St Stephen & St Agnes? & other Alexandria schools?

[Anonymous]

"I visited the upper school once. Just walking in the halls with the kids I could tell it was a haven for white, not too bright, athletes."

You visited "once" and could tell this by "[j]ust walking in the halls?" Based upon this one exposure to your willingness to draw snap conclusions and stereotype an entire student body by one walk down a hall, I am fairly sure that SSSAS is not disappointed that you didn't send your children there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I visited the upper school once. Just walking in the halls with the kids I could tell it was a haven for white, not too bright, athletes."

You visited "once" and could tell this by "[j]ust walking in the halls?" Based upon this one exposure to your willingness to draw snap conclusions and stereotype an entire student body by one walk down a hall, I am fairly sure that SSSAS is not disappointed that you didn't send your children there.

Yeah, pretty sad isn't. It only took one walk down the hall and it was really that obvious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm in the SSSAS high school and I came to the school in middle school. I know first hand what it is actually like. The teachers are superb, they are enthusiastic and helpful to individual needs. The school, lead by Mrs. Holden, focuses on its legacies and lacrosse players without a doubt. Kids who play lacrosse (or are african americans--reverse racism anyone?) get away with far more than the other kids. Average students are forgotten and have a hard time because the classes are competitive and difficult, and possibly corrupt. I have benefited a good education by going here, but my grades don't prove that therefore I'm in the bottom 50 precent of my grade leaving me to lower my college standards. The lacrosse boys range from perfect students from wealthy families to kids on scholarship with terrible grades. The high intuition is used to benefit those who Mrs. Holden holds dearly to her heart, the alumni, legacies, lacrosse players, and the few geniuses. This school has toughened me up for the real world though which in a way I am grateful for. I played sports my whole life and was a good athlete till the school's strangely corrupt and almost evil athletic program destroyed my confidence and my love of lacrosse and basketball. I don't even know where to begin about the parents and how much they have hurt me. The parents are the worst part of the school. They social climb and gossip and ruin kids' reputations because false accusations and they usually do so to up there kids' chances in some way. If your child is a legacy or a great athlete or tough enough to handle the complete ridicule starting at whatever age they begin there from 8 years old to 12 the school can be ruthless. Oh and I have many friends who go to Bishop Ireton, NCS, and TC and all of them would agree that SSSAS is the meanest and most corrupt school. If you send your there kid make sure your wallet is packed full and you're ready to kiss Mrs. Holden's and Coach Jenkin's(lax coach for girls) or the boys coaches' asses. all social climbers and rich snobby people who think they are better than others (even though most of them inherited money) are welcome!!! mrs holden will LOVE you! To all of you avg athletes/students or artists and actors or genuinely nice kids I would run as far away from this school as you can. GO TO TC and be in the TOP PRECENT and you have a better chance of getting into a great school than you would at SSSAS. Because by the way big state schools have no idea what our school is and don't care if the reason your in the bottom precent is because how prestigious the academics are.

whew i feel better now. I will go finish my 12 history page paper and 5 page physics and study for my algerbra 2 test!

DOES ANYONE FIND IT SOMEWHAT REMARKABLE THATA YOUNG STUDENT WOULD BE POSTING ON DC URBANS MOMS????????? Anyone smell a rat here????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in the SSSAS high school and I came to the school in middle school. I know first hand what it is actually like. The teachers are superb, they are enthusiastic and helpful to individual needs. The school, lead by Mrs. Holden, focuses on its legacies and lacrosse players without a doubt. Kids who play lacrosse (or are african americans--reverse racism anyone?) get away with far more than the other kids. Average students are forgotten and have a hard time because the classes are competitive and difficult, and possibly corrupt. I have benefited a good education by going here, but my grades don't prove that therefore I'm in the bottom 50 precent of my grade leaving me to lower my college standards. The lacrosse boys range from perfect students from wealthy families to kids on scholarship with terrible grades. The high intuition is used to benefit those who Mrs. Holden holds dearly to her heart, the alumni, legacies, lacrosse players, and the few geniuses. This school has toughened me up for the real world though which in a way I am grateful for. I played sports my whole life and was a good athlete till the school's strangely corrupt and almost evil athletic program destroyed my confidence and my love of lacrosse and basketball. I don't even know where to begin about the parents and how much they have hurt me. The parents are the worst part of the school. They social climb and gossip and ruin kids' reputations because false accusations and they usually do so to up there kids' chances in some way. If your child is a legacy or a great athlete or tough enough to handle the complete ridicule starting at whatever age they begin there from 8 years old to 12 the school can be ruthless. Oh and I have many friends who go to Bishop Ireton, NCS, and TC and all of them would agree that SSSAS is the meanest and most corrupt school. If you send your there kid make sure your wallet is packed full and you're ready to kiss Mrs. Holden's and Coach Jenkin's(lax coach for girls) or the boys coaches' asses. all social climbers and rich snobby people who think they are better than others (even though most of them inherited money) are welcome!!! mrs holden will LOVE you! To all of you avg athletes/students or artists and actors or genuinely nice kids I would run as far away from this school as you can. GO TO TC and be in the TOP PRECENT and you have a better chance of getting into a great school than you would at SSSAS. Because by the way big state schools have no idea what our school is and don't care if the reason your in the bottom precent is because how prestigious the academics are.

whew i feel better now. I will go finish my 12 history page paper and 5 page physics and study for my algerbra 2 test!

