FALL
Back to School Parties
Often, classes will hold a "Back to School" party in the weeks prior to school beginning. Ranging from pool parties at a student's home or at the country club to boating and swimming parties at a student's lake house, these parties are usually organized by a group of parents within each class.

New Student Ice Cream Social
Hosted by the Baron Ambassadors prior to the start of school, new students in grades 6th-12th and their families enjoy an ice cream social held at a student's home. Faculty and current students and their parents are given the chance to socialize with the newest members of the Wilson Hall Family in a relaxed atmosphere.

New Student Orientation
The Student Council sponsors a New Student Orientation for students in grades 1-12 before school begins each year. New students in grades 1-5 and their parents have the opportunity to meet with the teacher and become acclimated to the classroom. New students in grades 6-12, who are paired with a Baron Ambassador, are given a tour of the campus and they are introduced to each of their teachers. Preschool and kindergarten students, and their parents, have their own special orientations prior to the start of school.

Honors Assemblies
The first assembly of the year for grades 6-12, the Honors Convocation is held in the gym during the opening week of school. After the assembly, students return to their homerooms to hear fellow students speak about specific aspects of the Honor Code (a promise to not lie, cheat, steal or plagiarize) and the school motto (diligence and integrity). Afterward, each student signs the Honor Code that is framed and hung in the hallway. Students are also recognized for perfect attendance and being named to the honor roll for the previous school year.

PTO Open House
The PTO holds a general meeting and open house the first Monday evening of the school year. After the general meeting, parents have the opportunity to tour the campus and visit their child's classroom to meet the faculty.

First Friday
This Student Council-sponsored pep rally that celebrates the first home football game of the season, is part of the annual Spirit Competition in the middle and upper schools. Each class in grades 6th - 12th wears a different colored tee shirt, designed specifically for the pep rally, on the day of the pep rally. At the pep rally, classes compete against each other in a series of events such as the Balloon Bust Relay, mixed relay and the Baron Drag. Hugely successful, First Friday gives the school year a spirited beginning.

New Family Tailgate Party
Sponsored by the Development Office and held at the home of a current Wilson Hall family, this tailgate party is before a varsity football game in September. All new families who have children in preschool - 12th are invited to socialize with other new families while enjoying food and refreshments. After the party, all of the new families attend the varsity football game as special guests of the school.

Football Spirit Competition
To promote spirit within the student body, the Student Council sponsors a Spirit Competition between the classes for the football season. Each week features a different competition in which classes receive points. Classes can receive points for winning events such as First Friday, participating in dress-up days such as Super Hero Day and Western Day, and for contests such as the homeroom door decorating competition.

Tailgate Parties
Sponsored by the Student Council, tailgate parties are held for students in grades 6th - 12th are held in the picnic area near the old oak tree prior to certain home varsity football games. After tailgating, students head to the football field to line up on either side of the home goal post to cheer the Varsity Barons as they take to the field. In addition to being a popular social event, tailgate parties ensure that there is always a huge Baron contingency when the players take to the field.

Spirit Week
To promote spirit for Homecoming, the Student Council sponsors a Spirit Week for grades 6-12. With a different theme for each day of Homecoming Week (Pajama Day, Impersonation Day, Tacky Day, 80s Day, and Extreme Blue & White Day) classes with the most participation receive points for the overall spirit competition. Over 90% of the students participate each day, which shows the high level spirit within the student body.

Homecoming Decorations
The Thursday before Homecoming, the varsity cheerleading squad spends the night on campus transforming the upper school building into a decorated marvel to promote spirit for the big game. "Baron Carnival" was the 2007 theme with the upper school building decorated from ceiling to floor. In addition to the numerous banners and pieces of art work covering the walls, hundreds of photographs of students were hung throughout the halls. Lower school students and parents toured the upper school in amazement at the decorations, all of which furthers the excitement for the Homecoming game that night.

Homecoming Parade
Held during the last class period of the day of Homecoming, the Student Council-sponsored parade involves all students in grades 6-12. Each class decorates its own float with a theme, with points awarded for the Spirit Competition for the best decorations, and every student in the class rides on the float.

