School Events
Events bring the school
community together and reflect our approach
to the learning process and to curriculum. Students
of all ages work together to prepare and participate
in each event. Guided by the teachers, this
collaboration strengthens their awareness and
appreciation of themselves and one another,
and is highly motivating. In keeping
with Studio’s approach to learning, our
students benefit from their sense of ownership
and responsibility in the creative process
from beginning to completion. Time after
time, our students astonish and delight everyone
with the scope, quality and detail of their
thinking and accomplishments for school events.
Halloween Party
Our
Middle School students plan, organize, and
run the Halloween party, which takes place
on a weekend so that all families can attend.
The older students help younger ones with all
preparations, designing party games and activities
for all ages. Then, at the party, they show
our guests how to play. Students contribute
original art for invitations and decorations,
and also plan refreshments. They may write
and perform skits or a show, and end with a
costume parade for everyone to join. The
children collect a modest admission fee, and
discuss how they will use the funds; for instance,
to buy something for their classrooms or for
a school trip, and also to donate to a charity
of their choice.
Thanksgiving
Feast
All
families are invited to the annual Thanksgiving
Feast. The observance of Thanksgiving
provides a rich theme for students, which incorporates
multiple curriculum areas and skills in a personally
meaningful experience. Studying the origins
of Thanksgiving gives students a perspective
in which to evaluate what is most important
to them. One of the priorities that have
emerged continually over the years is the value
of community, and caring for one another. At
Thanksgiving 2006, for instance, the students
set up a “Help Box’” where
everyone at the feast, including children and
adults, was invited to put in a note saying
what they would like help with. Each
student then picked a note from the box, contacted
the person requesting help, and after completing
the task, wrote about their experience of the
project. As part of our Mural Making
curriculum, all elementary and Middle School
students participate in creating murals for
Thanksgiving. Students work in small,
mixed age groups planned by the teachers, beginning
with research and discussion of their subjects,
then measurement and sketches for composition
and design, background washes and the finished
paintings that grace the dining area. Every
class from the Twos through Middle School prepares
their contribution to the traditional Thanksgiving
Feast, with turkey, dressing, cranberries and
pumpkin pie. The children work excitedly on
adding drawings to the tablecloths, making
place cards, and rehearsing for their first
choral presentation of the year. At this
event, the students present a program based
on a thanksgiving theme, the chorus sings,
and finally the children serve the feast before
sitting down with their parents to enjoy the
wonderful meal they have prepared.
Multicultural Festival
The
Multicultural Festival is a celebration that
involves the entire community. We invite
everyone to learn about and enjoy the many
different cultures that make up our worldl. In
the weeks leading up to the festival, the students’ curriculum
focuses on studying the importance of different
world cultures, and addresses the differences
and similarities among them. Through their
One World class, our students learn about different
languages and cultures, how they developed
geographically and historically, and how cultural
ideas and traditions are passed down from one
generation to the next. Parents contribute
special dishes representing their cultural
heritage and sometimes bring a recipe to make
with children during their class time that
week. The festival is a colorful and educational
event, with performances, displays, and interactive
activities for everyone.
Café Night
For
Café Night, a schoolroom is transformed
into a charming café setting. This biannual
literary evening brings together Studio parents
and staff, to share their original creative
works with each other. Desserts, tea, and coffee
are served as original poetry, short stories,
plays, songs, memoirs, and other works-in-progress
are heard and enjoyed by all.
Studio Players
Each
spring the Middle School students collaborate
on producing a play, usually a musical, for
the Studio community, and invite the Elementary
School students to participate. If a
child really wants to act and there are not
enough parts available, the students write
in a new part. From actors to director
to set designers, they perform all tasks themselves,
with the help of their teachers. Recent productions
have included Really Rosie and You’re
a Good Man, Charlie Brown. For 2007,
the Middle School wrote an original script
entitled The Cosmic Quest, drawing on their
study of astronomy as well as English and drama.
Annual Family
Picnic
The
annual Studio School picnic is held on a Sunday
in June at Tallman Mountain State Park, located
on the Hudson River in Rockland County. In
this beautiful natural setting outside of the
city, our families and staff gather together
for the last time before the end of the school
year. Families bearing picnic delicacies
arrive to find Ms. Rotter mastering the grill,
and the teachers equipped for games, sports,
and a nature walk. After a marvelous
repast and much fun with games and activities,
most people head to the ball field to play
or watch an exciting softball game, while others
may stay at the picnic area. At the end
of the game, we all meet back at the picnic
grounds to say farewell.
Graduation
Graduation
is perhaps the most impressive and momentous
event at The Studio School. The entire
school community is invited, and alumni often
come to celebrate our graduates. This
evening represents the culmination of each
student’s educational journey, and is
an opportunity for staff, parents, students,
teachers, and the entire school community to
show their support for the graduates participating
in this ceremony. The younger children,
who year after year witness this moving event,
begin to think about their own graduations,
knowing that they will be honored for their
accomplishments as well, and look forward to
that moment in their lives. These experiences
help them to think about their future, maximize
their opportunities and become aware that they
can shape their own destinies.
The
evening begins with speeches by our Head of
School, Janet C. Rotter, the President of the
Board of Trustees, the Head of the Middle School,
and guest speakers, often an alumnus. The highlight
of the evening follows with speeches by the
graduates. These speeches are in turn reflective,
moving, often funny, and always poignant. The
unique personality, talents and interests of
each graduate come through, as well as their
sense of camaraderie as a group. There
is a formal presentation of diplomas, and a
recital by the school’s Chorus. The
celebration often continues as everyone joins
in for a party with dancing and refreshments. Though
goodbyes may be hard, Graduation never fails
to be exhilarating, inspiring, and filled with
the anticipation of what lies ahead.
