Traditions
Our Song
Nine Dwight students teamed up with performer Keith “Wildchild” Middleton of STOMP fame, and two-time Grammy-Award-winning record producer and two-time ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Mikkel Eriksen, to write and record our Dwight School song. The song, released in 2012, now unites Dwight students worldwide.
Our School of Spirits Doors
Anyone who has crossed Dwight’s transom at 18 West 89th Street knows that the gateway to our school is comprised of double hand-forged iron doors that are not only heavy but also beautiful to behold. These architectural icons of our campus, named the “School of Spirits” doors, were designed intentionally to be difficult to open, and reflect Dwight's legacy of merging tradition with innovation.
Our Houses
On campus, you'll hear the divisions of our school being referred to as "Houses," each named in honor of a part of Dwight's history. Lower School is called "Timothy House" in honor of Timothy Dwight, Dwight's namesake. Middle School is referred to as "Bentley House," in honor of Bentley School, whose elementary and middle schools joined forces with Dwight in 1974. "Franklin House" is made up of grades 9-10 and honors the tradition of the Franklin School, originally founded in 1872 as the Sachs Collegiate Institute. Finally, "Anglo House" is made up of grades 11-12 and honors the Anglo-American International School, which is the name that Franklin took on in 1980 upon adopting the IB. Anglo-American and Dwight School joine forces in 1993.
Spirit Day
Every year, parents, students, teachers, and alumni gather for Spirit Day, a fun-filled carnival with races, face painting, arts and crafts, service activities, and more!
Halloween Parades
Boo! The Preschool, Kindergarten, and Lower School Halloween parades are a favorite Dwight tradition. Middle School students enjoy a spooky Halloween party, while Upper School students compete against their teachers in a lively costume contest.
National Shakespeare Competition
In this contest, Upper School students are challenged to memorize monologues from Shakespeare's oeuvre and to deliver them with dramatic flair. The champion represents Dwight in a City-wide competition. We take great pride in this tradition, as it was launched by friend and former Anglo-American International School headmaster Dr. Paul Beresford-Hill.
Carnegie Hall Concert
Carnegie Hall, one of the world’s most illustrious musical venues, has been the setting for our annual concert for years. Students in grades 4-12 look forward to this special opportunity, which includes practicing and performing with their peers from Dwight's global campuses.
Fifth-grade London Exchange
For two decades, fifth graders have crossed the pond for their annual exchange program with their peers at Dwight School London, beginning their overseas journeys as Dwight global citizens. Upon return home, they welcome their new friends from London for a reciprocal visit to New York. We began the same traditions for seventh graders to visit Dwight School Seoul and ninth graders to travel to the Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School.
Timothy House Field Day
Lower School students leave the classroom behind for loads of fun in a host of indoor and outdoor activities at the Dwight School Athletic Center. Teamwork and community are the buzzwords of the day.
Doris Post Oratory Competition
Each year, Middle and Upper School students participate in this tradition that dates back to the 1980s. Named for a former Head of English, who served at Dwight for 30 years, this competition challenges students to demonstrate outstanding public speaking and writing skills.
Graduation at the Met
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is the site of our graduation, where we honor seniors whose academic and personal accomplishments have earned their acceptance to the finest colleges and universities worldwide. Prior to graduation, we capture their pride and smiles, as they don shirts with the name of the schools they will be attending in a class photo.
Alumni Reunion
Each year, we welcome back graduates of Dwight, Franklin, and Anglo-American Schools to share memories, meet old friends, and make new ones. We honor those celebrating landmark years and toast all alumni who gather for this special occasion.
Service Week
Each fall, our community comes together in the spirit of service to help others locally and globally, continuing what has become one of our School’s most heartfelt traditions.