Our Traditions

Ceremony, Continuity, Camaraderie

From the Armistice Day Flagpole Ceremony, which began in 1925, through the "Head of School for a Day" noontime party, a recent tradition, Milton cherishes the celebrations of our community.

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An annual tradition since the end of World War I: Students gather in silence around the flagpole each Veterans Day to honor those who have fought and died for our country. The bells of Apthorp Chapel ring as a trumpeter plays “Taps” and the American flag is lowered to half-mast.

 

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Every Spring Forbes House Faculty hosts a senior steak dinner. During the event, sophomores put on a skit about the seniors. The dorm also sends a farewell to any departing faculty.

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Every Halloween, Robbins House and Norris House hold a pumpkin carving contest.


Individual Milton houses have their own lore, including:

bullet Pumpkin carving with marshmallow-roasting and scary stories
bullet Adding plants each year to the Hathaway Garden in the name of graduating seniors
bullet Robbins theme bowling in February: everyone dresses up!
bullet Poems chosen for seniors and presented on the last night of school
bullet The Walk for Hunger: some Hallowell girls walk, others cheer for the walkers during the last three miles
bullet Hallowell "Climb the Wall Night" - meet at the climbing wall, go "over the top," celebrate with Rocky Road ice cream
bullet Special holiday dinners
bullet Theme decorating parties around festive seasons
bullet Welcoming gifts made by the house council on each girl's bed at the start of the school year
bullet House picnics and barbecues
bullet "Good talk:" Hathaway house dinners with discussion led by seniors about issues chosen by the girls
bullet Birthday parties
bullet House-designed t-shirts
bullet Boys caroling at girls' houses the night before winter break
bullet Jazz Combo final exams held before an audience in Forbes Common Room
bullet Small dinners in the house head's apartment
bullet After-dinner tea and conversation
bullet House community service projects


The whole school shares in many traditions, whether they're staged in houses, on the quads, in formal settings, or at graduation, looking up at the chapel

bullet Convocation at school opening, when the entire school provides a sustained cheer as the Class I students enter
bullet Class IV talks
bullet Skits at morning assemblies to announce activities
bullet Assembly performances of the Miltones or Octet (to wild applause!)
bullet Mr. Millet's calligraphy on awards and diplomas
bullet Awarding the Milton sock filled with quarters from each senior to the last person receiving his or her diploma at graduation
bullet Graduation morning parade from Hallowell to Faulkner house, saying good-bye and cheering at each house
bullet Athletes wear Milton colors on game days
bullet Senior auction - seniors auction their own "wares" to support their prom
bullet Boarding and day student softball tourney, spring nights after dinner
bullet Senior Project Day - all students visit, admire, watch and listen to the presentations of the senior projects
bullet Culturefest - an outdoor, day-long celebration of cultures within the Milton Academy community
bullet Seminar Day - a day-long series of seminars featuring guest lecturers addressing national and global issues
bullet Swap-It Dance - students come dressed in vintage clothes purchased at Swap-It, the historic Lower School flea market
bullet Class IV play
bullet 1212 Productions - plays staged in the intimate 1212 classroom in Warren Hall
bullet Class I Ice Cream party