Juniors and Seniors Celebrate Ring Day

Every spring, as the flowers bloom and the school year comes to a close, upperclassmen count down the days to the coveted Ring Day. The celebration is a time-honored Holton tradition that serves as the culmination of the Upper Schoolers' time.

The ring sibling tradition fosters meaningful cross-grade relationships and helps students build

lasting friendships. Erin Guven ’26 believes that the ceremony offers an incentive to connect with other students, “find a connection between grades and be able to rely on at least one person who’s older or younger than you.”

Cole Himali ’25 agrees and appreciates the opportunity to “create [her] own family within Holton.”

Some students enjoy the custom of “proposing” to their potential ring sibling with posters, flowers and candy, although many students do not participate in this aspect of the tradition. A witness to these proposals, Guven thought it “was really sweet seeing the surprise on the student’s face” as well as “seeing the two hug and smile” afterwards.

At the Ring Day Luncheon, juniors receive engraved rings from their senior ring siblings and celebrate by taking pictures together on Granger Hill.

Although Holton partners with a jeweler for class rings, many students choose more affordable options from Etsy or other retailers. Some students even get creative by using Ring Pops or other playful stand-ins for the celebration. Himali loves the Ring Luncheon and “being able to just spend time with [her] ring sister and have some bonding time.”

Twelfth-grade dean Shay Squeglia enjoys the “traditions associated with the ring" such as “turning the crest inwards until graduation, when you turn the crest outward to symbolize you’re entering the broader world beyond Holton.”

Eleventh-grade dean Mary Quirk Kline pointed out that many students do not have a ring sibling and that the Ring Luncheon is “not a longstanding tradition.” Until relatively recently, students received their rings through an unceremonious pick-up in the Upper School Office.

Despite all of the excitement surrounding the tradition, students should not feel pressured to have a ring sibling. Kline wants students who do not have a sibling to “feel included” in the day. The deans work to ensure that the Luncheon is fun for everyone.

The Ring Day tradition creates a special bonding opportunity between the junior and senior classes before they part ways for the summer and

life beyond Holton.