St Thomas the Apostle School

This review is for St. Thomas the Apostle School (Preschool — 8^th grade). You can read my review on the preschool too.
I have been at STA since my oldest started preschool (5 years ago). I felt blessed to have found the school. We toured the K-​8 school and never looked back.
Academics — STA has strong academics focused on the core subjects. As a STEM educator, I was a little worried that it was «too traditional» but knew I could support my children in exploring STEM. Was I wrong! While the foundation is traditional, the faculty is open to so many ideas. Since we started K we have added motivating computer programs, coding class, robotics, Spanish, art programs and more! Have an idea? Talk to the teacher, work with the principal, find a solution.
Extra-​curricular — My children have taken cooking classes, tinkering, chess and more. There are field trips to the zoo, the symphony and more. Classes organize activities outside of the school. There is a strong theater/​drama/​music program and all students enjoy performing at the school musicals. Students participate in numerous competitions from robotics, speech and sports. The community is always looking for ways to inspire the children — programs are added to support students growth academically, socially and spiritually.
Community — STA is a family. What sold me on the school was the genuine caring and kindness that exudes from students. When my children leave school each day, older students always say «good-​bye», call them by name, and say have a wonderful day. My sons’ classmates take care of each other. The empathy and compassion students share with each other are shared with the larger community. The families are wonderful and work together to continuously improve.
Communication — Walk in the school and the front office staff stop what they are doing to help you. Want to talk to the principal — her door is always open. The teachers are there to listen. There are emails, phone calls and notes home. They have a set week for teacher /​parent meetings, but make one anytime you need it. They are there! Concerned? Call or email — they are answered in a timely fashion. There are weekly newsletters and monthly calendars — all the dates are there. Classes have private sites to share due dates, special events and more.
I could go on and on. I did not grow up in SF, my husband did. He attended another school and would not even consider it after seeing STA.
St. Thomas the Apostle is an excellent school. Take a look for yourself and you will be amazed!

It’s our second year in STA. My daughter started from kindergarten and is now in first grade. We love both kindergarten teachers (Ms. Peterson and Ms. Chau) and first grade teachers (Ms. Eilers and Mrs. Lockwood). They have great patience, and know their students well. My daughter could get nervous easily with changes, and Ms. Peterson and Ms. Chau gave a big help to her transition to the new environment during kindergarten. She now enjoys going to school every day!
Communication is great in STA, students bring notifications from school every Tuesday and weekly schoolwork every Wednesday. We have parent/​teacher conference in November for all grades, and teachers spend a whole lot of time to tell me about my daughter: her favorite food at lunch, how her socials with other students, her weakness and strength, involvement in the class, home works, report card, and so on. They know their students very well and care about them, not only their academic results but also their personal development. STA is like a big family, united by the Principle, the secretary, the admin, the teachers, the parents, and the students. I highly recommend it.

