What do you love/not love about SSSAS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m fascinated by the fact that the school pushes white guilt while also still facilitating a pro-lacrosse culture (a sport known to attract more white athletes). Seems like SSSAS is having a bit of an identity crisis. My child was really wooed but then during the admissions process but ultimately picked another school, somewhat to our relief. I never got a genuine feel for SSSAS, seemed like a lot of slick marketing but no clear vision/mission.

Agree. Lax runs its own organization within SSSAS. Coaches, parents, players - they are Tier One in terms of financial donors, social hierarchy, etc. Administration steers clear of this entire subset of the Upper School because this group is where the elite college admissions and large donations come from. They get a pass for misbehavior, social exclusion, etc because the Lax machine must churn on.

Administration pushes the Leftist woke crap on the rest of the Upper School and Middle & Lower.

Just curious: What percentage of US students/ families does this lax group represent? I assume it's both the boys and girls teams?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a parent who is happy with the school, I am embarrassed by the most recent recruiting video. Can't imagine why anyone would think it would entice a prospective student or family.

The video on the school admissions page seems fine. Is there a different one that you’re referring to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent who is happy with the school, I am embarrassed by the most recent recruiting video. Can't imagine why anyone would think it would entice a prospective student or family.

The video on the school admissions page seems fine. Is there a different one that you’re referring to?

Is grading for equity on the admissions video?

[Anonymous]

Honestly, as a current parent I am shocked by this thread. My MS-aged child has been very happy and I have seen neither an overly 'bro/LAX' culture nor any insane politicization. I know there are Dems and Reps among the student body and their families.

Have they held voluntary discussions on BLM? Yes, just as they are for students to discuss the war in Ukraine. Good because these are the issues of the day.

I am so glad there are affinity groups available and feel like SSSAS has done an excellent job balancing the reality of being a privileged and probably somewhat historically closed environment with the world of today. No one is 'forced' to join an affinity group but the school has had an appropriate emphasis on DEI.

My child has been assigned/encouraged to have dinnertime discussions about all kinds of topics, from constitutional laws relating to privacy to "Animal Farm" and the history of communist movements which have but only enriched their learning but our family interactions.

The teachers, admissions, faculty and staff in our experience have ranged from good to outstanding and I'm so glad my child insisted on exploring the option of private. They are getting a great education, have higher goals than ever, and have found a wonderful peer group.

As probably one of the less affluent families I was concerned about the social aspect but honestly our MS experience has been much better than I hoped. Not that every child has the same perspective or they are all BFFs but the school does emphasize a mutual respect and basic values that, in our experience, have made for a wonderful educational community. Teachers have high expectations and help students push a little further than might be easy/comfortable. They do work on the basics, including critical thinking, but also challenge students.

Some of what is in this thread is simply false or intentionally misrepresentative. There is differentiation starting at least in grade 6, and our experience has been that teachers will also push students individually. For anyone considering, I suggest talking to an actual student/parent rather than polling the internet.

[Anonymous]

To the poster who wrote- “my son has a black friend” you know this is ignorant as hell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, as a current parent I am shocked by this thread. My MS-aged child has been very happy and I have seen neither an overly 'bro/LAX' culture nor any insane politicization. I know there are Dems and Reps among the student body and their families.

Have they held voluntary discussions on BLM? Yes, just as they are for students to discuss the war in Ukraine. Good because these are the issues of the day.

I am so glad there are affinity groups available and feel like SSSAS has done an excellent job balancing the reality of being a privileged and probably somewhat historically closed environment with the world of today. No one is 'forced' to join an affinity group but the school has had an appropriate emphasis on DEI.

My child has been assigned/encouraged to have dinnertime discussions about all kinds of topics, from constitutional laws relating to privacy to "Animal Farm" and the history of communist movements which have but only enriched their learning but our family interactions.