Led by pickup trucks with the varsity cheerleaders and the girls on the Homecoming Court, followed by trucks carrying the varsity football players, the parade leaves the campus to the cheers of the lower school students, faculty and parents who gather to cheer on the Barons. With a police escort, the raucous parade winds its way through a 2.5-mile route through the local neighborhood while hundreds of fans line the route.

Homecoming Court
The Homecoming game caps off a week full of activity and features the presentation of the Homecoming Court, with the Homecoming Queen crowned during half time of the game.

Homecoming Semiformal
The Student Council sponsors a semiformal the Saturday night after Homecoming for students in grades 9-12 and their guests.  Held at Sunset Country Club, the dance attracts nearly 180 students.

Male Cheer Competition
A competition between the boys in grades 9-12, each class performs an original routine complete with original cheers, students and choreography for this popular activity.

Football Pep Rallies
Frequent pep rallies are an effective way to raise school spirit within the student body for students in grades 6-12. Often held during the last 20 minutes of the last period, every student attends, and many participate in, the pep rallies. Some rallies are in the gym, while others are held outside of the Nash Student Center, and several small pep rallies are held at the end of lunch in the cafeteria. In addition to First Friday and the Male Cheer-off, the pep rallies included a dodge ball competition, a game of musical chairs, a car bash and a balloon bust.

Mini-Cheerleading
Each fall the varsity cheerleading squad sponsors a weeklong mini-cheerleading camp for girls in grades PS-5. Participants are grouped by grade level with two cheerleaders who teach them a dance routine and series of cheers after school for four days. The mini-cheerleaders then perform during half time of the varsity football game that Friday. The participants have fun during the practices and performance, and they enjoy developing relationships with the varsity cheerleaders as well.

Fall Festival
Sponsored by the PTO in late October, the Fall Festival is a family-oriented event that attracts people of all ages to our campus. Held outside in the evening to take advantage of the pleasant autumn weather, the festival features a wide variety of game booths, such as ring toss and putt-putt. Geared mainly for younger students the game booths, sponsored by each lower school class, awards prizes to each participant. There is also a costume contest, pumpkin-decorating contest, an inflatable rock climb/slide, a hayride and plenty of food. The haunted house, operated by the Senior Class, is a very popular attraction. Upper school students and many, many parent volunteers man the various attractions.

Bonfire
Held on a nearby family farm during the week of the last varsity football game of the regular season, the Bonfire is co-sponsored by the Student Council and the varsity cheerleading squad. Students in grades 9-12 gather to roast hotdogs and marshmallows and socialize around the fire, and the senior football players each take a whack at the pinata. The students gather into their respective classes for a "cheer off" led by the cheerleaders, followed by comments made by the senior members of the team and a closing prayer.

Thanksgiving Celebrations
Several classes traditionally celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. Dressed as Pilgrims and American Indians, the fifth graders perform a short musical play for their parents on the lawn, followed by a carry-in dinner provided by the parents. Dressed in American Indian costumes that they make themselves, the kindergarten students invite the custodial staff to their playground where they present them with baskets of food while singing songs. Also dressed in costumes they made themselves, the preschool has a Thanksgiving Feast served by the parents on the lawn.

WINTER
Barons on Wheels
Held at a nearby skating rink in early December, this skating party for our 1st graders and their Baron Mentors, who are members of the Senior Class. Sponsored by the Student Council, nearly 100 students attend attend the two-hour party.

Christmas Music Program
An annual event in December, the lower school Christmas music program is held in the gym at 1:00 PM for friends and family. Students in grades 1-5 sing traditional hymns as well as popular holiday songs during the program, which is concluded with a visit from Santa.

Basketball Spirit Competition
From the banner competition to the original cheer competition, the basketball spirit competition ensures that the enthusiasm remains high during the entire season. Sponsored by the Student Council, the spirit competition features weekly events and activities for which the classes may receive points for the title of the school's most spirited class.

Lip Sync Contest
Held at the start of the basketball season, the annual lip sync contest is held during a pep rally for grades 6th - 12th. Sponsored by the Student Council, the contest is part of the year long Spirit Competition. Students in each grade don costumes and personas as they imitate singers and musical groups, entertaining the entire middle and upper schools. Although the first place award by the faculty judges is highly coveted, the competition is secondary to the school spirit and camaraderie it promotes. Parents and students pack the gym for this pep rally, one of the most popular during the school year.

