Woodlands Traditions

This annual liturgy and flag ceremony salutes Woodlands’ international community and marks the official opening of the academic year. The ceremony begins with a procession into the Woodlands Chapel of flags from the countries representing our students, faculty, and staff. The flags remain on display in the Chapel throughout the school year to honor our cultural diversity.

These words mean "Mother Most Admirable," one of the titles of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. The original painting of Mater is a fresco at the Trinita'dei Monti in Rome. Pauline Perdreau, a young Religious of the Sacred Heart, painted the fresco depicting Mary as a young girl, dressed in pink. Woodlands celebrates this feast in October with a liturgy and a ceremony honoring our sophomores with special Mater medals. The Feast of Mater Admirabilis commemorates the place that Mary holds in our lives.

We celebrate this feast day in November to honor Saint Rose Philippine Duschesne, who brought the first Religious of the Sacred Heart to America from France in 1818. She was canonized a saint in 1988. The Feast of Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne honors this RSCJ’s courage as the pioneer missionary who first brought Sacred Heart education to North America.

The Woodlands Campus Ministry Team plans this special February liturgy featuring the gospel choir from St. Malachy’s School in Chicago to honor Black History Month. After the liturgy, St. Malachy’s students share lunch and an afternoon of games and entertainment planned and led by Woodlands’ students.

Madeleine Sophie Barat founded the Society of the Sacred Heart in France in 1800 and was canonized a saint in 1925. The Feast of Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat is celebrated every May 25 to remember and to rejoice in her vision and the heritage that is Woodlands Academy’s today: an education that is strong in its studies, serious in its principles, and rich in the spirit of life and community.

The Woodlands Campus Ministry Team holds our Outdoor Liturgy in the fall to celebrate the wonders of God’s creation.

This tradition within the Catholic Church honors Mary, the Mother of Jesus, by crowning her statue with a wreath of flowers. Mary is honored as a woman of great character who serves as a remarkable role model for contemporary young women. Students and faculty vote for seniors who crown the statue, carry the wreath, read a prayer and carry a banner. Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors each select a class representative to walk in the Guard of Honor.

Congé, a French word meaning “holiday”, is a "play day" or surprise day when studies are suddenly put aside and all energy is channeled into having fun. When our Administration announces a congé, it’s met with cheers and excitement throughout the school. "Congé" also is the name of the Woodlands Parents Association’s annual spring fundraising gala to benefit the school.

A French word meaning "to taste," “Goûter” at Woodlands refers to surprise refreshments for students and faculty to celebrate special occasions or simply to add fun to our daily routine.

Our annual Christmas tradition features the school's crèche scene. Each student is assigned a lamb figurine that is moved closer to the manger as the student completes specific projects or good works.

Students play Cache Cache, a hide-and-seek game, at special school days, such as freshmen orientation and surprise Congé days.

Woodlands’ Boarding School hosts this annual fun event around Halloween. Day students are invited to spend the night and join in special activities planned by the boarding students.

Every spring, juniors receive their class rings from a member of the senior class at this ceremony. It is tradition for juniors to have their friends turn their rings once for every year and once for luck.

Sacred Heart awards are given each quarter to two members of each class and a faculty or staff member. Students nominate their peers and faculty/staff whose daily lives demonstrate the Sacred Heart values of compassion and service.

Traditionally known as "prize days," these assemblies are held twice a year at the end of each semester's academic work. Honors assemblies celebrate our students’ academic, leadership artistic, musical, athletic, and service achievements.

Red and White Teams are a fun way we build community at Woodlands. All students belong to either the Red or White Team (our school colors) for all four years of high school. Woodlands faculty and staff are also members of these teams. Throughout the year, Red and White teams compete for points in athletic endeavors, school spirit, and participation at school events. Spirit Week is an annual highlight when Red and White Teams participate in daily lunch hour games and activities. At the end of the year, the team with the greater number of points is honored as the winner of the Red and White Spirit Competition.

The Woodlands Academy Alumnae Association (WAAA) hosts this annual spring luncheon to honor seniors and their mothers and to welcome seniors into our Alumnae Association. As alumnae, Woodlands students learn that they share lifelong bonds not only with one another, but also with their Sacred Heart alumnae sisters across the country and around the world.

The Woodlands Academy Mothers Club invites all Woodlands students to attend this holiday gathering with Woodlands mothers and guardians.

Every year, the Woodlands Academy Fathers Club plans a number of fun and competitive activities for fathers and their daughters. Past years have included Whirlyball; sports activities, such as Puff Polo and a Bocce Ball Tournament; and a Pins and Pizza Night.