The motto was announced at the Senior & Middle School Assembly on September 9, 2024. In a light-hearted skit, Head Prefect Miranda announced that she had lost her tie somewhere on campus but could not remember where. When Student Government Prefect Helen announced that Miranda’s tie had been found, it was revealed to be hanging from the top of 10 Elm Avenue.

The massive tie is a visual representation of the Prefect’s motto as it is decorated with 12 “pins,” each unique to one of the Prefects. “To us, the perfect embodiment of our motto and its meaning is the tie we wear around our necks,” said Miranda. “That is why we decided to create a large tie, with the pins symbolizing our uniqueness and the tie representing our unity.” 

The tie was constructed over the summer by the 2024–25 Prefects, headed by Clubs Prefect, Jaime, and Social and Well-Being Prefect, Nina. Made from recycled, unsellable kilts from the BHPA Second Hand Shop, the Prefects worked hard to create their 18-foot masterpiece, but they faced many challenges along the way. “We tried sewing, except none of us knew how to sew. We proceeded to break two sewing machines and then resorted to gluing, but the glue couldn’t hold the weight of the fabric,” said Nina. “Humbled by weeks of work leading to failure and the ugliness of the final project in front of us, we tried to quit! And yet, we just couldn’t get the glorious image of the giant tie out of our heads, so we persisted.” Many kilts and sewing machines later, the tie was complete.

“We hope that our motto inspires the community today and for the rest of the year to try new things and lean into what makes everyone unique,” said Nina. “Our differences are what unite us as a community, enriching our conversations and perspectives—so lean in and have fun!” The tie will be displayed on the East campus for the duration of the year, with the Prefects’ goal to have every member of the community add a pin to the tie to show how everyone is truly “Unique and United.”