New STA parent seeking advice, suggestions, or just plain "I wish I had known X" info

[Anonymous]

No. I think it demonstrates that the blazers, ties, and pants don't hinder the boys from doing what boys do. If they came back clean as a whistle, then I would worry.

[Anonymous]

As an alum, I can say STA is a great school, but it has some drawbacks as well. A number of the teachers are hired first as coaches and then placed as teachers - often in 6-9th grade. Their teaching ability is sometimes less than impressive. The school also benefits from a "good in - good out" situation where bright kids getting in do well when they leave thereby enhancing the school's reputation. (Think Thomas Jefferson in Fairfax County, a Public School that has higher SAT scores than St. Albans and is FREE). If your son is in the top 20 percent of his STA class, the school will provide him some great benefits. If not, be careful. Finally, many of my friends complained that while they were well prepared academically for college, they were surprised at how many of their classmates from public school were as well. We were told too often that we were "the best and the brightest" and some seemed a little surprised to find out how many other bright, competent, successful kids there are in the world. Many also felt sheltered by the small school - some having the same set of friends for as many as 13 years. They experienced some difficulty adjusting to college when they were exposed to the "bigger world".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As an alum, I can say STA is a great school, but it has some drawbacks as well. A number of the teachers are hired first as coaches and then placed as teachers - often in 6-9th grade. Their teaching ability is sometimes less than impressive. The school also benefits from a "good in - good out" situation where bright kids getting in do well when they leave thereby enhancing the school's reputation. (Think Thomas Jefferson in Fairfax County, a Public School that has higher SAT scores than St. Albans and is FREE). If your son is in the top 20 percent of his STA class, the school will provide him some great benefits. If not, be careful. Finally, many of my friends complained that while they were well prepared academically for college, they were surprised at how many of their classmates from public school were as well. We were told too often that we were "the best and the brightest" and some seemed a little surprised to find out how many other bright, competent, successful kids there are in the world. Many also felt sheltered by the small school - some having the same set of friends for as many as 13 years. They experienced some difficulty adjusting to college when they were exposed to the "bigger world".

Not OP. My son has only been at STA for a few years and this info will come in very handy. Staying in the top 20 percent, absolutely! A family friend's son flunked out of college during freshmen year, experienced severe problems adjusting. Very sensitive to the harm of not grounding our son in the realities of life outside of STA.

Thank you for sharing.

[Anonymous]

bump

[Anonymous]

New C Form family here.

Just curious whether anyone felt as overwhelmed as I did by the recent mailings addressed to the new students . . . .

[Anonymous]

The entire place is overwhelming. By design. They break you down. Then build you up to be a young master of the universe. Or so the thinking goes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As an alum, I can say STA is a great school, but it has some drawbacks as well. A number of the teachers are hired first as coaches and then placed as teachers - often in 6-9th grade. Their teaching ability is sometimes less than impressive. The school also benefits from a "good in - good out" situation where bright kids getting in do well when they leave thereby enhancing the school's reputation. (Think Thomas Jefferson in Fairfax County, a Public School that has higher SAT scores than St. Albans and is FREE). If your son is in the top 20 percent of his STA class, the school will provide him some great benefits. If not, be careful. Finally, many of my friends complained that while they were well prepared academically for college, they were surprised at how many of their classmates from public school were as well. We were told too often that we were "the best and the brightest" and some seemed a little surprised to find out how many other bright, competent, successful kids there are in the world. Many also felt sheltered by the small school - some having the same set of friends for as many as 13 years. They experienced some difficulty adjusting to college when they were exposed to the "bigger world".

bump

[Anonymous]

Is the bookstore open during the summer (if we wanted to stock up on STA gym clothes, etc.).

[Anonymous]

What is the school "consignment store" mentioned by a pp?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the bookstore open during the summer (if we wanted to stock up on STA gym clothes, etc.).

The kids will be taken over the first day to buy their gym clothes, so you don't need to stock up on anything. The clothes will be charged to their student account.

For that matter, don't buy any of the school books in advance. STA will give you a list of books the children will use next year, but the kids will be taken over to the bookstore on the first day to buy everything they need (again charged to their account).

STA sort of overwhelms you with all those papers of what you need the first day. But you really don't need to bring in everything the first day (and it's impossible for your child to carry, anyway). For example, although they will need 4 pads of notebook paper (or whatever) you certainly don't need all that paper going in the door the first day. Same with pencils and the rest. You can have them bring in enough to start.

Best advice: label your boy's blazers. Mine lost two last year. We got them both back because his name was inside.

[Anonymous]

Help your boy get organized quickly so he is not overwhelmed. It can be a little daunting, especially for the kids making the transition from the fluffy marshmallow land of Beauvoir. For the first month, my son brought home every single book in his cubby every night (read: 22 pounds of books every night) because he couldn't think through what he needed and he was worried he'd forget something. He never cleaned out his folders of things he didn't need anymore, and within 2 months he had about 3 inches worth of papers in there, only about 10 pages of which he needed. Sitting down and strategizing with him early will help him in the long run.

And yes, label the jacket.

[Anonymous]

How many blazers should DS have?

[Anonymous]

My son had 3 blazers: one for good occasions (mostly not at school, but sometimes worn to a big chapel or some event), and 2 which were allowed to start getting a little ratty looking. You need at least 2 because your son will lose one of the blazers at some point.

Are you new this year?

[Anonymous]

PP, what's the best way to "lablel the jacket"? Magic marker?

[Anonymous]

I think they sell some iron on labels. Or if the jacket has a label, just marker in the boy's name.