Girls Preparatory School - Traditions

Traditions

GPS has many traditions dating back to the school's founding.

The school celebrates "May Day" on the Wednesday closest to May 1 as long as the weather permits. On this day, seniors are presented to the school as was the tradition for educated women at the time GPS was founded. Underclassmen have the opportunity to dance with the school's dance clubs, and all sophomores perform a traditional maypole dance. The tradition dates back to British fertility rites. The dance is meant to symbolize the coming spring and ensure a healthy crop. Some trace it back to Roman times. GPS's first May Day was in 1914.

The May Court, consisting of a Queen, Maid of Honor, Scepter Bearer, Crown Bearer, and two Train bearers, and (new in 2011) three ladies of the court, is nominated by the senior class. The May Queen and Maid of Honor are then selected by a vote of the entire student body. Though originally the May Queen was the girl in the class with the longest hair, the May Queen and her court are now to be the representatives of the senior class "in the highest sense". The Queen carries a scepter and wears a white dress. All other seniors wear a solid colored, floor-length dress. No other senior is allowed to wear a white, ivory or very pale colored dress or carry white flowers.

Most students enjoy May Day and are very happy that such a long-standing tradition has been upheld, but a few are disappointed that a day where the seniors stand around in dresses has reached an equal footing in importance to commencement. Some seniors have opted out of participating in the day by writing a letter or speaking to the administration about why they are against the tradition. Very few seniors have chosen this option in the past. Many attempts to bring substance to May Day, such as donating money to charities instead of buying full bouquets and having something the student is passionate about read out along with her name, have been unsuccessful largely due to the administration's unwillingness to change 'tradition'.

Cat-Rat is a tradition where a senior "cat" takes a 6th grade "rat" under her wing for the year. The girls go on a retreat and put on a parade for the school the day after, in which the "cats" dress up their "rats" according to a previously chosen theme. Past parade themes have been "Mall Rats," "I Love the 90s," "Globe Trotters," and "Board Games."

Each year, GPS also celebrates a "Class Day" near the end of the year when many awards are given for academic and character achievement. The awards for the Upper School Teacher of the Year and Middle School Teacher of the Year are presented at this time, while other awards (notably for seniors) are given at Commencement the next day.

The girls attending GPS wear two uniforms, one during the winter and the other during the summer. The summer uniform, nicknamed the "potato sack," consists of a thin cotton dress with large front pockets, pleats down the front, small white buttons on both the collar and sleeves, a slim leather belt around the waist, and a bow to tie the collar closed. The winter uniform, much more generic, is a simple pleated navy or plaid skirt and an oxford cloth shirt. The summer uniform was adopted in 1924 with the winter uniform making its first appearance in 1988.

After each test or quiz, a girl must write the honor code pledge: "On my honor I have neither given nor received help on this test/quiz, nor will I discuss it." and sign it.

Other traditions include the community service oriented Robin Hood Week, Winterim, and the Honor Code. All seniors are also required to give a talk in front of the school. These talks occur during assembly three to four times a week.

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