Nice Cathedral service today--the little guys (C Formers) looked so cute escorted by the seniors.

Anonymous wrote:So for those parents who were there this morning at the lower school, were you amused, impressed, entertained, or horrified by the controlled chaos of the first day of school?

I thought it was very organized and my son came out beaming from ear to ear 4 hours later.

This was nuthin, folks. The Upper School wasn't even in session. It's a boys school, you'll get used to it.

"Toto, we're not at Beauvoir anymore."

Amused.

So for those parents who were there this morning at the lower school, were you amused, impressed, entertained, or horrified by the controlled chaos of the first day of school?

Anonymous wrote:Can someone speak to the college counseling at STA? I am particularly interested to see whether Early Decision is something that is pushed aggressively.

The college counseling at STA is organized, supportive, and offers some good resources to the students as they go through the process (they also seem to have a good understanding that boys are not always as organized and diligent and communicative about the process as they could be!). If you go on the school website, I recall that there is a college counseling section where they set out the progression of college counseling steps/milestones throughout the student's career, and if you look at it you'll get a good sense of the organization and the available resources.

In terms of early decision/early action, they certainly make the students and families well aware of the empirical data that there is a higher acceptance rate for early applicants. And I think at least half the class, probably more, applies somewhere early (either early action, non-binding, or early decision, which is binding). However, if a student doesn't have a great sense of a first choice or doesn't feel ready to put his best foot forward in the early fall, they certainly don't "aggressively push" for students in those circumstances to apply early. As with everything at STA, the college counselors want this to be a student-driven, not parent-driven, process, but they are friendly and kind to nervous parents!

Can someone speak to the college counseling at STA? I am particularly interested to see whether Early Decision is something that is pushed aggressively.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can the boys wear tennis/running shoes the first day of school? I know there are instructions to look sharp for pictures. But I'm not sure if this means the standard tennis/running shoes are prohibited.

I don't think the photos show their feet! I plan on sending DS in whatever shoes he wants on Tuesday, but in dress shoes for the cathedral service on Weds.

If it's the entire lower school photo, it will show their feet. Does anyone know whether it will be individual/class/lower shool photo day, or just individual?

In all the lower school photos I have seen, the boys are wearing sneakers. Boys wear sneakers for photo day (even if their feet show).

And despite the best the best efforts of their mom. I can't stand that look. But I suppose that's yet another reason my boys love it so.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can the boys wear tennis/running shoes the first day of school? I know there are instructions to look sharp for pictures. But I'm not sure if this means the standard tennis/running shoes are prohibited.

I don't think the photos show their feet! I plan on sending DS in whatever shoes he wants on Tuesday, but in dress shoes for the cathedral service on Weds.

If it's the entire lower school photo, it will show their feet. Does anyone know whether it will be individual/class/lower shool photo day, or just individual?

In all the lower school photos I have seen, the boys are wearing sneakers. Boys wear sneakers for photo day (even if their feet show).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can the boys wear tennis/running shoes the first day of school? I know there are instructions to look sharp for pictures. But I'm not sure if this means the standard tennis/running shoes are prohibited.

I don't think the photos show their feet! I plan on sending DS in whatever shoes he wants on Tuesday, but in dress shoes for the cathedral service on Weds.

If it's the entire lower school photo, it will show their feet. Does anyone know whether it will be individual/class/lower shool photo day, or just individual?

Anonymous wrote:Can the boys wear tennis/running shoes the first day of school? I know there are instructions to look sharp for pictures. But I'm not sure if this means the standard tennis/running shoes are prohibited.

I don't think the photos show their feet! I plan on sending DS in whatever shoes he wants on Tuesday, but in dress shoes for the cathedral service on Weds.

STA is definitely worth it. DS has been there 4 years, he loves the place, and he has grown tremendously as a person.

Anonymous wrote:At the high school level ("Upper School") there is generally no comparison given the small class sizes, significant contact with teachers, and extensive work on writing.

The same thing can be said about the lower school level.

At the high school level ("Upper School") there is generally no comparison given the small class sizes, significant contact with teachers, and extensive work on writing.

Anonymous wrote:What kind of education is your son getting at STA. We are a incoming family and I keep wondering if the hype is worth it or will DS get the same education at our local public school.

The hype is well earned.

There is a polish to the boys at St. Albans (even the youngest boys) that I have always found discernable and impressive.