AUGUST
WELCOME BACK SOCIAL Reconnect with the Grayson community as we kick off a new school year! Families will meet teachers, catch up with friends, and enjoy sweet treats. • Type: Before school begins event • Who Attends: Students and families • What to Expect: Shaved ice truck, community gathering, faculty introductions, club and activity preview • Dress: Casual summer attire • Performances: None
SEPTEMBER BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT This is your opportunity to step into your child’s world at The Grayson School. Families meet their student’s teaching team, learn about the curriculum and programs for the year, and get a feel for what it is like to be a Grayson student. • Type: Evening, parent only event • Who Attends: Parents of Grayson students • What to Expect: Meet your child’s teachers and learn about the curriculum • Dress: Casual • Performances: None
FALL CONFERENCES Fall Conferences provide a valuable opportunity to focus on your individual student. These conferences allow you to meet with members of your child’s core team, review baseline assessments, and share your thoughts and insights as we plan for the year ahead. • Type: During school hours, parent-only event • Who Attends: Parents of Grayson students • What to Expect: Meet your child’s teachers, give input on your goals for your child • Dress: Casual • Performances: None
SEPTEMBER CELESTIAL OBSERVATIONS Led by Grayson’s Upper School Astronomical Society, celestial observations are special evening events held throughout the year that invite Grayson families to gather and explore the night sky together. • Type: Evening school event • Who Attends: All Grayson students and families are invited • What to Expect: Families are invited to gather to observe special celestial events and learn more about the night sky. Details will be shared before each observation. • Dress: Weather appropriate • Performances: None
OCTOBER
FALL FESTIVAL An afternoon of games, snacks, music, and fun for the whole community, hosted by the Grayson Parents Association. • Type: After school, family event • Who Attends: Entire Grayson community; PreK–5th graders must be accompanied by an adult • What to Expect: Games, music, snacks, and student-run activities • Dress: Casual; costumes allowed (must follow costume guidelines in Family Handbook) • Performances: None
UPPER SCHOOL BONFIRE • Type: After school event – Immediately after Fall Festival • Who Attends: Upper School Students • What to Expect: Immediately following the Fall Festival, upper school students gather around a bonfire for s’mores and scary stories • Dress: Weather appropriate clothing
OCTOBER
HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION A festive school day full of performances, classroom parties, and a spirited parade. • Type: School day event • Who Attends: Students; all families are welcome to attend Lower School parade and musical performances • What to Expect: Musical performances, classroom parties, outdoor parade • Dress: Dress-down day, costumes in afternoon (follow guidelines in Family Handbook) • Performances: Gryphonix and Chorale
OCTOBER
PASTRIES WITH PARENTS (PREK) PreK families are invited to enjoy a special morning in the classroom with their children. • Type: During school hours • Who Attends: Parents of Grayson PreK students • What to Expect: Families participate in a classroom activity and enjoy a pastry with their PreK student • Dress: Regular dress code • Performances: PreK students
PICTURE DAY • Type: School day event • Who Attends: Students • What to Expect: All students will have their school photo taken, regardless of purchasing pictures. • Dress: Picture Day Dress, regular school dress code, must wear white collared shirt. No sweatshirts of any kind are permitted on these days.
NOVEMBER DAY OF GRATITUDE A day for students to give back and reflect on the things they are grateful for as we head into Thanksgiving Break. • Type: Half-day event, 12:00 pm dismissal • Who Attends: Students • What to Expect: Grade-level service projects and community activities centered around gratitude • Dress: Dress-down day • Performances: None
NOVEMBER HEAD OF SCHOOL FOR A DAY Head of School Day is a special experience auctioned at the GROW Gala. We roll out the red carpet as the winning student arrives for a day of treats, special time with Ms. Bilash, and helping lead the school. • Type: School day event • Who Attends: Students • What to Expect: The winning student will spend special time with Ms. Bilash, enjoy a favorite treat with their class, and make fun schoolwide decisions, such as declaring extra recess and a dress-down day. • Dress: Whatever the winning student declares!
