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A school's culture is one of the most important feature of a learning environment and SAS's culture is kind, supportive, and encouraging. It's small enough to be personal and yet has enough space to create room for independence and freedom. It has provided a remarkably rich experience and prepared her students well for college and for life.

Friendships among peers and also with the faculty and their families who live on campus. Those are meaningful and lasting relationships.

Meet as many folks as possible. Go on van runs, even if you don't need anything. It's a chance to be with your peers and develop closer friendships.

The people and the natural environment. SAS is a beautiful place, worth visiting even if you're not looking for a school.

Go to athletic events and cheer. Ask for help from your teachers. Enjoy the trails and outdoor opportunities.

Class sizes are small. Relationships with teachers are meaningful. The natural environment is breathtaking and safe and creates a rich landscape to better understand the natural world and science. Students graduate ready for college with an ability to think critically and write clearly. Students can also take (real) college classes at the selective, nationally ranked neighboring institution, Sewanee (The University of the South), at no additional expense.

Kids play sports to play the sport. Sitting on the beach is not the same as playing. The size of the school and the conference in which they participate allow most students to play and through play, they learn teamwork, competition, and work-ethic. Having the opportunity to play expands a students courage to try new endeavors.

The music instruction, theatre director, and staging are strengths at SAS. The quality of the end musical and theatre productions speak for themselves, even at the middle school. Similar to athletics, the programs are inclusive and still achieve a high quality performance. It is one of the few stages in which a student can take a risk, struggle, and still be encouraged in the moment by a cheering audience of their peers. That notion is not unique, but is a recurring experience each month at a monthly playful event called "Creative Expressions," which all students attend.

Community and friendships are the highlight of student clubs and the service experiences. We serve. We travel to sites. We make store runs. And most of the students do it to be in community with other.

Living with my friends. Having a few dozen sibling-like peers.

It's good enough. Some days are good. Some days are fantastic. Some days are okay, but students can always find something to eat. Nutrition is good. Healthy choices are always available. SAS has their own farm, so fruits and veggies are usually great.

It's a University town, so there are plentiful opportunities for performing arts and entertainment, including a movie theatre, restaurants, college sporting events which are mostly free, and public events.

The school provides trips in and around the area. Every weekend has something planned in the Union and all that's in addition to the University community's events.