DOES ANYONE FIND IT SOMEWHAT REMARKABLE THATA YOUNG STUDENT WOULD BE POSTING ON DC URBANS MOMS????????? Anyone smell a rat here????

Stop shouting. Why are you reviving a 5-month-old thread?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in the SSSAS high school and I came to the school in middle school. I know first hand what it is actually like. The teachers are superb, they are enthusiastic and helpful to individual needs. The school, lead by Mrs. Holden, focuses on its legacies and lacrosse players without a doubt. Kids who play lacrosse (or are african americans--reverse racism anyone?) get away with far more than the other kids. Average students are forgotten and have a hard time because the classes are competitive and difficult, and possibly corrupt. I have benefited a good education by going here, but my grades don't prove that therefore I'm in the bottom 50 precent of my grade leaving me to lower my college standards. The lacrosse boys range from perfect students from wealthy families to kids on scholarship with terrible grades. The high intuition is used to benefit those who Mrs. Holden holds dearly to her heart, the alumni, legacies, lacrosse players, and the few geniuses. This school has toughened me up for the real world though which in a way I am grateful for. I played sports my whole life and was a good athlete till the school's strangely corrupt and almost evil athletic program destroyed my confidence and my love of lacrosse and basketball. I don't even know where to begin about the parents and how much they have hurt me. The parents are the worst part of the school. They social climb and gossip and ruin kids' reputations because false accusations and they usually do so to up there kids' chances in some way. If your child is a legacy or a great athlete or tough enough to handle the complete ridicule starting at whatever age they begin there from 8 years old to 12 the school can be ruthless. Oh and I have many friends who go to Bishop Ireton, NCS, and TC and all of them would agree that SSSAS is the meanest and most corrupt school. If you send your there kid make sure your wallet is packed full and you're ready to kiss Mrs. Holden's and Coach Jenkin's(lax coach for girls) or the boys coaches' asses. all social climbers and rich snobby people who think they are better than others (even though most of them inherited money) are welcome!!! mrs holden will LOVE you! To all of you avg athletes/students or artists and actors or genuinely nice kids I would run as far away from this school as you can. GO TO TC and be in the TOP PRECENT and you have a better chance of getting into a great school than you would at SSSAS. Because by the way big state schools have no idea what our school is and don't care if the reason your in the bottom precent is because how prestigious the academics are.

whew i feel better now. I will go finish my 12 history page paper and 5 page physics and study for my algerbra 2 test!

DOES ANYONE FIND IT SOMEWHAT REMARKABLE THAT A YOUNG STUDENT WOULD BE POSTING ON DC URBAN MOMS????????? Anyone smell a rat here????

Stop shouting. Why are you reviving a 5-month-old thread?

That was my first time posting on DC Urban Moms after five years ago when I was searching for child care. Well, have I been taught a lesson! Apparently there are people who police the website and chastise you if you use all caps or respond to old threads. It would be nice to have such free time. I was looking for information on Alexandria private schools and did a search by several school names. I am stunned at what people say about schools in their tone and as a result of very little exposure. Its hard not to seriously question who exactly the people are that are posting on this website. Disappointing, uncharitable, unkind. Of course there are many thoughtful and helpful posts as well, but the nasty ones just stand out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard not-so-great things about the culture of the school when it comes to high school-- words used like snotty, countyr club set, etc-- but I don't know if these are fair, or true in the lower school as well?

A friend of mine pulled her daughter out after one term for this reason and lost her fees. She was in K. She said that her daughter was ostracized because she was not part of the country club set. Invitations to play dates were simply ignored and she was excluded from birthday parties.
I must caveat that my friend is quite a sensitive person but she is also very frugal so I would surmise that her daughter, who is a delightful girl, must have been very unhappy for her to forfeit the fees.

Thinking about SSSAS. Does anyone know if this really happens? K seems like an absurdly young age for cliques to be formed. I guess I'm concerned because I don't know any other parents at SSSAS or any prospective K students. I'm afraid my DC would be isolated or excluded. With so many new families entering at K, I really didn't think this would be a problem and parents would go out of their way to meet others and set things up like playdates, etc. if their kids got along.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard not-so-great things about the culture of the school when it comes to high school-- words used like snotty, countyr club set, etc-- but I don't know if these are fair, or true in the lower school as well?

A friend of mine pulled her daughter out after one term for this reason and lost her fees. She was in K. She said that her daughter was ostracized because she was not part of the country club set. Invitations to play dates were simply ignored and she was excluded from birthday parties.
I must caveat that my friend is quite a sensitive person but she is also very frugal so I would surmise that her daughter, who is a delightful girl, must have been very unhappy for her to forfeit the fees.

