Who doesn’t love an excuse to celebrate? Formal dinners at Tilton give the community an opportunity for just that. Whether celebrating a holiday or the students’ achievements, Tilton School knows how to make every event special. Here’s everything you need to know about formal dinners at Tilton:
Who: Who attends formal dinner?
Everyone is invited! All students, day and boarding, are expected to attend formal dinners, with faculty—particularly advisors—joining in as well. Seating is arranged by advisory groups, offering students extra time to bond beyond their regular weekly meetings. These formal dinners create a special opportunity for the community to come together, share a delicious meal, and engage in meaningful conversation.
What: What do we eat? What do we wear?
Depending on the occasion, the meal often aligns with what is being celebrated. For instance, an Asian-inspired meal was served for Lunar New Year, and a traditional turkey dinner was featured for Canadian Thanksgiving. The timing of these formal dinners is carefully selected to honor significant dates that are meaningful to everyone in the community.
In terms of dress code, Tilton students are expected to dress in formal attire. This includes suits, ties, appropriate length dresses and skirts, and formal footwear.
Where: Where is the meal served?
Meals are served in the Masiello Dining Commons, but dessert is often served in other places on campus. On nights MacMorran Scholars are honored, dessert is served in the Mansion. Other special events, such as art gallery openings and theater performances, have also been the perfect occasions to host dessert.
When/Why: When do we have them and why?
Most formal dinners are designed to honor and celebrate special occasions. Whether it’s a holiday, seasonal sports awards, or the recognition of MacMorran Scholars, there’s often a formal dinner to go along with it. There are occasionally prompts for advisories to incorporate for meaningful discussions. For example, during Lunar New Year, groups shared their own New Year traditions. The goal is to explore and celebrate the diversity within our community and the cultures that make it unique. On other occasions, formal dinner is a way to recognize academic and athletic achievements students have accomplished.