My two children (7 and 4 years old) love St. Thomas the Apostle School! We all love the family oriented vibe. Like on the show Cheers, where everybody knows your name… it’s the same with the school. All the kids (older and younger) know one another as well as the parents. I asked my kids recently what they liked about the school and their response was, «It’s the best school in the universe because everyone is nice and they all encourage us.»
My first son started at St. Thomas the Apostle Preschool and had the best experience ever. Teachers Jessie, Richel, Denise, and Janice were very warm and nurturing. They made school fun and taught him about respect, communication, and helped him learn the basics before entering Kindergarten. We were impressed at how quickly he learned. At the time, my husband and I were undecided between public and private school. However, after our son’s wonderful experience at the preschool and meeting with the Principal, Ms. Borelli, and the Kindergarten teacher, Ms. Peterson, we knew that St. Thomas the Apostle was the best school for him. I can honestly say it was the best decision we’ve ever made.
As he entered Kindergarten, it was an easy and smooth transition. Ms. Peterson and Ms. Chau were a perfect pair. The children were welcomed with open arms and kept fully engaged. As we all know, every child is different and learns at different speeds. Ms. Peterson has a very special way to make learning both interesting and fun. Both teachers are very patient and help the children easily understand. All the children and parents love Ms. Peterson. Communication with the parents is excellent. Parents are always kept up to date on upcoming assignments, projects, and school events. Both teachers were always readily available and responsive when they needed to answer any questions on his progress. We saw a big improvement in his reading, writing, and mathematical skills. He had a wonderful Kindergarten experience.
As my son entered First Grade, he loved it when I read to him, but was shy about reading to me. Teaching a child to read is not an easy task. We are so thankful to Ms. Eilers and Mrs. Lockwood for encouraging reading. After being introduced to the Elephant & Piggie books suggested by the teachers, he loved reading them aloud to me. I was blown away at his enthusiasm to read. I have witnessed him learn and grow as he flourishes academically and socially. We love STA!
My eldest son is now in Second Grade and continues to learn and grow. Mrs. Bongco is terrific! We love her FROGS binder. It keeps the children organized and teaches them responsibility, so they are able to concentrate and reach their full potential in every subject. We already see a big improvement and there’s room for more. We also like her teaching style. We know this will be another successful year at STA.
Since my eldest son had such a wonderful experience, my youngest son is now attending the Preschool and we have plans for him to move on up to the big school. STA’s curriculum is excellent! The school has so much to offer in Math, Reading, Writing, Social Studies, Science, Peer Tutoring, Spanish and Mandarin programs, Chess, Theater Arts, Cooking, Computer Programming, and more. Because of this school, my sons will have a strong, solid foundation for their long-​term academic success. I feel that the school will thoroughly prepare them academically and socially and know that they will continue to learn and grow into well-​rounded, kind individuals. They have made so many friends as well as myself. The parent involvement is extraordinary. It is the Principal, teachers, staff, parents, and children together that make the school so unique and wonderful. STA’s school community has a strong bond. We are extremely satisfied with the school and will definitely be recommending it to everyone we know. We are proud to be a part of the STA family. We cannot say enough good things about the school. The Principal is a cheerful, amazing, remarkable woman, who always has her door open. The teachers are fair, dedicated, wonderful educators, and genuinely care for each and every student. The front staff, Helen and Susan, are super friendly, knowledgeable, and they know all the kids and siblings by name. The parents are awesome, down to earth, and helpful. The kids are well mannered, respectful, and smart. St. Thomas the Apostle IS the best school in the universe! We know our kids are in good hands. Most importantly, our kids wake up excited and happy to go to school and come home with smiles on their faces after school. What more can parents ask for?

St Thomas the Apostle is a fantastic school. It is a place which is warm and inviting for kids. Students are encouraged to learn and grow. From the minute they walk in the door of their first day at St Thomas until they finally graduate they know they are part of something special. It’s not only the students who learn and grow. The school as a whole seems to have a life of its own. It improves every year as new opportunities are offered to the students. From performance arts to technology to sports and more the children have so many opportunities to learn and experience.
In the end St Thomas the Apostle is not just a building. It is a collection of people who all share the same objective of helping each student develop into well-​rounded teenagers who are prepared for the next phases of their lives. I feel so lucky that my son has had the opportunity to attend St Thomas the Apostle and I am grateful to all the people at the school for their efforts in helping him become the person he is. I am nervously looking forward to his graduating, but I also know that when he does he will be ready whatever comes next.

STA is the best school in San Francisco. STA is staffed with highly qualified teachers, friendly staffs, and a wonderful principle. Why you ask? It all stems from our wonderful principal, Ms. Borelli. Her door is always open. She is highly responsive and welcomes all suggestions no matter how great or small. But most importantly, she has the foresight to hire the best kindergarten teacher, Ms. Peterson. Ms. Peterson is kind and loving; yet stern. This is important as it sets the stage for my daughters’ future success in a rigorous academic school, such as STA. Currently, my daughters are in first and 7^th grade. I find the STA teachers to be very supportive of my daughters’ needs. Both of my daughters are happy and enjoying every moment in school.

