We have written this article to deliver a heady dose of back-to-school dopamine and provide a guide for new students navigating the sometimes treacherous and often confusing waters of school past orientation week. To these first-time Record readers: firstly, welcome! And secondly: Please join The Record. We here at the Opinion section, as old and graying Upper Mids suffering from acute writer’s block, are eager for young blood and fresh takes (however “hot” they may be).
For this guide, we’ve selected our favorite three school traditions. For each, we explain 1) what they are, 2) why they deserve this oh-so-coveted spot in the ranking and 3) our tips for enjoying them to the fullest.
Holidays (our favorite):
Holidays are the crown jewel of our traditions. Once per athletic season, Mr. Bradley announces a Head of School Holiday; that is, a spontaneous day off of school for students to hang out with friends, head to Millerton, study, or just chill. Recently, they have been announced around check-in. Mr. Bradley will send an email entitled: “Please come to Walker Auditorium immediately for an important announcement.” As soon as students receive the email, they can leave the dorm. Most students race immediately to Walker, where Seniors sit on stage as Mr. Bradley officially announces the Holiday. Per school policy, no assignments can be due on Holidays. This means all homework, tests, and quizzes must be pushed until the next time a class convenes.
Of note: as the year goes on and students get increasingly antsy for a Holiday, some members of the community will engage in a sub(and unofficial)-tradition we call Holiday Roulette. Holiday predictions get thrown around, and students start email chains begging Mr. Bradley for a Holiday. Those feeling especially adventurous might postpone homework until after check-in, hoping that a special email comes to sweep away their mountains of slated assignments (at least until the next day).
To be clear: it’s almost impossible to predict the date of a Holiday. In fact, the whole thing feels a little Mafi a-esque—nobody knows who’s in on it, and those who do know are bound by omertà. Play Roulette at your own risk.
Spirit Week & Taft Day:
Spirit Week and Taft day are the rowdiest traditions on the list. On Taft Day, the culmination of the fall sports season, teams compete against our archnemesis Taft in an epic battle for the title of the better school. Both athletes and non-athletes alike are expected to bring the energy for Taft Day, whether it be by painting their faces blue or putting on the Bucky mascot costume for the day.
Spirit Week, which leads up to Taft Day, consists of various theme days, typically including a twin day, throwback Thursday, blue out, and a few wild cards.
The Blue and White club renovates Main Hallway, decorating with balloons, a wall of psych cards offering defamatory but completely accurate slander against Taft, and a cardboard rhino (Taft’s mascot). The rhino is burned in a bonfire the night before Taft Day.
The key to Taft Day and Spirit Week is to go all out. But be sure to wear sweatpants under your blue and white tutu, however, as it can get chilly out on the fields.
Other Traditions:
We also wanted to acquaint you with a few of the more unofficial school “traditions.”
Senior Grass & Senior Quad:
Only Seniors are free to walk across the island of grass in Main Circle or sit in the collection of blue couches in front of the Snack Bar (Snabe). Students can sit in Senior Quad if accompanied by a Senior, but walking on Senior Grass is prohibited at all times.
Upperclass Tables and Walkways:
The tables in front of Snabe and walkway closest to its windows are claimed by Upper Mids and Seniors.
Center Doors:
Until graduation, walk through the side doors to enter Main Building. Rumor has it that if you use the center entrance, you won’t graduate!
Bucky Statue:
It’s tradition for students passing through the MAC to touch the bearcat statue in the foyer for good luck.
The Hotchkiss Rule:
There seems to be a strange phenomenon where if you are speaking about a person who isn’t there, said person magically appears.
While we did our best to provide a comprehensive overview for you newbies, there are still a number of traditions we did not touch on. Although they may not be in our guide, they could become your favorites. To at least get you familiar with some names, here are our honorary mentions: Upper Mid Review (an Upper Mid-led variety show), Senior Talent Show, Polar Plunge (students jump in and out of the freezing lake in mid-Winter and are rewarded with a bonfire and s’mores), Student Music Showcase (an hour-long concert performed and organized by students), Valentine’s Day (you can send notes and flowers to your friends or that special someone), and Gotcha (a school-wide game of tag held in the Spring).
If it sounds overwhelming, trust us: by the end of the year, you will be teaching new students the ins-and-outs of these traditions next year.
