<p>yeh, i was too busy gazing at all the buildings to comprehend the tour guide, we were rushed because of a time limit.... i liked the feel, and i love the hockey history(the pond and the hobey baker skates)</p>
<p>FayMom, The greatest thing ever invented = LL Bean Boots, basically everyone at SPS owns a pair because they are really intense winter boots that are amazingly water proof and super warm. But you get used to the weather/pathways. As far as breakfast many students do not go to the upper on week days because doing so would require waking up early and cutting into valuable sleep time. Every school day except for Saturdays there are apples, cream cheese, bagels, and peanut butter in the Schoolhouse and many students get breakfast that way. There is also a place called the Tuck Shop which is near the school store(another place to buy food) and near the Freeman Center. At Tuck Shop you can get omelets, breakfast sandwiches, cinnamon rolls, and basically everything else you could ever want. </p>
<p>Mpicz, you saw the Tuck shop. Apparently in fall term, according to The Pelican, Tuck made $1000 dollars every day!</p>
<p>And notnim, it was deserted because on Wednesdays the majority of the school is off at sports games and the few other people are relaxing/catching up on work.</p>
<p>O ok...ya seemed like a cool place. I walked in and everyone there just stared at me, so I left pretty quickly lol. Didn't get a good look, just liked the music.</p>
<p>yes, we really do eat breakfast in the dining hall (I live in a dorm that's one of the farthest from the dining hall). The campus is big, but having been a tour guide, it's impossible to show the entire campus in a 45-60 minute period. I have given a full campus tour once and it took 2.5 hours...SPS is great though and I am very excited for March 10 because I will be available to answer emails from admitted students (I'm a student admissions officer). Good luck everybody!</p>
<p>So nickel and Go Big Red are you all hanging Mr. Vandersea out to dry? Or is there a movement in the school to get SPS football back on the right track?</p>
<p>I think that most people have given up on our football team ever being amazing, so most of us have moved on to loving our soccer team.</p>
<p>^^ Exactly why I'm playing soccer and not football if I go there lol. When you don't even have the support of your school that's just a shame lol.</p>
<p>I played football my first three years at St. Paul's, but I decided not to play this year. Since I've been here the team has been pretty bad (the varsity team lost every game this year and only won one last year). The team has almost zero student support and from being on the team we did not work well together at all. However, I still have hope that we will be able to recruit good players and that Vandersea will be able to coach the team to a better record next season. Even though I didn't play this year I went to most home games, but I wish more people would show up. But people like to see a winning team and often go down to see the soccer game instead.</p>
<p>If there were more charismatic attractive boys on the team I bet the female side of the school would turn out:)
I believe the $$ alumni would like to see a winning team. Many more SPS students played back in the day when soccer was considered a pussy sport. If the hockey/wrestlers/lacrosse players all played football in the fall like it used to be, SPS would probably beat everyone in their league.</p>
<p>All the charismatic attractive boys are on varsity soccer, lol. which is one of the reasons people watch their games. I think that since there are so many options of sports that guys can play in the fall (soocer, club soccer, fitness, x country, club tennis...) where they actually win, football is often the last choice.</p>
<p>Notnim, Why thank you! Glad everyone here could be helpful. The absolutely best 'ambassadors' are the students here. I am always awed at just how warm and helpful they are willing to be. I am sure the admissions people would love to answer questions, but I believe they are prohibited by the Independent School League from recruiting or trying to influence applicants. Makes sense. So this type of exchange is a great way for everyone to provide information, fill in gaps and ask questions. Plus it is mostly anonymous. I also receive a number of private questions from people who don't want to ask things here. </p>
<p>I love the school and my son does too. Those tours are tough. Too short. Sometimes poor timing. Never answers all of your questions. But the students who volunteer to do that are heroes. It takes a lot of there time and they get nothing for it. Hope it works out for all of the applicants here. Good luck.</p>
<p>I will say that based on a visit to the school a couple of weeks ago, SPS applications are up this year, despite the economy! One ex-admissions guy told me that it may be a 'flight to quality'. So please if you get rejected don't take it personally. And if you get waitlisted, my best advice would be to tell the one school (whichever it is) you want to attend, that if they accept you, you will accept them. I think schools want to hear that.</p>
<p>My son plays football at SPS. It was a tough season with the Varsity going 0-8 and the JV going 1-4-1. The biggest problem for Varsity football at SPS is that the players are on the younger side. SPS requires 1st and 2nd year students to play 3 sports. This requirement drops to 2 sports in the 3rd year and 1 sport in the 4th year. Lots of players drop football in the 3rd year as a result. Part of it is the team's track record but football is a tough sport in the competitive ISL.</p>
<p>Therefore, the appearance of Coach Vandersea last season was a blessing for SPS football. He splits time between Athletics and Admissions which gives him some clout in recruiting football talent. I spoke to him and the current Athletic Director recently of his plans and the approach he will take is well reasoned and compatible with SPS standards. A few good recruits and the retention of a key older player or two will make a huge difference. Coach Vandersea has implemented strength training programs and encouraging players to attend summer football camps.</p>
<p>I attended every SPS home game last season. Rector Matthews, SPS headmaster, was at each game. His presence and the hiring of Coach Vandersea are examples of the commitment that SPS is making for football. Wins will not come over night but the team will be more competitive which is all anyone can ask for.</p>
<p>yeh, you never know who they can bring in, one good quarter back. Thats why i want to play there, it is never fun losing, but its just a game, i got my hockey and lacrosse anyways.</p>
<p>Apparently we have a decent quarterback. Just no offensive line.</p>
<p>What is the school dress code like and how strictly is it enforced?
If it is casual, are there occasions of formal dress and vice versa?
(Sorry if this was asked already)</p>
<p>Thank you so much nhsportsdad! I think Mr. Vandersea is the guy for the job. He appears to be very charismatic, which in my experience as a parent and ex player makes a huge difference in retaining talent through the years. That is what needs to happen.
It wouldn't hurt either if a few hand picked student "Spark Plugs" were given a marketing assignment, perhaps for a grade, which would reshape the image of SPS Football with the students and the Townies.
I am presuming he gets the talent he is after this year, smart, well-rounded, compelling athletic boys who love to play three sports a year (like we did in the stone age).</p>
<p>No problem, Sarum. I have some knowledge of SPS but acknowledge that the student posters here often have the inside track on what is happening at the school. It amazes me at how much my son knows when we talk. </p>
<p>The SPS football program is a work in progress but the administration is taking heed. Building a football program takes time. It is also more than just wins and losses. Another important factor is where graduates of the team play college football. Programs are also measured on how well they promote their talent on the next level. Coach Vandersea coached on the college level at Bates and has connections to coaches in key sports conferences such as the Ivy League and the NESCAC schools. I think this will be an additional selling point for SPS football as time goes by. In the meantime, I know that my son is being challenged much more academically and socially than he would be at our local high school.</p>
<p>@manhattanmommy: the dress code at sps for boys is no blue jeans, no athletic wear (nylon shorts, sweatpants, etc), collared shirt. So pretty much a polo/button-down and pants. However, I violate the dress code all the time and wear blue jeans and t-shirts, but I follow dress code 75% of the time just because those are a lot of the clothes I have. It is rarely enforced and only some teachers care about it, but most students stick to the dress code anyway.</p>
<p>Besides jeans, you can get away with anything. I would say the dress code is just to "look nice"</p>