Four New Families Share Their Stories
This year, Principia welcomed 55 new families to the School. They hail from 18 states and four countries. For many of them, the world’s shift last spring to remote learning redefined and clarified their educational desires for their children. The current climate of instruction in most schools felt inadequate. They sought a school that would identify their child’s specific needs and meet the child there. They wanted a school that was equipped for the requirements of today and prepared for the demands of tomorrow.
Meet four of the families that joined Principia School this fall.
Early Childhood—The Wright Ryan Family
While some families say grace before dinner, Missy and Tim sing it. Their three-year-old daughter, Samantha, who goes by “Sammy,” is all too eager to lead them in the song her Preschool class sings before lunch every day.
The Wright Ryans and their dog, Pepper, live in Webster Groves, Missouri. Missy grew up in St. Louis and graduated from the College in 2003, so she was familiar with the Lower School and Early Learning Center (ELC). When it came time to select a preschool for their daughter, they looked at several in the area. Sammy helped them decide on Principia.
“Sammy loved ELC,” said Missy. “And we were happy with the small numbers and the teaching approach at Prin, as well as the School’s utilization of outdoor spaces on campus for learning purposes.” The Wright Ryans also appreciated the Reggio Emilia-inspired approach to education in the Early Childhood program, and the School worked with them to secure financial aid.
It can be difficult for any parent to see their child head off to school full time for the first time, but the transition was made easier for the Wright Ryans when Sammy’s teachers made a home visit before the start of the term. Parents also had an opportunity to see the classroom in person the day before school started. Regular communication and photo sharing from the teachers have eased the separation as well.
“Sammy is having a blast,” Missy says. “Principia is a wonderful place for young children to grow and learn in a loving community."
Lower School—The Coles Family
Becky (Poole) and Harold Coles had long considered Principia for their youngest daughter, Michaela. Becky is a 1991 College graduate, and their eldest daughter, Lakiera Poole, is a 2012 Upper School grad. But living in Lagrangeville, New York—1,000 miles from St. Louis—meant the decision wouldn’t be made lightly.
A hands-on learner, Michaela loves building things and working with others. “There’s a collaborative, interactive, creative spirit at Principia,” Harold said. “That is what got us interested . . ..”
In summer 2019, the Coles visited the School and met with Head of School Travis Brantingham. Harold admired Principia’s model of instruction: purpose-driven, student-centered, and hands-on. And he appreciated how the students were being prepared for the careers and experiences they'd have upon graduating.
For Becky, the knowledge that Christian Science is woven through all activities, assignments, and experiences was comforting and encouraging. “Michaela is a very spiritually minded child,” she said. “I knew it would be a spiritual environment and her beliefs wouldn’t be shut down.”
When Michaela’s school moved to remote learning last spring, the light Michaela had for learning began to dim. Change was necessary, even at the cost of separating the family geographically. Becky and Michaela moved to St. Louis for her fifth-grade year, while Harold remained in New York. “She loves her teachers,” Becky says. “She’s very engaged in her learning.”
Even from a distance, Harold has found that Principia is fulfilling its commitment. “I want Michaela to be prepared to do whatever it is God wants her to do,” Harold said. “And Principia is the environment for her to do that.”
Middle School—The Bradley Family
Julian (US ’92, C’96) and Heidi (Brooks, C’96) Bradley, who live in Mercer Island, WA, have three children. Last spring, they found that remote learning didn’t work well for their eldest, Paige, so they enrolled her this fall as a seventh-grade boarder in Principia’s Middle School.
Having spent the past eight summers at Camp Kohahna in Michigan, Paige was accustomed to being apart from her family, and she was excited that some of her camp friends would now be her class- and dormmates.
The transition was less easy for her mom. “It was a little traumatic because I couldn’t go in the dorm with her,” Heidi recounts of their arrival during this fall’s unusual protocols for drop-off. “I had to drop her at the door and wish her well. That was hard. But she was so excited to be there.”
Once home, Heidi still wondered if they’d made the right decision sending Paige away to boarding school. Like most parents of middle schoolers, she was accustomed to keeping an eye on her daughter, making sure she was completing her responsibilities and engaged in more than TikTok.
“Those are things you do as parents,” she said. “And you wonder, if you send them off as a boarder, are those things going to fall through the cracks?”
It didn’t take long for her concerns to dissolve. Paige’s housemom keeps in regular contact, providing weekly updates with photos showcasing activities and class projects. And she has made herself accessible to parents at any time.
“Prin feels like a big extended family,” says Julian. “We hear from Paige a lot. She’s engaged with her learning, getting into sports, and being with friends.”
“It’s a community that has her back and wants her to do well,” Heidi adds. “That’s a really good feeling.”
Upper School—The Sriperumbudoor Family
For Sowjanya Tirungari, Gary Sriperumbudoor, and their sons Rutvick and Kausthubh, who goes by “Kosko,” their journey to Principia involved a pitch, bat, bowl, and stumps. In other words, a cricket match! Residents of St. Louis, the Sriperumbudoor family was familiar with Principia and several families whose children attended the School, including close friends of Kosko. When his friends talked about their experience at Principia, Kokso liked what he was hearing.
One of his friends, senior Taine Dry, whose parents work at the School, was also his cricket teammate. As the two families became friends, the Sriperumbudoors learned a lot about Principia and began seriously considering it for Kosko.
Sowjanya and Gary wanted Kosko be in a strong community environment that focused on developing rigorous academic skills and guiding and supporting him in preparation for college. Through discussion with the Drys, they gained confidence that Principia would fulfill these objectives. By August, Kosko was officially a member of the School’s Class of ’22.
He’s excited about his new school, and his parents are pleased that their son’s academic experience is living up to their expectations and surpassing their previous school experience. “Coming from a public-school environment, we see a big difference in the amount of attention and detail from the staff,” Sowjanya says. “All his teachers are very good, and I look forward to seeing Kosko grow more in his academics as well as his leadership abilities. I would definitely recommend Principia.”