The Stony Brook School - Traditions

Traditions

• Chapel is one of the most important Stony Brook traditions incorporated into the day. It is held Monday-Thursday for the student body where the faculty expound on the lectionary readings for the week. Thursday chapel is a longer worship service which frequently includes outside speakers. Chapel is also held on Sunday mornings for the residential school community.

• The "Workjob" Program has been a large part of school life since 1942. Because of the labor shortage produced during WWII, the students were given a chore that helped to maintain the running of the campus, ranging from sweeping classrooms and washing dishes to shoveling coal for the furnaces. Since then, workjobs have been a major contributor in the instilling of character, hard work, responsibility, and leadership within the student body.

• The first weekend of every new school year and after spring break, the six classes compete against each other in an evening of field games called Class Challenges for the prestige being the top class. Dorm Challenges are also held between dorms, which are paired up into teams and compete for the House Cup.

• In early November after the end of the fall athletic season, the school community takes part in the Gingerbread Bread Run, a 1.8 mile run, organized by the prefects, which rounds the perimeter of the campus and the athletic field. The reward after the race is a gingerbread bear cookie and hot chocolate.

• Prior to the end of the semester in December, the school community celebrates Christmas with a service of Lessons and Carols, based on the service that originated at Kings College at Cambridge University in England. The service combines the retelling of the redemption story with congregational carols and musical performances by the Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, and Chamber Orchestra. The service is followed by a special Christmas dinner and dessert buffet in the Dining Hall.

• International week in late January and the International Festival is a favorite highlight for the school community every year. A week of internationally themed meals, chapels, and assemblies concludes with an evening featuring buffets of authentic international cuisines from our diverse student body and a program of dances, skits, and songs sharing their native cultures.

• The annual Declamation Contest, also in January, is held where twelve finalists compete by performing 4-5 minute pieces in the categories of Oration, Drama, and Humor. Upperclassman are required to select a declamation each October for their English classes and are narrowed down to semi-finalists in November. Cash prizes of $100 are awarded to the winner of each category. The Middle School Declamation Contest is held separately each Spring.

• Similar to the service of Lessons and Carols, the school has a tenebrae Maundy Thursday service prior to Easter weekend in order to commemorate Christ's death on Good Friday.

• On Commencement, it is also a tradition for the graduates and all of the faculty in their regalia to process up Chapman Parkway and down to Swanson behind bagpipers prior to the ceremony. The commencement luncheon for all guests follows the ceremony.