Annual Belmont Bonfire
Fun and socialization mingle with ceremony and tradition in this exciting annual event. Each year, Belmont students, families, teachers, and faculty gather in the mountains to share a meal and honor the heritage of classical Christian education. This year's bonfire was held on September 25th.
As students, faculty, and their families arrived, they connected with each other through play and conversation, eating their picnic dinners until the big moment came.
Students and faculty lined up to participate in the lighting of the ceremonial torches and bonfire. Here are excerpts from the ceremony:
"At Belmont, our world-view is informed by the great lives and the best books. We gain a sense of perspective and humility drawn from the lessons of Western Civilization. From ancient Jerusalem, Greece, and Rome, the cradles of faith and freedom, we receive the foundations of our classical Christian education.
"From Jerusalem we learn that God loves us. As we receive His grace and live His laws, we bring order to our souls and to society.
"From Greece we learn to pursue Truth, Beauty, and Goodness. As we master the trivium and quadrivium, we grow in wisdom and eloquence.
"From Rome we receive the virtue of pietas, creating order as we show loyalty to God, family, and country. We learn to cherish civic, economic, and religious freedom.
"Now it falls to us to give as we have received, to share these blessings with a new generation. Together we invest in students — helping them acquire an education of the highest quality, live a joyful life, and become leaders and doers in a free society.
"With gratitude, we receive the best of you. From Jerusalem, Caritas! ... From Greece, Veritas! ... From Rome, Actio!"
Then the students lit the bonfire with the torches of caritas, veritas, and actio.
At the start of the year, Belmont families enjoyed connecting with each other and remembering why we gather at Belmont, where our educational traditions come from, and the kind of leaders students can become through classical Christian education.
Written by Katherine Carman
Upper School Teacher
Photos and video by Scott Hart
Belmont is an independent PreK-12 school in the classical, Christian tradition. In partnership with parents, we invest in students — helping them acquire an education of the highest
quality, find joy in life, and become influences for good in the world. If you are interested in receiving updates about Belmont, please subscribe to Exulto here by inserting your email.
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