Our Traditions
Empowering young women since 1907.
While traditions have evolved at Castilleja, the sentiment and excitement surrounding them remain the same. Celebrations such as the Tie Ceremony on the first day of school, Junior-Senior Banquet and Rivalry, Spirit Week, and Founder’s Day all serve to cement friendships and help us all remember the importance of taking time to have fun and mark the moments. As our students experience these rites of passage, they learn they belong to a community of current students and alumnae who are united by these traditions. Whether decked out in a silly costume or participating in a time-honored ceremony, Castilleja students across divisions relish the joy of developing memories and friendships that last a lifetime and connect them to generations of alums.
Fall
OPENING DAYS
Opening Day at Castilleja is full of traditions and festivities that reinforce the joyful and supportive nature of our community. Younger students look up to older students and older students look out for younger ones. Above all else, the year begins with immeasurable enthusiasm and excitement.
Tie Ceremony
The day begins with Tie Ceremony, a celebration that is both a little bit serious and a little bit riotous. Above all else, it is timeless way for older, mentoring "buddies" in the Upper and Middle School to welcome new students. After lining up around the Circle, first 8th graders rush across the turf to find and tie the yellow ties of their 6th grades buddies. Then finally, after years of watching and waiting, the seniors make the dash across to tie the green ties of the freshman. All students wear ties in their grade's traditional class color as they cheer on the action.
Seniors Drive Around the Circle
Later in the morning of Opening Day, seniors mark another long-awaited milestone as they "Drive Around the Circle." After piling into cars they have decorated together, they (very slowly) drive the perimeter of the Circle at the center of campus. Everyone cheers them on as they celebrate the beginning of their final year.
Spirit Week
Crazy outfits, class colors, and school spirit are on full display during Spirit Week in the fall. Students, faculty, and staff celebrate each day with different themed costumes and activities—it ranges from dodgeball to a rave a dance party to and lip syncs and free throw challenges. The week ends with a pep rally in the gym and a gathering on the Circle to enjoy a barbeque while supporting Upper School athletic teams in their home games.
Ringing
Castilleja's "ringing" tradition for juniors and seniors is much more than a twist on receiving class rings—ringing has reinforced the bonds of sisterhood among Upper School students for decades. The junior "ringee" will secretly carry out various random acts of kindness for their senior "ringer," such as sending encouraging notes and hiding small gifts and surprises on campus. Finally, the "ringee" reveals their identity and asks the senior to "ring them."
Grandparents and Special Friends Day
On Grandparents and Special Friends Day, students invite their grandparents or other special people in their lives to campus for the afternoon. There are student performances, classroom visits, games on the Circle, a fun photo booth, and delicious treats! This event is typically held the day before Thanksgiving Break.
Spring
Rivalry and Banquet
Castilleja students have a long history of building community through friendly competition and creative and spontaneous performance. Currently, this manifests itself in Junior/Senior Rivalry each Spring. During Rivalry, the junior class and the senior class each pick a secret theme and plan for weeks to prepare to transform the campus a day. Faculty join the fun with skits and costumes to suit the themes. In recent years, the juniors and seniors have added a flag football game that sways between friendly and fierce. The week ends with a celebratory dinner for juniors and seniors.
Founder's Day
Castilleja's founder, Mary Lockey, initiated a school tradition celebrating Arbor Day each year by planting a tree or shrub on campus. For decades, this time was used to beautify the campus and in 1940, Arbor Day at Castilleja became Founder's Day, in honor of Miss Lockey and the holiday she loved. Today's festivities include a lunch and program for students and a parent or guardian guest on the Circle. It is a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow community members and spend the afternoon together honoring the school's rich history.
Fun on the Circle
Castilleja students have been building community and having fun on the Circle for over a century. Whether part of a decades-old tradition, or a spontaneous display of creativity; sisterhood, self-expression, and fun are values central to the student experience.
