Top Covenant Traditions
For more than 30 years, The Covenant School has been teaching the next generation how to live well. The following beloved traditions bring unity and belonging to students and alumni of the school.
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Opening Convocation
Held each September, Opening Convocation is an all-school assembly intended to create a sense of academic community and common purpose as the year begins. According to tradition, kindergartners enter the room hand-in-hand with two seniors, signifying the beginning and the culmination of a Covenant education. -
Rockbridge
A two-day, overnight, annual retreat each September allows Upper School students to grow in community and discuss topics of leadership, relationships, and spiritual life. Located in the Shenandoah Valley, the Rockbridge retreat facility offers tranquil beauty, high adventure, and warm hospitality to Covenant students, faculty, and staff. -
Fall Fest
An event sponsored by the Parent-Teacher Community, Fall Fest is a longtime Covenant tradition typically aligning with the Homecoming football game. Covenant families and alumni gather at the Upper School campus for this free event, enjoying festival games, an Eagles Spirit Contest, and cheering on the Eagles! -
B is for Bethlehem
A special moment for Covenant kindergartners, B is for Bethlehem is a beloved event for young and old. In Christmas pageant attire, kindergartners recite the joys of Christmas using the letters of the alphabet in a tradition that has continued for more than twenty years. -
House Installation Day
Each spring, rising sixth graders are invited to attend the Upper School House Day where they reveal their House assignment to older classmates. The new House Leadership team also becomes installed at this special ceremony. -
Grandparents' Day
Grandparents and Grandfriends are invited each May to spend the morning at the Lower School. Students showcase their work, play games with their grandparents, and give a performance. -
College Reveal Day
In conjunction with National College Decision Day, Covenant seniors celebrate College Reveal Day on May 1. Students gather in the College Advising Office and pin their decided college location on a map, then don a shirt from their new alma mater. -
Senior Celebration
Senior Dessert is a heartfelt evening held during the week leading up to graduation. Each senior receives a tribute from a faculty member who has taught them during their years at Covenant. Senior awards are given and House pins are presented to graduates. Students who attend The Covenant School from Kindergarten through Grade 12 are installed into the Swingset Club during Senior Celebration. -
Rock Ceremony
A culminating Lower School grade-level event, the Rock Ceremony is an opportunity for teachers to affirm each student with a Bible verse written on a smooth rock for them to keep. Verses are individualized for each student and represent their God-given gifts and talents.
Birdwood Campus
Hickory Campus
Located in Charlottesville, VA, The Covenant School is a non-denominational, private, Christian day school for Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. Students benefit from a challenging academic program, visual and performing arts, competitive athletics, and a wide selection of extracurricular activities.
The Covenant School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, nationality, ethnic origin, or sex in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, tuition assistance programs, athletic and other school-administered programs, nor in the hiring of faculty or staff.
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