Social Events
Despite its reputation for academic excellence, it’s not all work and no play at RCCS. The academic calendar is highlighted by social events, which draw students together and allow them to enjoy being part of the RCCS community. Here is a sampling of the major events:
- Spirit Week
- Homecoming
- 19th Century Ball; Junior Ring Cruise; Senior Event
- Music / Choir / Bands
- Drama Production
- Luau – to welcome 6th graders to the Upper School
- Senior Trip to Europe
Spirit Week
Each year, during Spirit Week, students are encouraged to demonstrate their creativity in theme casual dress days-Movie Character Day, Class Uniform Day, RCCS Spirit Day, and the king of mismatched and randomly assembled clothing items: Wacky Wednesday.
Homecoming
In the Fall, the RCCS family invites all alumnae to return and celebrate Home Coming by cheering on the boys’ middle school and varsity soccer teams as they host challengers on the RCCS home field. Competition continues with girls’ middle school and varsity volleyball matches. The day is completed with a Grammar School Hayride and an Upper School dance in the evening.
19th Century Ball; Ring Cruise; Senior Event
The crazy dress of Spirit Week is put aside in favor of more formal attire for the signature social events of the year: the 19th Century Ball, the Junior Class Ring Cruise and the Senior Event. All Upper School students are invited to step back in time and experience an authentic 19th Century Ball complete with period music and dance callers/instructors; no experience is necessary. Juniors and their guests celebrate their new status as upper-class members in the Junior Ring ceremony performed on a moonlit dinner cruise on the Baltimore Harbor. Seniors, in formal attire, are chauffeured to a dinner and special evening, i.e. theater engagement moonlight cruise, etc., for the Senior Event which caps off their final year at RCCS.
Music / Choir / Bands
Music plays an important role at RCCS. Students are encouraged to sing in the Choir or learn to play an instrument in one of three bands: Beginner, Advanced and Jazz Band. The bands and the Choir perform several times a year both for the RCCS family and in other venues such as at area malls and even at Baltimore Blast games. Other abilities are on display at the annual Talent Show. Music, comedy and even ventriloquism evidence the surprisingly wide variety of gifts possessed by RCCS students. Others express themselves through poetry and prose published in the Literary Magazine. The class representatives and officers of the Student Government Association hone leadership skills. The Student Prayer Group meets weekly to lift up the school, administration and classmates in prayer.
Drama Productions
The talent rises to the top as Broadway meets RCCS each fall and spring. Middle and Upper School students, with direction and guidance from adult advisors construct sets, create costumes, apply makeup, operate lighting and sound equipment and not only act but actually sing. Recent spectaculars include “Arsenic and Old Lace”, “Antigone”, “The Imaginary Invalid” and “The Pirates of Penzance”. Students are making preparations for a performance of "All's Well that Ends Well" by Wm. Shakespeare this spring.
Luau – to welcome 6th graders to the Upper School
In the Spring the 9th grade plans and sponsors a Luau and invites all Upper School students to welcome the graduating 6th graders as they leave the Grammar School and become the newest members of the Upper School family. The Tiki lamps are lit as, with skits, food and fun, the 6th graders, now 7th graders mix with Upper School students and get a glimpse of what the Upper School has to offer.
Senior Trip to Europe
The classical curriculum of RCCS focuses on subjects such as Latin, ancient and world history, art history, classic literature, and Romantic languages. It is enriching and intriguing to learn in the classroom. Imagine what it would be like to actually see, feel and live it. The Senior Trip enables RCCS seniors to personally witness and experience many of the subjects they studied. Seniors, advisors and chaperons plan and travel together to Europe during a portion of Easter vacation. Rome, Venice and Normandy are among the destinations visited on past trips. What a fitting conclusion to a RCCS classical education.
