Stuart Country Day School

In our Friday feels about Green & White Day from last week. Photos are posted in Smugmug!

Photos: https://stuartschool.smugmug.com/2026-2027-Stuart-Photos/All-School-Events/Green-White-Day

📸 Tamara Gillon & Stuart

This summer, sophomore Julia Walker and junior Ellery Badros attended Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan, the nation’s leading summer arts program. For 99 years, Interlochen has offered renowned, competitive programs in the performing and visual arts. Julia participated in the one-week Musical Theater Dance Intensive, and Ellery attended the Voice & Opera summer program for three weeks. ⁠
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In Ellery’s words:⁠
“Interlochen proved to be a transformative experience for me! My time in Michigan was filled with voice lessons, music theory classes, and chocolate ice cream breaks. I especially enjoyed learning about the physiology of the voice through classes in Acoustical Science and Vocal Mechanisms (the first time I’ve ever been asked to name my larynx!) The program culminated in a choir concert featuring the Interlochen Singers and World Youth Honors Choir, two evenings of solo recitals, and our opera scenes performance. I connected with people from all over the world, all of whom were incredibly talented in their instruments. One highlight was a masterclass with distinguished soprano Renée Fleming. I’m so immensely grateful for this opportunity, and for the teachers, campers, and mentors who made my time unforgettable!”⁠
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Julia added:⁠
“My favorite part was all of the connections I made through the experience, as well as all of the learning and the ways I improved my skills. My favorite part was meeting people from across the country who shared my love for dance and musical theatre, and I’ve been so happy to have kept in touch with many of the friends that I’ve made. The program included dance technique and acting classes, as well as workshop-style singing classes. We received so much helpful feedback on our routines and music, even as we learned a new dance almost every day. All of the choreography was so carefully thought-out by my teachers, and was such a joy to learn and perform. Overall, I loved and am so grateful that I got to learn from and meet so many talented artists and see all of the creativity that everyone brought to the program.”⁠
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We look forward to seeing how Ellery and Julia bring their experiences to the Stuart stage this year!

61 FLAGS, ONE HEART

On Friday, September 25, the Stuart community gathered in Cor Unum (one heart) for our annual Flag Ceremony. Students, faculty, and staff processed 61 flags into the space, each one representing the native country of a community member or their family. For nearly 30 years, this beloved tradition has reminded us that our many cultures enrich our classrooms, our conversations, and our perspectives, and that each of us is called to steward and celebrate this community. The Mass of the Holy Spirit followed, where Msgr. Greg blessed the new school year. Together, these celebrations offered a beautiful expression of Goal 1, a personal and active faith in God, as we celebrated the gift of our community and prayed for the year ahead.

Photos: https://stuartschool.smugmug.com/2026-2027-Stuart-Photos/All-School-Events/Flag-Ceremony

We are pleased to share that Stuart has earned top honors in Niche's 2027 rankings, and the results place our girls among the very best in New Jersey and across the country.⁠
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#1 Best All-Girls High School in New Jersey⁠
#1 Best Catholic K-12 School in New Jersey⁠
#2 Best Catholic High School in New Jersey⁠
#3 Best Catholic K-12 School in America⁠
#5 Best Private K-12 School in New Jersey⁠
#9 Best Catholic High School in America⁠
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We are grateful to the students, faculty, staff, families, and Stuart community whose partnership in delivering our mission of educating young women to lives of exceptional leadership and service is in every one of these numbers.

A little 2016 to get us in the mood for Friday! Flag Ceremony and Green & White Day are almost here, and the spirit on campus is as vibrant as it was 10 years ago. Comment below with your favorite memories of both traditions!

STUART, IN HER OWN WORDS

Every year, three students are invited to be the voice of their peers on the first day of school. Each shares her own view of what it means to be a Stuart girl. Megan, a fourth grader, said her teachers inspire students to "take risks, ask deep questions, and never be afraid to fail." Charlotte, an eighth grader, described a community nurtured through "loads of love and unwavering empowerment" and supported by an "ever-present Sacred Heart sisterhood." Hadassah, the Upper School student government executive president, looked back on her thirteen years at Stuart and said, "It was Stuart who never said no. . . . I could and still can be anything I want."

The podium is where many girls discover a passion for public speaking, and standing before a full audience is no small thing. All of these girls stepped forward with confidence and spoke with genuine love for their school. The year is just beginning, and the future is full of what's possible because of God's love for every single student.

We invite you to read their full remarks, and we look forward to sharing more student voices throughout the year.

Read more: https://bit.ly/46ItxpM

Goal 1 of the Sacred Heart, A Personal and Active Faith in God, calls us to welcome and respect people of all faiths while building a genuine understanding of the world’s religious traditions. Putting this Goal into action, Upper School students recently visited Lower School classrooms to celebrate Rosh Hashanah together. The older students shared stories about the holiday, concluding with the tradition of dipping apples into honey to represent a sweet year ahead.

Wishing all who observe Yom Kippur a blessed and meaningful holy day and fast.