I wasn’t going to write a review until my kids graduated. However, we have been here for 2.5 years and we have been blown away by the warmth of the school community. I toured many schools, public, private, and parochial. This one just felt right because the second you step into the school, you are greeted by Ms. Borelli, who is a warm, loving principal.
Ms. Peterson is the best introduction into kindergarten. For those parents who are nervous sending their kids to big school, she provides a great transition from preschool to big school. She is full of energy and love. The curriculum is challenging, yet it eases the kids in with lots of play time. Ms. Peterson provides a good foundation for the kids to move up to 1^st grade. The school tours I’ve been in usually have a Kindergarten teacher who is not very engaging. She always updates parents on what the kids are doing with photos, emails, letters. I could not have asked for a better teacher to transition my child from a very small home-​based preschool to this wonderful big school. She also worked directly with parents if their child was struggling in any way and found extra resources on her own time that would be helpful for their kids. Many teachers nowadays do not have the time or energy to go above and beyond.
My daughter came in here not knowing how to read on the first day of school. By the end of kindergarten, she was able to read level 1 and 2 books without us ever supplementing her at home. Ms. Peterson’s love for the kids is shown throughout the school. My daughter along with kids up to 8^th grade LOVE hanging out in Ms. Peterson’s classroom every morning before school starts. If I could take the time off, I would LOVE to hang out in Ms. Peterson’s classroom.
The school community here is also very awesome. Parents are heavily involved with improving the school and giving the students the best experience possible. The teachers here all genuinely care about the students and you can tell when you walk into the school. What sold us on the school during our first tour was how the students greeted us. They held the doors opened, they were polite and full of manners, and most importantly, they were HAPPY. I did not see this at the other schools that we toured. I’m extremely happy with our choice and our daughter is flourishing academically, emotionally, and spiritually. When your kid comes home telling you about the different states of matter in KINDERGARTEN, you know you picked a good school :). Kids go on to excellent high schools around San Francisco!

St. Thomas the Apostle School has a wonderful balance of academic rigor with a culture of warm encouragement to strive for excellence. Their strong value system is focused on building teamwork across different ages and backgrounds, organizing the students into groups spanning all of the grades from K through 8^th. Parental participation seems to be a key factor toward the success of the students.
These are the facts. STA is led by Ms. Borelli as their Principal. This school has amenities such as a large basketball yard, an auditorium with stage, modern and up to date computer lab with curriculum, a dedicated science wing, after school care room, kitchen, and extra tutoring space. Currently they also have after school programs for Mandarin Chinese, programming, sports, music, and theater. They maintain adequate perimeter security and supervision of the students. They have extracurricular activities and childcare options after school hours.
This is our family’s experience. I have a child enrolled in STA, who loves the experience. We have participated in extracurricular activities both within the school or arranged through parent groups. The children in the class form tight-​knit bonds of team partnerships as I have seen encouraged through their activities. They also work hard for individual achievements; such as when my child scored a first basket in basketball team; or when my child received high marks on an exam. They also engage in arts; with each class singing to the school at one point or another; or dramatic school performances in the theater. They require parental participation.
My child also knows someone in each grade having been teamed with one during one year or another as a family group. The older children assist the younger children as they are also grouped within the family in pairings. All ages benefit from these activities through learning the value of helping each other, team work, knowledge sharing, and family.
The school instills responsibility, with the children performing progressively more demanding tasks as they get older. For example, the oldest 8^th graders will hold stop signs and help the children at the crosswalk. Other students may assist in administrative tasks, such as signing in parents to events.
My observation is that the teachers remember that they teachers and an adult influence. As the children move up from grade to grade, they go through an appropriate and progressively more structured classroom experience. The teachers have been warm and kind to my child and still maintained structure. Actually, the best word to describe the balance is healthy.
Even though finished with Kindergarten, my child loves to go to the classroom before school and hang out with the teachers. In fact many love to do that. The Kindergarten teacher Ms. Peterson and aide Ms. C. were positive influences and deserve 5 stars.
The first grade also has two teachers. They were positive influences, especially with learning skills, reading, comprehension, and mathematics. Every day my child was enthusiastic to get to the school yard to assemble for class.
Their parent volunteer system seems to be well organized. They have a logistical system of signing in, task assignment, and tracking. And the parent teacher group has regular meetings governed by set rules of parliamentary procedure that encourage productive participation. I feel that they ask for an adequate amount of participation to encourage success. Some families participate more than the minimum.
These are more thoughts. STA is a Catholic school. There is a warm religious staff assigned to the school of a priest, a nun, and a family minister. The religion coursework material seemed to be adequate and age appropriate for the setting. The tone in this respect is loving and positive. I feel that the staff would be welcoming of families of other religions or no religion who wouldn’t mind their children learning the religion coursework material.
The surprising other observation of this location is that it is surprisingly easy to access from other areas. The Golden Gate bridge is not too far and there is a Great Highway (road) that takes you into San Mateo County. Doing the trip is actually commutable from day to day from as far south as Millbrae if you need to go to San Francisco for work.

