Bryn Mawr School - Traditions

Traditions

• Founders’ Day: On a day in late September/early October, the entire school gathers in the morning in the Graduation Garden to celebrate the founding of the School in 1885. Faculty and staff awards are presented for recognition of outstanding service to the community.

• Bazaar: The Bazaar, begun in 1948 by the Parent's Association, is held on the first Saturday of May and includes activities for all the members of the school community including games, rides, and markets. 3rd Graders open the Bazaar by performing a Maypole dance.The Bazaar is held in the early afternoon which is then continued by Gym Drill.

• Gym Drill: After the Bazaar, the Bryn Mawr community gathers at the upper athletic field for Gym Drill. The Middle and Upper School perform an all-school dance and school exercises which have been performed since 1904, followed by each class in the Middle and Upper Schools performing an ethnic dance. In addition, the seniors perform a dance that they have choreographed, and that is kept a secret up until the day of Gym Drill. Reunion alumnae classes join in the Banner March in which the Gym Drill captain in each class passes down her banner to mark the completion of the year. The Fifth Grade marches onto the field at the end to receive their first banner, marking the end of their Lower School days. Upper School girls receive awards for distinction in athletics and dance, based on the number of "bars and stars" they have on their sash. Girls who have received seven "bars" receive engraved cups, while girls who earn six bars receive a paperweight. Each of the girls wears a sash with her graduation class year, with ribbons that she has earned over the years in dance class on the front of the sash, and colored ribbons representing the years she has attended Bryn Mawr on the back.

• Bell Ringing: The day before senior projects, each senior rings the bell in the 1992 Belltower with another Bryn Mawr student of her choice (or multiple students). If the student has a younger sibling that attends Bryn Mawr, they are excused from class to ring the bell with their graduating sister.

• Class Day: The day before senior graduation, Grades 7–12 gather for a ceremony to mark the end of the school year. Seniors selected by their class make brief speeches, and a variety of awards are given out.

• Graduation: At 10:30 a.m. on a day in early June, the Upper School, faculty, trustees, senior parents, alumnae, and friends of the School gather in the Graduation Garden to celebrate the Seniors’ completion of their Bryn Mawr education. The graduating girls wear long white dresses and carry baskets of daisies, the school flower.

School Prayer

Watch over our School, O Lord, as its years increase,
and bless and guide its children wherever they may be,
keeping them ever unspotted from the world.

Let their hearts be pure, their faith unshaken, their principles immovable.

Be Thou by their side if dark hours shall come upon them;
strengthen them when they stand; comfort and help
them when they are weak-hearted; raise them up if they fall.

Let Thy light never grow dim to their eyes, but through
the struggle and the business of their everyday lives,
let its radiance lead them heavenward, and in their
hearts may Thy peace which passeth understanding abide
all the days of their lives.

AMEN

Bryn Mawr School Song

Joyous the love
That rises in our heart;
To Thee, Bryn Mawr, we sing
Of thy dear world apart;
Thy happy halls, thy fearless world
Of calm and strife, where hope unfurled
Wild dreams of youth, a wakening world
Of wider realms a part.

Shout, shout the love
Our praise to thee, Bryn Mawr
For golden hopes and dreams
That shine where’er we are.
In sorrow, joy, in wisdom's quest
In work, in play, achievement’s zest,
If years from now we meet the test,
We’ll thank thee then, Bryn Mawr.

Class of 1936
Welsh Air

Jerusalem

And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountain green?
And was the Holy Lamb of God
On England’s pleasant pastures seen?
And did the countenance divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark satanic mills?
Bring me my bow of burning gold!
Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear! O clouds, Unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!
I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Til we have built Jerusalem
In England’s green and pleasant land.

William Blake
Traditionally sung at all school events by the Upper School singing group, Dayseye.