John Thomas Dye in Bel Air. You can't imagine a more liberal environment and this was in the early to mid-sixties.
The Jesuits say, Give me a child to he is 7 and he mine forever- or something like that.
I attended JTD as well through 5th grade, when my family moved east. I credit it, and Auntie Catherine and Uncle John, who started the school, with a great deal. (all the students called them Auntie Cathryn and Uncle John). After my family moved to CT. Aunty Cathryn and Uncle John used to visit us in the summers for a week or so.
It's now only through 6th grade, and I have no idea if it's still the school it was under the Dyes, and Mr. Cagle who was subsequently the headmaster.
Every morning before school started, students and staff gathered on the lawn and raised their arms toward the sun, reciting a salutation to the sun. I just looked it up and I see this tradition still continues:
Every morning, before classes start, the entire student body and faculty gather on the lawn. While facing the American Flag and overlooking the city of Los Angeles and Catalina Island, the School community literally raises its arms toward the sun and recites "The Salutation of the Dawn," which is taken from the Sanskrit. While reciting this ancient poem, all members of the community think of ways to make the day as fulfilling as it can be. The following words are spoken:
Look to this Day!
For it is life, the very life of life.
In its brief course lie all the verities
And realities of your existence:
The glory of action,
The bliss of growth,
The splendor of beauty.
For yesterday is but a dream,
And tomorrow is only a vision.
But today, well lived, makes
Every yesterday a dream of happiness
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well, therefore, to this Day!
Such is the Salutation of the Dawn
http://www.jtdschool.com/page/About-JTD/History--Traditions
I see, alas, they no longer continue the maypole ceremony where we wove ribbons around a maypole. I loved that. But the uniforms look much the same as they were when I was a little girl.