SSSAS culture? For parents?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost nobody at SSSAS cares about where you live, how big your house is, or how much money you make. If you are feeling that way, it is you projecting your insecurities. The few parents (and their kids) who are pretentious like that are not the norm and are actually the ones who are looked down upon a bit. Kids asking questions about your houses size are no different than kids at publics asking the same questions. "Kids say the darndest things."

The kids don't care, but those parents sure do. It's part of going to a school that draws predominantly from one small geographic area.

I don't buy it. I could afford a house in Belle Haven with a lot more sq ftage than what I have in Rosemont. Nobody cares how big my house is.

[Anonymous]

What's up with the Belle Haven Mom-Mafia? Lots of people at SSSAS opt to reject Belle Haven and live in Old Town, Del Ray, and Rosemont. Real estate in Alexandria City is doing better than Belle Haven, and the homes are more expensive for less square footage. I find it humorous that the Belle Haven "Momfia" really are that clueless? I agree that there is definitely a country club culture amongst those ladies at SSSAS, but to be honest, the rest of us moms kind of laugh at them and roll our eyes. It's there, but it's not everything. It's actually kind of funny.

[Anonymous]

The thing is - they don't think they are funny. They think they run things. And the administration loves their donations. It's life in private school.
Signed, SSSAS mom of two recent graduates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The thing is - they don't think they are funny. They think they run things. And the administration loves their donations. It's life in private school.
Signed, SSSAS mom of two recent graduates.

Maybe that is true in the US but my kids are in LS and didn't have a single Belle Haven family in their homeroom class. From what I gather, us 22301 parents kind of feel sorry for Belle Haven families, they have to live so far away (technically not far away but considering how crazy traffic is around here, it might as well be in Woodbridge). I dont find that area very prestigious, it's a stones throw from Route 1 and Ft. Hunt Road. My assumption is that they can't afford to live in Rosemont or OT so they live in Fairfax. How funny that people think that they think they are too cool for school?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The thing is - they don't think they are funny. They think they run things. And the administration loves their donations. It's life in private school.
Signed, SSSAS mom of two recent graduates.

It's life at THIS private school. Ours in DC has its issues, but nothing like I've read here.

[Anonymous]

Okay -- I have no in-depth knowledge of "the Saints" -- but just wanted to share the following --
Recently my car broke down in Accokeek, and I unexpectedly found myself in a Dunkin Doughnuts there for a while. Three Saints students were dropped off there -- I asked them if they went to the Saints in Virginia, and they said yes. I asked them about the length of the trip, and they said 45 minutes, but an hour and a half on the bus. They were very polite, well-spoken African American boys. I don't want to jump to conclusions, but they may be scholarship students, and this encounter raised my opinion of the school. Clearly, not every student is local since at least one bus goes to P.G. County .

[Anonymous]

. From what I gather, us 22301 parents kind of feel sorry for Belle Haven families, they have to live so far away (technically not far away but considering how crazy traffic is around here, it might as well be in Woodbridge). I dont find that area very prestigious, it's a stones throw from Route 1 and Ft. Hunt Road. My assumption is that they can't afford to live in Rosemont or OT so they live in Fairfax. How funny that people think that they think they are too cool for school?!



This statement just shows your ignorance. Most homes in Belle Haven are $1.5 - $2.5 million. Clearly people do not choose to live in Belle Haven because they can't afford Rosemont or OT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:9:35 poster here and current SSSAS parent. I don't get that vibe from Belle haven moms at all, sounds like you had a bad particular experience Nader for that I am very sorry and hope you and your family are happy in your new school. IMO I kind of look down on Belle Haven, it's kind of far away and right off of Route 1, I remember our real estate agent telling us how great Belle Haven was and when we went to look at some houses I could hear all the Route 1 traffic and see some of it. It doesn't seem prestigious to me, you have to drive everywhere, no sidewalks, not close to school or the metro or restaurants. And don't get me started on the belle haven parents that send their kids to a cathedral school or Potomac. They must spend all day in their car. Would stress me out. But all those women seem lovely to me. The issues I have run into with kids asking "where do you live? Where are you going on Spring break? What does your daddy do for a job?" Etc are coming from the kids who live in Beverly Hill. I find the questions funny and fascinating, especially driving them home from play dates, etc. One kid said in my car "you know. We go to the jersey shore, but not that jersey shore with all the tacky people, the clean part. That's where my mom is from. She's getting her tatoo removed from her ankle before the summer so we can go back. She said we have an expensive car. Your car is ok....."

