Alumnae Archives | Ashley Hall

The Annual Ashley Hall Oyster Roast
Friday, January 31, 2025 | 7–9:00 p.m.
Ashley Hall Sports Court

(Please enter the event via the Smith Street Gate.)

This adult-only event is open to the Charleston community, so bring your friends. We look forward to seeing you there!

The 2024 Ashley Hall Christmas Play

 

From trimming the tree to baking cookies, holiday traditions powerfully unite us during this special season. At Ashley Hall, our school family’s most cherished (and long-standing) tradition is the annual Christmas Play. On Dec. 12, 2024, 160 Ashley Hall students of all ages gathered in the historic and ethereal St. Matthew’s Church to perform this beloved production for the 100th time.

First presented in 1924 under the direction of school founder Mary Vardrine McBee, Ashley Hall’s annual Christmas Play has brought the medieval Chester Mystery Plays to life with our student’s creativity, passion, and artistic excellence.

From the dancing jesters to the angelic Red Choir, this beautiful retelling of the Nativity story has remained a cornerstone of the Ashley Hall experience for generations of students, families, alumnae, faculty, and the greater Charleston community.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this unforgettable evening. Your support makes this timeless tradition possible. And, of course, bravo to our hard-working students who shone brightly on and off stage. We’re grateful to have shared this special moment with all who could join us.

 

Relive the Centennial Performance of The Christmas Play

Watch the full performance video (including alumnae telegram readings!)

View production photos

Read Ashley Hall Alumnae Christmas Play Telegrams

100 Years on Stage: The Ashley Hall Christmas Play by Helen Kourtidis ’26

ASHLEY HALL AND AWAY!

– 37 seniors were part of a class that excelled in all aspects of school and community life
 57 colleges and universities extended acceptances to class members

We are proud of these graduates and all they have accomplished at Ashley Hall. Click on the button below to see the full list of this year’s college acceptances!

Class of 2024 Acceptance List

Click here for Commencement Exercise details and live stream links

Bring your spouse, children, grandchildren, parents, nieces, nephews, and siblings for a picnic and Riverdogs game! Mix and mingle pre-game at a fun-filled picnic with hamburgers, hotdogs and all the fixings. First pitch is at 7:05pm when the Charleston Riverdogs take on the Columbia Fireflies. Tickets ensure special seating in Doby’s Deck. Tickets available online until May 25. 

Adults | $20
Children 12 and younger | $10
Children 3 and under | FREE
Young Alumnae (Class of 2003 and younger) | $15

Ashley Hall is thrilled to celebrate the life and work of distinguished alumna, Madeleine L’Engle Camp Franklin, class of 1937. L’Engle attended Ashley Hall as a boarding student beginning in 1933 and went on to write the award-winning novel A Wrinkle in Time. Known to her readers as Madeleine L’Engle, her book, A Wrinkle in Time, went on to win the Newbery Award in 1962. This year marks the centennial of L’Engle’s birth as well as a the exciting release of a new major motion picture by Disney of her beloved story, A Wrinkle in Time. We are proud of this Ashley Hall girl.

Click on the button below to learn more about Ashley Hall’s Uniquely Madeleine celebration.

Uniquely Madeleine

Part angel and elf rolled into one, Dana Van Hook has spearheaded the Chicora Gift-Giving Project at Ashley Hall since 1999 and has helped share the spirit of this special season with approximately 3,000 Chicora Elementary students over this 18-year period.   
 
The Chicora Gift-Giving Project features a carefully assembled gift bag given to each student by Santa Claus himself at a special assembly at Chicora. The bag includes approximately 10 gifts: a new school uniform; toiletry items; new books based on the student’s reading level; and a special toy. Most importantly, the bags also include a personalized note from Santa with help from Ashley Hall students! “There is no agenda to the program and absolutely no overhead. 100% of everything is donated and comes from our amazing Ashley Hall community. The gifts given to these precious children takes pressure off their families during what is, for many, a financially challenging time of year. It fills my heart with a refreshed sense of joy every year,” said Dana.

This special holiday service project is embraced by students, faculty, parents, and Ashley Hall alumnae alike. Lively gift-giving assemblies are held in the Lower and Upper School with girls sharing presents and alumnae bring gifts to their Holiday party to contribute to the cause. Dana supplements contributions by shopping sales throughout the year, including buying Christmas cards the day after Christmas from the Dollar Store! Beginning the week prior to Thanksgiving, a special warehouse is donated for sorting of the inventory and bagging. Approximately 80 volunteers are involved in the bag assembly including Ashley Hall faculty/staff, 25 Upper School students, Chicora faculty members, and friends. Bags will then be transported to Chicora Elementary by bus—the large Ashley Hall 40-seater bus and 20 personal cars.

Thank you to all, especially Dana, for sharing your hearts with the children of Chicora Elementary School each December! 

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Ashley Hall is a K-12 independent school for girls, with a co-ed preschool, committed to a talented and diverse student population. We consider for admission students of any race, color, religion, and national or ethnic origin.
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