Traditions
Although much has changed at Langley since our founding in 1942, a number of cherished traditions link the school to our past and build community among generations of students, parents, and faculty.
Art Show: Through the years, Langley students have had countless opportunities to express their creativity, including an early art show at the public library in 1959. Today, the school hosts our own art show each spring featuring artwork on display from every student. The entire school community is invited to an opening reception and enjoys browsing our students’ impressive creations.
Big Buddy Program: This program – which Langley launched in the early 1970s – pairs kindergartners with eighth-graders and first-graders with fifth-graders, creating strong bonds of friendship and providing our older students with valuable experience as role models and leaders.
Book Fair: Each December, Langley celebrates our love of reading at the Book Fair, a tradition since the mid 1970s. The entire school community is invited to browse and purchase a wonderful selection of books for all ages during this two-day event in the school’s library.
Cricket Match: Since 1998, Langley’s fifth-graders have taken part in an all-day cricket match on the athletic field each spring. This much-anticipated day of cricket not only teaches students the finer points of the game, but also provides them with valuable life lessons in sportsmanship, honesty, and respect for other cultures.
Day of Giving: During this large-scale volunteer event which began in 2018, hundreds of Langley families, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends come together to make an impact by packing meals for a community in need, such as those affected by hurricanes in Puerto Rico or the Bahamas.
Fall Fair: More than 1,000 students, parents, faculty/staff, and alumni attend this annual campus event each fall featuring food, fun, and games. One of the school’s oldest traditions, the fair was first held in the spring of 1954 to raise funds for a new school building. Although the fair is no longer a fundraiser, it is a much-loved community building event run by hundreds of dedicated parent volunteers.
Field Day: Since the 1960s, Langley has organized an annual Field Day to encourage teamwork, physical fitness, and school spirit. Students in grades 1-8 join together in teams and rotate through a range of innovative athletic activities on the Friday before Memorial Day. One of the most anticipated days of the year, Field Day is staffed by a large team of parent volunteers who run the events and cheer on the students.
Geography Bee: Students in grades 4-8 eagerly compete in our National Geographic Bee each January. Sponsored by the National Geographic Society, contestants tackle a series of oral and written geography questions, with the winner proudly advancing to the state level. Langley’s very first champion, Nathan Curtis, won the national division contest in 1990.
Grandparents & Special Friends Day: During this cherished event each fall, Langley invites grandparents and guests from around the globe to campus to spend a morning enjoying student musical performances, sharing time in the classroom, and meeting our faculty. Students are thrilled to share their Langley experience with their grandparents and guests.
Leopardy: Langley parents and staff test their trivia prowess during this popular, fast-paced quiz night to support the school. The parent community comes together for an evening of fun, themed dinner tables and healthy team-based competition.
Newsletter: Since our founding, Langley has believed in the benefit of strong communication between parents and the school. We published the very first Memo newsletter for parents in 1945, a tradition that continues today with the Memo now distributed electronically to parents each week.
Parent Education: Founded as a cooperative school, Langley has always deeply valued our partnership with parents. After hosting the first parent education meeting in 1952, we continue to strengthen that partnership through the Parent Association of The Langley School (PALS) and a speaker series focused on relevant parenting topics.
Service Learning: Community service has been an important part of a Langley education since the 1940s when families donated food and clothing to a center for orphans outside Paris. Today, students in every grade take part in both on- and off-campus projects throughout the year. Since 1987, our Middle Schoolers have served breakfast to the homeless at So Others Might Eat, a soup kitchen in Washington, DC.
Spring Auction: With a different theme each year, Langley parents come together to celebrate an evening of philanthropy and community at the annual spring auction. Featuring amazing food, raffles, and entertainment, Langley’s auction has been a favorite parent event since 1976.