
6 minute read
DISTINGUISHED AWARDS AND MATRICULATION NEWS






GRADE 7 WENT TO POCONO ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER (PEEC)
GRADE 6 WENT TO FROST VALLEY
Frost Valley YMCA is a camping, environmental education, and conferencing center located in Claryville, New York, part of the Catskill Mountains. Students participated in different activities throughout the trip, such as hiking, team building, and archery. While away, students strengthened communication skills and encouraged teamwork among classmates, enhanced creativity skills, and gained first-hand exposure to the interconnectedness of various natural communities. Problem-solving, improving communication, and working with others to achieve a goal were common themes over the few days. PEEC advances environmental education, sustainable living, and appreciation for nature through hands-on experience in a national park. While away, students participated in various team-building activities, astronomy, canoeing, group hikes during the day and night, watershed study, orienteering, and pond ecology.
è Left: From left to right: Valentina Reale '23, Laurel Donovan '23, Suri Shah '23, Schuyler Abramson '23, Mia Vartuli '23, Ava Pardilla '23, Grace Curran '23, Gabi Icassati '23, Grace Sameth '23, and Emerson Schroeder '23 pose for a photo before the day's activities. Top right: Jayden Leung '23, Casper Hao, Oliver Ridder '23, Emilio Gomez '23, Walker van Rooyen '23, Anthony Zhuang '23, Sean Bernard '23, James Li '23, Cole Jasinkiewicz '23, Michael Greco '23, and Dylan McCarthy '23 pose for a photo in front of a waterfall during their hike. Bottom right: A group of Grade 7 students works together to pull Valentina Reale '23 up a wall during a team-building activity.

ç Left: Konrad von Hollen '24 conquering the cargo net bridge during the hike in Frost Valley. Top: A group shot of students posed during their hike in Frost Valley.
Bottom: Mary Cafasso '24 (left) and
Charlotte Meyer '24 (right) stopping for a selfie mid-hike.

GRADE 8 WENT TO LAKE PLACID, NY
While there, students participated in various activities. They hiked in the Adirondacks, participated in an outdoor adventure ropes course, and spent a day at the Olympic Center. Some highlights for the students were bobsledding down the Olympic course, reaching the peak of a mountain, and spending time together as a class before Graduation. To round out the trip, they had dinner at the Whiteface Club with a campfire and s’mores. This four-day trip was a definite highlight for the students and faculty chaperones.
ç Left: Gianna Previdi '22 zipping down the zip line during the outdoor adventure ropes course. Top: A group of Grade 8 students poses for a photo at the peak of a mountain they climbed. Bottom: Parker Reuben '22 navigating one of the high elements on the outdoor adventure ropes course.
SPRING HAPPENINGS




NINE DEEEZ NITE
Far Hills Presents (formally The Hills Are Alive) is one of our primary fundraisers at Far Hills, which is held every other year during gala offyears. It is a “night of performance” held on campus in the Performing Arts Center (PAC). On Saturday, April 23, Far Hills Presents Nine Deeez Nite provided a fun throwback to the decade we all grew up with, in one stage or another, the 1990s. Our community understood the assignment and showed up in head-to-toe 90s attire. We’re talking slap bracelets, scrunchies, tracksuits, jelly sandals, varsity jackets, and flannels.
Photographed here: Parents Liz Sobel, Tucky Ridder, and Heather Swartz pose at one of our photo walls at Nine Deeez Nite.
GRANDPARENTS' AND SPECIAL FRIENDS' DAY
On Friday, May 20, we had over 150 grandparents and special friends in attendance for our Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day. They got to participate in classroom discussions, hear our Grade 8 Expo presentations, and listen to our students perform in a concert. Thank you to everyone that helped make our first Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day since 2019 such a wonderful experience for our students and their guests.
Photographed here: Amy Burns and Maedean Kramer leading students in during the concert portion of Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day.
SCAN THE QR CODE TO VIEW A PHOTO GALLERY FROM NINE DEEEZ NITE.
SCAN THE QR CODE TO VIEW A PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE SPECIAL DAY.
MOANA JR.
On May 25, a variety of Lower School Students performed Moana Jr. for family, friends, and their fellow classmates. This play is an enrichment class opportunity that students signed up for. These actors and actresses had the audience laughing, clapping, and dancing in their seats. The talent the students exuded on the stage was incredible. We are so proud of each and every one of them for their hard work and dedication leading up to the performances.
Photographed here: Olivia Mishima ˇ26 played Moana in Moana Jr.
SCAN THE QR CODE TO VIEW A PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE PERFORMANCES.
THE PEREGRINE HOUSE PLAYERS PRESENT: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST JR.
We are so proud of the Peregrine House Players, our Grades 7 and 8 students who participated in Beauty and the Beast Jr. These students put on three incredible show-stopping performances for our entire school, their friends, and families in March. We hope you all enjoyed the performance if you were able to attend, and will join us in counting down the days until our next production!
Photographed here: The entire cast of Beauty and the Beast Jr.
SCAN THE QR CODE TO VIEW A PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE PERFORMANCES.
HEY, LOOK ME OVER



Left to right: Rising Grade 5 student Nori Mononia crosses the bridge during the Lower School Closing Exercises. Director of Lower School Pat Barry addresses the crowd during her first Closing Exercises with Far Hills Country Day School. Rising Grade 1 student Kellan Sudler with Rising Grade 5 student Grier van Rooyen.
On June 8, 2022, we once again gathered in the Performing Arts Center (PAC) for one of the most beloved year-end traditions at Far Hills. We celebrated the achievements of our Kindergarten–Grade 4 students at the Lower School Closing Exercises. Each grade performed our traditional special rendition of a Broadway show tune that summarizes their school year. The celebration ended with the monumental moment of each student crossing the Far Hills bridge symbolizing their crossing over to the next grade level. Our Grade 4 students were greeted by some of our Grade 5 teachers as they crossed over the bridge for the last time as Lower School students and received their pin to the Kestrel House.
PRESCHOOL YEAR END PROGRAM
On June 7, 2022, our Preschool students performed and received certificates at their Preschool Year End Program.

Mom Pam Surak proudly takes a photo of daughter Charlotte Surak with her certificate after the Preschool Year End Program. Head of School Georgia Zaiser and Director of Lower School Pat Barry greeting a Preschool student with a smile, handshake, and certificate during the Preschool Year End Program.
