As the cold days of winter begin to fall into our rearview mirror, spring begins to unfold. It isn’t just the flowers that hesitantly peek their heads above the soil or the leaves that are reborn, but the Berkshire traditions that really make this season feel so vibrant.
According to Adriana Echavarria ’25, “My favorite Berkshire tradition is Last Bear Standing because I really enjoy the competition, and it’s a very fun game each year. People take it very seriously, and it puts me out of my comfort zone.” This campus-wide contest incorporates the whole school and allows people to branch out and meet new people.
Last Bear Standing is just one of the traditions that infuses the campus with unmistakable Berkshire spirit. Some others include: Community Dinner, Mountain Day, the Easter egg hunt, the spring play, and many more.
Community Dinner is held in both the fall and the spring, where students dine with a randomized table of students and faculty. The goal is to connect with new people and step outside of one’s comfort zone.
Furthermore, Mountain Day, which happens in both spring and fall, is a fun day where classes are canceled, giving students the chance to enjoy a free day connecting with nature however they like! There are many options to choose from—people can hike up the mountain and explore new terrain, or spend the day on campus and enjoy their leisure time in the sunshine. The hope is that students will embrace the spirit of spring while also showing appreciation to the mountain that surrounds the campus.
When speaking to students about the difference between the spring trimester and the other trimesters, there is much anticipation for this last stretch of school. Anabel Vilas ’28 said, “Already spring trimester has been really fun, and I’m really excited for it to continue, especially with all the events people talk about. I’m so grateful for all the people I’ve met and all the opportunities that I have been given.” She went on to say that she “cannot choose which trimester is her favorite because they have all been special in their own way.” While she found joy throughout all three trimesters, she highlighted her love for the spring events, noting that overall, her first year at Berkshire has been incredibly enjoyable.
Although spring can be bittersweet with the seniors experiencing their last trimester at Berkshire, there are many events to commemorate the senior class and celebrate their time under the Mountain. Some examples are Senior Dinner, Prize Night, Prom, and Commencement.
Senior Dinner is a night where each student from the graduating class is able to invite a faculty member to dine with them. This dinner has a lot of meaning behind appreciation towards faculty while also commemorating the seniors.
Another event, Prize Night, takes place the night before graduation, where the whole school gathers and academic, athletic, and character prizes are awarded to students across all grades. Afterward, there is a celebration with dancing and dessert underneath a tent on Stewart Pitch.
So, with exams looming and seniors counting down their final moments, why is spring trimester still everyone’s favorite? Is it the welcome sunshine after a long winter under the Mountain? The sense of togetherness as we shake off the winter blues? Maybe it’s the exciting events leading up to Last Bear Standing. Or perhaps it is the fact that as soon as the temperature hits above 60°F, the spike-ball nets are brought out, and people start spending more time outside. The electricity of the Berkshire community can be felt from miles away.
