Lacrosse culture at St Stephens.

[Anonymous]

For those of you that have girls in lacrosse or have had them at St Stephen’s; would you recommend the program for your daughter and why or why not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BI's academics are not less difficult than SSSA, but, there are tougher requirements to get into Ap courses. But what do I know, I am one of those aggressive 22314 hoodlems!

you are kidding right?

SSSA is way more difficult academically than BI. No contest

100% wrong. It used to be but is not anymore. SSSAS is trying to live off an outdated reputation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those of you that have girls in lacrosse or have had them at St Stephen’s; would you recommend the program for your daughter and why or why not?

Its definitely not kinder or gentler for those little girls. You only need to talk to the parents of the graduated kids to understand how many times the parents have complained about KJ or one of the other coaches. At one point during my daughter's time there, more than half the starting line up was in counseling to survive the season. School knew and did nothing. It ultimately worked out fine, but not sure winning an ISL or State title is worth that much angst from 17-18 year old girls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SSSAS just completed a really nice renovation! They need to renovate the girls' & boys locker rooms and athletic areas next! Go visit, interact, and see it for yourself, and if you don’t vibe there, check out other places. Lots of options. Plus, many of these kids are friends with kids from all different schools and connect through all different sports, social or school activities. It is just one of many options to pick. We loved it!

Renovation is beautiful and long, long overdue. Planning staff completely mis-timed the local economy though and they are still trying to pay it off, as reflected in their most recent state of the school report. Every year for more than a decade, Saints has averaged between a 4-4.75% rate increase, and now that they are requiring students to pay for the lunch program its well into the mid $50's in high school, and for those in their middle school, it will be well into the mid $60's by the time they are in high school. But across the street you have Episcopal where the kids board, and its mid 60's too. So much better value, and that doesn't begin to touch on BI, Bishop OConnell, Stone Ridge, SJCH or Visi that are half as much.

[Anonymous]

Go to a average program where your daughter doesn’t develop, plays a ton and is happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SSSAS has two problems. Since they draw from the immediate area almost exclusively, they have by far the most homogeneous population in the IAC. And yes, the lacrosse kids run the school (or at least think they do). Lots of bad behavior.

I have a daughter who plays at SSSAS and I haven't seen much bad behavior on the girls side.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you that have girls in lacrosse or have had them at St Stephen’s; would you recommend the program for your daughter and why or why not?

Its definitely not kinder or gentler for those little girls. You only need to talk to the parents of the graduated kids to understand how many times the parents have complained about KJ or one of the other coaches. At one point during my daughter's time there, more than half the starting line up was in counseling to survive the season. School knew and did nothing. It ultimately worked out fine, but not sure winning an ISL or State title is worth that much angst from 17-18 year old girls.

Agree. It is a toxic culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Boys program has been in shambles for last few years. Girls will be next especially once KJ leaves after the 26 class. Non scholarships has killed program and the current AD and board could care less about athletics. So remove that why would anyone consider going to a mid academic school for that price point.

Don't kid yourself. KJ is not leaving any time soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your kid doesn't play lacrosse, how is it socially for them at St Stephens?

There are 450+ kids in the high school. The varsity lacrosse team has maybe 25 kids on it.

So... you are kidding, right? You think the overwhelming majority of kids who are not on the varsity lacrosse team are social outcasts or something?

Lax doesn't affect really social standing at SSSAS. Maybe in the old days when SSSAS was the only game in town for girls lax but that has changed. 40-44 kids = 10% of each grade. There are plenty of popular kids who do not play lacrosse. Within the girls lacrosse teams there are girls who are more or less popular.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Boys program has been in shambles for last few years. Girls will be next especially once KJ leaves after the 26 class. Non scholarships has killed program and the current AD and board could care less about athletics. So remove that why would anyone consider going to a mid academic school for that price point.

Don't kid yourself. KJ is not leaving any time soon.

As an outsider, it seems likely that next season would be her last. She’ll have a great team positioned for a championship run, which I understand would coincide with her 50th year coaching and 75th birthday. She’s had a wonderful successful career and potentially going out on top in a year full of milestones makes perfect sense to me. Maybe she’s a die hard and will continue forever, but the 2026 season could be a storybook ending of a storybook career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Boys program has been in shambles for last few years. Girls will be next especially once KJ leaves after the 26 class. Non scholarships has killed program and the current AD and board could care less about athletics. So remove that why would anyone consider going to a mid academic school for that price point.

Don't kid yourself. KJ is not leaving any time soon.

As an outsider, it seems likely that next season would be her last. She’ll have a great team positioned for a championship run, which I understand would coincide with her 50th year coaching and 75th birthday. She’s had a wonderful successful career and potentially going out on top in a year full of milestones makes perfect sense to me. Maybe she’s a die hard and will continue forever, but the 2026 season could be a storybook ending of a storybook career.

Yes, it could be however it is not happening. I can assure you. This was also said after the 22s and the 24s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SSSAS has two problems. Since they draw from the immediate area almost exclusively, they have by far the most homogeneous population in the IAC. And yes, the lacrosse kids run the school (or at least think they do). Lots of bad behavior.

I have a daughter who plays at SSSAS and I haven't seen much bad behavior on the girls side.

You are delusional. Or your daughter is one of the annual two to three favorite players of the coach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those of you that have girls in lacrosse or have had them at St Stephen’s; would you recommend the program for your daughter and why or why not?

There is not a single current varsity player who would recommend the program to anyone. It has been a negative experience overall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Boys program has been in shambles for last few years. Girls will be next especially once KJ leaves after the 26 class. Non scholarships has killed program and the current AD and board could care less about athletics. So remove that why would anyone consider going to a mid academic school for that price point.

Don't kid yourself. KJ is not leaving any time soon.

As an outsider, it seems likely that next season would be her last. She’ll have a great team positioned for a championship run, which I understand would coincide with her 50th year coaching and 75th birthday. She’s had a wonderful successful career and potentially going out on top in a year full of milestones makes perfect sense to me. Maybe she’s a die hard and will continue forever, but the 2026 season could be a storybook ending of a storybook career.

Yes, it could be however it is not happening. I can assure you. This was also said after the 22s and the 24s.

Putting aside the milestones, which should not be put aside, the future would have been looking pretty bright after the 24s. Will the outlook after the 26s be nearly as good? How long would it take to rebuild? Get ready for the KJ retirement tour coming to an ISL school near you in 2026.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you that have girls in lacrosse or have had them at St Stephen’s; would you recommend the program for your daughter and why or why not?

Its definitely not kinder or gentler for those little girls. You only need to talk to the parents of the graduated kids to understand how many times the parents have complained about KJ or one of the other coaches. At one point during my daughter's time there, more than half the starting line up was in counseling to survive the season. School knew and did nothing. It ultimately worked out fine, but not sure winning an ISL or State title is worth that much angst from 17-18 year old girls.

The school absolutely knows and does nothing because administrators’ kids were benefiting from that very program getting recruited to college.