Traditions

Two VCS traditions made their post-pandemic return in February, and while only one technically qualified as a school “event,” they both certainly felt like major happenings. There was the neonthemed Lower School Dance Party, and the brood of chicks that hatched in the Lower School Science Lab, which the whole school was able to enjoy through our Chick Cam livefeed.

New tradition alert? In March, the whole school gathered for an Upper School student-led Women’s History Month Assembly. Our female-identifying MCs celebrated the accomplishments of women in film, music, literature, politics, and STEAM, and the assembly was so impactful there are already plans to repeat it next year.

One of the sweetest surprises of the year was that we were able to host Grandparents & Special Friends Day for Kindergarten and 1st Grade families in May. It was incredible to see the personal ownership our youngest students took in their learning and their school community, and the pride with which they shared their lives at school with their grandparents and/or special friends.

In April, the Spring Soirée moved eastward to the Bowery Hotel, and the super-chic new vibe wasn’t the only notable thing about the evening: VCS families pledged over $200,000 to support our staff through the establishment of the VCS Staff Venture Grant Fund.

Less picnic, more party: our traditional end-of-year family celebration in June got a rebrand this year as the Summer Send-Off, but all of the essential elements of games, good food, Memory Book-signing, and face painting remained. It was so special to be on the Sky Yard together after the first full academic year in our new building and reflect on the memories we’ve already made there—and on the robust schedule of events and school traditions that kept the community unified in 2022–2023.