My SSSAS
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Why St. Stephen's & St. Agnes?
We thought you would find it helpful to read how our parents answer this question.


     "Kids need help finding the "on" switch -- that invisible trigger that sparks their intellectual curiosity and a desire to learn.  Every aspect of the school environment at SSSAS is geared toward helping children flip that switch, igniting a deep interest in ideas and in learning, helping them communicate their thoughts, and understanding where they fit in the world. Before our kids enrolled at SSSAS, we often wondered whether they were at the right school and debated where we should send them. Our experience over the past two years has provided daily reminders that we made the right choice. As our third child begins kindergarten this year (and our older kids start sixth and eighth grades), we look forward to another year of watching them grow and thrive."  
 
~Jennifer & Bob Lian




     "We were impressed that SSSAS maintains its high academic standards by continually adapting to implement cutting edge educational concepts and advances in technology. However, because of our international background, we specifically wanted a school that would give our children an education with a global perspective. We chose SSSAS because of its commitment to the education of world citizens, grounded in faith, that are responsible not only to themselves and each other but to greater and multiple communities. We are confident that SSSAS is teaching our children to be THE morally responsible critical thinkers and problem solvers of our planet’s future." 

~ Michelle & Herbert Lai



     "The sense of community we felt the first day we visited SSSAS has only increased over the past three years.  It’s important for us to establish a certain level of trust among the individuals that are partnering with us to shape and influence our children.  We believe that the SSSAS team of administrators, faculty, and staff provide an optimal education in a challenging environment where our children can grow academically and socially, while expanding their opportunities to serve others." 

~Bernard & Rhonda Joseph


     "We looked for a school that provides a strong curriculum, encourages community involvement and most importantly teaches they are children of God. For our family, it is very important that these basic components are part of our girls’ lives so they feel safe and can express themselves confidently. It is our belief that with this foundation they will be more apt to learn what is presented to them.
     The knowledgeable teachers make it all possible in providing a positive environment, for they are the ones preparing the 'adults of the future.' We also looked for a school that encourages parental involvement so that we as parents can be part of our children's development because they will take care and shape the future of our world. We experienced the school's teachings first hand when we met the teenage son of a good friend; he respectfully gave us a firm hand shake and looked us straight in the eyes as he said 'hello.'"
      And for these reasons, we chose St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School and we are proud to call ourselves "Saints." 

~Rhyna & Eduardo Guadalupe



     "Our family has found SSSAS to be an extraordinary environment that has surrounded and supported our three children. From our first interaction with the admissions department, we believed the school was focused on creating an atmosphere that would challenge the children to stretch their minds, bodies, and spirits while supporting them in their efforts. As our years and experiences continue to mount, and there are many, for example, the daily “hello” at drop-off, the holiday programs, the weekly chapel services and the end of year events, we know faculty and administration are energized and enthused by their mission, and focused on the children and their development. In short, our family feels very lucky to be part of the special SSSAS community." 

~Lizzie & John Siegel



     "Our son, Cal, is in the twelfth grade and has been a Saint since the first grade. For the last eleven years St. Stephens & St. Agnes has provided a nurturing, caring, and challenging environment within which Cal has been able to learn and grow. We are very proud of the man that he is becoming with the help of the many wonderful teachers, coaches and administrators at St. Stephens & St. Agnes.  When it came time for our first daughter, Evelyn, to enter school we knew that the school would provide her with the same opportunity.  Evelyn became a Saint in kindergarten and is now entering the third grade. Her experience as a Saint has been every bit as rich and rewarding as Cal's and we are thrilled to see her enthusiasm for learning, both inside and outside of the classroom. Our youngest, Adrienne, will become a Saint this September when she enters kindergarten. We are delighted that she is going to have the same opportunity to explore, to grow, and to develop that Cal and Evelyn continue to enjoy. We feel very fortunate and grateful that our children and our family are members of the St. Stephens & St. Agnes community." 

~Anne & Clay Perfall

     "Driven to find an environment that would nurture the varying and distinct abilities of our three nine-year old children, my husband and I enrolled James, Olivia and Nathan at SSSAS. As alumni, my husband and I long valued the many St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes lessons learned in the classroom, on the playing field and through our varied extra-curricular activities. As we experienced college, careers, marriage and parenting, the value of these lessons, friendships and relationships had revealed themselves over the many decades since our graduation and our appreciation for our own parent’s commitment to the school became more apparent.  
     As new SSSAS parents, we had high expectations and hopes for our children in their new school. Out of a keen interest and some nostalgia, I attended James, Olivia and Nathan’s first chapel. To my great pleasure, Joan Holden, Head of School, welcomed the children and proceeded to teach them the importance and logistics of a good handshake. Mrs. Holden noted that each chapel would conclude with a handshake with one of the heads of school as would the completion of their time in the lower, middle and upper school.  I smiled upon hearing this as I too had the honor of shaking her hand as a member of the first St. Agnes class to graduate under Mrs. Holden’s tenure as Head of School. With their initial handshake with Mrs. Holden, our family had come full circle and my children had been welcomed into the same nurturing environment that helped shape my husband and me. Throughout their first year, the children felt the warm welcome of that first handshake and the blessings of the SSSAS community as teachers, parents and peers helped them pursue excellence for the mind, body and spirit in varied and distinct ways unique to their personalities. For this reason, I am grateful that our family is part of this extraordinary community." 

~Aileen & Greg Pugh