St Andelm's Abbey

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not op, but we, too, are looking ahead to schools to visit this fall for our rising 5th grader (so we'd be applying for 6th grade entry). We are jewish and while I appreciate the inclusive nature of SAAS, I don't think we'd feel comfortable sending our son to a catholic high school (I went on the website and was not even sure what benedictine meant ). But otherwise, this school sounds fantastic and a great fit for our son. Are there any non-religious schools that have a number of similarities? Our son loves debating and discussing, is a voracious reader of history, ancient and more recent, and recently asked me if he could take latin! (I checked, and it is not offered in our mcps middle school) He also loves sports but is not very athletic and so plays everything at a "rec" level (but with passion). As someone else described another child in this thread, my son needs structure and high expectations, because he otherwise coasts unless he is personally interested in the subject.

DS is not Catholic, but we too really like St. Anselm's a couple of years ago. DS did too, but didn't want an all-boys school. In our searching around, the closest match we found among independents to the atmosphere, extracurriculars, personality was the Burke School. There are big obvious differences, but my guess is that, if you like St. Anselm's, you'll like Burke too. Of course, he ended up somewhere else, but that's a long story and not relevant to this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's true. I think the common factor for success at St. A's is enthusiasm and engagement (real intellectual curiosity) rather than just being smart.

This is good to hear. I believe starting in 6th is likely our best option then, for many reasons. This post sorta solidifies that.

How hard is it to get in? Also, can anybody give me an idea of the strength and rigor of their science and math programs?

The website says "Every student has math class every day, and all students take an Advanced Placement Mathematics course their senior year with ninety-five percent taking AP Calculus."

Science: 9th Grade = Chemistry, 10th Grade = Physics, 11th Grade = Biology (AP or General) and additional electives offered, 12th Grade Electives offered: AP Chemistry; AP Physics; AP Environmental Science; Introductions to Civil, Mechanical, Chemical or Electrical
Engineering; AP Computer Science; Introduction to Robotics andAdvanced Robotics

[Anonymous]

I would not write off SAAS just because you're family is Jewish. We have known several Jewish boys who went to SAAS and thrived. It is a Catholic school, of course, and is on the grounds of a monastery, but the monks are very open-minded and do not see it as part of their educational mission to convert anyone. Indeed, they are part of a thousand year old tradition of educating people of whatever faith.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not write off SAAS just because you're family is Jewish. We have known several Jewish boys who went to SAAS and thrived. It is a Catholic school, of course, and is on the grounds of a monastery, but the monks are very open-minded and do not see it as part of their educational mission to convert anyone. Indeed, they are part of a thousand year old tradition of educating people of whatever faith.

So these Monks who live in an abbey and who have given over their lives to the Catholic Church and Christ are indifferent to religious beliefs and backgrounds of others?

That's remarkable. Not very believable. But remarkable if true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not write off SAAS just because you're family is Jewish. We have known several Jewish boys who went to SAAS and thrived. It is a Catholic school, of course, and is on the grounds of a monastery, but the monks are very open-minded and do not see it as part of their educational mission to convert anyone. Indeed, they are part of a thousand year old tradition of educating people of whatever faith.

So these Monks who live in an abbey and who have given over their lives to the Catholic Church and Christ are indifferent to religious beliefs and backgrounds of others?

That's remarkable. Not very believable. But remarkable if true.

OMG! It isn't the 1940s anymore. I am Episcopalian and all of my cousins went to Catholic schools in another state. Nobody tried to convert their "heretical souls." Monks are very different than Priests. Monks are cool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not write off SAAS just because you're family is Jewish. We have known several Jewish boys who went to SAAS and thrived. It is a Catholic school, of course, and is on the grounds of a monastery, but the monks are very open-minded and do not see it as part of their educational mission to convert anyone. Indeed, they are part of a thousand year old tradition of educating people of whatever faith.

So these Monks who live in an abbey and who have given over their lives to the Catholic Church and Christ are indifferent to religious beliefs and backgrounds of others?

That's remarkable. Not very believable. But remarkable if true.

