St. Paul's School Concord NH - Page 199

runandjump · 10-11-2012, 08:34 AM

Adviser said we will have seen progress reports before we meet on Saturday. I think they must be out on Friday because some parent/adviser meetings will be that day. We haven't heard from DD in a few days, so I hope we run into her somewhere at SPS!

calnat · 10-11-2012, 07:19 PM

According to the Academic Calendar, reports were submitted Monday, proofed Tuesday, corrected Wed, sent to Advisors by Thursday AM. Parents and students can view them Friday morning online. I just checked (just in case) and at least there are none unloaded for us. Enjoy the Family weekend, it should be fun!

gr8pond · 10-13-2012, 10:12 AM

Students received their inside grades on Wednesday. THey aren't posted, but the kids have been informed.

remcd88 · 10-24-2012, 10:32 AM

Hi!
My daughter is interviewing this coming Monday and I have been trying to prepare her for the types of questions that might be asked. I have searched the internet for interview questions and have her writing down thoughts so she can have some sort of idea of what she wants to say. I am looking for any insight into the types of questions she may encounter that are specific to SPS. What types of things will they be looking for in an applicant? I want to prepare her as best as I can. Thanks for any and all help!

CKSABS · 10-24-2012, 10:52 AM

remcd88: This advice is true for all interviews. First, your daughter should look her interviewer in the eyes, smile, and give a firm handshake. Maintaining eye contact and smiling throughout the discussion is critical.

I believe when the interview is over the interviewer needs know why St. Paul's (or any other school) is the right this candidate. I think the most important question to answer is what is it about St. Paul's that makes it a great fit for your daughter. Be specific. Have your daughter do the research and find what it is about the school that appeals to her. Not only why the school is a fit for her needs to be addressed, but how will she impact the SPS community. In other words, (paraphrasing JFK) she needs to articulate not just what the school can do for her, but what she can do for the school.

remcd88 · 10-24-2012, 11:09 AM

Thanks for the quick response! It will definitely be helpful to her.

SevenDad · 10-24-2012, 11:22 AM

Here's a thread from last year's app cycle that might be helpful:
Interview FAQs

And from the year before:
Interview questions

calnat · 10-26-2012, 01:58 PM

Finally, it seems that kids with ATT can now make and receive cell phone calls using ATT- with 4 bars. Although at times, in certain locations, you could get a bar or two, it now seems that it is stronger and more widespread, ie. usable. Prior to this, only Verizon service worked well.

mayhew · 10-26-2012, 03:57 PM

Wow - that is truly breaking news!! We've considered the school a virtual black hole when it came to cell coverage ..... the dawn of a new era

friendlymom · 10-29-2012, 03:24 PM

My daughter has Verizon and the service is spotty. It doesn't work well at all inside her dorm and she has service in some locations on campus outside her dorm (where she's not supposed to be using the phone anyway). She's adjusted, and I'm definitely not sad that texting has become a smaller part of her life now!

friendlymom · 11-02-2012, 03:57 PM

What's the story with Fall Ball? I've been hearing a lot about it lately. How do the dates work? Why is dinner staggered in half-hour increments?

creative1 · 11-02-2012, 08:05 PM

Fall Ball used to be called "Cocktails" (not sure why) until a few year ago when the Admins decided it was no longer PC. Basically, the prefects set up "dates". The identity of your date is supposed to be a secret until that night but often times it gets leaked out ahead of time. A new student and their big brother/sister will go with another senior (occasionally a junior) and their little sister/brother. It's a semi-formal event, one of 3 throughout the year. It starts with a dinner which is much nicer than a typical dinner. The Upper staff really makes a nice effort to put out a good meal. I believe it is staggered because the dance part of the evening also takes place at the Upper - in the "Upper Dining Hall" so not all dining room facilities can be used for eating. After dinner, the a capella groups on campus perform which is then followed by a talent show put on by the 5th form. Last is the dance. Usually, students don't hang out with their assigned "date" the whole night but only for the dinner part of the evening. Hope that helps.

friendlymom · 11-03-2012, 04:06 PM

Thank you! This is a much clearer explanation than I've gotten from my daughter about the whole thing. And it explains why she knows which 6th form boy she'll be with but not who her date will be (actually scratch that, she can probably figure out her date if she knows which boy is going with her big sister).

I think it's funny how the traditions have morphed since I was a student. We had a 5th form talent show too but I think it was in the winter. My 6th form year we started having dorm "cocktail" parties with the boys' dorms inviting girls.

Speaking of that, when did Old Boys/Girls and Newbs get renamed Big and Little Brothers/Sisters?

creative1 · 11-03-2012, 11:48 PM

It's been big/little brothers and sisters for the past 6 years at least. The kids still call the new students "newbs" but more behind the scenes. I guess that isn't too PC any longer and its use has seemed to decline the past few years. The is a conscious decision to do away with anything that smacks of hazing. It's definitely a good intention but sometimes old traditions die as a result.

bazile · 11-05-2012, 09:51 AM

It's my first post, and I have to start with at big thank you. I have been lurking on this board for a full year, and I can't thank you enough for all the wisdom, advice, and sanity checks. My daughter started at St. Paul's this year and it is a perfect fit. While we miss her, we are excited to watch her stretch and grow, and we can already see a new confidence. So, you all helped us through the process of finding the right school, but now I am trying to figure out how to parent from afar. My question today is about the advisors. Do you hear from your child's advisor on a regular basis? We are not hearing anything unless we ask a specific question. I am not looking for trouble, but, I sure would feel better if I had some sense of her grades or progress. What's normal? I don't want to be the crazy mom that has to know every detail, but I don't want to back off so much that I miss a warning of a potential problem. Your thoughts?