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SSFS Closing
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Anonymous
| Kids at the track meet were talking about it because they received the email right as the events were going on. (MS) |
Anonymous
| Intentional and unconscionable timing. The enrollment process is complete for every other local school now- those kids may be shut out from many options - they were just reaching out to us weeks ago about my newly-admitted child, trying to get us to sign a contract. It was a blessing in disguise that their middle school admissions counselor was so aggressively unfriendly in interview that we were turned off entirely and selected elsewhere. Even taking application fees from people the last few months now seems inappropriate in retrospect. |
Anonymous
Thanks for this thoughtful response. My children graduated from the school and I can honestly say it was the best education they could have received for the reasons you mention. It changed how they thought about the world. They learned that hard work, doing the right thing, and seeing the best in others was the path. They have used their skillls and excelled in their careers, frequently mentioning how much Sandy Spring prepared them to be the successful, caring people they are today. I think the current board is getting pretty unfair rap and I expect is from a lot of people without a clue. But I feel so so sad for all involved especially those upper schoolers who had found their community only to see if dispersed. Lots of reasons this outcome was in the cards for quite a while. Including the decision two decades that they had to go into debt to keep up with parents' expectation about facilities. The school was never about the buildings. So sad. |
Anonymous
My family doesn’t go to this school but I am just so so sorry for your junior. I know it means nothing that an internet stranger cares but I’m gutted for your family. |
Anonymous
Not PP but it’s rare to see kindness both online and in real life this was a nice surprise. |
Anonymous
|
DD was at Oldfields when they announced their closure around the same time of the year. Parents and teachers were caught completely off guard.
We ended up at a fabulous school that has been a great fit. It wasn’t ideal and at the time, I was pissed. But the private school and especially the boarding school world is very small. Admissions folks know each other. Schools that I reached out were compassionate, kind, and welcoming. We ended up with a smaller OOP cost due to an amazing financial aid package. DD was admitted out of cycle because the administrators helped facilitate admission. I’m so sorry SSFS families are going through this turmoil. It’s unsettling and not fun. Good luck finding a new school. |
Anonymous
| Wow. What a disaster. I feel for the kids and teachers out of a job. And for the new admin promised jobs that now do not exist. |
Anonymous
I am so, so sorry for your child! My son was at SSFS from 4th to 8th grade and strongly considered staying at SSFS for high school. I can't imagine what your family is going through just finding out this news today. |
Anonymous
| My senior is pretty shocked and sad. They have been there since lower school. It just so had to absorb and imagine. But we feel very lucky they are graduating. Parents of juniors, I am so sorry. Faculty and staff, we hurt for you. Holding the community in the light. |
Anonymous
| Yes, I feel badly for all the students (and the whole community) but especially for the juniors! |
Anonymous
Having been on the board of a school that was barely scraping by, it’s always way more complicated than that. My experience (and I resigned after 1 term, which was considered early and scandalous) is that members of boards often have little transparency into the mess they’re inheriting and you can end up with a head and finances that were determined by people who are long gone. 990s don’t show culture and don’t show interpersonal chaos. If anyone offers you the opportunity to service in a private school board in the current climate of declining population, deferred maintenance, and limited international students: run far, far away. |
Anonymous
| My heart goes out to those juniors, sophomores and freshman and anyone just accepted. We have a current senior and are reeling from the news. Some staff had spouses that lost jobs in fed cuts a month ago. Now the whole faculty and admin have only two months of employment. This is just unbelievable. We have loved ssfs despite the turmoil. The staff were dedicated, caring and the education was very good. This has cast a pall over graduation. Just heartbroken.... |
Anonymous
| I live in the area and am so sorry for the all the parents and students and teachers. |
Anonymous
+1 |
Anonymous
Why were they struggling to bring in kids from China? |