Student Life

Homecoming Weekend is one of SCH’s greatest fall traditions, bringing together current families, alumni, and friends to celebrate our vibrant school spirit. The campus comes alive with energy as the community packs the stands to cheer on our varsity athletic teams, explores our evolving spaces with guided campus tours, and enjoys a festive afternoon of games and food at the annual Family Fair. Complete with special gatherings and milestone celebrations to reconnect with old friends, it’s a weekend packed with pride, tradition, and fun for all generations.

At SCH, community starts early. Our Senior Buddies tradition pairs graduating seniors with our Pre-K, kindergarten, and 1st grade students for a year of shared memories. From spending time outside and creating arts and crafts to celebrating at our winter holiday assembly, these pairings bridge the generations of our school. A favorite tradition is the annual Halloween Parade, where buddies collaborate on coordinated costumes. The Senior Buddies program creates a unique, heartfelt bond that our students carry with them well beyond their time at SCH.

From Lower School to Upper School, SCH students learn that their voices have power. Public speaking is woven into everything we do, teaching students how to speak with conviction, purpose, and passion about the things that matter most. This lifelong lesson culminates when our students step forward to deliver their Senior Speech on a topic they are truly passionate about.

Chestnut Hill Academy's traditional Blue & Blue Day and Springside School's Blue & Gold Day have long been recognized for the outstanding school spirit they demonstrate. Now, as one school, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, we host a school-wide spirit day featuring traditional, longtime favorites as well as brand-new events designed to be more inclusive of our student body.

On Blue and Blue Day, the boys make their way to Maguire Stadium, and just before they reach Landreth Field, each participant touches the "Plunkett Rock" in honor of former coach Jack Plunkett. Exclusive to Blue and Gold Day, the senior girls' parents perform a song and dance for their senior daughters. This tradition used to be called Song Night and has since transitioned to Spirit Day, 

learn more about Blue and Gold & Blue and Blue Day

Founded in 1966 by alumnus William Reeves ’53, the Chestnut Hill Academy Pipers originally brought a spirited, kilt-clad energy to campus life. Though the official group dissolved in the 1970s, the beloved tradition never truly faded. Today, bagpipers have returned to the heart of the community, proudly leading Springside Chestnut Hill Academy through its most cherished milestones—from the high-energy excitement of Blue & Blue and Blue & Gold Days to the formal pageantry of Convocation and Commencement.

Every spring, SCH seniors trade their traditional classrooms for hands-on, real-world career experiences across Philadelphia and around the world. As a vital experiential learning capstone, this high school senior internship empowers students to explore professional passions, build corporate networks, and gain a competitive edge for college and future careers.

Read more about the tradition dating back to the 60's here
“For my senior project, I worked in a chemistry lab with a professor at St. Joseph’s University. I worked closely with a grad student on her research, making and synthesizing polymers that will ultimately be used to trap carbon dioxide. I’ve been measuring and combining chemicals, learning the lab, and getting insight into what it would look like to pursue research in college or as a career.” - Lauren Wilson '26