We absolutely LOVE STA School. This is our second year, as our son started in Kindergarten.
We toured a ton of schools before finding this gem, but the minute we walked in, we knew this was the school we wanted… no, NEEDED.
I remember how floored I was when Mrs. G, the office manager, took us around the school and every student we encountered in the halls or in the classroom was happy, relaxed and confident. You can tell they felt at home and were comfortable at that school. As a first time mommy, that was huge for me. Also notably impressive was that all the students, staff and teachers knew each other by name. Its pretty impressive if you think about that. (The third grade teacher, who has not had my son in her class yet knows his name. As do all the students in all the various grades.)
We couldn’t have asked for a better teacher and class to start our sons scholastic career. Both Mrs. P and Mrs. C were outstanding: warm, knowledgeable and patient! And I mean that more with us newbie parents than with the children! Mrs. P always had time for us, whether it was a quick hello or a deeper academic question. She also deeply cares about each and every child in her class and beyond. You can see the proof in the children themselves. Every morning there is practically a line waiting to hug or say hello to Mrs. P before school starts. Our son would skip to school every morning. After a year in her class, our son was prepared both socially and academically, as well as excited to start 1^st grade.
So far our 1^st grade experience has been excellent. Once again, the teachers Mrs. E and Mrs. L are fantastic. 1^st grade is a big leap from Kindergarten as the academic curriculum is more vigorous, and expectations are higher. We love that. Our son was just starting to read over the summer (Thanks to Mrs. P!), and now 2 months in can read and write with almost no hesitation. They have homework every night which is great for us parents to keep a pulse on exactly what they are doing in class. Their math program is excellent as is their science program. They even started a bi-​weekly Spanish program this year which we think is great,
The front office team Ms. G and Mrs. L are AWESOME. Both the kids and parents know that they are the center of STA School knowledge. Anything you need, have questions for, are confused about, they are your gals. They run a smooth operation, which makes the school run beautifully.
And lastly, Mrs. B– the principal extraordinaire which is the heart and soul of STA School. That woman is an absolute treasure. She has a strong innovated vision for her school and that is reflected in her teachers, the schools curriculum, the staff and of course the students. Her open door policy is wonderful as is her cheerful and lively personality. That women is a firecracker and her energy is contagious!
All in all I have to say that we truly found a gem in STA School, and couldn’t be happier. This is more than a school, this is a true family. To circle back to my above point, everyone knows everyone. You are part of a real community. I am happy and proud to be an STA School parent, and I am confident that my son will benefit more than I could have imagined.

