Traditions & Programs
Faith & Service
Traditions & Programs
Clubs
JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL
BUILDING COMMUNITY
- Advisory Program
- Beginning in Junior High, every day starts with advisory where students get to know each other within the grade and their teachers on a deeper level. In this small group environment, the girls receive individual attention and guidance on how to prepare for their days. Once students enter their sophomore year, advisory includes girls across grade levels who continue to be mentored by a faculty advisor. In this mini-community, girls get to know and appreciate one another through shared conversation and celebration. The result is an authentic human connection that builds friendships for a lifetime.
- Monday Assembly
- Each Monday, the school gathers to share news, learn about each other, and pray together. Monday Assemblies build fellowship by reminding of our shared purpose.
- Spirit Week
- Spirit Week is held in the fall and is highly anticipated by all the students. Each day during the week is designated as a particular theme. The students have numerous opportunities to show their SCArab spirit through planned activities and events. The week culminates in a day full of class competitions leading to the Spirit Award given to the class with the best participation and spirit.
- Art of Living Days
- Designed specifically for girls, Art of Living Days help students work through cultural confusion and gain empathy for the personal experiences of their peers and others. They learn who they are and how they fit in this ever-evolving world.
EMBRACING OUR HERITAGE
- Dominican Day
- Dominican Day is a special celebration that honors the Dominican values of prayer, study, community, and service. Through activities, reflection, and time together in sisterhood, students deepen their understanding of the Dominican tradition. Students engage in grade-specific activities ranging from retreats at the Motherhouse to service in the Nashville area.
- St. Cecilia Day
- High school mothers are invited to campus to celebrate the feast of St. Cecilia. The day begins with a Mass at which the Bishop of the Diocese presides. Red roses are used on the altar in honor of St. Cecilia. Following the Mass, there is a fine arts assembly showcasing students' acting, singing, and artistic abilities. The day concludes with a high school Mother/Daughter Tea.
CHERISHING FAMILY
- Father-Daughter BBQ Bash
- Students invite their fathers or father figures onto campus for a night of live music, food, and fellowship. Student Council members present the seniors and their guests in honor of their last Father/Daughter event. This event is typically held in the fall in St. Cecilia Academy's courtyard or gym.
- Mother-Daughter Events
- Mothers or mother figures are invited to attend the separate St. Cecilia Day programming for the junior high and the high school, followed by a reception for each. They are also celebrated as part of the May Crowning events with performances and a light luncheon.
EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES
INTERIM PROGRAM
- Junior High Interim Program
- Junior high students are given the opportunity to explore exciting opportunities during the first week of January. Each morning, our girls embark on an adventure by participating in a morning field trip. In the afternoon, students may participate in interesting, fun, and educational classes that teach new skills.
HIGH SCHOOL INTERIM PROGRAM
- High School Interim Program
- The majority of juniors and seniors choose an internship that fits their interests and potential professional aspirations. Students spend almost a week shadowing a professional (often an alumna) in their position of interest, taking on small projects and learning from colleagues. The short internship exposes our students to a real-life look at the day-to-day working experience in a specific field and the reality of life after high school and college. This hands-on, “out of classroom” experience aids in individual discernment regarding path of study and career path for our students.
- Travel
- St. Cecilia Academy offers international travel opportunities, and many of these occur during the winter Interim experience which closely follows Christmas break. During these trips, the world becomes our classroom and students see their “book learning” come to life in new ways by witnessing a culture, language, people, and geography first hand. Recent trips have included England, France, Ireland, Italy, and Spain.
- Special On-Campus Classes
- Freshmen and sophomores can explore a variety of subjects, such as intro to law, creative writing, public speaking, sacred architecture, baking, self-defense, and rock climbing.
JUNIOR HIGH
CELEBRATING SISTERHOOD
- Scarab Sisters
- Each year, our new 7th graders are paired with an 8th-grade mentor to help the girls feel welcome and included. Scarab Sisters have lunch together twice a month, complete puzzles and challenges together, and work as a team on several events.
EXPLORING OUR WORLD
- Scarab City Adventures
- Scarab City Adventures encourages students to explore and appreciate the culture, history, and community of Nashville through fun outings and shared experiences. Through local adventures, students build friendships, discover new interests, and strengthen the spirit of sisterhood while learning more about the city around them.
- 8th Grade Trip
- The 8th Grade Trip is a memorable experience that allows students to celebrate their time in junior high while strengthening friendships and sisterhood. Through shared adventures, reflection, and time together outside the classroom, students enjoy meaningful moments of connection as they prepare for the transition into high school and the next stage of their journey.
HONORING OUR PATRON SAINT
- St. Cecilia Play
- The St. Cecilia Play gives junior high students the opportunity to explore creativity, teamwork, and confidence through the performing arts. From acting and singing to stage production and collaboration, students work together to bring the story of our patroness to life to honor her deep faith in Jesus Christ.
CELEBRATING MILESTONES
- 8th Grade Confirmation
- The Confirmation celebration is a meaningful milestone in the faith journey of our students as they receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit and deepen their commitment to Christ and the Church.
- 8th Grade Commencement
- Eighth Grade Commencement is a special ceremony honoring the journey and achievements of our junior high students as they prepare to transition into high school.
HIGH SCHOOL
FOSTERING FRIENDSHIP
- Freshman Overnight
- Before school starts, the entire freshman class attends an overnight workshop at Camp Marymount, planned and hosted by members of the senior class. This workshop provides freshmen with a relaxed environment to get to know all the members of their class.
- Freshman-Senior Week and Senior-Freshman Week
- In September, every senior "adopts" a freshman. Throughout the week, seniors do fun activities for their freshmen, such as decorating lockers and leaving small notes and surprises for them. At the end of the week, the seniors sponsor a picnic at which time they reveal to "their" freshmen who they are. This event fosters community and builds a sense of mentorship and support for the new high school students.
INSTILLING VIRTUES OF LEADERSHIP
- Leadership Workshop
- In August, all students who have been elected to school leadership positions meet for a workshop, where they learn about the responsibilities of their positions, meet with their faculty sponsors, and participate in team building and leadership activities.
- Junior Ring Mass
- The Junior Ring Mass is a long-standing tradition at St. Cecilia Academy. At the end of a special Mass in the Motherhouse chapel, the juniors receive their class rings from the principal in a formal ceremony. The senior class president presents each junior with a red rose to mark her first step toward becoming a leader of the school.
CELEBRATING OUR SENIORS
SENIOR TRADITIONS
Senior traditions include gathering on the first day of school to watch the sunrise on campus, eating lunch outside on the senior patio, wearing Saddle-Oxfords with the uniform, and wearing the "senior sweater," a yellow sweater with the school logo.
MAY CROWNING
The seniors, wearing spring dresses, carry roses in a procession to a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Alumnae Association presents each senior with a rosary, then representatives of the senior class lead a school-wide rosary. At the end of the procession, the President of Sodality, assisted by a junior high representative, crowns the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The ceremony is followed by a reception with the students' mothers.
BACCALAUREATE MASS
All students, faculty, and upperclassman families celebrate Mass with the Bishop at the Cathedral of the Incarnation, followed by a program where the seniors present the class gift to the school and red roses to their parents as a token of gratitude. Baccalaureate concludes with the Ceremony of the Passing of the Light, in which the graduating senior class passes the light of leadership to the rising senior class.
GRADUATION
The graduating class wears the traditional white cap and gown for the ceremony as they receive their diplomas, presented by the Prioress General of the Saint Cecilia Congregation. The graduation is held on the White House lawn, and speeches are given by the Valedictorian, Salutatorian, and St. Cecilia Girl.