CULTIVATING COMMUNITY

Maclay Brings Back All School Traditions And Implements New Ones For All Students To Take

When class trips come to mind you will find Maclay students shredding the slopes with their friends on the Junior ski trip, shoving their classmates faces full of shaving cream on freshman challenge and screaming their class chants with their grade at pep rallies. These memorable traditions that every young student desires to be a part of cultivate the Maclay community and compose unforgettable relationships for each and every student.

When COVID hit Maclay’s campus in 2019, all of those unique traditions were set aside with an uncertain return date. The hiatus took those significant opportunities from students, altering their Maclay experience to the point where they were unable to participate in traditions as one upper school student body. However, as Maclay moves forward this year, all the memorable traditions are commencing again and new ones are even in the works

“It was very difficult,” Assistant Head of Upper School Mr. Beamer said. “Maclay is a people’s institution. We are people first. We are a community, so anytime you must stop those traditions that would allow for the community to get together and for people to build relationships, it’s tough.”

When the pandemic first hit, what students previously called a “normal” high school experience was cut short and they were unable to take part in all the traditions that made high school special. None of the current high schoolers have had the full Maclay upper school experience as the previous graduating classes. where they were able to participate in all dances, trips and other memorable aspects with their friends. Many of them in fact, have never even experienced having a back to school dance or convocation as an upper school student. The class of 2023 seniors are the only class that has experienced a back to school dance and convocation since the pandemic hit, and the last time they attended one it was their freshman year. When asked about her experience attending her first convocation as an upper school student, freshman Claire Smith said

“It was really cool to see what I get to look forward to for my senior year,” freshman Claire Smith said. “It was also cool to see how much all the rest of the school looks up to the seniors.”

However, as more things are starting to go back to normal, Maclay thought it was time to return to their roots and bring back all the traditions students love and cherish for the 2022-2023 school year. For example, on Friday Aug 13. convocation was brought back after two years of having to cancel it because of COVID. Started by Mr. Milford as an idea to kick off the new school year, convocation is now an honored Malcay tradition that dates back to 2015 where a fundamental aspect is to have student speakers, student musicians and ceremonial formality for a deeper meaning.

BY Merrell Webster

When asked about how he felt experiencing his first Convocation, the new chemistry teacher philip previte explained that he had never seen anything like it in all his years of teaching.

“ Iv’e been teaching 43 years and it was the best assembly I have ever seen in 43 years,” Previte said. “ My favorite part was the first and second grade kids coming in with the seniors. It was amazing, I was tearing up looking at the little kids looking up to thos monsters. I really was blessed by it, I enjoyed it and it was really good.”

When most students think of a “normal” high school experience, they think of all the activities and traditions that they can take part in. According to Mr. Beamer and the administration, a motivating factor to institute these traditions again is the sense of normalcy and consistency it brings to all the students. They are much more likely to enjoy their high school experience when they know for certain they can look forward to and participate in the traditions that frame their experiences.

“ We are ready to get back to some sense of normalcy, “ Beamer said. “We know that normal is not going to be what it was two years ago, but if we can get back to something that is consistent and predictable, that’s going to bring about a sense of relief. “With the Hustle and bustle of the day when the school year starts, everyone going in their own directions and clubs and sports, we really use those traditions to allow the students to know each other. As an administrator and a teacher here, what is so special to me is that oftentimes it’s not what you taught kids and students in a classroom that they remember. They remember how you made them feel and how you encouraged them in whatever the activities were on those trips.”

Not only was convocation brought back this year, but the administration has plans to bring back all of the class trips for each grade. During the past two years, all class trips were either canceled or re-done in a virtual aspect. In 2020, Sophomore Safari and Junior Ski trips were canceled. The junior ski trip continued in 2022, but with both the junior and senior classes since the seniors of 2022 were unable to attend their junior year. Freshman challenge was re-created to happen on the Maclay campus instead of being an overnight trip.

“ I personally wish we had a freshman challenge at an overnight camp, ‘’ Junior Victoria Gainey said. “ But during that time that wasn’t an option so the teachers tried their best to give us the best experience we could have. It definitely could have been worse or we could have not had it at all.”

To make these traditions more memorable, students can get involved by taking charge in the traditions they want to see get started and to give feedback on the ones they want to see changed. Whether that’s using the suggestion box in Langford hall or utilizing Student Council to help get things done, students’ voices can have a lasting impact on new traditions.

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“We want the students to take ownership because when students have ownership for something, it becomes special,” Beamber said. “By allowing these traditions to impact the student voice, we are looking at traditions but also making new traditions. We want to start new traditions and it all comes from the student voice. That’s so important.”

Bringing back these traditions that have become such a compelling part of the Maclay community will set the foundation for togetherness. Whether that’s seen through a multitude of endeavors such as bringing back the back to school dance, freshman orientation, class trips or creating new traditions, they will all bring the Maclay student body together as one community with a sense of openness. It’s important to remember that these pronounced traditions make Maclay feel like Maclay. Without them, there is no sense of bonding or memories. traditions shape each moment and imprint unforgettable memories that students and even faculty will cherish for the rest of their lives.

“I want our students to leave Maclay knowing that every person in this world, every person in this environment, that they belong here,” Beamer said. “We can work together, and we can trust each other. A lot of the activities we have are built around trust and coming outside of your box, and that’s what’s so important to me that students realize that. We are in this together and we are all the same.”

BREAKFAST BUNCH. The Maclay 2022 sophomores were up and ready for breakfast at 8:00 a.m. sharp every morning of Sophomore Safari. They stood outside the breakfast room eager to get their fun day ahead started.

THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE. (Freshman challenge team “The Bees” group together for a picture after completing the Freshman Olympics. Nothing better than teaming up with your peers for a fun game.

SHREDDING THE SLOPES. Pictured from left to right, Maclay 2023 juniors Lilly Phipps, Riley Stafford, Barrett Matheson and Kate Bulloch pose at the top of the Breckenridge mountain. Waiting to ski down the variety of slopes, these four snap a photo to take in the beautiful view of Colorado.

HAND IN HAND. Pictured from left to right, class of 2023 seniors Evan Brown, Meghan Goletz, Merrell Webster, Grace Reichelderfer and Meg Howell smile hand in hand with their assigned first graders at convocation. The annual Convocation is a Maclay tradition that made its way back to campus this year after being canceled due to COVID -19.