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WESLEYAN TRADITIONS
Over Wesleyan School’s 58-year history spanning two campuses, many traditions have become an integral part of the Wesleyan experience. Time and time again when asked what they value most about their years at Wesleyan, alumni look back and recall relationships and stories of experiences shared with their friends and faculty.
Traditions foster a sense of belonging through shared experiences. They are the memories that connect us with people, places, and moments in time. In cultivating a positive experience, schools often create traditions to support those connections and to facilitate making memories for students and faculty members alike.
Wesleyan students still participate in many long-standing traditions. Some favorites that have spanned both campuses include...
HOEDOWN & SCARECROW DAY
For many years, even back on the Sandy Springs campus, each fall Wesleyan lower school students have participated in the fall festival known as Hoedown, and a grade level works with parents to make scarecrows. Today, Hoedown is lower school’s celebration the week of homecoming, and first grade students and their parents enjoy Scarecrow Day.
EASTER PLAY
Wesleyan students have performed the same fourth grade Easter Play for as long as anyone on campus can recall. Another tradition that stretches back to the days in Sandy Springs, students continue to use the same script. Each spring, the entire school attends to watch fourth grade students perform the beloved play with the same script each class has used for many years. In fact, most students can recite the script by heart, and many take great joy reciting “Too much. That’s TOO much,” with gusto.
UNIFORMS
Much to the delight of parents looking to streamline decisions on school mornings, Wesleyan students still wear uniforms every day. While there have been some changes to the dress code over the years, khaki shorts or pants, along with plaid jumpers and skorts, combined with either a green or white polo shirt is still the staple of student attire on campus. In a fun connection back to our roots, the plaid for the lower school jumpers, dresses, and skorts is the same plaid female students wore on the Sandy Springs campus as pictured below.
RULES
What would a look back at Wesleyan traditions be without a nod to several long-standing rules? Students are still expected to say, “yes ma’am” and “yes sir” when engaging with adults, and students and faculty alike greet one another by name. Also, even eight years after his retirement, Headmaster Emeritus Zach Young’s firm policy about no gum on campus is still in place for students, employees, parents, and even visitors.
As Wesleyan has grown through the years, some new traditions have started in Peachtree Corners...
LOWER SCHOOL CERAMIC NATIVITY SCENES
For a decade now, Elizabeth Ables, lower school art teacher, has worked with her oldest students to create a special gift for their parents each Christmas. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, fourth graders work to create their own clay nativity scenes. Complete with Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus, each piece is sculpted and painted by the student, fired in the kiln by Ables, and glazed by students. In recent years, the project has started in third grade with students creating the angel to go along with the nativity scene that they will complete the following year. For many lower school parents, this is one of the most treasured crafts to come home from school and one that families look forward to displaying with their Christmas decorations each year.
FILL THE GILL
A fan favorite, families gather to tailgate in the Gillfillan parking lot prior to some home football games during the fall. This tradition started in 2016 and is still going strong today. Cheerleaders often come by to perform, the marching band marches to the stadium through the tailgate, and sometimes a local cover band may be playing. Themed contests for group tailgates, complete with prizes, also make a festive time with friends and family.
FAMILY NIGHT
Since the 2015-2016 school year, Wesleyan sets aside four nights per year that are designated as Family Nights. On these school nights, no homework or assessments can be scheduled for the following day, coaches do their best to end practice early and not have competitions scheduled, and families are encouraged to spend time together enjoying the evening. Over the years, families have shared stories of cosmic bowling, game nights, pizza and a movie, and attending a concert on these nights set aside to spend time together.
PIZZA ON THE QUAD
Who doesn’t like pizza after school while you hang out with friends? Started in 2016, this fun event takes place four to five times per year depending on the weather and is an effort by the auxiliary programs team to foster community among students, employees, and parents. Administrators and faculty are stationed on Candler Patio, and students can purchase a slice of pizza, brownies, and candy (but no gum!). Students and families often hang out on the quad enjoying their snack and time playing with friends.■
MAKE WESLEYAN SUMMER CAMPS A PART OF YOUR SUMMER TRADITION!
For over 20 years, Wesleyan Summer Camps have made summers fun for all children ages 4-14! Join us for day camp or a specialty camp. Camps range from art to athletics, STEM to life skills, and we offer morning, afternoon, and full day programming. Registration for summer 2022 opens in January!
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