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

[Anonymous]

In honor of Poster 15:58:

At a St. Albans gathering last night,
A parent did give me a fright,
Said he, "I'm no boor,"
"Blame the bartender's pour,"
Am I still a bit dubious? Quite!

[Anonymous]

What is the attrition rate for the lower school?

[Anonymous]

Best value in boys' blazers is at JC Penney. It comes in the hard-to-find, three-button cut, and it's *machine-washable*. My son has gone through three sizes of these blazers, and I have the next two sizes lined up. I only buy two in each size. They are durable: they can be washed regularly, and they still look good.

The Lower School Spanish teacher gave me a great tip: write your son's surname on the back lining in tailor's chalk so that no one else confuses this blazer with his.

[Anonymous]

I wish I had known that, when your son inexplicably loses a soccer ball, you should not offer to go to look for it in the locker room during off-hours. The administration will not let you. STA is all about making the boys independent, and they put a lot of responsibility on the boys to find their own lost items, including making an announcement at lunch about it.

I wish I had known that you do not have to buy every item listed in the letter that the athletic department sends to new students. On the list was a pair of racing-style swim briefs, so I bought one. My son never needed it because he did not join the swim team.

I wish I had known that you cannot just volunteer for whatever you would like to do at the annual Christmas House Tour that raises money for the school or the annual Flower Mart taht raises money for the Close. Veteran parents have their pet volunteer positions or projects, and a newbie isn't going to be given those coveted spots without earning her stripes first. Newbies cook and bake.

I wish I had known that A-minuses are rather more common than at some other schools, and that you have to get virtually all A's or all A+'s to podium on Prize Day (top 9 out of class of 67 for the Lower School). If I had known, I wouldn't have had my camera poised for the picture when my DS didn't podium -- eek.

I wish I had known that STA really means it when they ask you not to give teachers Christmas presents but to donate toys in donation boxes instead. I didn't give presents, but I did agonize and feel funny about the "omission" until I got to know two STA veteran moms well enough to ask them, and they told me that gifts really are verboten. My DS tells me that the one time word got around that some boy had given a teacher an iPod, it was all the talk, in a bad way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish I had known that, when your son inexplicably loses a soccer ball, you should not offer to go to look for it in the locker room during off-hours. The administration will not let you. STA is all about making the boys independent, and they put a lot of responsibility on the boys to find their own lost items, including making an announcement at lunch about it.

I wish I had known that you do not have to buy every item listed in the letter that the athletic department sends to new students. On the list was a pair of racing-style swim briefs, so I bought one. My son never needed it because he did not join the swim team.

I wish I had known that you cannot just volunteer for whatever you would like to do at the annual Christmas House Tour that raises money for the school or the annual Flower Mart taht raises money for the Close. Veteran parents have their pet volunteer positions or projects, and a newbie isn't going to be given those coveted spots without earning her stripes first. Newbies cook and bake.

I wish I had known that A-minuses are rather more common than at some other schools, and that you have to get virtually all A's or all A+'s to podium on Prize Day (top 9 out of class of 67 for the Lower School). If I had known, I wouldn't have had my camera poised for the picture when my DS didn't podium -- eek.

I wish I had known that STA really means it when they ask you not to give teachers Christmas presents but to donate toys in donation boxes instead. I didn't give presents, but I did agonize and feel funny about the "omission" until I got to know two STA veteran moms well enough to ask them, and they told me that gifts really are verboten. My DS tells me that the one time word got around that some boy had given a teacher an iPod, it was all the talk, in a bad way.

Doesn't take all As to "podium" on prize day. I would like to know the attrition rate at STA, also.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Doesn't take all As to "podium" on prize day. I would like to know the attrition rate at STA, also.

I wrote, "virtually all A's. . . ." Please read my post.

[Anonymous]

Boys can podium with a B here or there, but "virtually all A's" is what it takes.

[Anonymous]

The use of "podium" as a verb sort of creeps me out. Sounds cultish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The use of "podium" as a verb sort of creeps me out. Sounds cultish.

LOL, I thought it was creepy, also. And with a camera no less (rolling my eyes).

[Anonymous]

You're a good sport, pp -- your son is lucky to have a mom with such a good sense of humor. I am a bit ashamed for my 'cultish' comment now and will add that I think a lot of the STA traditions are great and really add to the experience. The opening day Cathedral ceremony sounds like it wouldn't leave a dry eye in the house!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You're a good sport, pp -- your son is lucky to have a mom with such a good sense of humor. I am a bit ashamed for my 'cultish' comment now and will add that I think a lot of the STA traditions are great and really add to the experience. The opening day Cathedral ceremony sounds like it wouldn't leave a dry eye in the house!

You're kidding, right?

[Anonymous]

No, 18:11, I'm not kidding. You're rude, right?

[Anonymous]

The attrition rate is not published but empirically, judging from my two years as an STA parent, I think it is extremely low. Recently the poor economy has been a factor as at other private schools, with a few at STA dropping out to attend public schools.

[Anonymous]

Rising B form family here. I wish I had known that every single parent was as insecure as I was. It's a daunting place. You walk into the Refectory and see the name of the grads of years past emblazoned in gold on the wall (many quite famous and accomplished), you see the names and titles of the parents in the school directory, you walk through a campus in the shadow of the magnificent Cathedral in an atmosphere which is basically Hogwarthian -- you feel very unsure of yourself, and your fear for your DS. Halfway through the year, you recognize that with very few exceptions, you're all in the same boat. You relax. You sleep at night. You fire your shrink. Life is good.

[Anonymous]

We are going school shopping this weekend. Is there an official school tie? Are clip-ons okay or frowned upon (my son will be in C Form).