Annie Wright School - Shield Yearbook (Tacoma, WA)

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The first traditional event after the hohday falls on the nineteenth of January, the birthday of Bishop Paddock, when Founder ' s Day is commemorated with a Communion Service in Raynor Chapel, attended by alumnae, students, and fac- ulty. Following it. the alumnae and the seniors meet with the Bishop and the Headmistress for luncheon in Paddock Hall. In the afternoon the Alumnae Asso- ciation has its annual meeting for the election of officers. On Easter Even. Raynor Chapel again becomes the scene of a traditional chapel service. The spring flowers seem to bloom especiallv ff)r this Carol and Baptismal Service, which was originated by Miss Jenkins. The spring is especially notable for May Day. when the entire school, march- ing to Melody in F. pays homage to the May Queen and her court. The seniors wear their special May Day dresses, and the rest of the school is in white. The Queen is attended by a maid of honor elected from the junior class and a flag- bearer from the sophomore class. After the Queen has been crowned, the dance group entertains. The formality of the May Day court is ended by the winding of the May pole. The Seminary grounds and architecture lend themselves beau- tifully to these events: it is no less than a tragedy for the school if the weather makes it necessary to use Keator Hall for May Day. The May Queen receives a reminder of her honor in the form of a small gold scepter-shaped pin which is presented to her at the Athletic Association Banquet on the evening of May Day. At this function all the athetic awards — cups, medals, letters, and chevrons —are pre.sented by the head of the Physical Education Department. Much interest attends the Headmistress ' announcement of the results of the election of Student Council officers. But the peak of the evening is reached with the awarding of the Key. The Saturday before May Day is Dads Day. the time for Seminary fathers to see the school and meet each other. In the afternoon there is a baseball game on the hockey field, the excitement of which seems to out-weigh the resulting ach- ing muscles and sunburns of the guests. After an archery exhibition or a swim- ming meet, at which the Dad s are spectators, everyone is ready for dinner. Instrumental and vocal music which the fathers generously supply makes this a gay occasion. Only the interest in the closing entertainment of the evening, pro- vided by the Masque Players, succeeds in drawing the group from the merrymaking. Within the year there are three traditional dances: the Junior Dance and the Freshman-Sophomore Hop in the winter for the whole Upper School: and the Junior Prom in the spring given in the Great Hall in honor of the seniors. The girls devote much time and thought to achieving ingenious and original decora- tions which conceal the true function of Keator Hall and to emphasizing the beauty of the Great Hall with spring blossoms. The activity and gaiety of the year give way to a new note of serious reflec- tion on Baccalaureate Sunday, the day which begins the final week of the school year. The Bishop speaks at the afternoon service held in Raynor Chapel on this occasion. For the fi rst time durinc; the year the seniors wear their white caps and gowns. During the service all thoughts are centered in the seniors, who sit to- gether at the front of the chapel.