Like I care what a 7 year old says, and it went way over my DD's head. It was funny to me. Trust me that is not unique to SSSAS. Every school has humble brag collar popping kids don't let them stress you.

My child recently had a playdate with a kid talking like this. She went on and on about her mom's great car, her big house, etc. Well, the mom invited me in, the house was so dirty and dated, I couldn't believe this mom was teaching her kid this snobbish behavior.

[Anonymous]

No hat on the rack.....but it sounds like both sides are pretty silly. The Rosemont parents claim their home value is better and the Belle Haven folks claim they are in a more prestige's community. On my second glass of wine.....must say a very entertaining thread Grease at SSSA

[Anonymous]

I was thinking the Rosemont comment was a bit snotty. Hard to sound credible saying the Belle Haven crowd is pretentious, then touting your area as more expensive.

Is this just a VA suburb thing? Tell me where to move to please? I would like my neighbors to stop telling me how much they earn...

[Anonymous]

Didn't say more expensive in rosemont, just less square footage for the buck. Nor did I claim belle haven is snotty. Just my point - nothing to be snotty about and the claim is just untrue. SSSAS is a great environment for folks from all walks of life. Those who think differently likely hAve am axe to grind or a chip on their shoulder re money. Don't have to be rich to have agreat experience at this school - child (which should be what matters) or parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was thinking the Rosemont comment was a bit snotty. Hard to sound credible saying the Belle Haven crowd is pretentious, then touting your area as more expensive.

Is this just a VA suburb thing? Tell me where to move to please? I would like my neighbors to stop telling me how much they earn...

PP here and also a former SSSAS parent. This debate between Rosemont v. Belle Haven v. any other neighborhood a SSSAS child is from is real. We have since moved on to a different school, which has a tiny bit of competition, but since the school draws from a much wider geographic area, there really is no comparison. The SSSAS culture is a throwback in many ways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:.

From what I gather, us 22301 parents kind of feel sorry for Belle Haven families, they have to live so far away (technically not far away but considering how crazy traffic is around here, it might as well be in Woodbridge). I dont find that area very prestigious, it's a stones throw from Route 1 and Ft. Hunt Road. My assumption is that they can't afford to live in Rosemont or OT so they live in Fairfax. How funny that people think that they think they are too cool for school?!



This statement just shows your ignorance. Most homes in Belle Haven are $1.5 - $2.5 million. Clearly people do not choose to live in Belle Haven because they can't afford Rosemont or OT.

Us low lives that live off Ft. Hunt don't experience the crime of the upper crust Rosemont residents. This SSAS parent sounds like a real peach.

[Anonymous]

Well, since we don't live in either of two areas I guess we'll be the new target in the Fall :0 Or maybe you all will be so busy sniping at each other that we'll stay under the radar, make great friends from other zip codes and get the education we're paying for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Didn't say more expensive in rosemont, just less square footage for the buck. Nor did I claim belle haven is snotty. Just my point - nothing to be snotty about and the claim is just untrue. SSSAS is a great environment for folks from all walks of life. Those who think differently likely hAve am axe to grind or a chip on their shoulder re money. Don't have to be rich to have agreat experience at this school - child (which should be what matters) or parents.

But Belle Haven is nicer, you have to admit. And more expensive. And less crime. Just saying.

Signed,
Not a SSSAS parent, or Rosemont resident, or Belle Haven resident.