Blake is undergoing big changes with the unification of the Lower School campuses and the opening of the Early Learning Center. And soon the alma mater, Blake’s school song, will reflect these changes. This academic year, Ilah Raleigh, PK-12 director of visual and performing arts, is leading students in a collaborative project involving all three divisions to create a new third verse of the alma mater. The song will continue to honor Blake's history in its first two verses; the new third verse will be sung with the original melody and musical arrangement. 

In December, Lower School students created “word banks,” or lists of words that define Blake and what it means to be a Blake student. In January, Middle School students completed creative writing exercises inspired by the Lower School word banks. In February, Upper School students formed teams and are working together to create various drafts of the third verse. The whole school will vote on their favorite draft in April. Middle School and Upper School choir students will debut the winning verse when they perform the alma mater at the Lower School closings in June. In August, the two choirs will perform the new verse again with the opening of the Early Learning Center. 

Stay tuned for updates on the project’s progress and the winning third verse. Project questions and suggestions can be directed to iraleigh@blakeschool.org.