The teachers, admissions, faculty and staff in our experience have ranged from good to outstanding and I'm so glad my child insisted on exploring the option of private. They are getting a great education, have higher goals than ever, and have found a wonderful peer group.

+1. I agree with all this as another parent. We have been very pleased with our time at SSSAS.

As probably one of the less affluent families I was concerned about the social aspect but honestly our MS experience has been much better than I hoped. Not that every child has the same perspective or they are all BFFs but the school does emphasize a mutual respect and basic values that, in our experience, have made for a wonderful educational community. Teachers have high expectations and help students push a little further than might be easy/comfortable. They do work on the basics, including critical thinking, but also challenge students.

Some of what is in this thread is simply false or intentionally misrepresentative. There is differentiation starting at least in grade 6, and our experience has been that teachers will also push students individually. For anyone considering, I suggest talking to an actual student/parent rather than polling the internet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, as a current parent I am shocked by this thread. My MS-aged child has been very happy and I have seen neither an overly 'bro/LAX' culture nor any insane politicization. I know there are Dems and Reps among the student body and their families.

Have they held voluntary discussions on BLM? Yes, just as they are for students to discuss the war in Ukraine. Good because these are the issues of the day.

I am so glad there are affinity groups available and feel like SSSAS has done an excellent job balancing the reality of being a privileged and probably somewhat historically closed environment with the world of today. No one is 'forced' to join an affinity group but the school has had an appropriate emphasis on DEI.

My child has been assigned/encouraged to have dinnertime discussions about all kinds of topics, from constitutional laws relating to privacy to "Animal Farm" and the history of communist movements which have but only enriched their learning but our family interactions.

The teachers, admissions, faculty and staff in our experience have ranged from good to outstanding and I'm so glad my child insisted on exploring the option of private. They are getting a great education, have higher goals than ever, and have found a wonderful peer group.

+1. I agree with all this as another parent. We have been very pleased with our time at SSSAS.

As probably one of the less affluent families I was concerned about the social aspect but honestly our MS experience has been much better than I hoped. Not that every child has the same perspective or they are all BFFs but the school does emphasize a mutual respect and basic values that, in our experience, have made for a wonderful educational community. Teachers have high expectations and help students push a little further than might be easy/comfortable. They do work on the basics, including critical thinking, but also challenge students.

Some of what is in this thread is simply false or intentionally misrepresentative. There is differentiation starting at least in grade 6, and our experience has been that teachers will also push students individually. For anyone considering, I suggest talking to an actual student/parent rather than polling the internet.

Agree to all the above! / Another happy SSSAS parent

[Anonymous]

Per the school website there are about 50 girls on JV and varsity lax. The US is about 400 and gender balanced that makes about 25% playing lax for girls. Similar for boys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Per the school website there are about 50 girls on JV and varsity lax. The US is about 400 and gender balanced that makes about 25% playing lax for girls. Similar for boys.

25% of the school plays lax. Wtf?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Per the school website there are about 50 girls on JV and varsity lax. The US is about 400 and gender balanced that makes about 25% playing lax for girls. Similar for boys.

25% of the school plays lax. Wtf?

It is a popular sport there so higher participation than some other peer schools but not out of hand. Nearly all of the lacrosse players also play at least one other sport and participate in other school activities. This is neither strange nor damning. The obsession with Saints and Lax culture is way out of have on DCUM. As a parent of a current student who doesn't play, the programs provide some entertainment for my kid who sometimes attends games to support friends but it in no way interferes with the academic or social experience. The lacrosse kids work hard and achieve while devoting a lot of time and energy to their sport. So do the basketball players, track athletes and the kids who perform in drama and music. Independent schools are all about a well rounded experience which is something that Saints does very well.

If you are considering it do research somewhere more healthy than here. Talk to current parents and recent past parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Per the school website there are about 50 girls on JV and varsity lax. The US is about 400 and gender balanced that makes about 25% playing lax for girls. Similar for boys.

25% of the school plays lax. Wtf?

