About two weeks ago, I found myself in a huddle surrounded by nine other students, the Head of School, Dave Farace, and two very excitable dogs.

All of us, except the dogs, were holding cards with thought-provoking icebreaker questions.

Among new traditions such as the Honor Code signing ceremony, on September 11, Mr. and Mrs. Farace  invited a group of seniors from two English classes into their home for the first of many gatherings where he gets to know the seniors before they become alumni.

When my turn came, I stated my name, this is my sixth year, and then my card prompted me to inform the huddle on the best path to happiness. With that completely easy surface level question, I experienced an important realization.

I am a senior, and this is my last year at Bolles. Where four years ago, the seniors looked huge to me, all of a sudden the freshmen look tiny and I’ve started to think about how I want them to remember me, and my grade.

Seniors play an important role in shaping the Bolles legacy passed down to the younger grades during an important transition period, a time to enforce traditions promoting inclusivity and end exclusive practices. In a Schoology message, Student Activities Director Piper Moyer-Shad held the seniors to Mr. Farace’s call to action to realize that “just because something is perceived as tradition doesn’t make it a good thing to do.”

Had the seniors four years ago not broken the tradition of putting diapers on the freshmen’s locker to instead host an ice cream social, my first day four years ago would have been very different. “Traditions,” such as Tackle Tuesday and limiting dress-up themes at home games to upperclassmen have also been phased out.

The beginning of the school year was a time of debate, defining the line between good traditions and bad practices. In preparation for the first home game of the year, after the senior boys challenged the Senior Women’s home game theme, Piper Moyer-Shad’s message stated that while senior women will decide the home themes for the rest of year, a defendable tradition, all grades should be able to dress in theme, not just the seniors.

Farace said “I’m a big believer in traditions as long as they support and advance the tradition of the school.”

In response to the home game themes, Farace said “I believe that seniors should still drive that but that it is an opportunity to build school spirit.”

Farace gave some advice to seniors going forth into the rest of their last year, “To serve is to lead. When you think about other people, serve other people, and when you get outside of yourself, that’s when there’s a real richness of life.”

Farace continued: find these moments in community service or even just helping a lost freshman and you’ll follow the Bolles way.

For the seniors attending the next gathering at Mr. Farace’s, expect dessert and games and a lot of genuine fun. When asked to describe her time at Mr. Farace’s, Isabella Array (’17) said, “Last night was a night of unity. I didn’t really know Mr. Farace, and it was a good bonding night between Mr. Farace and the students and between the students themselves. I feel like he’s like a bro now.”

Throughout his career, Mr. Farace carries one basic philosophy with him, “When you empower students with real responsibility, they always rise to the challenge.” He challenges faculty and the Bolles student government to “double down on our strengths” by figuring out new ways to empower the student body.

Mr. Farace brought the signing ceremony from a previous school to Bolles. He loves that Bolles hosts a student-run honor council and he thought it was “time to shine a light on that.”

The Honor Code signing ceremonies took place in early September, starting with seniors and other grades following throughout the week. “I think our seniors are our leaders,” said Farace. “If you really want to have a successful year, it’s critical that you have senior leadership.”

Though all grades signed the code, the seniors went first. They received a pen with the words “Honor Above All” and a button with the words “I Pledged” on it, so the younger grades would notice and the seniors could pass on the message of the Honor Code.

Eventually, all the signatures of all students will be displayed in Bolles Hall under a sign stating “Honor Above All.”

The ceremony also kicked off the enforcement of writing the expanded pledge on all work such as tests, quizzes, and significant assignments. Farace clarified: instead of just signing pledge or initialing work, students must write “I have neither given nor received unauthorized help on this work.”

Mr. Farace believes “words do matter” because he saw in his old school and in studies that writing out the pledge and signing one’s full name decreases instances of cheating.

He wants to remind the student body that honor is “not an area of weakness, but an area of strength.”

The next senior gathering at the Farace’s took place on Sunday, September 18th.