friendlymom

The dorm info is what my D really wants. She wants to live in Coit so that it's easy to get breakfast before Chapel.

friendlymom

I'm back...we just received the packet with the new forms. Regarding the weekend permission, my inclination is to require permission before each weekend overnight. Is there some reason to give the blanket permission for weekend overnights at any time instead? I'm not especially concerned about her going to someone's house overnight but I do want to know about it if it's happening.

anywherehopeful

I'm sorry if someone had previously asked this because there are tons of pages on this forum.

1. What is there to do in free time?

2. How much homework do you get a night?

3. Is there a study hall or quiet hours or is it all on your own like how exeter (maybe andover) run theres.

Thanks!

IndyMom4

We got our packet, too :-)
As my son will only be a 3rd former (and is only 14 years old), I feel like going to high school 800 miles from home gives him plenty freedom/independence. Especially for the first year, I don't see why he would want to leave campus a lot, and I want to know where he's going and who he's with. I checked the box requiring permission, and on the drivers' permission, I said he could go with SPS faculty/staff, other SPS parents, and his own family members. I'm sure other situations will come up, but he/they can seek special permission for that. There aren't any day students, but there are probably some local folks with a big brother, etc., and I just didn't want him leaving campus in the cars of inexperienced/unknown drivers. That sort of stuff seems more appropriate for a Junior or Senior (oops, 5th or 6th former) to me... but everyone's different.

SevenDad

@anywherehopeful: If you are serious about the school, it's worth doing a search using the advanced search tool regarding your questions. And it wouldn't be a total waste of time to scan the entire thread. I made the time to read it all a few years ago and it definitely gives you a good picture of things you can expect.

hockeykid841

@IndyMom4

If you feel that your son should not be riding in a car with local folks or older brothers/sisters, make sure you express to him your thoughts as he is really the only one that is going to be policing what cars he gets into.

Believe it or not, students don't exactly ask their advisor if they are allowed to leave campus with so and so. All they have to do is get in the car and be back by check and they are off. Make sure that your child knows your viewpoints. The school can't police everybody!

Just something to keep in mind.

Sundlun

I noticed in the student handbook that there is chapel and piano on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (correct me if the days are wrong). These appear to take up two hours each evening. Is homework reduced on these nights?
And what exactly happens in chapel?

friendlymom

If Chapel is still the way it was in my SPS days, the basic components are some kind of talk or presentation, announcements, a hymn, and a prayer. It ended up being a good way to spend 25 minutes sitting still before the day really got going.

You sit by class in assigned seats (that way the teachers know who didn't show). 3rd and 6th formers sat at the far end in "sleepy hollow" with all of the newer teachers. 5th formers who had perfect attendance might get a coveted balcony seat - no teachers and a gorgeous view in winter when the chapel was decorated for Christmas. There were always the last few people scurrying down the aisle in front of the rest of the school already seated, and then if you were late you sat in back.

The presentation was a speech by a student, teacher, or visitor, or sometimes it was a performance. There are some Chapel talks in the media section of the school website if you want to see them.

Every term there is a surprise holiday, and it was often announced by the Rector telling us to open our prayer books to a certain page, which everyone knew was the prayer for the holiday. Cue the general pandemonium (followed afterward by people blaring Madonna's "Holiday" out their dorm windows- hey, it was the 80s).

sk8

Chapel is M, T, T, & F. 8:00 am in the fall/spring and 8:20 in the winter. There are no afternoon classes on W and S because of sports contests. I think SPS is reworking the schedule for next year, but to answer your question, I do not think there is ever reduced homework. Like FM says chapel is a way for the school to come together as a community and make announcements, etc. Don't want to be redundant.

pjkv76

Our son is looking at SPS for the fall of 2013. He wants to transfer from a private day school north of Boston. His Freshman GPA was 3.45 and he is working to get that up.

He is an above avg football and baseball player who is interested in playing both at St Paul's. In fact this weekend we are driving up to see the campus and meet both coaches.

My question is : In your experiences will football and baseball help his chances of acceptance ?
Are there cases of students who play sports or the arts better their chances and actually get into SPS ?

Thanks Guys

calnat

@pjkv76
The only school that I am aware of that states they have special admissions reviews for athletes or artists is Deerfield. I am sure there are others. Other schools can and will recruit specific athletes for specific sports depending on the year but may not be as open about it. However, these situations are generally reserved for stellar athletes. In fact, if you review the coach's recommendation form for most schools including SPS- the categories are daunting: exceptional: = "game changer- best athlete I've ever seen"; very good- a varsity player; good- could be varsity in time; average, novice, etc. My guess is that sports alone may not be the hook for SPS, but definitely reach out to the coaches. The more boxes you can tick on the application and the more people you have pulling for you can only be positive- providing the rest of the application is solid. SPS is a top tier school and competition for admission is extremely tough. As can be read on many threads, dont make all your choices a "reach", pick some "safety" schools (if those really exist!). Good luck

gr8pond

pjkv76... Assuming your son qualifies academically, sports will definitely help. The talent pool is so deep and broad that any differentiator will be noticed. Craig Vandersea coaches both football and baseball. He is also on the admissions committee. Any time you can spend with him could make a difference.

pjkv76

Thanks guys. We are meeting the Baseball coach on Monday and the football coach in two weeks ... we will go from there !

friendlymom

I case you haven't looked lately, I just discovered that the photos of new students are now posted in the student directory. Time to check out your new classmates!

friendlymom

^^^^further information...my daughter was looking around on the site and realized that you can see what dorm you're in. If you go to the SPS Directory you can view it by dorm and see who is where.