St. Thomas the Apostle is a fabulous hidden gem of a school! Two years ago, we started touring independent and parochial schools for kindergarten. At STA, our 4^th or 5^th school tour by then, we were just amazed by the warm community vibe, courteous students, and both Ms. Borelli’s and Ms. Peterson’s genuine welcomes. We had not experienced anything like this on any previous tours.
Not only were we welcomed into the K classroom by Ms. P in the middle of a school day (unscheduled), but I will always remember how all the Kindergarteners at the time hovered around us, curious and eager to share and become friends with the «new visiting kid.» This is the kind of learning environment Ms. P fosters in her classroom — supportive and engaging.
She genuinely cares about each student and will work closely with parents/​families needing additional support. Parent-​teacher meetings can be scheduled anytime outside of parent-​teacher conference week, which is always held at the end of the FIRST quarter of the school year (November). We have found Ms. P to be very accessible and have never had any communication issues (by email or phone).
We enrolled the Fall after our initial tour and have not looked back since. Each progressive school year just confirms that this is the right school for us and we’re in it for the long haul. Teachers are inviting and respectful, yet challenge students to their potential in the classroom. Grades are fairly earned. Students are not haphazardly passed along to the next grade just to move them on. This says a lot about the academic and personal integrity of the teachers and school administration. We cannot be more grateful to Ms. P, Ms. Borelli and all the STA teachers for all they do!

Many children in my family have went to STA. When it came time to enroll our kids, there was no question that we would go anywhere else but here. What we liked most about STA:
1) It’s small so all the kids and teachers know each other. I’m talking about 7^th and 8^th graders and upper grade teachers who know the names of kindergartners.
2) It’s close knit. There really is a familial atmosphere here between the parents and teachers and the parents themselves. Some of my closest friends are parents of my kids’ classmates.
3) STA is academically well structured. We do not believe in the play and learn philosophy. We’re pretty much for old school instruction and STA’s curriculum is excellent. We feel the teachers really prepare the children for the next level. So far, the transition from one grade to the next is seamless.
4) The front office staff and the administration are excellent! They really work to meet the needs of the children and parents.
5). Finally the teachers are what makes this school excellent. They are very dedicated and make sure that each child will do the best they can. So far, we’ve been very happy with all the teachers our kids had. Ms. Peterson and Ms. Chau creates a warm and loving environment for kindergarteners. They are the first teachers little ones will encounter when they walk through STA’s doors. They really work with the children to ensure they will succeed in first grade. Communications are excellent. I’ve received emails from Ms Peterson at 6:00 AM. There’s always a friendly smile and hugs for the kids from Ms. Peterson.
For older children, we can’t think of anyone else than Mrs. Anderson in third grade. She’s tough but fair. She really prepares the children for 4^th grade. Plus you can’t beat the warm environment of the teddy bear class!
Overall, we’re happy to be at STA!

