Certain all-school traditions are eagerly anticipated throughout the school year. From the start of each school day with Flag Line, the all-school assembly, to the close of the school year with a variety of class parties, the Carlthorp School experience has some special milestones we all love and share.

Summer
In the summer, the new kindergarteners meet each other for the first time at the "Ice Cream Social," which leads to end of summer playdates, and eases the start of the school year. Throughout the summer, mentor families paired with new kindergarten families meet for casual playdates, to answer questions about the school, and reassure the newest members of our school! The week before school starts, the "New Family Picnic" provides one more chance to mingle with the administration, mentor families, P.E. instructors and kindergarten teachers before the first day of school.

Fall
Every fall brings about "Back to School Night," where we congregate around sushi on the basketball court (weird, but a true Carlthorp School tradition!) and listen to Mrs. Menzies address the entire parent body. Fall also brings either "International Day" or the "Art Fair," which alternate years and occupy a whole school day with a variety of inspired booths and activities. The most beloved event of the fall, the "Halloween Carnival," culminates in the time-honored tradition of the "Haunted House" in the Multi Purpose Room, which is always hosted by the sixth grade. All of our teachers and the administration dress in costume for the big event, which is a wonderfully energetic carnival thrown by, and for, all grades.

Holidays
Throughout the school year, we find every excuse to celebrate - from the Thanksgiving Feast in kindergarten, to the holiday crafts and parties in all the classrooms, and the Holiday Concert performed by the Carlthorp School Chorus and Bell Choir. Some years, "Pajama Day," held on the half day before Thanksgiving, is the favorite free-dress day of the year! Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Chinese New Year, Cinco de Mayo, and Earth Day -- we love nothing better than to celebrate in the classroom and out.

Scouts at School
Another school tradition includes a thriving program of Boy and Girl Scouts. At our traditional "All Scouts Day," you'll see a variety of programs -- six girl scout troops from first through sixth grades -- focus on community service, camping, and other special activities. When the Girl Scouts held a bake sale last year, fundraising for local area foster children, the entire school turned out to eat home-baked cookies in the name of a good cause! And when one troop went camping in the mountains of Malibu, Mrs. Menzies herself joined them to eat "Girl Scout Tacos" and sleep in a tent at the campsite!

Spring
On a warm spring day, you can find our fifth grade math classes at the beach building and flying kites, or at the bowling alley studying the statistics of their game. In the spring, we also enjoy "Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day" and after the program, we might donate and dedicate a Birthday Book to our amazing Carlthorp School Library - as well as the "Golf and Tennis Tournament," which raises important scholarship money for our student body. By the summer, we are more than ready for the end of the year parties, where we kick off the summer, heading off to summer camps and programs with lots of our good Carlthorp School friends!