End of Year Rites of Passage Graduation, 55 Nights, Passing of the Torch

END OF YEAR RIGHTS OF PASSAGE

AUTHOR: PORTIA JOHNSON

Graduates of the class of 2021 have had a year like no other, and they end the year with much joy in their hearts as they were able to celebrate in person four of the most important Rite of Passage events that Besant Hill School students can experience. We believe that it is important to prepare students for what is ahead and allow them the tools and processing time necessary to imagine their future selves and who they would like to be. This journey formally begins for the seniors with the traditional 100 Night's ceremony. The purpose of this event is to mark for the students the time when they have a mere 100 Nights remaining of tenure as Besant Hill students and for them to shift their focus to their role as alumni. This year, due to our delayed return after Winter break, we celebrated our first ever 55 Nights ceremony. We hosted the event at our beautiful new Ceramics Building, and Summer Galante ‘97 was our guest speaker. The next important Rite of Passage that occurs is our Senior Retreat. During this time, seniors participate in nightly councils and use the time to enjoy each other’s company and process the upcoming important event of graduation. After their return from the senior retreat, the seniors are allowed the opportunity to formally pass on the leadership of the school to the juniors in the Passing of the Torch ceremony which occurs on Senior Hill with the personalized tiles of former graduates displayed underfoot. Lastly, the seniors were able to experience an in-person graduation ceremony, which we now know is truly a privilege. The ceremony took place on the soccer field rather than its typical place on the commons lawn in order to offer more room for physical distancing, and the epic view of the surrounding mountains was certainly an added bonus. As per tradition, each student was able to give their own graduation speech and reflect on the important lessons they have learned and the connections they have made. It was a beautiful end to a most unusual year, which left our hearts full with tender memories of the incredible class of 2021. 