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

[Anonymous]

Would be curious to know how many parents of STA graduates think the school (teachers, coaches and facilities) had a more substantial impact on their sons as compared to the high achieving fellow students that matriculated during the same time frame. Fight the urge, if you can, to say that all of those factors combine to make the STA experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would be curious to know how many parents of STA graduates think the school (teachers, coaches and facilities) had a more substantial impact on their sons as compared to the high achieving fellow students that matriculated during the same time frame. Fight the urge, if you can, to say that all of those factors combine to make the STA experience.

I'm not exactly sure what you mean. But if you mean what made the STA experience what it was, the two (school and classmates) are so inextricably intertwined. My son who graduated STA a few years ago, and all of his friends, refer to the brotherhood of STA. You really can't have that without the necessary ingredients (school and classmates and shared experiences).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would be curious to know how many parents of STA graduates think the school (teachers, coaches and facilities) had a more substantial impact on their sons as compared to the high achieving fellow students that matriculated during the same time frame. Fight the urge, if you can, to say that all of those factors combine to make the STA experience.

I'm not exactly sure what you mean. But if you mean what made the STA experience what it was, the two (school and classmates) are so inextricably intertwined. My son who graduated STA a few years ago, and all of his friends, refer to the brotherhood of STA. You really can't have that without the necessary ingredients (school and classmates and shared experiences).

Inextricably intertwined means you can't have one without the other. I disagree. STA the school (teachers, coaches and facilities) mold the younglings into men. That institution can turn any one into "Product". That is what is so maddening about private schools - only a select few get to benefit. Hope that under Trump more kids get tax credits to open up private school doors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would be curious to know how many parents of STA graduates think the school (teachers, coaches and facilities) had a more substantial impact on their sons as compared to the high achieving fellow students that matriculated during the same time frame. Fight the urge, if you can, to say that all of those factors combine to make the STA experience.

In my son's case, the coaches made all the difference. Team sports defined his experience at STA. The coach guided, inspired and taught important life lessons.

[Anonymous]

My son has not graduated but I can say the teachers, administration, and coaches are amazing. It is why we put up with some of the less than desirable parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Each grade has its own personality. I've had more than one son go through STA. The common denominator for the less nice grades are a disproportionate share of Chevy members, or STA alums obsessed with helmet sports, or skinny fake blond trophy wives about to be lost to a newer, shinier trophy. May sound snarky. But for those in the know, you know this rings true.

Spot on except there are not many trophy wives. Many attractive women at sta but not skinny blondes.

[Anonymous]

It is holiday gift time.

I thought I had read or heard that teacher gifts of any kind are not allowed at STA, but cannot find the source. Am I dreaming? If they are allowed, what is typical? Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Each grade has its own personality. I've had more than one son go through STA. The common denominator for the less nice grades are a disproportionate share of Chevy members, or STA alums obsessed with helmet sports, or skinny fake blond trophy wives about to be lost to a newer, shinier trophy. May sound snarky. But for those in the know, you know this rings true.

Spot on except there are not many trophy wives. Many attractive women at sta but not skinny blondes.

Spot on, to the spot on. For skinny blondes, you'll need to head across the river to SSSA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would be curious to know how many parents of STA graduates think the school (teachers, coaches and facilities) had a more substantial impact on their sons as compared to the high achieving fellow students that matriculated during the same time frame. Fight the urge, if you can, to say that all of those factors combine to make the STA experience.

In my son's case, the coaches made all the difference. Team sports defined his experience at STA. The coach guided, inspired and taught important life lessons.

I think that the coaches can have a large impact at STA because of the culture that promotes athletic competition as a virtue. Like most institutions, there can be individuals within the institution who have a positive or negative impact. From our STA grads' experience, there are wide disparities in terms of coaching "quality" depending upon the sport. As the school has tended to be less competitive in certain sports over the recent past, I wonder if the performance of the teams is a fair barometer of the coaches who make a positive difference in the STA experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is holiday gift time.

I thought I had read or heard that teacher gifts of any kind are not allowed at STA, but cannot find the source. Am I dreaming? If they are allowed, what is typical? Thank you.

I am pretty certain that they ask that any teacher gifts be maxed in value at $20. There's an on-campus coffee shop, Open City, that could be a great place to buy a gift card that will get used and will be appreciated -- I've seen many teachers passing through.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are clip on ties okay?

Yep!

Are you kidding me? Maybe if your dad is an engineer. And come to think of it I'm not sure if there are any engineer dads in the school right now. That's one of the first manly skills your C former should be mastering.

Too funny - our son lost his tie and bought a clip-on. Dad is an engineer. (Not at STA though).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son is in lower school and we are seeing this to, To the prior poster, would you share what grade (or range of grades?)? I wonder whether it is his grade in particular (certain grades do tend to be more cliquey); or maybe it is something that happens in a certain grade and then changes over time?

Lower school

Is someone willing to say which Form(s) aren't friendly? We are applying and I'd really like to know. We are leaving a K-8 with a similar issue and I'm very concerned about this issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son is in lower school and we are seeing this to, To the prior poster, would you share what grade (or range of grades?)? I wonder whether it is his grade in particular (certain grades do tend to be more cliquey); or maybe it is something that happens in a certain grade and then changes over time?

Lower school

Is someone willing to say which Form(s) aren't friendly? We are applying and I'd really like to know. We are leaving a K-8 with a similar issue and I'm very concerned about this issue.

If your son is applying for 9th, I wouldnt worry about it. 9th is a game changer - the entire class dynamics shift tremendously by half way through that year with the influx of boys and the additon of dormers and frankly, the slight calming of pubescent hormones.

If your son is applying for 7th (leaving his K-8 early), I would say do it regardless of that class (2023) - a class I only know a little bit about but all good. Boys who start in 7th have an advantage academically - time to adjust and its a big adjustment - over those who come in 9th. I say this as the mom of a current STA student who came from a local K-8.

[Anonymous]

We are applying for 6th. Also have a son in 4th who we would apply at a later date.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son is in lower school and we are seeing this to, To the prior poster, would you share what grade (or range of grades?)? I wonder whether it is his grade in particular (certain grades do tend to be more cliquey); or maybe it is something that happens in a certain grade and then changes over time?

Lower school

Is someone willing to say which Form(s) aren't friendly? We are applying and I'd really like to know. We are leaving a K-8 with a similar issue and I'm very concerned about this issue.

If your son is applying for 9th, I wouldnt worry about it. 9th is a game changer - the entire class dynamics shift tremendously by half way through that year with the influx of boys and the additon of dormers and frankly, the slight calming of pubescent hormones.

If your son is applying for 7th (leaving his K-8 early), I would say do it regardless of that class (2023) - a class I only know a little bit about but all good. Boys who start in 7th have an advantage academically - time to adjust and its a big adjustment - over those who come in 9th. I say this as the mom of a current STA student who came from a local K-8.

Even though you say all good about 2023, is there something about that class that is on point with the PP's post?