Roundtable Q&A Discussion About The Sterling Hall School (2025)
The Sterling Hall School alumni, current students, and parents shared their insights on the school’s culture, values, strengths, and weaknesses. Hear what Manlin Xi, Stephanie Orleans, Kari Gleicher had to say about the school.
Video Contents
- 1:50 - If you were to introduce the school to someone, what is the first thing you’d tell them about the school?
- 5:52 - From your perspective, how does the school combine learning with play and exploration?
- 10:11 - What are some of the important foundational skills that your boys have learned in Kindergarten that help set them up for success in the later years?
- Show Full Video Contents
Highlights from the Q&A discussion
Manlin Xi — current parent
Manlin, a parent at the Sterling Hall School, shared her perspective on the school’s close community, hands-on learning, social-emotional growth, character programs, engaging academics, and supportive teachers creating independence and confidence in her sons.
I feel the community at Sterling is very close and welcoming. Doors are always open, so I can easily pick up my son at the door and have real conversations with his teachers.
- That balance between school and extracurricular activities, along with parents knowing each other, makes the environment feel safe and secure for the children.
That balance between school and extracurricular activities, along with parents knowing each other, makes the environment feel safe and secure for the children.
One thing I really appreciate is how intentional teachers are in blending structured academics with play-based and real-world exploration. In a recent unit on materials and their properties, the boys used concepts to solve real-life problems they found around the classroom.
Social-emotional learning and self-regulation have been particularly impactful for my son. Teachers have supported him emotionally by helping him recognize his feelings, identify the zones he is in, and learn tools to regulate frustration.
The buddy program at Sterling has been a positive influence. Older boys regularly visit the JK class and serve as role models. After these interactions, I notice my son acting more kindly and patiently with his little sister.
I feel Sterling provides my son with a strong foundation, not just academically, but socially and emotionally. Smaller class sizes ensure his personality and challenges do not go unnoticed. Teachers recognized early on that he is strong-willed, which has allowed them to provide the foundation he needs to grow.
Stephanie Orleans — current parent
Stephanie, a parent at Sterling Hall School, shared her perspective on the school’s nurturing environment, engaging learning, personalized support, effective communication, positive reinforcement through Sterling Stars, and her son’s growth in confidence and curiosity.
- Sterling Hall is truly a warm, loving, and supportive environment. The school is genuinely invested in the success and growth of each individual child. They recognize that each boy has his own personality and tailor their approach to ensure every child feels safe, supported, and confident.
Sterling Hall is truly a warm, loving, and supportive environment. The school is genuinely invested in the success and growth of each individual child. They recognize that each boy has his own personality and tailor their approach to ensure every child feels safe, supported, and confident.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach, which was very important to us. Those first few days in JK can be daunting, dropping off your child in a new environment where they don’t know anyone, but the school made both our son and us feel confident and secure.
The school makes learning fun and engaging for the boys. They are actively involved in sometimes even choosing what they will learn, and the lessons are always interesting.
We felt that Sterling Hall was an environment where our son could blossom. We have seen a remarkable transformation in his confidence and independence over the course of the year.
The teachers have a pulse on each individual child and maintain constant communication with parents.
Sterling Hall’s positive reinforcement and recognition of achievements are also powerful.
Children are sponges at this age, absorbing knowledge and learning to navigate social, emotional, and academic challenges. Starting at Sterling from the beginning sets them up for success and provides opportunities to recognize and nurture their strengths.
Kari Gleicher — current parent
Kari, a parent at The Sterling Hall School, shared her perspective on the nurturing community, hands-on learning, social-emotional growth, strong teacher communication, the Sterling Star program, and the early foundation that builds confidence and curiosity in her sons.
- Our experience at Sterling Hall began in JK, and it was the most nurturing environment. Coming from preschool, transitioning to elementary school can be intimidating, but JK at Sterling felt like a continuation of preschool. The teachers were warm, calm, and patient.Our experience at Sterling Hall began in JK, and it was the most nurturing environment. Coming from preschool, transitioning to elementary school can be intimidating, but JK at Sterling felt like a continuation of preschool. The teachers were warm, calm, and patient.
One of the first questions we were asked was, “How can we nurture your child if they have a hard time with the transition?” I loved that question because it allowed me to share strategies that would help my son feel calm and reassured, such as reading his favourite story or having his older brother sit with him. These strategies worked beautifully and showed me that the school values parent input.
My son comes home excitedly talking about seeds and outdoor education, observing seeds in the garden, our refrigerator, and everywhere we go. I see how these early experiences lay a foundation for his future learning, similar to how my older son explored materials at his age.
Communication with the teachers is another strength of Sterling Hall. Whether I inform them about events at home or not, they are always up to speed… They notice even small details, like when he is hungry and becoming a bit sad, and they reach out to keep me informed.
The teachers are deeply involved beyond academics; they want to know the ins and outs of our children’s lives and collaborate with us to support them fully.
The Sterling Star program has also been meaningful. I remember when my older son came home with his first Sterling Star for kindness. He had assisted a friend with snow clothes, and the teacher recognized this act of care. This recognition encouraged him and demonstrated the school’s focus on traits like kindness, honesty, and showing up.
Initially, I wondered if starting at such a young age was necessary, but seeing the nurturing environment in SK convinced me that beginning early is invaluable.
My intention is for him to stay at Sterling Hall until grade 8, and starting and finishing in the same environment is the best foundation I could hope for.
