Wells

Living in this area, I would not send my child to any other school. SAA fulfills provides a safe, kind environment, a great books curriculum, and a genuine and total commitment on the part of the families, facutly and adminisitration to fidelity to Catholic doctrine, spirtuality, the practice of Christian charity as well as the energetic development of the intellectual life. In most of the courses taught, the student-teacher ratio is an average of 15-1. Many of the teachers have taught at the school for ten years or more and are intimately acquainted with the families of the students. The school is K-12, which enhances the familial atmosphere. Academic standards are high, but there is much opportunity for fun, notably Greek and Roman Day, Medieval Day, and Colonial Day where the students of all ages are assigned to a team, a kingdom or one of the original thirteen colonies. They learn a great deal through healthy competition through intellectual and athletic contests. The high point every four years is the Roman chariot races, but the medieval archery and jousting (all safely done) are great too, as are early American country dances on Colonial Day. In a quieter spirit, there is an annual Monastic Day during Lent, during which the children observe a great silence, pray the divine office, copy and or illuminate manuscripts, and are introduced to the contemplative orders.Faculty and staff seem totally sincere in their respect for the students the desire to help them grow in the love of God, of one another, in the pursuit of truth and beauty. The headmaster's motto is that "it is better to build children than to repair men ( and women)"from St. John Bosco. Cliques and bullying, if they occur, are infrequent, and dealt with effectively by the parents, headmaster and faculty. Holy Mass is offered once a week for the whole school, and every Friday morning for any who wish to attend. Confession is offered twice a week. The school has a chaplain and a wonderful religious sister on staff, but most of the teachers are laypeople with families. There are no drugs or alchohol on campus and though "romantic" relationships between teenagers sometimes develop, these are discreet. Several have resulted in marriages after the college years, and children of former students attend the school. Many alumni go on to top colleges and universities.