Culture at St Stephens and St Agnes SSSAS

[Anonymous]

Over the weekend, I went to a robotics tournament hosted by SSSAS. I was impressed at how many teachers and staff had volunteered to help run the tournament. One of their MS teams did much better than expected and several of the teachers gave the kids hugs. I don't know anything else about the school, but based on that, it seemed like a warm, nurturing, and welcoming school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. I’d heard more liberal families are leaving. A parent complained about there being too many rainbow stickers and voila, a bunch were taken down. The dress code is obviously super conservative. And they recently had an 8th grade seminar discussion about Jan 6th and approached it as if there are “two sides” with equally valid perspectives.

To each their own… As an MS parent, I would not describe the dress code as “super conservative.” I’m fine with it. And having had some experience in public middle school in Alexandria and seeing what kids wear there, I am even more OK with the Saints dress code.

What??
NO about Jan 6th

That was a coup against the US government there are not two sides.

Any school teaching that is absolute garbage!

The 8th grade seminar is student led discussion. If there was any discussion about there being two sides on January 6th, it was brought in by a student who likely heard that at home. 95% of the teachers at SSSAS virtue signal very liberal. No teacher would “teach” that there were two rational sides to January 6th.

[Anonymous]

Yes, we were at the robotics tournament, too. VERY impressed with the SSSAS kids AND teachers. They seem to have close relationships and mutual respect- really impressed!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, we were at the robotics tournament, too. VERY impressed with the SSSAS kids AND teachers. They seem to have close relationships and mutual respect- really impressed!

Sorry but this is absolutely normal at every school that does robotics. Also, if you have a kid who is really interested in robotics, look for a school that does VEX, not First robotics. Most privates do vex. First allows for giant teams so most are public school and most only give kids a taste of one aspect of robotics bc there are just too many kids on each team. Vex forces everyone to learn every aspect. If you do end up as SSSAS and are into robotics, consider joining a vex team outside of school. You can look at robotevents.com to see which clubs are highly ranked and apply to join one of them.

[Anonymous]

My son went to SSSAS and graduated from a top 10 university in Engineering. Quite grateful for the solid academics that he received at SSSAS and the camaraderie and close teacher-student relationships. Would go back in a heartbeat!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:hi all - we are considering SSSAS for our children.

I am wondering if anyone can speak to the culture at the school. What it's like for families and students in general.

This is not specific to SSSAS, but I am generally concerned about uber rich or elitist vibes at private schools and don't know if that is based in reality or an irrational fear.

That is not an irrational fear. Lots of elitism in DC privates and certain public elementary schools. Lifers don’t get it though because it’s all they know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:hi all - we are considering SSSAS for our children.

I am wondering if anyone can speak to the culture at the school. What it's like for families and students in general.

This is not specific to SSSAS, but I am generally concerned about uber rich or elitist vibes at private schools and don't know if that is based in reality or an irrational fear.

That is not an irrational fear. Lots of elitism in DC privates and certain public elementary schools. Lifers don’t get it though because it’s all they know.

Yes, you'll find some elitist vibes at the school, but it's not everyone at the school. Most people are so far are really nice and just let everyone live their lives. Yes, there are families that go on lavish vacations every break, but that's not every family. I think it's more about the kids finding their group of friends that works for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, we were at the robotics tournament, too. VERY impressed with the SSSAS kids AND teachers. They seem to have close relationships and mutual respect- really impressed!

Sorry but this is absolutely normal at every school that does robotics. Also, if you have a kid who is really interested in robotics, look for a school that does VEX, not First robotics. Most privates do vex. First allows for giant teams so most are public school and most only give kids a taste of one aspect of robotics bc there are just too many kids on each team. Vex forces everyone to learn every aspect. If you do end up as SSSAS and are into robotics, consider joining a vex team outside of school. You can look at robotevents.com to see which clubs are highly ranked and apply to join one of them.

