St. Margaret’s Celebrates 62nd Swallows Day Parade—See the Film and Photos!

St. Margaret’s community came together last week to celebrate the return of swallows and the beloved and greatly missed Swallows Day Parade after a two-year hiatus. Nearly 100 Tartans “Followed the Swallows” at the 62nd annual Swallows Day Parade celebrating the traditional return of the swallows to San Juan Capistrano.

 

St. Margaret’s was led by the Tartan cheer team with the LA Scots Pipers band and our school’s Tartan, along with students who embraced the “Follow the Swallows” parade theme. This year, students creatively built origami swallows in vibrant colors carried them on dowels. In addition, Middle School students flew swallow kites.

 

Students were joined by student life directors from each division—Lora Allison (Upper School), Kylie Middlebrook (Middle School) and Tupper Spring (Lower School)—along with Assistant Head of School for Strategic Initiatives Ryan Dahlem, Lower School Principal Jennifer Blount and assistant principal Maile Bellosi, and Upper School Principal Jeneen Graham.

 

In addition, Breakthrough San Juan Capistrano students marched and cheered with inspiring signs led by director Elizabeth Eusebio. Special Camp, led by executive director Lindsay Eres, was accompanied by campers and counselors expressing their enthusiasm to participate every year.

 

Several Upper School photography students were among the official photographers of the event, taking photos along the parade route on behalf of the Swallows Day Parade organizers.

 

St. Margaret’s has sponsored and participated in the Swallows Day Parade for many years. Despite the parade’s absence for two years due the pandemic and this year’s restriction of horses being unable to participate due to an equine virus, the entire community came together to celebrate not only the swallows but also the resilience of San Juan Capistrano as a community.

 

A special thank you to all Tartans who supported this event and represented St. Margaret’s!