Picture this: I’m a runaway tortilla attempting not to stumble on my words as I explain my journey through the desert. You might be thinking, what an odd situation to be in? Well for context, this is what I did during the first grade Readers Theater I participated in. I played the runaway tortilla and presented it to the parents of my class. Though it sounds weird, this was one of my favorite and most memorable Parker traditions I have ever participated in. While fun and exciting, it taught me the importance of enunciation and helped advance my reading skills.
Readers Theater is one of the traditions that defines the “Parker Experience.” After 14 years of being here at Parker, I’ve watched countless Greek plays and listened to thousands of bagpipe tunes ring through the gym.
One of the coolest things about Parker is that every grade has something that makes them special. In fifth grade, you participate in the dubbing ceremony and in third grade you learn about the lives of indigenous peoples. Parker does an exceptional job at making sure every grade is different from the next, which makes every year unique. However, since my time in lower and intermediate school has elapsed, many of the traditions which I once participated in have been removed from the curriculum.
In second grade, I tried sushi for the first time during what we called the Japanese Tea Room. Prior to my day in the tea room, my second grade teacher, Ms. Wild, fitted all of us students with kimonos of all colors and designs. My experience was memorable as it was the first time I tried my now favorite food, and it was also a chance for me to educate myself about Japanese culture. Since I left second grade, the Japanese Tea Room is no longer a tradition at Parker, just like the Egyptian Museum and the third grade Thanksgiving MX. When I heard that these traditions had been removed from the Parker curriculum, I felt sad for all that the Lower School students would be missing out on. These traditions had a lasting impact on me, and finding out that they were slowly being removed was bittersweet.
As a result of this change, I’ve started thinking about Parker traditions and the impact they have on our community. Not many schools have the opportunity to see the work the grades both below and above them put into celebrating their studies. However, Parker is founded on the principles of progressive education, which emphasizes the importance of developing well-rounded individuals who can contribute meaningfully to society. Traditions like Civic Lab and Cookies in the Upper School are examples of how Parker encourages students to see the connections between subjects and understand their roles within a larger community.
From an early age, students in the Lower and Middle School are encouraged to understand the importance of giving back and engaging with the world beyond the classroom. For example, in my third grade Thanksgiving MX, our teachers pushed us to give thanks to those in our community by shouting them out and explaining why we appreciate them. Being so young, I was taught the life lesson of appreciation, an attribute I have because of this experience.
The timelessness of Parker traditions lies in the school’s ability to inspire and unite students across divisions. Rooted in progressive education and a commitment to holistic development, these traditions foster a sense of belonging, purpose, and responsibility that resonates with students throughout life. I like to think I’ll never remember the grade I got in Calculus or Geometry that one time, but I will definitely remember my 12 Days Performance and my role as the runaway tortilla.
