Thacher has assembly 3X a week and formal dinners 4X a week. I think they each serve very different purposes.
During Assembly, which is student led, kids tend to sit with people they already know, whereas for formal dinner the cast changes every few weeks and includes kids and faculty with whom students might not otherwise cross paths.
New this year is a weekly time period called CREW, which stands for Community, Reflection, Engagement, and Wellness. This 90-minute daytime block is devoted to special programming, advisee gatherings, and discussions of timely topics, etc. (THis is separate from the evening programming held by dorm that usually covers health, wellness, community, and sexuality issues). Add the horse program (nothing like early dawn mucking to bond a class together!) and the three camping trips each year and you start to understand why the Thacher community is so darn close.
Also: Pity the poor freshmen and their four costume changes most days: Mucking clothes (usually PJs plus hoodie and rubber boots), classroom attire, riding or sports clothes, then formal wear!