There are over thirty new students entering grades 9-12. Each of these students have to adjust to a new grade level, a new schedule, and a new building. At St. Paul Academy and Summit School many key parts of students’ lives are being modified, so adjusting to change is very important, especially for new students.

New Students

This is year’s freshman grade (the class of 2018) has 97 students, 23 of which are new to SPA. Freshman Sylvie Schifsky came from St. Croix Preparatory Academy and said she liked the different atmosphere at SPA.

“It is really structured and at the same time super chill. And it is a big change from my old school,” Schifsky said. Schifsky said that she switched, due to the school’s lack of solid foundations. “Since it was college prep, if I was kind of struggling in something, then they [teachers] wouldn’t be that concerned. They would expect you to take care of it yourself because that is what you have to do in college, but I needed more help,” Schifsky said.

It is very common for many new freshman to appear in the student body, however it becomes very uncommon for sophomores and juniors to receive new members in their classes. “[SPA] is different and I like it. It allows me to socialize more and fit in better,” new junior Max Chen said

One way that SPA is different, according to Chen, is in its teaching styles. “We sit in a round table and the students are very active,” Chen said. Coming all the way from Portland, Oregon, junior Tessa Rauch agrees with Chen. “I think the teachers are all really great. I think SPA is awesome.”

Adjusting

“The school I was in last year was too small, here it is bigger and I can socialize more and fit in better,” Chen said. The number of students enrolled in the Upper School is 391, compared to Chen’s other school this allows a lot of socializing and meeting new peers in classes.

Freshman John Gisselquist appreciates how open and friendly SPA has been so far. “Its been a pretty easy transition. The kids who have been here for a really long time are really welcoming and you fit in with people because there are some many different people who like so many different things, that you can always find a person who is similar to you.”

Chen completed his sophomore year at the International School of Minnesota. Due to different years of science, and math. Some students need to adjust to the difference by taking classes above or below their grade level. Chen is enrolled in both sophomore classes, and also senior classes. “I am taking United States history, honors biology, topics for math, writing seminar, yearbook and jazz band,” he said

Along with getting used to the new building and different rooms, getting used to the varying amounts of homework is a key factor in many SPA students’ lives. For Rauch, the homework did not appear to be a big problem. “It’s pretty similar. It’s not really much more.” Rauch said.

Chen on the other hand says “It’s a little bit more in English, because I’m taking Writing Sem [seminar].”

Overall, “SPA’s culture is active, friendly and independent,” Chen said.