FRC has the huge teams. This tournament was FTC, with about 10 people to a team. Vex is much more limited in the materials and designs allowed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. I’d heard more liberal families are leaving. A parent complained about there being too many rainbow stickers and voila, a bunch were taken down. The dress code is obviously super conservative. And they recently had an 8th grade seminar discussion about Jan 6th and approached it as if there are “two sides” with equally valid perspectives.

To each their own… As an MS parent, I would not describe the dress code as “super conservative.” I’m fine with it. And having had some experience in public middle school in Alexandria and seeing what kids wear there, I am even more OK with the Saints dress code.

What??
NO about Jan 6th

That was a coup against the US government there are not two sides.

Any school teaching that is absolute garbage!

The 8th grade seminar is student led discussion. If there was any discussion about there being two sides on January 6th, it was brought in by a student who likely heard that at home. 95% of the teachers at SSSAS virtue signal very liberal. No teacher would “teach” that there were two rational sides to January 6th.

what would they teach about the attacks on ICE agents in Minnesota and elsewhere?

[Anonymous]

New poster here. I'm curious about the religious aspects at the school. As someone from another faith background would my child feel uncomfortable? Do they make the children go to church during the day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New poster here. I'm curious about the religious aspects at the school. As someone from another faith background would my child feel uncomfortable? Do they make the children go to church during the day?

They have chapel once a week, and it’s fairly mild. It’s more of a school gathering. In the upper school, it includes “chapel talks” by seniors, teachers/staff, or invited speakers, that often don’t relate to religion at all but to personal values, etc.

The Episcopalian church in general is very welcoming and does not use rhetoric that any other beliefs are wrong.

The school often opens major gatherings with a prayer, and at least in upper school there is a Eucharist service once every several weeks or so (in chapel — not an additional service), but there is no expectation or pressure to participate. Upper school requires two religion classes (one set one that’s a semester long, and one elective that’s only a quarter long — with things like “sacred music” that isn’t even just focused on Christianity as options).

As long as your child can sit quietly and respectfully during prayers and hymns, there will be no issue and it is highly unlikely they will ever feel uncomfortable.

- Mom of an atheist kid who actually likes chapel most of the time.

[Anonymous]

Prefacing this statement with the disclaimer that it is entirely speculative (as are all DCUM posts about admissions), but this year may be more difficult than previous because the current freshman class had about 10% higher yield than the school expected last year and is too big. They may try to keep the next class a little smaller, or at least be more conservative with predicted yield and just go to the waitlist if they need to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. I’d heard more liberal families are leaving. A parent complained about there being too many rainbow stickers and voila, a bunch were taken down. The dress code is obviously super conservative. And they recently had an 8th grade seminar discussion about Jan 6th and approached it as if there are “two sides” with equally valid perspectives.

To each their own… As an MS parent, I would not describe the dress code as “super conservative.” I’m fine with it. And having had some experience in public middle school in Alexandria and seeing what kids wear there, I am even more OK with the Saints dress code.

What??
NO about Jan 6th

That was a coup against the US government there are not two sides.

Any school teaching that is absolute garbage!

The 8th grade seminar is student led discussion. If there was any discussion about there being two sides on January 6th, it was brought in by a student who likely heard that at home. 95% of the teachers at SSSAS virtue signal very liberal. No teacher would “teach” that there were two rational sides to January 6th.

what would they teach about the attacks on ICE agents in Minnesota and elsewhere?

The school just spent yesterday holding the Colloquim for the Common Good. It was a lot of seminars for high schools and almost all of it was in the social justice lane. So for those worried that a kid or two might have raised views leaning right, be assured the school itself remains typical if Episcopal schools and leans relatively left socially. My child is having a great time and we find the academics rigorous compared to the private our other child attends.

[Anonymous]

Regarding the question about religion, it’s worth noting that the school has a Hanukkah party on an evening at the upper school each year. Yes, that is just one anecdotal detail, but it’s illustrative.

[Anonymous]

The religious component at SSSAS is more about character-building. Many of the kids are not "religious" per se- there's a mix- Jewish, agnostic, atheist, liberal Catholic, Episcopalian. The schools strives to have the kids be both knowledgeable and good. We loved it there and so sorry that my kids are all on to college now.