How does one write a review that would be worthy of how special a place St. Thomas the Apostle School is? It will be difficult, but here’s my attempt…
STA, as the school is affectionately called, is more than just a school. One of the most common words you will hear from people describing STA is the word «SPECIAL.» There IS something very special & magical about STA. It is intangible and not easily explained. Spend some time at the school and you will know it when you see it or feel it. It is so much more than just a school.
So, what makes it Special? It is not just the old cliché of Faculty, Staff, & Parents. It is also the camaraderie between students. This is truly an extended family. I have personally witnessed at school how special it is to see 8^th Graders take care of the Kindergarten class, the 7^th Graders taking care of the 1^st graders and so on within their family groups. It is a place that you can leave your children each day and trust that they are constantly learning the same good core values you try to instill at home. They are in a safe & nurturing community while getting a world class education. What more can a parent ask for? (maybe a nice big gym, but that’s besides the point)
Now, I know you must be thinking that I’m just a parent who drank too much of the school «Kool-​Aid,» but I do have somewhat of a unique perspective. I went to a Catholic School growing up in the City and I originally wanted my kids to go to my alma mater (until I toured STA). I went on many Catholic School tours until I met Ms. Borelli & Ms. P. at STA. I knew it right then. STA was the place I wanted my kids to be a part of.
We have been here 5 years already and I have been involved in various ways. I have been fortunate enough to have seen the inner workings of the school that most parents don’t normally get to see. One such experience was being part of a focus group that met with the Accreditation Board who spent a week at STA rigorously reviewing everything about the school. The board was made up of educators from both outside and inside our Archdiocese.
I recognized a couple of Principals on this board from tours at their respective schools. I expected they would be quite critical about us, since we were their rival school. To my amazement, they had glowing reviews. One of the things they were most impressed with was the «special vibe» they got from walking around the school and candidly talking to children of all ages. During the meeting, there was an educator from University High School (an elite private high school in SF) who talked about STA graduates who now attend his school and how academically competitive they were given their STA educational background. So, these insights about STA also come from professional educators, not just me, the «Kool-​Aid drinking» dad.
My last words are about the education. What makes STA unique is the well-​rounded education for all. If your child excels and is an advanced learner, there are special programs like Junior Great Books and access to the Johns Hopkins Program for Talented Youth. If your child needs additional attention, the school employs several full time educational specialists, plus a peer tutoring program FOR FREE! There’s a phenomenal Science program with a full time science teacher. There are extracurricular programs like Spanish, Chinese, Peer Tutoring, and even Robotics & Coding Classes. If your child has a knack for getting on stage, there is the Kid Stock musical and acting program FOR FREE! STA has also consistently produced award winning speech teams. They don’t cater just to the average student at the expense of the gifted students or the students who need more support. No child falls through the cracks here.
The education is challenging, no doubt, and it is challenging from an early age. There are no «free passes» regardless of what you pay or not pay for tuition, but that’s why the supportive educational environment is so important at STA. Honesty is the foundation here.
Finally, many folks make this place amazing, but the two special people who are at the forefront of this magical place are Ms. Borelli and Ms. P. If you polled 1000 parents, 999 of them would say Ms. P. is an exceptional teacher and nothing is more important to her than her sons and ALL of her students!
If you care deeply about your child’s education, then you should spend some time with Ms. Borelli and Ms. P. at STA. See the magic for yourself and don’t solely rely on my review or the other reviews here.
If you want a delicious meal, use Unilocal!If you want a world class education, spend a day with Mrs. Borelli & Ms. P!!!

I would have given this school 5 stars cuz the principal, Mrs Borelli and the office staff is just the greatest. Mrs. Borelli is very approachable and the office staff was great and caring as well. But, the Kindergarten teacher Mrs P. is the reason why I give them only 1 star. I can not speak for the rest of the school, but all the other teachers where very nIce. The school in general is very good, but the Kindergarten class could use some changes.
There was no communication between Mrs P. and us, the parents. There were no notices sent home about spelling tests to start in January or what letter of the week it is, except in the packet we received at the beginning of the year. I get flyers and updates all the time in public school. The teacher never returned my emails either. Neither teacher checked the backpack for the fundraiser on the day it was to be turned in, so it did not get ordered. All that time fundraising I did was for nothing!
There is no parent/​teacher conference before the last quarter. We had to approach Mrs P. about the mediocre grades. Mrs. P. said my daughter had no cognitive skills because she was too young and may hold her back. She said she has held students back before and even prevented preschoolers from entering Kindergarten if she didn’t feel they were ready. Is this even legal? Actually, I feel the poor grades may have been because of her teaching style. Who gives Kindergarteners a spelling test with words like «Graduation, think, sink and Mrs. Borelli? » What about the sight words like «I, at, is and can?» Instead of helping my daughter to understand the work, she told her to go the corner and do it herself and accused her of cheating because she was looking at the student next to her. When I asked her why she didn’t help my daughter instead of putting her in the corner, she got defensive and offended that I asked. I don’t understand why my child was failing with 2 teachers in the classroom. I didn’t pay the school to fail my child. I expected more out of the teachers for a private school.
I spent the last 6 weeks of school helping my daughter get up to speed. From then on, she got 100% on every spelling test, she knew how to count to 100, knew the alphabet and sounds, could tell time on the hour and half and could add up to 10. Well, well, my child does have COGNITIVE SKILLS after all! But, Mrs P. still said, «I am not sure if I am comfortable moving her on» Even after my daughter improved immensely, there was no credit to be awarded. Why is it that my child could learn that much from me in a short time period and not learn from the teacher all year? Thanks to the principal’s intervention, my daughter did graduate.
It was very stressful for us during the last month of school wondering if Mrs. P. was going to pass my child or not. No additional help was offered to get my daughter up to speed. She did not tell me what I needed to do to get her up to speed, I had to get it out of her. I feel like she wanted my child to fail. When I asked for a recommendation letter for my daughter to enter 1^st grade in public school, Mrs. Borelli wrote one, but Mrs. P. refused to write one, even though I begged her multiple times to put our differences a side and think of the child. This proved to me all along that Mrs P. did not care about my child’s educational future. And instead, did not write it out of spite.
I am happy to say, my daughter was tested and past all the academic tests required and did transition into First grade!