NOVEMBER FALL SEMIFORMAL (UPPER SCHOOL) • Type: Evening Upper School Student Event • Who Attends: Upper School Students • What to Expect: A fall-themed social event for all Upper School students • Dress: Semiformal
DECEMBER WINTERFEST Our annual evening showcase of student musical performances and a stunning art show from every grade. • Type: Evening event • Who Attends: All families welcome • What to Expect: Evening concert and gallery, intermission with milk and cookies • Dress: Formal dress for student performers (white shirt, navy pants/skirt, dress shoes) • Performances: All Lower School, Gryphonix, Gryphonix Jr., Gryphonix Mini, Middle School Vocal, Middle School Instrumental, Upper School Instrumental, Chorale, Chamber Jazz
WINTER SOLSTICE A celebration of winter with school-wide themed activities to mark the last day before break. • Type: Half-day for PreK- 8, 12:00 pm dismissal- No Upper School Students • Who Attends: Students only • What to Expect: Themed classroom activities by division • Dress: Dress-down day • Performances: None
DECEMBER
WINTER BALL (MIDDLE SCHOOL) • • • •
Type: Evening Middle School Student Event Who Attends: Middle School Students What to Expect: Music, dancing, games, and fun Dress: Semiformal
JANUARY CULTURAL CELEBRATION NIGHT An evening potluck that celebrates our school community's culture and diversity. • Type: Evening event • Who Attends: Entire Grayson community • What to Expect: Shared meal, student performances, cultural storytelling • Dress: Formal dress for student performers (white shirt, navy pants/skirt, dress shoes) • Performances: Chamber Jazz, Chorale, Gryphonix, Gryphonix Jr. Gryphonix Mini
JANUARY
SPELLING BEE Lower and Middle School students are invited to put their spelling skills to the test in Grayson’s annual Spelling Bee. • Type: School day event • Who Attends: Students only • What to Expect: Students will compete to become one of Grayson’s top spellers. The top two spellers will advance to the Delaware County Spelling Bee in February. • Dress: Regular school dress-code • Performances: None
FEBRUARY
WINTER CONFERENCES Held after Winter MAP testing, this round of conferences serves as a checkpoint for your student’s progress over the first half of the year, as well as an opportunity to plan for the end of the year. • Type: During the school day, parent-only event • Who Attends: Parents of Grayson students • What to Expect: Track your child’s progress over the first half of the year • Dress: Casual • Performances: None
FEBRUARY INTERNATIONAL TRIP The International Trip gives Upper School students the opportunity to experience new cultures, explore sites, and learn beyond the classroom • Type: Overnight international trip • Who Attends: Upper School students in good standing and who register for the trip. • What to Expect: Students will travel with Grayson faculty and participate in educational, cultural, and social experiences. Trip details and pricing will be shared with families in advance. • Dress: Comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing based on the destination and planned activities.
FEBRUARY
SWEETHEART DANCE (LOWER SCHOOL) • • • •
Type: Evening Lower School Student Event Who Attends: Lower School students and parent(s) What to Expect: Music, dancing, games, and fun Dress: Semiformal
MARCH READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY Celebrated on Dr. Seuss’s birthday, Read Across America Day is a schoolwide celebration designed to inspire a love of books and reading. • Type: School day event. • Who Attends: Students Only • What to Expect: Students enjoy special reading activities, and Middle and Upper School students can volunteer to read to younger students throughout the day. • Dress: Students are encouraged to come to school dressed as their favorite literary characters or a Dr. Suess themed dressdown day. • Performances: None
MARCH PI DAY A fun-filled celebration of math, logic, and creativity across all grade levels. • Type: School day event • Who Attends: Students only • What to Expect: Math contests and fun math activities. Upper School – Pi Quest! Off-campus pi-themed scavenger hunt • Dress: Math-themed dress-down day • Performances: None
100TH DAY OF SCHOOL (LOWER SCHOOL) Lower School students celebrate 100 days of learning with a day filled with fun, creative activities. • Type: School day event • Who Attends: Lower School Students • What to Expect: Students will participate in special classroom activities and projects centered around the number 100. • Dress: Regular School Dress Code • Performances: None
MARCH MARCH GROW GALA Grayson’s annual fundraising event, bringing our community together for an evening of celebration and support for the school. • Type: Evening fundraising event • Who Attends: Grayson parents, faculty, staff, trustees, and friends of the school • What to Expect: Guests will enjoy an evening of food, drinks, entertainment, and exciting auction experiences, all while supporting Grayson. • Dress: Cocktail attire
MARCH
