Student Life

At Sumner Academy, students have the ability to grow while pursuing their personal interests through different club offerings and after-school opportunities.

Through our collaborative community of faculty, students, and families, students can feel at home in a culture that emanates a family-feel while embracing opportunities in the arts, academics, athletics, and service learning.

Learn Through Experience

Belong

Because of our small size, students and staff members know and appreciate others in the school community. It is the closeness of the community that results in encouragement and the pursuit of excellence for every student.  

Sumner Academy traditions such as Field Day, Middle School Plays, the Halloween Parade, the annual Fun Run, and the Fall Bonfire are all events that enable families to come together.

Experience

At Sumner Academy, we strive to allow our students to experience a variety of events and trips. From our Middle School adventure studies and our lower school field studies, students are experiencing as much learning outside the classroom as they do in it. Special events and guest speakers are also frequently scheduled.

Because we are a close-knit community, we can support each student on their journey.

Join

Students in middle school can join a club as their last period class. Offerings range from Lego Robotics Team to Cooking Club, students are bound to find something of interest. Middle school students can also join the Sumner Academy Band.

Lower School students have access to summer camps and after-school clubs, such as the First Lego League club.

Campus Traditions

Two students sitting in a model cockpit of a rocket

Out-of-this-world field trips

Sumner Academy students experience multiple field studies throughout the year, including trips to NASA's Space Camp, the Barrier Islands, and Washington D.C.

Kids at night roasting smores

Annual Bonfire and Cookout

Our annual bonfire night with s'mores and games is a chance for kids, educators, and parents to spend time together outside of the classroom.

Students having a potato sack race at Field Day

Field Day

Each Spring, Sumner Academy students participate in Field Day - a day of fun competition and camaraderie.

Students on stage dressed in medieval attire

Annual Performances

From annual talent shows to concerts and theater productions, SA students share their talents and learn confidence through performance opportunities throughout the year.

A parent and child eating crushed ice

Drop-in Day

Before school starts each year, we have Drop-In Day to allow parents and students to explore their new classrooms and meet their new teachers.

8th grade graduating class on stage

Graduation

Graduation Night is a special event each year where we honor Sumner Academy students' talents and achievements and celebrate this major milestone in their lives.

Students running during the fun run

Hawk Fun Run

The Hawk Fun Run is one of our annual fundraising events, but more importantly, it promotes a strong sense of community and school spirit.

Young students lined up in front of social studies fair projects

Annual Science and Social Studies Fair

Each spring, students in grades Pre-K through 8th participate in our Science and Social Fair. The fair is open to all students and families and is an integral part of our academic culture.

Clubs and Teams

Minecraft Club

Grades 5-8: Students will develop skills in engineering and STEM based problem solving while allowing creative play.

Lego Robotics

Part of First Lego League, students will learn about colloboration, engineering and coding while competing in a series of robot mission games.

Lego League

Grades K-4: Students will get to explore basic robotics and coding.

Environmental Club

Grades 5-8: Students handle all recycling for school, do campus cleanup, service projects and sustainability competitive contests.

Student Council

For fifty years, elected representatives and officers have been serving the Sumner Academy student body. They sponsor at least one service project a year.

Debate Club

Students will expand their oratory and communication skills while analyzing perspectives on current events.

Band

Sumner Academy’s band is for grades 4th-8th and includes brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments.

Cooking Club

Grades 5-8: Students will learn the basics of food preparation in the culinary arts. Each week, a student chosen recipe is prepared.

Flag Football

Grades 5-8: Every Friday, students compete against each other in a friendly game of flag football.

GarageBand Club

Allows students to practice composing music on an entry-level digital audio workstation called "GarageBand".

Spanish Club

Students will explore local culture, food and customs of Hispanic countries.

Drama Club

Students will explore their creative side while learning more about theater production.

Student Showcase

5th Grade Songwriting

Sumner Academy's 5th grade students just completed their "Words & Music" unit in Music class. Students wrote their own original lyrics and submitted them to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. A songwriter then recorded singing the lyrics with a melody. Check out the results of this incredible collaboration!

Autumn Leaves

Under His Wing

Cruel World

Three Things In Life

That's My Name

I'm Right Behind You

Get to "Know" Sumner Academy

Academic Calendars

Click here for our 'Key Dates' Academic Calendar for 2024 - 2025 or click the image below for the 2023 - 2024 school calendar.

First page of the PDF file: 23-24ActivityCalendar2-16-2023