Collegiate Terms & Traditions

Each Middle and Upper School student is assigned a faculty advisor who will serve as that student’s guide, mentor, and advocate during the school year.

The Annual Fund Campaign provides the additional funds needed to fulfill the annual operating budget. Tuition covers approximately 88% of the budget, and the Annual Fund fills the gap. The operating budget includes faculty and staff salaries, arts programs, athletics, co-curricular activities and programs, professional development opportunities, and building maintenance and upkeep. Parents are encouraged to assist in the Annual Fund Campaign.

Held for each division at the beginning of the school year, parents meet their children’s teachers and hear about the curriculum for the coming school year. Sign-ups for class parties, field trips, and parent-teacher conferences are posted during this event. This is an important school event to attend.

Sponsored by the Parents Association, the role of the Booster Club is to raise money for collegiate athletics, facilitate communication between the athletic department and parents and generate school spirit. All parents are asked to volunteer their time and possibly offer to be a team parent for one of their child’s athletic teams. Activities include concessions, spirit wear, Booster Passes, and Golf Scramble.

The care coordinator is a Parents Association volunteer who will organize the response of concern and compassion if a student/faculty or immediate family member experiences a serious illness or traumatic event.

The four Collegiate Cornerstones, RESPECT ♦ HONOR ♦ RESPONSIBILITY ♦ COMPASSION is woven into the mission of the school and is articulated into the curriculum and programming of each division.

The Lower School Fall Festival is organized by the Parents Association and occurs on a Saturday in October. Families and friends have the opportunity to play games, jump on a bouncy, and win prizes.

The Gala is one of the major fundraising events of the school year and is organized by the Advancement Office. The Gala is held every other year and includes an evening of drinks plus live and silent auctions. Trivia Night is a fundraising event designed for the Collegiate Community to team up and compete for a fun night of trivia. It is held on the off year of The Gala. Proceeds from these events go directly to support the school’s operating budget.

The Glenmary Shop is run by the Alumni Association and carries school polos, ties, sweatshirts, and spirit wear. The shop is located in the Upper School just outside of Alumni Hall. Items may be purchased in the shop with cash or check or can be charged to your tuition account.

Grandparents and Special Friends Day is held each fall. We invite Grandparents and Special Friends to spend the day at Collegiate!

This is a breakfast for eighth-graders and their parents held at the end of the school year.

The Holiday Program, including the tradition of the Alumni leading the school in the singing of Dona Nobis Pacem, is held annually in December. Communication regarding dates can be found on the school calendar as well as in communications from division heads throughout the year.

The Honor Code is one of Collegiate’s most valued traditions. Collegiate’s Honor Code serves to cultivate honesty, fairness, and high esteem for others’ work and property. The Honor Code provides Collegiate students, staff, faculty, and families a treasured community of trust.

A Collegiate tradition that is over 60 years old and voted as one of the most important traditions by Alumni. This event takes place on the Thursday before Oaks. Kindergarteners decorate hobby horse heads and wear silks decorated by their fourth-grade buddies as they race around the maypole. Seniors who participated in the Kindergarten Derby are recognized, and the Lower School classes participate in a themed parade. The Official Kentucky Derby Queen and her court attend this event.

Each Kindergarten student gets paired with a fourth-grader who serves as their “buddy” for the year. Events and opportunities for them to interact throughout the school year are planned.

The ME Project is a rite of passage for eighth graders at Collegiate. It is an opportunity to reflect on the growth that takes place in middle school. It focuses on the self – how one impacts their community and, likewise, is impacted by the world around them. It is a chance for each individual to consider their development and accomplishments both inside and outside the classroom. The ME Project is shared with parents, peers, and teachers in the form of a ten-minute oral presentation. It must include a prepared speech and a visual collage, both of which incorporate the four areas of growth: physical, academic, social, and inner self.

This serves as our online communication system. Each parent has a specific login and password to access their account. All important school communication is posted on this site, including the school calendar and student report cards.

The Parents Association and Counselors (PAC) co-sponsor PAC events throughout the school year. These PAC events provide parent education to the Collegiate community.

All parents belong to the Parents Association (PA). The goal of the PA is to strengthen the Collegiate community through volunteer and financial assistance for the educational and recreational needs of the students, as well as to promote open communication between administrators, teachers, and parents. Parental involvement and support are integral to the mission of Collegiate. Parents are encouraged to volunteer their time and talents, attend PA meetings and functions, and contact any PA executive board with questions or concerns.

Each senior is expected to write and deliver a “senior speech” before the Upper School faculty and student body. Students will work closely with an Upper School faculty member on composing and refining these speeches.

One of the most treasured traditions is the pairing of seniors and their first-grade buddies. The buddies are announced at the Convocation Ceremony at the beginning of the school year. The seniors escort their first graders out of the Convocation Ceremony. At the end of the school year, the first graders escort their seniors into the Graduation Ceremony. Throughout the year, there are several school-sponsored events planned for the first graders and their senior buddies.