It is a popular sport there so higher participation than some other peer schools but not out of hand. Nearly all of the lacrosse players also play at least one other sport and participate in other school activities. This is neither strange nor damning. The obsession with Saints and Lax culture is way out of have on DCUM. As a parent of a current student who doesn't play, the programs provide some entertainment for my kid who sometimes attends games to support friends but it in no way interferes with the academic or social experience. The lacrosse kids work hard and achieve while devoting a lot of time and energy to their sport. So do the basketball players, track athletes and the kids who perform in drama and music. Independent schools are all about a well rounded experience which is something that Saints does very well.

If you are considering it do research somewhere more healthy than here. Talk to current parents and recent past parents.

Thanks. OP here. I'll talk to parents. Just seems like if I only talk to parents I'll get a glowingly positive view.

Would the school be OK for an agnostic family?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Per the school website there are about 50 girls on JV and varsity lax. The US is about 400 and gender balanced that makes about 25% playing lax for girls. Similar for boys.

25% of the school plays lax. Wtf?

It is a popular sport there so higher participation than some other peer schools but not out of hand. Nearly all of the lacrosse players also play at least one other sport and participate in other school activities. This is neither strange nor damning. The obsession with Saints and Lax culture is way out of have on DCUM. As a parent of a current student who doesn't play, the programs provide some entertainment for my kid who sometimes attends games to support friends but it in no way interferes with the academic or social experience. The lacrosse kids work hard and achieve while devoting a lot of time and energy to their sport. So do the basketball players, track athletes and the kids who perform in drama and music. Independent schools are all about a well rounded experience which is something that Saints does very well.

If you are considering it do research somewhere more healthy than here. Talk to current parents and recent past parents.

Thanks. OP here. I'll talk to parents. Just seems like if I only talk to parents I'll get a glowingly positive view.

Would the school be OK for an agnostic family?

I'm Jewish and totally fine with it. It's Episcopal not Catholic or Fundamentalist. Religion is a pretty light touch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Per the school website there are about 50 girls on JV and varsity lax. The US is about 400 and gender balanced that makes about 25% playing lax for girls. Similar for boys.

25% of the school plays lax. Wtf?

That is not accurate

[Anonymous]

Wow this thread is full of misinformation I don’t even know where to start. The grading for equity thing is completely false and was NOT in the state of the school webinar. They have policies promoting diversity equity and inclusion - none of which entail grading a black student differently than a white student. Seriously that’s some Fox News propaganda. Ugh. I’m embarrassed parents that dumb are part of the school community and even more embarrassed one of them is actively posting here.

St Stephens is a fabulous school. Clearly not for those who want to live in a Trumpy, conservative bubble however.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Per the school website there are about 50 girls on JV and varsity lax. The US is about 400 and gender balanced that makes about 25% playing lax for girls. Similar for boys.

25% of the school plays lax. Wtf?

It is a popular sport there so higher participation than some other peer schools but not out of hand. Nearly all of the lacrosse players also play at least one other sport and participate in other school activities. This is neither strange nor damning. The obsession with Saints and Lax culture is way out of have on DCUM. As a parent of a current student who doesn't play, the programs provide some entertainment for my kid who sometimes attends games to support friends but it in no way interferes with the academic or social experience. The lacrosse kids work hard and achieve while devoting a lot of time and energy to their sport. So do the basketball players, track athletes and the kids who perform in drama and music. Independent schools are all about a well rounded experience which is something that Saints does very well.

If you are considering it do research somewhere more healthy than here. Talk to current parents and recent past parents.

Thanks. OP here. I'll talk to parents. Just seems like if I only talk to parents I'll get a glowingly positive view.

Would the school be OK for an agnostic family?

I'm Jewish and totally fine with it. It's Episcopal not Catholic or Fundamentalist. Religion is a pretty light touch.

Good grief. You are equating Catholicism to being a Fundamentalist? Do you realize how similar the Episcopal Church is to Catholicism?