Student-Faculty Basketball Game
Held in late February during an assembly, the faculty team takes on the student team, which is comprised of students in grades 9-12 who are not on a basketball team, for a lively basketball game. Senior members of the basketball teams serve as the officials, and the varsity boys basketball team is the cheerleading squad for the game and perform a humorous "routine" during halftime. Sponsored by the Student Council, this highly entertaining event helps to generate spirit just as the post-season play begins for the school's basketball teams. In 2008, both the female and the male the faculty teams won.

Middle School Winter Dance
With the theme of "Let it Snow" the Student Council sponsored a dance for students in grades 6-8. Held from 6:00-8:00 PM, over 150 students crowded into the decorated cafeteria to enjoy the dancing and refreshments while socializing.

Basketball Pep Rallies
In addition to the Lip Sync Competition and the Student-Faculty Basketball Game, the pep rallies included a game of Knock Out, a 3-point contest,  and a scavenger hunt.

SPRING
Spring PTO Meeting
The annual Spring PTO Meeting, held in the evening in the gym, gives the PTO Board of Directors the opportunity to report on the activities of the organization and for the Headmaster to present his "State of the School" address. The highlight of the meeting is a musical performance by the lower school students.

Grandfriends Day
Co-sponsored by the PTO and the Development Office, Grandfriends Day is one of the most well attended events at the school with over 1,000 grandparents and special guests visiting the campus. The guests attend an open house for grades PS-5 and enjoy refreshments before heading to the gym for a special music program performed by the lower school.

Prom
Hosted by the Junior Class in April, the Prom is held in the gym that is decorated from floor to ceiling with a theme, which was "Charleston Charm" in 2008. Students entered the gym through a replica of a large, white plantation house. The walls were covered with enormous painted banners depicting scenes from Charleston, and the bleachers were covered with three-dimensional art work. The Prom began with the seniors and their dates being introduced in the Grand March at 7:30 PM followed by dancing until 10:30 PM. For upper class students, the Prom is the most highly anticipated social event of the year.

Prom Dinner & Breakfast
The parents of the juniors and seniors host a pre-prom dinner for all students and their dates. This allows students to relax and enjoy a catered dinner with their classmates without having to worry about the time constraints of a restaurant. In 2008 the seniors had their dinner, served by their parents, at the home of a classmate. The catered dinner was held under a huge white tent, with white linen covered tables with candles and floral centerpieces. The juniors had their dinner on the rooftop terrace of a downtown office building, enjoying heavy hors' d'oeuvres and the city view. After the prom, the students change into casual clothing for a breakfast hosted by the parents at a student's home.

Honor Societies Assembly
Held in April in the gym, this assembly features the induction of students into the school's honor societies: National Honor Society, Senior Beta Club, Junior Beta Club, French National Honor Society, Latin Honor Society, Quill & Scroll Journalism Honor Society, and French National Honor Society.

Class Challenge
Sponsored by the Student Council in late April, Class Challenge is a field day-type competition among the 9th-12th grades. Special tee shirts, with each class having its own color, are worn during the event that takes place on the football field during the last two periods of the day. Events such as the three-legged race, sack race, mixed-relay race, water balloon toss and chariot race pit teams from each class against one another with two preliminary heats and a final race, giving everyone in the class a chance to participate, with the day culminating with the tug-of-war. Class Challenge is a very popular event that builds unity within the classes and overall spirit within the school.

May Day
Hosted by the PTO on the first Thursday of May, the May Day celebration takes place in a filled to capacity gym at 7:00 PM. The program begins with the presentation of the May Court, which has representatives from grades 1-11, followed by the Senior May Court and the crowning of the May King & Queen. This is followed by the fifth grade performing the traditional May Pole Dance and a special music program by lower school students, which had a "Under the Sea" theme in 2008. May Day is one of Wilson Hall's oldest traditions and is enjoyed by the entire school.

Last Day Celebration
To commemorate the last day of class for the seniors, the school hosts a catered lunch for the seniors and their parents. For the program, the class elects a member of the faculty to give the keynote speech. Often an emotional program, it gives the seniors and their parents the opportunity to celebrate the end of their Wilson Hall. At the end of the day, after giving a farewell address over the P.A. system to the entire campus, the tearful seniors congregate in the hallway to bid farewell to their teachers and friends as the final bell rings.