Thinking about SSSAS. Does anyone know if this really happens? K seems like an absurdly young age for cliques to be formed. I guess I'm concerned because I don't know any other parents at SSSAS or any prospective K students. I'm afraid my DC would be isolated or excluded. With so many new families entering at K, I really didn't think this would be a problem and parents would go out of their way to meet others and set things up like playdates, etc. if their kids got along.

Current SSSAS mom here. Most parents at SSSAS are nice, normal people who would set up playdates, etc. Then there are the Belle Haven Mafia Moms, who do exclude people who don't belong to the country club set. Same moms have kids who start asking about the square footage of your house (no, I am not kidding), as if that somehow determines your worth as a person.

But that is not the whole school or even the majority. It is merely one element. And I am willing to bet that there are mom cliques at other schools, too, who also exclude. In general, however, I have found the parents, teachers and administrators to be lovely and caring people.

[Anonymous]

another SSSAS parent here.......
my favorite saying of all time "the fish rots from the head down"
the nastiest student we encountered here was the child of the most senior admin person

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:another SSSAS parent here.......
my favorite saying of all time "the fish rots from the head down"
the nastiest student we encountered here was the child of the most senior admin person

Are you saying that the sssas administration (and therefore the entire school culture) is snooty?

[Anonymous]

nope. just saying what I said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Then there are the Belle Haven Mafia Moms, who do exclude people who don't belong to the country club set. Same moms have kids who start asking about the square footage of your house (no, I am not kidding), as if that somehow determines your worth as a person.

Wow, that's awful. Honestly, I don't think I could handle that, especially if it leads to queen bee behavior by their children as they get older. I definitely know everyone isn't like that as most parents I talked to were really, really nice. But I did remember meeting a few that were a little aloof and kind of condescending. I found it odd because every other school I went to everyone seemed like the biggest cheerleaders for their school and really wanted you to apply and come, even if it was already a very popular school.

Maybe that's why they had that parents' reception at a home in Cameron Station instead of Bell Haven, as that crowd probably would not show up there.

[Anonymous]

I know websites like this one can serve a purpose - information sharing - but I take a deep breath trying to put all these comments in perspective. I can't know the intentions of the authors. . . what disappointments or trials they've had that inform their opinions . . . I only know my own truth and these comments about SSSAS are so wildly off what I know. I'm a current SSSAS parent, and I've been part of the Saints community for 12 years with four different children, and I've worked in independent education for 20 years. Complex social dynamics exist in all of our schools - with hundreds of parents, you'll find all types of people - you have to be open to seeing people for who they are and not putting labels on them based on their associations or zip codes or athletic equipment.
I know SSSAS parents who belong to country clubs and those who organize shelter ministry projects (and some of them are the same parents!), students who play a sport year-round and others who play in select youth orchestras, children who are fun and clever and friendly and goofy and welcoming, teachers who have poured themselves into my children and administrators who sincerely support our family's values and goals. SSSAS is an incredible witness to diversity and inclusion. That's why we're there and we've seen it lived out, time and time again.
To the SSSAS student who is hurting and frustrated, I hope you express these thoughts to an advisor - there must be an advocate you have found over the years - because the Saints community I know is sincerely interested in candid reflection and is always striving to be its best self.
I don't doubt other people have different experiences, but I refuse to believe that anyone can label a school from just one experience. Isn't it like life . . . deep and wide and profoundly personal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: And I am willing to bet that there are mom cliques at other schools, too, who also exclude. In general, however, I have found the parents, teachers and administrators to be lovely and caring people.

My preschool is pretty upscale and I don't really know of an exclusionary clique. I do know groups of moms become great friends and like to meet and do playdates because they like to hang out. But if I reach out to them because my child is friends with one of their children, they would totally ask my DC to join or step up a playdate with me.

The only ones that we don't really know are basically super overworked moms and dads that just seem exhausted all the time, but when I chat with them they are perfectly nice. I guess I can seem super busy and distracted when I picking up DC, but I have a hard time believing anyone would think I'm a snob.

[Anonymous]

Joan Holden is a standout in her field - you're hard pressed to find a head of school who has more integrity and vision than she does. She's got a tough job - I wouldn't want it - but she's done it so successfully for 25+ years and has lead the school through a merger of the boys school and the girls school, campus building projects, fund raising campaigns, faculty and staff professional development that is strides above other schools, always vigilant with the budget and tuition increases, visible each week on each campus for chapel, plays, athletic games, book discussions. She's hands-on, smart, compassionate, and full of honor. She isn't looking to be popular with her decisions, she's looking to be responsible and fair. That's who I want leading a school and she's a true leader, guided by her own mind and heart, not by parental pressure or whim. I'm an SSSAS parent and the school wouldn't be the incredible place it is without her commitment. I'm so grateful to her - she's incredible.

[Anonymous]

Sure.