Coming Together: Strengthening Community Through Weekly Assemblies
Some of the most meaningful moments of connection at BWL happen when students step outside their individual classrooms and come together as a larger community. Each Division participates in a weekly assembly, creating a consistent space for students to share their work and talents, hear new perspectives, celebrate one another, and connect with classmates across grades.
No two assemblies look quite the same. Students might watch the BirchBots demonstrate their latest robotics work, hear classmates present Independent Study research or Entrepreneurship projects, participate in a House competition, explore environmental stewardship with a guest speaker, or take the stage for a performance. Authors, wellness professionals, and other outside experts also join the community throughout the year, bringing new voices and experiences into the school.
At times, Divisions come together as well, giving younger and older students opportunities to share experiences and expertise and strengthening connections across the school.
LOWER SCHOOL
In the Lower School, weekly assemblies bring Kindergarten through 5th grade students together in one place. For younger students in particular, this gives them a chance to see themselves as part of a community that extends well beyond their own classroom.
Assemblies are active and varied. Students team up across grades for House activities and challenges, practice speaking and listening through Constructive Dialogue, share projects and classroom experiences, and sometimes take the lead themselves by presenting their work or guiding an activity. Special guests, including authors and experts in wellness and health, add new perspectives throughout the year.
These weekly gatherings give Lower School students regular opportunities to get to know one another across ages, practice participating in a larger group, and cheer on the accomplishments of their fellow Lions.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
As students move into Middle School, assembly becomes an increasingly student-driven space. Our 6th, 7th, and 8th graders gather each week for activities centered on the experiences and responsibilities that come with being part of the Middle School community.
Service-learning initiatives, Constructive Dialogue, House competitions, Student Council programs, guest speakers, and student presentations all have a place in the assembly calendar. Students might teach their peers something new, showcase a special interest, share the work of a club, or lead an activity themselves.
Assemblies also make room for fun. Performance showcases and a music and beat-making listening party are among the experiences that have brought students together, giving them opportunities to see different sides of their classmates and celebrate the many interests represented within the Middle School.
UPPER SCHOOL
With increasingly demanding academics, extracurricular commitments, athletics, and the college process, Upper School students have plenty competing for their attention. Weekly assembly creates intentional time for the entire Division, students and faculty alike, to be together.
Some weeks invite students to engage deeply with an idea or issue alongside an outside expert or member of the BWL community. Others put students themselves at the center. Independent Study research, Entrepreneurship ventures, club accomplishments, performances, and other student work give classmates a window into what their peers are pursuing beyond the courses and activities they may share.
Assembly is also a place to recognize individual and collective accomplishments and celebrate the range of talents, interests, and experiences within the Upper School. At a stage of school life that increasingly asks students to chart their own paths, that weekly time together keeps them connected to the people traveling alongside them.
Across all three Divisions, assembly evolves as students grow, but its purpose remains consistent: to create time in the school week to gather, participate, listen, contribute, and celebrate one another. Over the years, students take on increasingly active roles in these gatherings, moving from participating in the community to helping shape it themselves. In a school where students of all ages share the same hallways, assemblies reinforce that sense of connection and give every Lion a place in the larger BWL community.