Traditions
With over 50 years of rich history, Harding Academy has built a strong school culture of community and family. Traditions that have been passed down through the years help create memories, provide a sense of identity, and foster a feeling of belonging, all while serving as a bridge to our past and giving us a glimpse into our future.
Buddies
Kindergarten Birthday Bell
The bell tower at the entrance to the Wright Swift Lyle Building building is host to one of the most memorable traditions for children. On their birthday (or half birthday for children who do not have their special day fall during the school year) every kindergarten child rings the bell the number of times as their age. Parents and siblings are invited to join the celebration which is concluded by classmates cheering. As the bell rings throughout campus and the neighborhood, everyone knows that someone is turning 6 or 7!
Graduation Bricks
Harding Academy's outdoor classroom and the middle school courtyard contains rows of bricks inscribed with the name and class year of each individual graduate. Every spring, the bricks of that year's graduating class are installed, enabling eighth graders to enjoy their brick every day until graduation. The graduation bricks remain an important campus destination for alumni upon return visits to campus and are the core of the middle school's outdoor classroom.
Rose Ceremony
The day before Harding’s graduation each year is perhaps the most touching ceremony to conclude a student’s time at Harding. In the rose ceremony, each eighth grader and his or her buddy meet each other in the middle of the graduation stage. Eighth graders are presented with a rose from their buddy as a symbolic gesture of the PreK student carrying on the Harding traditions and community code after their buddy has graduated.
Buddies
At Harding, connection is more than a concept. It is woven into the fabric of our daily lives. Our buddy system does more than bridge grade levels; it builds a family. By pairing older and younger students for shared learning, creative projects, and pure fun, we create a vibrant culture of mentorship and lifelong friendship.
Our community thrives on these intentional, multi-age connections:
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Pre-K and 8th Grade: Our oldest and youngest students share a legendary bond. Our eighth graders, who vividly remember being the "little buddies" themselves, step into leadership to bring the journey full circle.
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Growing Together: This mentorship continues across campus, pairing Kindergarteners with fourth graders, first graders with fifth graders, and beyond.
These relationships transform our campus into a place where empathy is lived out loud. Through the simple joy of having a buddy, our students naturally grow into kind, thoughtful leaders who look out for one another, no matter their age or grade.
Kindergarten Birthday Bell
The bell tower at the entrance to the Wright Swift Lyle Building building is host to one of the most memorable traditions for children. On their birthday (or half birthday for children who do not have their special day fall during the school year) every kindergarten child rings the bell the number of times as their age. Parents and siblings are invited to join the celebration which is concluded by classmates cheering. As the bell rings throughout campus and the neighborhood, everyone knows that someone is turning 6 or 7!
Graduation Bricks
Harding Academy's outdoor classroom and the middle school courtyard contains rows of bricks inscribed with the name and class year of each individual graduate. Every spring, the bricks of that year's graduating class are installed, enabling eighth graders to enjoy their brick every day until graduation. The graduation bricks remain an important campus destination for alumni upon return visits to campus and are the core of the middle school's outdoor classroom.
Rose Ceremony
The day before Harding’s graduation each year is perhaps the most touching ceremony to conclude a student’s time at Harding. In the rose ceremony, each eighth grader and his or her buddy meet each other in the middle of the graduation stage. Eighth graders are presented with a rose from their buddy as a symbolic gesture of the PreK student carrying on the Harding traditions and community code after their buddy has graduated.
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I believe in Harding's Legacy
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Inspiring The Mind • Nurturing The Spirit