School Life

The Carlthorp Experience

At Carlthorp School, our rich traditions do more than build school spirit — they cultivate character, confidence, and lifelong connections.

Flag Line

Every morning begins at Flag Line, our cherished daily assembly on the sport court. Parents, faculty, and students gather as a school community to celebrate peer birthdays, hear announcements, recite the Pledge of Allegiance, and share a student-led Thought of the Day.

Flag Line is the heart of the Carlthorp experience:

Fostering Confidence: Public speaking starts early as students present the Code of Conduct and share morning reflections in a supportive environment.
Building Character: Daily routines instill respect, gratitude, and community engagement.
Welcoming Families: With an open morning campus, parents are active partners in their child’s educational journey from day one.

Our daily Flag Line is just the beginning. Other traditions include:

The charming Popcorn Parade and Teddy Bear Picnic in kindergarten
The popular Carlthorp Reader Medal literacy challenge
Interactive and engaging cultural celebrations, such as our annual Black History Month and Lunar New Year festivities
The powerful kindergarten-6th grade buddy program
An always-anticipated Halloween costume parade
And so many more!

Community Connections

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Family Groups

Across ages and stages, Carlthorp students develop strong bonds with one another. In Family Groups — pods consisting of one student from each grade level (K-6) and one or two faculty and staff members — school community members build relationships in meaningful and interactive ways. Held regularly throughout the school year, Family Group activities are led by each group’s 5th grade student and connects to a tenet of the Carlthorp School Code of Conduct.
K-6 Buddies

Building Connections That Last: One of Carlthorp’s most cherished traditions pairs our oldest students with our newest. Throughout the year, 6th graders mentor their kindergarten buddies through collaborative activities, from crafting and writing projects to joint field trips.

This special partnership does more than create sweet memories; it actively builds empathy, character, and emotional intelligence. As 6th graders step into their roles as leaders and role models, kindergarten students gain a trusted older friend, grounding our campus in a culture of belonging.

Rotating Special Events

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International Day

International Day is a celebration of different cultures that takes place every three years. Numerous booths populate the Sport Court and are staffed by parents who have volunteered for that particular booth, most often because they have a connection to the country the booth represents. Most of the booths and tables have hands-on activities that teach students about the traditions of different countries. Throughout the day, the students listen to speakers and participate in interactive programs representing a variety of cultures around the world.

Learn more about cultural celebrations at Carlthorp.
Celebrate the Arts
The Art Department, along with numerous parents, alumni, and friends of the Carlthorp School community, organizes an all-school art-filled activity day. This special day, which takes place on a three-year cycle along with International Day and STEM Day, is devoted exclusively to the arts and allows students to spend their time exploring and experimenting with a wide variety of art forms.

Explore the art program at Carlthorp.
STEM Day

The third all-school celebration in the rotating trio is STEM Day. During this celebration, students enjoy forays into science, technology, engineering, and math. Students often create displays that illustrate a scientific principle, construct/build something of their own invention, or share surprising facts with illustrations. Carlthorp’s STEM Day also features an assortment of booths and workshops that give students hands-on opportunities to engage with the wonders of science.

Find out more about our science and innovation curriculum.