VIP DAY A special day for students in PreK–8th grade to welcome the important people in their lives to join for classroom visits and performances. • Type: School day event • Who Attends: VIP guests of PreK–8 students • What to Expect: Classroom visits, student performances, art exhibition • Dress: Regular Dress Code • Performances: Chorale, Middle School Vocal
MARCH
LOWER SCHOOL MUSICAL A full musical theater production by the Lower School. • Type: During the school day • Who Attends: Families of performers and all Grayson students • What to Expect: Musical performance • Dress: Costume per director guidance • Performances: All Lower School students
APRIL EARTH DAY Students come together to celebrate our planet through themed classroom activities and meaningful service projects. • Type: School day event • Who Attends: Students only • What to Expect: Middle and Upper School students will participate in service field trips. Lower School classes have themed activities • Dress: Dress to get dirty
GRAYSON CONSERVATORY RECITAL Students enrolled in music lessons at Grayson; students who take lessons outside of school are also invited to sign up as space allows • Type: Evening family event • Who Attends: Participating students and their guests • What to Expect: Solo and small-group student performances on a variety of musical instruments • Dress: Formal
MAY STAR WARS DAY Celebrate a galaxy far, far away with themed activities and seminars. • • • • •
Type: School day event Who Attends: Students only What to Expect: Star Wars-themed games and activities Dress: Star Wars-themed dress-down (T-shirts only) Performances: None
FIELD DAY A day of outdoor games and activities, filled with school spirit. • Type: School day event • Who Attends: Students only • What to Expect: Grade-level games • Dress: Dress-down; athletic wear and sneakers required • Performances: None
MAY
MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOL MUSICAL A full musical theater production by the Middle and Upper School. • • • • •
Type: After-school event Who Attends: Entire Grayson Community What to Expect: Musical performance Dress: Costume per director guidance Performances: Middle and Upper School cast and crew
MAY
SPRING FLING (MIDDLE SCHOOL) • • • •
Type: Evening Middle School Student Event Who Attends: Middle School Students What to Expect: Music, dancing, games, and fun Dress: Themed dance attire
MAY PROM (UPPER SCHOOL) • • • •
Type: Evening Upper School Student Event Who Attends: All Upper School Students What to Expect: A magical evening of music and friendship Dress: Formal
JUNE MOVE-UP DAY Students visit next year’s classroom and teachers for a sneak peek. • • • • •
Type: School day event Who Attends: Students only What to Expect: Orientation-style preview of next grade Dress: Dress-down day Performances: None
FOUNDERS DAY Our end-of-year celebration with student project presentations and a promotion ceremony. • Type: School day event • Who Attends: All families welcome • What to Expect: Project presentations, promotion ceremonies, awards assembly, performances • Dress: Formal dress • Performances: Gryphonix Jr., Middle School Instrumental, Upper School Instrumental, Chamber Jazz
JUNE GRAYSONPALOOZA Our end-of-year celebration for students where they get to enjoy fun activities with their friends before heading off to summer break. • Type: Half-day 12:00 pm dismissal • Who Attends: Students only • What to Expect: carnival games, balloon artist, face painting and just all-around fun! • Dress: Dress-down • Performances: None
JUNE
COMMENCEMENT Our formal graduation ceremony celebrates the accomplishments of our seniors. • Type: Formal school event • Who Attends: Seniors, Upper School students, families and guests, all families are welcome to join us • What to Expect: 11:00 AM ceremony, seniors arrive by 9:00 AM, Grades 9–11 arrive by 10:00 AM, dismissal at 1:00 PM • Dress: Formal dress (Grades 9-11), commencement dress (Grade 12) • Performances: Gryphonix and Chorale
JUNE END OF YEAR CONFERENCES End-of-year conferences reaffirm our commitment to curiosity, authenticity, and purpose by celebrating student growth throughout the year. Students in Grades 3+ lead these conferences and reflect on their progress with their parents and members of their teaching team. • Type: During the school day, student and parent event • Who Attends: Parents of Grayson students, Grayson students (grades 3+) • What to Expect: Reflect on your child’s progress over the year • Dress: Casual
COLLEGE APPLICATION BOOT CAMP Rising Seniors continue their college planning journey with a week of focused application work • Type: Summer workshop • Who Attends: Rising seniors • What to Expect: Writing workshops, portfolio prep, admissions strategy • Dress: Casual
JUNE/JULY
SUMMER AT GRAYSON Summer at Grayson offers engaging, hands-on camps designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning. • Type: Fee-based summer program • Who Attends: Students entering Kindergarten through Grade 12 • What to Expect: Campers can choose from a variety of weeklong programs in STEM, the arts, academics, and more. Registration and camp details will be shared with families. • Dress: Comfortable clothing appropriate for the camp’s planned activities. • Contact: Director of Summer programs, Annie Connolly-Sporing, aconnollysporing@thegraysonschool.org