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SEMINARY TRADITIONS CRADmONS lend individuality to a school. The most vivid and colorful memories that graduates associate with their Alma Mater are strongly cen- tered in them. The Seminary is a school unusually rich in traditions which play an important part in the life of the girls. It is the purpose of the following section to present a record of the traditional privileges, ceremonies, and events which through their long standing have becomr an intpitrni part of Seminary life today. The day of arrival at the Seminary in the fall is the date of Annie s Birthday Party. This marks the first of traditional extra-curricular activities. The Head- mistress welcomes the girls and faculty in the Great Hall, and all the new girls are introduced to the group. The Masque Club initiates the girls into the more comical aspect of school life with a rather hastily organized but entertaining skit. Then the entire group join hands to form a huge circle as they sing the Alma Mater. The evening is climaxed by the cutting of Annie s birthday cake. This celebration is soon followed by the old girl - new girl party, the main feature of which is a basketball competition, held in Keator Hall on the first Saturday of the term. October brings Hallowe ' en, which at the Seminary is one of the most hilar- ious occasions of the year. Day students and boarders alike fill the dining-room with an amazing collection of unique costumes. After dinner everyone moves to Keator Hall, where the best of the costumes receive prizes. Here the faculty and each class of the Upper School present skits in competition for the Hallowe ' en Cup. As soon as the girls return from Thanksgiving vacation, preparations for the Christmas festivities begin. All the classes and the Mothers Club contribute to the success of the Christmas Carnival held in Keator Hall early in December. It is. however, sponsored by the seniors to help them obtain the fund necessary for the publication of the Shield. Gay booths of novelties, doll collections, enticing food, concessions, fortune telling, and a giant tree filled with trinkets completely change the aspect of Keator Hall. In recent years the Carnival has been supple- mented by a fashion show in the Great Hall for which the girls do the modeling. Soon after the Carnival it is time for the juniors to assume the leadership in decorating the school for the Christmas season. The gigantic tree which they trim for the front window of the Great Hall becomes the center of attraction. But no less important to the girls is the creche that is assembled each year on a table in the front hall. The week before Christmas vacation is noted for the importance of its activities. The first of these is the Christmas play. Both actors and audience contribute a spirit of reverence to this presentation of the Holy Nativity. This eventful week before Christmas vacation is remembered for yet another tradition. Perhaps the loveliest and most unforgettable of the Seminary traditions are those which take place in our Chapel. Certainly the afternoon Carol Service on the day before vacation is such a tradition. The evergreen decorations, the blending of many voices in carols, and the deep significance of the service can never be forgotten bv those who have attended it. 12

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On the night before Commencement all the wonderful memories of the year gather themselves to form a lump in the throat during the Lantern Procession. Carrying lighted Chinese lanterns, the girls, in pairs, walk slowly around the Seminary singing. The procession pauses now and then in its encirclement of the building to hear short messages addressed to them by faculty members. Before reentering the building, the girls join hands to sing the Alma Mater. Certain music will never fail to signify to the girls all thai the Seminary means to them. Commencement is inseparably associated with the measured rhythm of Pomp and Circumstance. It is to this march that the seniors in their caps and gowns pass between the lines of their schoolmates to seat themselves on the stage of Keator Hall. At this time the Bishop and ihe Headmistress present the scholastic awards, and the Commencement address is given by a guest speaker. The exercises are continued in the Chapel, where there is the awarding by the Bishop of the diplomas and the gold crosses which are a gift to the seniors from the school. The two hymns always sung at this service. Forward Be Our Watch- word and Ancient of Days, evoke a feeling of nostalgia whenever they are heard by a Seminary girl. From the Chapel the seniors march between a double line formed by the rest of the school to the Great Hall, where their parents and friends gather to congratulate them. In addition to these traditions which are the basis for the memorable occasions of the school year, there are many lesser traditions connected with classes and individuals. A complete portrayal of Seminary spirit through its traditions neces- sitates the inclusion of the outstanding of these. Freshman and Sophomore Traditions It is readily acknowledged that in comparison with the juniors and seniors the freshmen and sophomores do not have many traditions associated with their classes. They do present their Hop. however: and later the sophomores serve at the Junior Prom. Junior Traditions With junior standing comes the prestige so eagerly looked forward to by the underclassmen. As usual, with prestige comes responsibility. Theirs is the task of trimming the tree and arranging the greens at Christmas time and. in the spring, of entertaining the seniors at the Junior Prom. On May Day they arise very early to decorate the Queen ' s throne with Scotch broom and flowering shrubs. To insure success for this latter occasion they wind in and out of the dining-room at break- fast singing a charm to produce a rainless day. It Ain t Gonna Rain No More. After Easter vacation they take over switchboard duties, study hall proctoring. checking meal attendance, ushering in chapel, and singing in the choir. The juniors publish a magazine paper, the Junior JoumaL which is greatly enjoyed for its school news. During Senior Week the juniors are allowed senior privileges such as walk- line. After the tree planting on the day before Commencement, they rush to the biiil(lin0 to find the only door left unlocked by the seniors. The first junior who 14