A Saints education will prepare students for continued education at a wide range of top colleges, universities, and service academies

“Life is a journey, not a destination,” wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson and so, too, is the Upper School at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes. Our faculty, program offerings and curricula provide our students with deep knowledge, incredible skills, confidence, breadth of exposure and balance. All of these will serve our students well and are not simply a stepping stone towards college. That said, we share the expectations of our students and their parents that a Saints education will prepare students for continued education at a wide range of top colleges, universities, and service academies that reflect the diversity of our students.

So, how do we approach and do it?  There are two key elements to the success of our seniors in their college admission process: the commitment and dedication of our experts and our college counseling program, which is actually introduced in the Middle School!

I sat down with a recent graduate of St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes who is currently studying English with a concentration in creative writing at the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania. I asked Caroline to respond to three specific questions. Below are notes from our conversation:

Me: What creative writing experiences were you part of at SSSAS? How were you supported?

Caroline: I came to college with a strong foundation in writing thanks to my teachers at SSSAS who pushed me and encouraged me to write more. I specifically remember sophomore year in Dr. Klein’s class, when we compiled quarterly journals. Dr. Klein encouraged us to include creative writing. I submitted a creative essay about an epiphany I had experienced, and when I read it aloud in class Dr. Klein said it sounded like the work of someone who reads a lot. (She was right!) In all my English classes there was a combination of critical and creative writing, and I felt fortunate to exercise all parts of my brain throughout my high school career.

Each year, SSSAS sends graduates to college armed with the tools necessary to succeed in college and in life. The secret? A faculty dedicated to ensuring that each individual student develops an appreciation for the process of learning and mastering the 21st century skills necessary to lead in a complex and changing world.

The math program at SSSAS, in many ways, personifies this dedication. Through a wide range of courses with multiple levels and electives, the math department strives to foster deep understanding in all students. Our math teachers create learning experiences that challenge and inspire students, build confidence and skills, and emphasize the relevance of mathematics in the real world. So where does this success take root?

Here are the top six reasons our math program so successfully prepares students for success in college-level STEM courses and beyond:

As we slip back into our school routines as individuals and as families, it is fun to reflect on this past summer and it’s many wondrous moments. One moment, though, that impacted me emotionally more than any other was the passing of John McCain. Maybe it is because Senator McCain is an alum of St. Stephen’s School. This probably added to my emotions, certainly, as I watch my own children thrive at his old school. But If you strip away all political persuasions when reflecting on John McCain, what you are a left with is a servant of the people who valued honor and integrity above all else. His dedication to honor and the pursuit of a greater cause is what truly impacted my emotions.