Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are the answers to some common parent questions. If you have a question that is not answered here, send a message to [email protected] and we'll get you the answer!

Q: How does the beginning of the school year work for students?
A: The calendar at stahs.net/about_us/calendar contains all the key dates for students and parents. There are two separate orientation days, one for freshmen and another for upperclassmen. Students must report on their respective orientation days and then all students report for the first full day of classes. WASTA Day is a welcome day for freshmen. Only freshmen and upperclassman volunteers are expected to be present on that day.

Q: When will we receive busing information?
A: If your district does not provide busing and if you have indicated that you will require STA transportation, then you will receive route information by the end of August. Please direct any transportation-related questions to Transportation Coordinator Doug Schwegler.

Q: What is the difference between Parent Nights, Back-to-School Night, and Parent-Teacher Conferences?
A: Parent Nights provide you with grade-level specific information about your child's upcoming year at STA and tips to help make each year of high school successful.
Back-to-School Night gives you the chance to go through your child's schedule and hear from each teacher regarding his/her policies and philosophies.
Parent-Teacher Conferences in November allow you to meet one-on-one with teachers to receive feedback on your child's progress.

Q: How do I contact my student’s teachers?
A: You can find contact information for teachers at www.stahs.net/about/contact.

Q: How do we see our child's grades? Do they get report cards?
A: The official grade portal for STA is PowerSchool, which parents can access at bgahs.powerschool.com/public/. Parents will receive login information at Back-to-School Night. Report cards are mailed only once, at the end of the school year.

Q: Can we see our child's homework assignments?
A: The official homework portal for STA is Canvas. Students will receive instructions on how to access and use Canvas at the beginning of the school year. Parents can create an account so they can view their child's assignments by following the instructions at stahs.net/parents. Parents must create their own accounts; they may not use their child's login and password to access Canvas.

Q: Is there a place for students to go after school if I can’t pick them up right away?
A: If your child wants to stay for extra help or to participate in an extra-curricular activity but you cannot pick him/her up right away, the cafeteria is supervised until 6:00 p.m. every school day.

Q: How do they find out about joining clubs/teams/organizations?
A: If your child is interested in joining extra curricular activities but does not know what offerings we have or who the advisors/coaches are, they can speak with the Student Council Advisor, Mr. Kowalczyk, the Athletics Director, Mr. Smith, or the Campus Minister, Mr. Lewon.

Q: What is the procedure if my student is late or needs to leave early?
A: A student who enters the school after 7:58 a.m. must report to the main office for admittance. To be dismissed early, a note must be presented by the student from the parent/guardian to the attendance office before classes the day of the early dismissal. The parent/guardian must sign the student out of school at the main office.

Q: How do I add money to my child's lunch account?
A: Students can purchase lunch using their student ID card. Money can be added to the account at stahs.net/student_life/cafeteria.

Q: Where do students purchase gym uniforms?
A: Students can purchase gym uniforms at the school store during lunch periods.

Q: Whom do I call if I have concerns about how my child is adjusting to high school?
A: Questions about your child's adjustment or academic success can be best answered by his/her guidance counselor via email or telephone.

Q: How early can students arrive in the morning? What is the best place to drop them off? Is there a place for them to go that early?
A: The school building opens at 7:00 a.m. Parents must drop off students at the main entrance. The cafeteria is open to students and is supervised from 7:15 a.m.

Q: What supplies does my child need?
A: Each teacher may have different requirements, which they will convey during the first days of school, but in general students should have spiral notebooks, binders, pens, pencils, and a backpack. The type of calculator that a student will need will depend on his/her math level.

Q: What is the dress code?
A: Uniforms are required unless it is a "dress down day." The uniform requirements can be found in the Student Handbook.