Senior Awards / Class Day
Being the last time they gather on campus as a group, the seniors file into the gym filled with students and parents in late May for the traditional Senior Awards Program and Class Day. The class president gives the keynote speech to begin the awards program during which teachers of seniors present a special book award to the student who earns the highest average in his or her class. Students are also recognized for their involvement in extracurricular activities and achievements, and special awards are presented and scholarship recipients are announced. The Star Student and Star Teacher present their speeches, honor graduates are presented their white or gold cords, and the Valedictorian and Salutatorian are presented their medals.

The Class Day program immediately follows the awards. A far less serious program, Class Day features the prophecies of the seniors as well as the class history, both of which are very humorous. To conclude the program, the juniors are officially recognized as the new Senior Class of Wilson Hall.

Class Day Picnic
Immediately following Class Day, the parents of seniors host a picnic for the students and faculty at a senior's home. The catered picnic gives the seniors, parents and faculty the opportunity to enjoy a meal in a relaxed atmosphere, and it gives the seniors the chance to exchange gifts and talk about the morning's program.

Middle School and Upper School Awards Programs
Held in the gymnasium on the day before final exams begin, the Middle School and Upper School Awards Programs provides the opportunity for students to receive recognition in front of their peers and family for their academic accomplishments. Faculty members present Lamp of Knowledge trophies to the students who earn the highest average in each course, and some students receive special recognition from the Headmaster and guidance office. The awards program reinforces Wilson Hall's emphasis on academic achievement.

Field Day
Sponsored by the PTO, Field Day is held on the football/soccer field during one of the last days of school. Students participate in 15 different of events, such as the water balloon toss, pyramid building contest, sack race and three-legged race. A fun event that involves a great deal of parent participation, Field Day provides the opportunity for the younger students to enjoy one final activity before summer vacation begins.

Kindergarten Graduation & Awards
Although our preschool and kindergarten students do not receive academic awards, we do like to recognize them nonetheless with a special program held in the gymnasium on their last day of class. Before a large crowd of family and friends, the students receive attendance and citizenship awards, and the kindergarten students have a "graduation" ceremony complete with caps and "diplomas."

Lower School Awards Program
Held in the gymnasium on the last day of class, the Lower School Awards Program provides students the opportunity to receive recognition in front of their peers and family. Students are recognized for academic achievement, perfect attendance, reading and citizenship, and some students receive special recognition for spelling, art and writing contests.

Graduation Luncheon
Hosted by their parents, the Senior Class attends a graduation luncheon immediately following graduation practice. Held at a senior's home, the casual lunch gives the soon-to-be graduates one last opportunity to enjoy a meal together as a class.

Graduation
Approximately 900 people gather at Patriot Hall, Sumter's performing arts auditorium and cultural center, to witness the graduation of the Senior Class, which had 51 members in 2008. A very formal and traditional affair, Wilson Hall's graduation ceremony is an emotional, yet celebratory, event that fittingly marks the end of a journey for the graduates. The program begins when the faculty, who gather in the foyer, enters the auditorium to be seated in the front. As the faculty enters, the seniors line both sides of the foyer to applaud the faculty. After the faculty is seated, the seniors begin to enter the auditorium to Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance," escorted by the Junior Honor Marshals. After each senior is seated, the invocation is offered by the class president, followed by the class singing the traditional "Halls of Ivy" by Russell & Knight. Emotional and inspirational speeches by the Salutatorian and Valedictorian are followed by the keynote speech. The prestigious John S. Wilson Award is presented, then the diplomas are awarded. After the confirmation of the graduates by the Headmaster, who gives a very personal and moving speech, the new graduates sing the Alma Mater as a class for one last time before recessing to Verdi's "Grand March from Aida." Before the graduates exit, the faculty lines each side of the foyer to applaud the graduates as they leave the auditorium. An outdoor reception is held in front of Patriot Hall immediately following the ceremony.

SUMMER
Wilson Hall's faculty members sponsor a variety of week-long camps held on the campus during the month of June. Most of the camps are not held at the same time so students may participate in more than one. Many young alumni and upper classmen assist with the camps, providing a positive interaction between younger students and teenagers. Athletic camps include an all-sports camp and camps for basketball, football and soccer.