The course catalog definitely makes me envious! My son is signing up for Hot Glass as his art. But, if there were room in his schedule, he’d also like to take Intro to AI, Intro to Programming, Computer Graphics, First Robotics…among others.
He’s going to continue with Spanish but is also interested in Greek and Latin - too bad there isn’t more time in the day!
Actually, the diversity of classes was one of his main reasons for selecting SPS.
The Hot Glass thing is new. My kids will be so jealous when they hear of it!
Yes, the German instruction is known to be excellent - great reputation! First Robotics is also very popular and fun.
Unfortunately, once you squeeze in all the required courses, there isn’t enough time to take all the interesting things, especially if you are pursuing one of the arts in addition.
GK added 3-dimensional art (3-D) as a 6th class this semester and is loving it so much she enrolled in Advanced Sculpture next fall. Who knew! Excellent Hum electives too, and many if not most are also open to IVth formers.
BTW, if you really want to load up on classes and play music too, you could take your music as a a non-credit class on top of 6 classes (5 + 1 with permission) and a sport (but you’ll have to pay for it, I mean literally; you’ll pay for it in other ways too…)
The quality of the various arts programs is one of SPS’s strengths, IMO.
How strong is the choral music program compared to others?
I can’t really compare to others but it is a tremendous, top-notch program with some skilled leadership.
Read up more:
https://www.sps.edu/page/arts/music
Here’s the bio of Nicholas White who is both the Chair of the entire Arts Department and Director of Chapel Music:
"In 2011, Nicholas White was appointed to the post of director of Chapel music and organist, in 2012 being named chair of the Arts Department at the School. Mr. White’s musical career has evolved over a period of 25 years spent in the United States. He is a Grammy-nominated composer and conductor, as well as a versatile organist, pianist and singer with experience in many different styles of music. In 2013 he was appointed music director of the Boston Cecilia, one of America’s oldest and finest performing arts organizations.
Mr. White has given many performances throughout the United States, with a steady stream of commissions from musical organizations across the world. Immediately prior to his appointment at St. Paul’s, he was artistic director of Joyful Noise (Chorus Angelicus & Gaudeamus), a choral organization based in Northwest Connecticut, and organist and choirmaster of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Beverly Farms, Mass. Mr. White was born in London, England, and received his early musical training as a treble chorister. He held his first organist and choirmaster position at the age of fifteen, going on to become organ scholar of Clare College, Cambridge, from 1986 to 1989. Since coming to the U.S. in 1989, Mr. White has held various positions in churches, colleges and schools, including Washington National Cathedral (assistant organist and choirmaster), Cathedral Choral Society (keyboard artist) and Woodley Ensemble (music director) in Washington, D.C.; and St. Michael’s Church (organist and choirmaster), Dalton School (choir director), and Columbia University (adjunct organist) in New York City.
In 2003 Mr. White founded Tiffany Consort, an ensemble of eight accomplished singers. The group’s first CD, “O Magnum Mysterium” was nominated for a Grammy, and the second CD, "In Sure and Certain Hope: Choral Music of Nicholas White,” was released in December 2006. Both recordings are available on the MSR Classics label. His all-Bach organ recording – “The Amsterdam Bach” – is available on the Pro Organo label. His work is also represented on the Gothic, Raven, Meridian and Gamut labels.
Mr. White is an active and critically acclaimed composer, with music published by Hinshaw, Trinitas, Augsburg Fortress, Mark Foster and Oxford University Press. His large-scale work for solo soprano, chorus, organ, brass and percussion -“Magnificat” - was premiered at the National Cathedral in 1997, and was performed in a newly orchestrated version in May 2009. Other commissions include “Full Freedom,” a piece for multiple choirs, instrumentalists and dancers, written for the annual choral tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in January 2002 at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. Dumbarton Concerts in Washington, D.C., commissioned White’s 2013 setting of Poe’s “The Raven,” which received great critical acclaim and was recently repeated at the School."
Thank you, @doschicos
That’s really good to know.
@CaliMex
Choir is very good and will be excellent with tenors! Calling all tenors! They just went to England over Spring Break- DD had a blast. Sang at London, Oxford, Cambridge, Eton… traveled all over- DD has really loved the music program. It’s classic tho- When you are in the music progam @ SPS you have to be in choir. That’s my understanding.
