Stonebridge Christian School

Traditions create memories! They are the building blocks of a heritage, the milestones, festivities, and memorials that give reason for celebration and chronicle our personal heritage. Traditions are passed along from one generation to another providing a sense of security and identity.

Over a period of years many traditions have been established that have come to characterize our school and American Christian education in its expression at StoneBridge. With the passage of time, many are legendary and are really myths! Most began quite simply, flowing from the research of the rich and classic elementary curriculum and the creativity of teachers and parents who were inspired to write plays and musicals, create puppets in Workshop Week, and share tea and homemade cookies during literature class. Today, StoneBridge has grown to include a high school and embraces new challenges of teaching and mentoring Christian high school students, setting new traditions in motion, creating fresh moments for remembrance. We are grateful for the traditions kept alive in the elementary school, for they become the joyous memories of our children's "StoneBridge School Days" to be treasured for a lifetime and imparted to the next generation.

1. Open Door Policy

StoneBridge School serves parents in their God-ordained responsibility to educate and nurture their children in the Lord by keeping the door to the classroom "open." Parents are always welcome to join any class at any time. Teachers and students alike have become accustomed to routinely having visitors in the classroom. Teachers appreciate parents who are actively involved in supporting the many activities, field trips, games, and Special Day celebrations in the StoneBridge School calendar. Come, sit in a literature class or help in the Primary School with phonogram drills. Your children will sit taller and prouder because you're there! Over the years, many teachers have come from the ranks of mothers "who just couldn't stay away from StoneBridge."

2. Goal Sheets

At the lower school, the Goal Sheet is a valuable weekly communication for parents. It is written weekly by each homeroom teacher and typed by the school secretaries for distribution on Mondays. The Goal Sheet lists every subject your child will study within a week and includes a short description about each lesson's theme. Homework, spelling lists, memory verses, classroom information, and a short letter from the homeroom teacher (elementary school only) are also communicated on Goal Sheets along with space for teachers to communicate weekly grades. Lunchroom menus, sports schedules, and general school announcements are all found on the Goal Sheet. Over the years, the parents who consistently read each weekly Goal Sheet are able to successfully monitor the progress of their child and remain informed of current StoneBridge events. Weekly Goal Sheets require a tremendous amount of time to produce and serve the school's mission and its dedication to co-labor with parents in the education of their children and maintain effective and open relationships by communicating information pertaining to their child's progress and life at school.

3. Thursdays at StoneBridge

CHAPEL: Thursdays are traditionally Chapel days with a half-day schedule. Chapel services are held every Thursday morning in all schools and First Thursday Chapel unites the whole Upper School student body (grades 5-12) for a joint service. Students in the elementary school are encouraged to "dress up" for Chapel, while high school students are required to follow the Chapel Dress Code. (Please refer to the Dress Code Policy for specific guidelines.) High school Chapels are led by student Prefects and afford many opportunities for our youth to offer special music and occasionally to bring the message. Many Christian leaders are invited as guest speakers and parents are always welcome to attend.

HALF-DAY SCHEDULE: Lower school students attend a half-day every Thursday (8:30-11:45 a.m.), and upper school students attend a half-day every other Thursday (8:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.) to provide time for teachers to attend Faculty Meetings and In-Servicing. This is the time recommended for parents to schedule doctor, dental, and orthodontic appointments and to meet other family needs. Faculty appreciate timely arrival of parents for picking-up their children, as they require a lunch break and preparation time for meetings.

4. School Vacations

Traditionally StoneBridge School has a week of vacation at Thanksgiving beginning at 12:00 p.m. on Plimoth Plantation Day; a two week vacation at Christmas; and one week at Easter. StoneBridge does not dismiss on Federal Holidays except for Labor Day and Memorial Day. Please consult the StoneBridge calendar for specific dates.

5. Special Days and Costumes

Special Days are StoneBridge School's richest and best-known traditions. The seeds for Special Days were planted during the fledgling year of the school with a "Hans Brinker Breakfast" for young students studying this classic about Holland. The year included a French Fair and concluded with a primary-aged production of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet with costumes and scenery and a 1776 Musical complete with Abigail and John Adams, elaborate costumes, and 18th century colonial music both on the same night! Special Days firmly took root and birthed many unique learning experiences in the years to follow.

Each elementary class has Special Days unique to its curriculum content. The children eagerly look forward to participating in these wonderful celebrations and donning their costumes. They are wonderful opportunities for parents to get involved with the life of the school through special crafts, bulletin boards, decor, and cooking special foods. The entire school also has Special Days in which the "whole StoneBridge Family" gathers for a community festival. Costumes are expected and specific needs are communicated by teachers on the Goal Sheet. Many parents don one, as well. If you desire to assist in a larger way, please consult our Special Days Coordinator.

School-Wide Special Day Celebrations:

1. PLIMOTH PLANTATION DAY or JAMESTOWN DAY (November): A complete description of this special celebration of thanksgiving to the Lord is coming soon.
2. LIBERTY DAY (Last Day of School): Our liberty in Christ and as American Christians gives reason for celebration. It includes a program of patriotic music and drama, and a special service in which all family members in the Armed Forces are honored. Student awards are given and the morning concludes the school year with class parties and farewells.

Costumes

Costumes are traditional at StoneBridge. Classroom celebrations, school-wide festivals, and three annual dramatic performances all give reason for every student to require assistance at home in dressing for such occasions. Some mothers have been known to use the same curtain for every costume their child needed, and others have labored to produce award-winning Broadway originals.

StoneBridge High School has need for a permanent collection of "adult-sized" period costumes. Students have Portfolio Projects which require dramatic presentations in costume. If parents have items that can be donated, or are willing to create these costumes, high school students would be most appreciative. StoneBridge also has a costume wardrobe with special props and hard-to-find accessories that may be "borrowed."

6. Musical and Dramatic Performances

The Fine and Performing Arts are an integral part of our enriched curriculum, flowing out of our classic Christian history and literature courses. Most primary school productions are simple and require minimal assistance from parents. Formal drama instruction begins in the seventh grade and continues throughout high school, preparing every student for participation in the annual productions. Traditionally, the same Shakespearean drama is studied in literature class throughout the elementary school during the spring quarter, which prepares students to better comprehend and appreciate the performance. The seventh grade class performs the drama in the Elizabethan language of Shakespeare in the "Globe Theatre."

Three dramatic performances are presented to the StoneBridge Family and the community-at-large each year. They are directed and produced by our master drama teacher and are most worthy of support by every family. They provide opportunities for parents to combat the mediocrity of the pop culture by cultivating the appreciation of the fine and performing arts in their children.

STONEBRIDGE DRAMATIC PERFORMANCES:

1. HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA: Traditionally performed during the Christmas season, often as a dinner theater.
   
2. EIGHTH GRADE DRAMA: Traditionally performed in March.
   
3. SHAKESPEAREAN DRAMA: Performed by the seventh grade in May.
   

7. Graduation Receptions

StoneBridge School has three graduations each year: Kindergarten, Eighth Grade, and High School. Traditionally, seventh grade parents are responsible to prepare and host the Eighth Grade Graduation Reception at StoneBridge Upper School; and the eleventh grade parents prepare and host the High School Graduation Reception at Regent University. Homeroom mothers need to be aware of these traditions and check with the eighth and senior homeroom teachers for details.