The Protocol course is an important aspect of the educational experience at Westminster Academy, striving to teach 7th-12th Grade students established habits of etiquette, for the purpose of demonstrating Christ-like respect and humility to fellow image-bearers. Recognizing that all men and women are created in God’s image, students learn to follow Christ’s example by loving, serving and respecting others before self through training in the principles and skills of propriety. The course seeks to provide students the opportunity to embody virtues connected with the call of Christ.
Further, while all Christians are called to virtuous living, this is often manifested differently in men and women as they relate to one another. Male and female students are encouraged to interact in a manner that recognizes, respects and honors their unique gender differences.
The Protocol event for the 10th–12th Graders is a formal multiple-course dinner and dance. Gentlemen wear tuxedos or dark suits, and ladies wear long, modest gowns. The event’s hosts are the Headmaster and his wife.
Regarding curriculum, there are two portions of the 10th-12th Protocol course. The first part is the ballroom dance instruction, which covers various types of ballroom dance. For this portion, an instructor from a local dance studio teaches weekly lessons to the students during the school day. Students learn the fox-trot, the cha-cha, the tango, the waltz and the East Coast swing.
The second portion consists of etiquette training. Here, the students learn how to respond to an invitation, formal dinner manners, appropriate introductions, polite conversation, processing through a receiving line and escorting a guest. Prior to the beginning lessons, the Head of the Upper School and the Director of Protocol meet with the students to talk about the overall purpose of the course and the “others-centered” thinking it aims to cultivate. Later, there is a meeting with the gentlemen and ladies separately to discuss more gender-specific issues/questions regarding the course and event, including:
a) A gentleman’s asking to escort a lady to the Protocol Ball and the proper way to do so;
b) A lady’s response to being asked by a gentleman;
c) The appropriate time period within which a gentleman may ask to escort a lady to
the Protocol event and the date by which to R.S.V.P. in writing;
d) The appropriate attire and deportment for the formal event; and
e) The appropriate transportation to and from the event.
One thing that is stressed is the students should not see this as intended to be a “date”; rather, it is an opportunity to practice the skills learned in the etiquette training. The events of the evening are intentionally set up in such a way that each person interacts with a number of different people, rather than staying with one person the whole night. Escorting a lady allows our young men to practice the skill of accompanying another person to an event, as well as being aware of and attentive to the welfare of the other guests, and allows our young ladies to practice being escorted.
7th Grade Protocol: Posture, Deportment and Introductions
Students will learn the skills of carriage, deportment and spatial awareness in a variety of contexts, as well as the rules of etiquette regarding making introductions and being introduced to others. The particular virtues instilled will include discernment, honor, respect and courage.
Course topics will include good posture and body language; deportment and spatial awareness in the classroom and in the hallway; making introductions, including language; and the principles of seniority, rank and gender.
The event component of the 7th grade protocol will be a trip to a local museum or art gallery.
8th Grade Protocol: Basic Table Manners
Students will learn the skill of navigating the dinner table, including seating arrangements, the role of the hostess, the proper place setting, the use of utensils and handling difficult food items. The particular virtues instilled will include discernment, orderliness, respect and gratitude.
Course topics will include seating arrangement variations, taking cues from the hostess, setting the table, specific utensils and their uses, excusing oneself from the table, and politely handling difficult food items.
The event component of the 8th grade protocol will be afternoon tea hosted in a Westminster Academy parent’s home.
9th Grade Protocol: Formal Dinner Etiquette, Conversation Etiquette and Technology Etiquette
Building upon the skills of basic table etiquette learned the previous year, students will learn formal dinner and restaurant etiquette in the context of a group, as well as the skills of making conversation and toasts in this setting. In addition, students will learn the principles of technology etiquette, specifically cell phone and camera etiquette. The particular virtues instilled will include discernment, orderliness, others-centeredness, honor and stewardship.
Course topics will include restaurant etiquette, including seating, interacting with the restaurant staff, notifying the server of a problem and tipping; making polite conversation, asking thoughtful questions and topics to avoid; how to make a toast; and cell phone and camera etiquette.
The event component of the 9th grade protocol will be dinner at an upscale restaurant or country club.
10th Grade Protocol: Event Etiquette
Students will learn how to be a polite audience member at a performance event. The particular virtues instilled will include discernment, honor, respect and gratitude.
Course topics will include appropriate attire for a specific event, being seated by an usher, appropriate times to enter/exit the theater/auditorium/concert hall, applauding and a review of formal dinner etiquette.
The event component of the 10th grade protocol will be a dinner and a symphony, musical or theater performance.
11th Grade procotol: Writing Etiquette, Interview Etiquette and Interpreting Dress Specification
Students will learn the etiquette of sending invitations, R.S.V.P.s and thank-you notes, as well as learning dress specifications. Students will also learn college and job interview skills. The particular virtues instilled will be consideration, gratitude, courage, humility and loyalty.
Course topics will cover sending and receiving invitations, how and when to R.S.V.P., when and how to write thoughtful thank-you notes and discerning and interpreting dress specifications, such as “black tie,” “formal” and “business casual”;interviewing: answering and asking thoughtful questions, interviewing: appropriate dress and preparation, and interviewing: follow-up; and timeliness; and a review of formal dinner etiquette.
The event component of the 11th grade protocol will be attending the Protocol Ball.
12th Grade Protocol: Hospitality, Guest Etiquette and Financial Etiquette
Students will learn the basic skills of hosting an event, as well as the skills of being a considerate guest. In addition, students will learn the basic principles of financial wisdom and etiquette, including paying for meals in a group, gratuity for various services, tips for living on a budget (particularly in the context of college) and how credit works. The particular virtues instilled will be discernment, others-centeredness, generosity, magnanimity, stewardship and moderation.
Course topics will cover the considerate host and the staples of an enjoyable event, the considerate guest, tipping for various services, splitting the bill when eating out, tips on being frugal in college (planning meals, buying books online) and how credit and credit cards work.
The event component of the 12th grade protocol will be attending the Protocol Ball.