School Traditions That Build Community: What Makes Brewster Madrid Special

A school community is built through the moments that bring people together. Some are traditions that have been part of Brewster for generations, while others are created by the students, teachers, and families who make Brewster Madrid their own.

Looking back at the 2025–26 school year, these moments were everywhere. From the first day of school to sporting victories, concerts, spirit weeks, service projects, and family events, each offered a reminder that a school is about more than what happens in the classroom.

Here are a few snapshots from the year that helped make Brewster Madrid what it is.

A new school year begins

The youngest student in the school was lifted up by one of our oldest students to ring the bell and officially welcome everyone back for the new school year. The Chamberí community cheered as the year began, with students and teachers coming together for a simple but meaningful tradition.

The school community was introduced to the year's shared word, "commitment," while teachers were recognized for their work and contributions. Our music teacher led everyone in the school song, bringing students and faculty together from across the school. It was a small ceremony, but it captured something important about Brewster: every student and teacher is part of a much bigger community.

A first Copa Colegial victory

The buzzer sounded. Brewster had won.

Students, parents, teachers, and even the Bobcat mascot erupted as Brewster defeated Global College 59–53 in our first Copa Colegial competition. Students of all ages filled the stands, from Kinder students waving pom-poms to Upper School students experiencing their first Brewster basketball game.

The energy from the crowd became part of the occasion itself. Coach David Olano said afterwards, "The energy of the fans was crucial to our success in such a close game!"

With futsal, volleyball, basketball, running, and more continuing to grow, sport has become an important part of life at Brewster Madrid. But the real victory was seeing the community come together to support one another.

Spirit, houses, and a little friendly competition

At La Moraleja, the Black Rhinos took home the House Cup after a week of spirited competition. They did not win every event, but their victories in tug of war and the final lip sync battle secured the overall title.

In Chamberí, the Blue Sharks claimed their first Winter Carnival victory after a memorable final performance featuring the Upper School Dean dancing and singing along to Gangnam Style. The White Owls put up a strong fight of their own, with a performance that included some of our more introverted students and earned a huge reaction from the crowd.

These events may be lighthearted, but they create opportunities for students who might not otherwise work together to become part of the same team, cheer each other on, and create memories together.

Finding a stage for creativity

The annual Winter Concert at La Moraleja brought families together to watch students take the stage, from Kinder performances of Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree to Grade 5's modern take on A Christmas Carol, complete with pop songs.

In Chamberí, students continued Brewster's growing tradition of student-created theatre, putting on their second student-written musical in three years. After the success of Witched!, a student adaptation inspired by Wicked, the community was already buzzing about the next production.

Across both campuses, opportunities to perform, create, and share talents have continued to grow. These moments give students another way to find their voice and take ownership of their school community.

Learning to give back

Community at Brewster extends beyond our campuses.

At La Moraleja, students travelled to Vallecas to distribute food to families in need in collaboration with La Asociación de las Hermanas Descalzas. The experience gave students the opportunity to step outside the school environment and put Brewster's values into action.

In Chamberí, students participating in Best Buddies celebrated their friendships with the first Friendship Walk at Parque Santander. Having spent the year building relationships with their buddies, students came together to celebrate those connections and the importance of inclusion.

These experiences reflect something we hope students carry with them long after they leave Brewster: that living a life of purpose means looking beyond yourself and finding ways to make a positive difference.

A community that includes families

Community does not stop at the school gates, either.

More than 20 parents joined administrators for a Campus Coffee in Chamberí, creating an informal opportunity to meet school leaders and, perhaps more importantly, connect with other parents. At La Moraleja, the Campus Director and Lower School Dean welcomed students and families each morning and were there again at the end of the day.

From Teacher Appreciation events to holiday celebrations and parent gatherings, families are an important part of life at both campuses. The relationships built between students, teachers, parents, and school leaders are what turn a school into a community.

The moments in between

These are just a few of the moments that stood out during the 2025–26 school year. There were also more than 130 Learning Expeditions, Reading Week, the annual College Fair, Capstone Projects, performances, competitions, celebrations, and countless smaller moments that never make it onto a school calendar.

Some of the most important traditions are not necessarily the biggest events. They are the moments when a student cheers for a friend, a teacher joins in a silly performance, a family stays a little longer after drop-off to talk to another parent, or an entire school celebrates something together.

Those are the moments that build community.

At Brewster Madrid, we are fortunate to have traditions that connect us to Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro while continuing to create new traditions of our own. As our community grows, these shared experiences help students and families feel that they belong, that they are known, and that they are part of something bigger than themselves.

And that is what makes Brewster Madrid special.

Want to experience the Brewster community for yourself? Click the link to book a campus tour and see what makes our school special.