Are you the "you're a liar" poster from the Family Relationships Forum? Trump, is that you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not write off SAAS just because you're family is Jewish. We have known several Jewish boys who went to SAAS and thrived. It is a Catholic school, of course, and is on the grounds of a monastery, but the monks are very open-minded and do not see it as part of their educational mission to convert anyone. Indeed, they are part of a thousand year old tradition of educating people of whatever faith.

So these Monks who live in an abbey and who have given over their lives to the Catholic Church and Christ are indifferent to religious beliefs and backgrounds of others?

That's remarkable. Not very believable. But remarkable if true.

jewish students who are interested in SAAS should ignore this sarcasm and talk to the jewish students there.

[Anonymous]

A second to the comment that monks are different. The SAAS monks are a special breed. My bright, but not exceptionally so, son is so happy there.

[Anonymous]

My devout Catholic in-laws celebrated Christmas every year with their Jewish friends. The beauty of this religion is a respect for other faiths.

[Anonymous]

The monks are wonderful. Truly caring and want the absolute best for every student, teacher, and staff member on the campus. It is their home and they welcome everyone to it. The Benedictines are an order of monks who are devoted to education. They actually have a 1,500 year history of running schools. St. Anselm himself was a scholar who was an adviser to kings and leaders all over the medieval world. They are devoted to hospitality (welcoming to all), humility (the adult isn't better than the child, just working to help the child grow), obedience (the world is bigger than just you and your desires), and of course poverty, chastity, and stability.

SAAS is a great school for kids who want to learn, are bright and for whom easier schools generally come relatively easily to them. There are plenty of kids with well-balanced ADHD and things like outdoor/active time, extended time, lots of structure built in which helps all of the boys. However, a kid who doesn't want to work hard, learn a lot, and is smart won't likely be happy there.

[Anonymous]

Hearing all this positive stuff makes me sad my DS didn't go. It seems like the perfect fit for him. But he went to the open house and didn't seem interested...had his heart set on Gonzaga. He is very happy at Gonzaga, but he must take all honors/AP courses to keep him challenged there. I think he just liked the school spirit at GZ more. But SAAS seems like a lovely place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of my best friend's kids goes there for middle school.
He's bright and a decent student but not brilliant by any means. He's not a self-motivator so he does well in a school that demands a lot because he's good at doing what's expected of him but isn't going to initiate beyond what is required.

He's a quirky kid and an athlete but never quite fit in the macho athletic world. Quiet, introverted, needs a lot of down time at home.

Is this a school for smart and quirky boys mostly then? Hmm...

My son was admitted to the school is 6th grade and we seriously considered sending him there - really liked all of the people, very polite and nice and it is clearly a serious academic school. We ultimately decided against it, though, because my son got a "nerdy" impression of the kids and felt that it was not a good fit for him. I would note they are also very inflexible about differentiation - even though my son was a year ahead in math, they were insistent that he start in the same math class as everyone else (including kids he knew from elementary school were weak math students who he did not want to be in math class with). Like I said, my son did not attend the school so maybe it would have worked out but even though he is very bright he just did not want to attend the school.

[Anonymous]

If you have 95% taking AP Calc by senior year, I would trust the school to challenge students. No horse in that race but they must be doing something right in terms of mathematical rigor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My devout Catholic in-laws celebrated Christmas every year with their Jewish friends. The beauty of this religion is a respect for other faiths.

I know nothing about the school, but I don't understand how the Catholic in-laws' willingness to include non-Catholic friends in celebration of a Catholic holiday shows a respect for other faiths. (Not saying that Catholics don't have such respect, just that this story doesn't illustrate it)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My devout Catholic in-laws celebrated Christmas every year with their Jewish friends. The beauty of this religion is a respect for other faiths.

I know nothing about the school, but I don't understand how the Catholic in-laws' willingness to include non-Catholic friends in celebration of a Catholic holiday shows a respect for other faiths. (Not saying that Catholics don't have such respect, just that this story doesn't illustrate it)

It's called inclusiveness. And Christmas is a Christian holiday...not a "Catholic holiday."