Special Programs and Events

Upcoming events are listed in the Park News well in advance as a reminder in order to help parents with scheduling attendance of these events.

Back-to-School Night

For K-5 parents Back-to-School night is held on a mid-week night during the first few weeks of school. The formal program begins in the Meyerhoff Theater and includes welcome remarks by Dan Paradis, Head of School and Malika DeLancey, Lower School Principal. Parents are then invited to visit their child’s classroom and meet with their child’s teacher. Meeting with the parents as a group, the teacher presents classroom expectations for the year’s curriculum and developmental tasks and challenges appropriate for that grade level. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend to establish a smooth and successful relationship with their child’s teacher.

Brown & White Spirit Day/Saturday in the Park

Usually held in the fall, Brown & White Day culminates a week of school-spirit related activities. Traditionally a way of instilling school pride, families and students come together through various activities before watching both girls’ and boys’ Park School athletic teams compete with other independent schools. Attendance by families is encouraged, but optional.

The Monarch Project

The Monarch Project teaches the interdisciplinary lessons of scientific observation, data collection, the mathematics of symmetry, natural camouflage, and presentation findings…in Kindergarten. The project culminates with the dramatization of the monarch metamorphosis at the Kindergarteners’ Monarch Festival each fall.

Autumn Harvest

Every autumn, an afternoon is planned when Lower School students in grades 1-5 and teachers participate in cross-grade, non-competitive games, story telling, and events. A celebration of school spirit and community, this afternoon is primarily for the children, so attendance by parents is optional. Parents are welcome to attend and/or volunteer to help out with the game activities.

Halloween Parade

On Halloween, Lower School children come to school in creatively crafted costumes. There is a parade throughout the school and school grounds. Parents are welcome to observe the parade route outside as it winds through the school grounds. Parents’ attendance is optional.

Winter Concerts, Recitals & Class Plays

Certain grade levels will perform a winter program for parents and their fellow students during the school day in early December or January. Notices regarding the dates and times of these plays and musical performances will be sent out well in advance; please note that not every grade offers a class play. If their child is involved, attendance by parents is strongly encouraged. Out of respect for all performers, we ask that parents remain in the audience for the duration of the full performance or recital.

May Day

Since 1912, May Day has celebrated spring through song and pageantry. A highlight of the event is the fifth grade’s performance of the Maypole dance, marking graduation from Lower School and transition to Middle School. The formal program runs from approximately 10 a.m. until noon, and families are invited to remain after the program for a picnic and games. Parents are asked to provide blanket and picnic lunches for their families. Attendance by parents is required as children spend the afternoon with their families. If unable to attend we ask parents to arrange for their child to spend the afternoon with another family. May Day is the most important fundraising effort of the Parents’ Association. All parents are asked to participate in the special May Day fund, which helps to support the bulk of many projects directly affecting the lives of our students. There are many volunteer opportunities for parents in support of this annual event.

Grandparents’ and Special Guests’ Day

This annual event, held the Friday morning before Mother’s Day, brings grandparents and special guests to the Park campus for a unique experience. Guests attend an educational seminar that will address an aspect of the Park philosophy followed by quality classroom time with the students.

Resident Author Program

The Gordon Berman ’68 Memorial Lower School Resident Author Program brings a noted author or illustrator to the school each year. This program gives Lower School students an opportunity to meet a working writer or artist face-to-face. Sometimes geared towards specific grade-levels (depending upon the appropriate developmental aspect of their works), the author or illustrator lead book-writing workshops, conduct storytelling sessions, answer questions about their techniques, and, by their presence, help books come alive to the students. Occasionally there are programs for parents to attend as well, but usually attendance by parents is unnecessary.