I rated five stars for St. Thomas the Apostle School because my son had academically enriching experience with this school. He learned the most from his first grade teacher, Ms. Eilers. She is an excellent teacher and I love her style. She really kept me informed about my son’s progress by sending back his completed work on a weekly basis. The things that she taught were academically challenging and really stimulated my son’s learning. Another person that I really appreciated from this school is Mrs. Greenhouse, the school secretary. She was very helpful to my son. We also appreciated Mrs. Harrison-​Wong, the vice principle. She was very helpful to my son too.
Because we moved to a different city, we transferred my son to another school. The current school that my son attends is nothing like St. Thomas the Apostle School. We finally realize that St. Thomas the Apostle School is the best school that my son ever attended.

STA is a wonderful school, with wonderful teachers lead by a fantastic principle. My son only attended in his middle school years and I believe he received a top notch education, went on to Lowell and attended college. In his first year at college he already had 48 units I attribute STA preparing him for high school and now he’s doing really well at UCSD. Thanks STA!!!

Best school in SF Bay Area and second to none. Enough said.

This school is splendid! Our son spent all 9 years (from K-​8) at STA and he got the best education we could have possibly hoped for. The teachers are wonderful and Ms. Borelli, the Principal, is great. It is a school that is academically rigorous and very supportive at the same time. My wife and I highly recommend this school. It is great! It is educationally sound, has a family/​community atmosphere, is a safe environment for children, and is a tight-​knit community. It’s an educational treasure…

Both my child is in this school right now. Superb. The staff is great. The principal Judith Borelli is so nice and kind to the parents and children. The teachers are so kind and loving to my children. I love the academics there also. My children are so happy here. I’m glad I picked this school. Also, it is cheaper than all the other private schools in the richmond district.

Sent my son here for a 1 ½ years and made many friends, but left because of the schools lunch policy. Surprised to find out that beginning 1^st Grade, the kids are required to eat outside in the play yard. Even though the kids are directed to sit on the benches that circle the yard, many do not, including my son and instead sit on the concrete floor! With a combination of cold, misty Winter days and hot Summer days, the kids are exposed to the elements on a daily basis.
After a group of parents raised concerns with Ms. Borelli, she reluctantly purchased two lunch tables. By the time the tables were implemented, we left the school, but have heard from remaining parents, the administration of setting up the tables and monitoring the kids are all left on the parents! In addition, only 1^st and 2^nd grade students are allowed to use the tables. Very odd…
Academics were great, but ignoring the basic necessity of a proper dining area was a deal breaker for us. Also, Ms Greenhouse is the best!

Both of my children attend this school, one in K and one in 2^nd. Ms. Borelli is a great principal and is very open to our suggestions. Mrs. Greenhouse, the office manager, is wonderful as well. This school exceeded our expectations and I would definitely recommend it to everybody. It is a smaller school but to me, that’s the appeal. You develop a bond with other parents and the teachers.

I went to school here for eight years… and look how I turned out!