DD is in the BC (ballet company), choir and women’s ensemble (Smaller choir) Her schedule is ridiculous, and at times she has to have Mr White and Jen Howard work out the scheduling conflicts bc she needs to be in 3 places at once! But overall it works out and she has been very happy with the arts program at SPS. In our case its strange because she does not have enough time to do any arts classes, ever. She would LOVE to take any art class but her ballet class is filling that spot. And the kids an artists!
She took a 6th class during her second trimester (modern) but cut back during this spring. Not sure what she is doing next year. The BC is a strange animal at SPS. Its a full class period every trimester, all four years. While its a great idea because it helps limit how many hours one has to train at night- ( varsity ballet is treated more like varsity Sport)
they also have to take a technique class daily. This makes it harder to add an additional class. If a ballerina wants to add a 6th class they must be willing to give up all of their free periods- which is not easy at SPS- The older students have told my DD that many of them do independent projects or honors projects instead- just makes things easier- My DD is sitting down with her advisor soon to map out her next two years- Many of the dancers go on to great colleges so I guess it works out, but I hate that they have to compromise and lose taking so many of the classes! DD is hoping to work it out with the school- maybe come up with some sort of middle ground- we have also told her that she can make some of it up during the summer. She can take an art class or computer classes during the summer because she just doesn’t have the time during the year.
@copperboom One of mine took a 6th class pretty much every semester for that very reason. It was a busy schedule but wanted to take the classes that brought personal joy. It was more cathartic than a free block and where this child derived contentment and a sense of accomplishment, which can be important in a community of high achievers.
Actually you can work around this. DD is in the music program (taking BMC and a music instrument) and was in choir the first semester, but her schedule was so awful that she and a couple of others negotiated a different arrangement with Mr White and aren’t in choir currently.
Agree with @doschicos. I was worried about DD adding an extra art class as a 6th one this semester - couldn’t understand the logic of it, since they’re already so busy - but it’s been almost a therapeutic experience! She would go at night to the studio to work on her piece, and it’s become her “me” time, giving her a chance to recharge and refocus. (But that only because they don’t let 15-year-olds have a glass of wine at night…)
@copperboom I hope you daughter and her adviser can reach a good compromise on the schedule! So far, in our experience at least, the school has been pretty open and flexible regarding adding or dropping classes, schedule changes, etc.
the school has the worst knat problem…bring plenty of bug spray.
@GoatMama What instrument does GK play?
Are there extra charges for instrumental and voice lessons? (So far, I only know of one BS where private voice lessons are part of the advanced choir and don’t incur an additional cost.)
@HMom16 and others, make sure you sign up for The Cube. SPS uses it to stream live all sports games and most other events. It’s a great way to be part of the school community in real time - and occasionally you get to see your kid too! They are streaming the Relay for Life now, very powerful. (Plus, I could see GK has ditched the crutches and is hopping around like a spring chicken!!!)
If you take musical or voice as a class (Applied Music) for credit, there is no additional charge. If you take it as non-credit, there is a fee.
What @dischicos said. No fee if you take music for credit. That’s what GK is doing his year. Next year, she will be switching to non-credit so she can have room for an additional class.
@Calimex Piano, guitar, ukulele.
ukulele is a popular instrument at SPS! love it!
Can anyone explain about the House system? When are the kids assigned their houses? Are the houses coordinated with the dorm system? Are they just for intramurals or is there more? Thanks!
House is the SPS term for dorm actually. My guess is you are talking about the club system. Your child is assigned upon their start at SPS. They never used to include that information when other info is received on August 1st, but perhaps that has changed.
The 3 clubs are Isthmian, Delphian and Old Hundred. If you play a club sport - things like soccer, hockey, in lieu of a interscholastic sports team - you will play for your club. There are also different events and accolades throughout the year that earn points for your club. The clubs have been around forever but the Form of 2011 revived a more active club competition system.
Here’s some info:
https://www.sps.edu/page/news-detail?pk=585812
https://www.sps.edu/page/news-detail?pk=604155
Oh, and just to make it more confusing, there are two crew clubs, Shattuck and Halcyon. Even if you’re not a rower, you are assigned to one of those, more just for cheering on the teams that compete against each other every Anniversary/Graduation weekend.
Thanks @doschicos ! During one of our tours, the guide was a legacy and talked about her club when we toured the gym. The other guides didn’t really mention it but my son really liked the idea and was interested in finding out more about it.
From your post, it seems like people would be assigned as, for example, both Delphian and Shattuck. Is that correct?