Mission, Traditions and History

BUILDING BOYS WHO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE

At Allen-Stevenson we help every boy achieve his best potential within an inclusive community of joyful learners and their families. We expect him to be active and engaged in his own learning, so that he becomes intellectually, socially and emotionally strong. We help boys learn that they can make a difference, that is, to make the world a better place.

As teachers and educators, our role is to empower each boy's natural curiosity to develop his capacities, values and skills, not only to learn about the world around us but also to value the diverse fabric of humanity. Through a collaborative culture of inquiry, we design learning experiences that challenge boys to take thoughtful risks in pursuing excellence in achieving their best potential.

We educate each boy to acquire cultural competence and global understanding, to appreciate community and engaged citizenship, and to develop the drive to share responsibility for promoting a sustainable and equitable world.

Allen-Stevenson’s distinctive “enlightened traditional” approach educates boys to become scholars and gentlemen. In the belief that there are many ways to be a boy, the School offers an ongoing commitment to each student and uses the best insights and tools available to understand him as a whole person. We inspire in each boy an appreciation of responsible citizenship and a lifelong love of learning.

Allen-Stevenson’s vigorous, pre-secondary program of academics, athletics, and the arts teaches boys to value the gratifying process by which excellence is attained. By creating a joyful, safe environment for learning, the School seeks to ensure a productive, diverse community of learners. We challenge our students to take suitable risks, learn from their mistakes, and support each other. Ultimately, we encourage boys to move through life strongly and rightly—with confidence, knowledge, enthusiasm, resilience, and respect for all.

Allen-Stevenson promotes diverse perspectives, honest dialogue and mutual respect. This educational process requires constant engagement and considerate thinking. As participants in a vigorous learning environment, all of us are obliged to accept the experiences, dignity and rights of others.

Therefore, faculty and staff, administrators, students past and present, parents and trustees are expected to:

• Demonstrate an awareness of and respect for the human experiences that exist within the diverse cultures that make up the world in which we live;
• Incorporate in the life of the School a diversity that may include – but is not limited to – race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, learning style, physical ability, sexual orientation, family structure or socio-economic status; and
• Acquire the knowledge, sensitivity and skills necessary for participating in cross-cultural interactions and promoting mutual understanding.

Allen-Stevenson’s commitment to an inclusive educational community informs our admissions policies, our hiring practices, our curriculum, and the allocation of our resources.

At Allen-Stevenson we inspire boys to become…

• Thoughtful
• Responsible
• Generous
• Respectful
• Studious
• Enthusiastic
• Determined
• Creative
• Good

An Allen-Stevenson Boy is a Scholar and a Gentleman.

Behavior becoming an Allen-Stevenson boy is expected at all times.

The Arts Festival provides an opportunity to showcase the diversity of art and shop projects that each boy has created in class. Held over three days, families are invited to view the artwork with their sons.

The School honors its founders, Francis Bellows Allen and Robert Alston Stevenson, with an all-school celebration on the Friday before the Columbus Day weekend. Different grades are paired together to work on projects and take part in the festivities that celebrate the School’s birthday. A guest speaker, an alumnus or a former member of the faculty, tells of his relationship with Allen-Stevenson years ago.

Boys have three chances to perform in Allen-Stevenson’s “main stage productions”: A Fall Play, a Winter Musical, and Spring Scene Night. For the fall & spring productions, we invite students from The Nightingale-Bamford School to participate. 

For the Winter Musical, we invite all our Upper Division students to participate. Auditions for the lead roles (available to boys in Grades Six through Eight) take place in the fall and rehearsals begin soon after. Boys in Grades Five through Eight are invited to participate in the choruses. Some brave members of the faculty and staff volunteer to be part of these choruses as well. The musical score is played primarily by the School's instrumental instructors. Parents take part in this celebrated tradition by helping with costumes and make-up and by being an enthusiastic audience. We are continuing with our long-standing tradition of including Gilbert & Sullivan operettas in our rotation, among other new musicals, so the boys have a chance to experience multiple genres of Musical Theater. 

The Allen-Stevenson song becomes a part of every Allen-Stevenson boy's repertoire. The words and music are by Rolande Young Schrade, ASCAP, the former Lower School Music Director from 1968 until 1989:

We hail thee, Al-len-Stev-en-son----fort-i-ter et rec-te.

With joy un-told the blue and gold----will be with us al-ways.

The days grow short as we grow tall, our faith grows firm, our fears grow small.

We hail thee, Al-len-Stev-en-son----fort-i-ter et rec-te.

And as the lamplight shows the way, we strongly, rightly live each day.

We hail thee, Al-len-Stev-en-son----fort-i-ter et rec-te.

The unicorn is one of the most famous of the fabulous beasts. The mascot of the School is known for being decent and pure. A fleet and mighty warrior, the unicorn exemplifies the fortitude of character and strength of conviction that the School seeks to give every Allen-Stevenson boy.