomac), others have been more on par (such as St. James).

Can't speak to the vocal music program.

I hope this is of help, and I wish you luck in your search for the best fit.

John

[Anonymous]

Thanks for starting this thread! We're interested in the intermediate school. How is it for kids who need a bit extra social support -- i.e. Kids who would prefer to spend most of their time aline instead of making friends?

Also, how religious is the chapel? Would a jewish kid feel comfortable?

[Anonymous]

The short answer is that there are plenty of Jewish kids in the middle/upper schools (not so much in the lower campus in Potomac Village) who are reform and conservative -- obviously not orthodox families or strictly observant (there are occasional sports games/activities on Saturdays). Our DC attended a numbers of St. Andrew's bar/bat mitzvahs in 7th grade . The religion program is really well done through middle/high school, and is taught as a mixture of general knowledge kids should have (greatest hits of old testament, new testament, comparative religions) and thought provoking philosophy/morality questions for older students. Chapels are once per week. Jewish kids -- and my DC and friends think probably more than half of all the kids regardless of upbringing -- respectfully tolerate or tune out during the short formal service that is low key -- but tune in more for the rest of chapel which is usually a presentation either a universal theme or exposure to a different culture. There is a high holiday chapel each fall, a Holocaust remembrance chapel, outside speakers who have overcome hardships, and sometimes faculty /student presentations along those lines, sometimes special programming around MLK Day, diversity considerations, etc. Sometimes they hit a home run and produce thought provoking family dialogue over dinner. Sometimes they are humorous. And sometimes they miss the mark and the kids may feel they wished they had been in a study hall. There are two longer more religious chapels each year (one for Easter) and those are the only ones that the Jewish kids tend to K'vetch about a bit, but in the grand scheme of things as Jewish parents we actually think the religious component of the school adds more positively to the culture than it detracts relative to secular schools. And we certainly did not expect to think that when we were applying to schools. It is a hard balance to cover religion in a school known for its inclusiveness, but all and all they do a very good job with it. As Jewish parents, we initially thought we liked St. Andrew's in spite of its religious component, but over time we have come to think we like it more because of it. It tends to contribute to a certain grounding and warmth in the school among the kids, faculty and even parent-body.

[Anonymous]

I want to respond to the person asking about social support and engagement. The kids at St. Andrew's are the nicest kids. They seem to "get" each other, actually like each other, they are kind to each other and their default approach is to be inclusive. It's the culture. They may each have their own friend groups but they aren't fixed or exclusive. One moment kids may socialize together because of an extracurricular activity they are all involved in, the next moment a different collection of kids are working easily together on a class project, and in the next they are all hanging together at break. It is all very fluid and comfortable. My son started in 9th grade and within weeks, if not days, he was in the thick of things, with lots of friends. There are so many ways to be involved and connected in the community such that kids find their spot and want to be with the other kids.