Schools can be an ideal place to build community – especially at the holidays. But between Christmas plays and parades, it’s easy to see the family calendar fill up quickly. So, what are scouted schools planning for the holidays? 

Summit School

The Summit School in Winston-Salem keeps their campus busy during their holiday season, but two events stand out as particularly unique.

The first graders in this school learn agricultural skills while keeping those in need in mind. The children grow and harvest vegetables on campus for HOPE (Help Our People Eat) of Winston-Salem. HOPE is an organization that strives to create “a world where all children and families have access to nutritious food for their families and improved health outcomes over the course of their lives.”

Students at the Summit School who choose Instrumental Music for their studio class also put on an annual band concert at this time of year. The students performing holiday classics have spent their class time exploring a multi-genre repertoire, creative group work skills, technical proficiency, and the magic of performance. It’s an incredible event where students unleash their creativity. 

Westchester Country Day School

There’s more musical talent to be enjoyed in High Point. The Westchester Country Day School holds a series of winter concerts for the holidays. Laurie Hogan, Director of Communications and Marketing says, “We have incredibly talented and passionate arts faculty who coordinate these performances each year.” These same art teachers assist in a seasonal art show for students to display snowflake monoprints and mixed-media arctic landscapes. 

“We have students and families from a variety of cultures and traditions, and gaining a broader understanding of the world around us is an important part of Westchester’s curriculum,” says Hogan. “So many teachers bring hands-on activities into their classrooms for their students to learn about different holidays and how they are celebrated in other places.”

The fun isn’t just for the kids at Westchester Country Day School. The parents are invited to the annual Blue & White Gala. “The gala includes a dinner and a silent and live auction. It’s a fun time to kick off the holiday festivities at a great party with our families, faculty, alumni, and friends,” says Hogan. The money raised during the gala provide professional development and training for teachers and special experiences for students. 

“There are so many ways, big and small, that we celebrate, but some of my favorites are the simple gestures,” explains Hogan. “One day recently, students and teachers handed out coffee and hot cocoa in the morning carpool line wearing festive sweaters and singing carols. Earlier this week, I walked to the parking lot and found that the fourth graders had hung candy canes on all the cars with a note. It brought a smile to my face after a busy day of work.”

Canterbury School

The Canterbury School in Greensboro begins the holiday season with the tradition of greening the chapel. In late November, all parents and students are invited to decorate the school’s chapel and Berry Hall with live greenery and magnolia branches. Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications Sarah Healy says, “It’s just a beautiful get together for parents and community building, and our campus looks so beautiful and festive. It’s a great way to kick off the holiday season.”

Later in December, the early childhood program puts on a nativity play – “which is the cutest thing in the world,” says Healy. “My son still talks about when he was the donkey.” The Canterbury School also invites Santa to campus for all families to have a chance to visit him, bring their letters, eat treats, and craft together.

The school also reminds their students and families that the holiday season is a time for giving back. “We have a Christmas tree in Brown Hall with different cards on it,” says Healy. “It’s called the Angel Tree. We work closely with the Greensboro Cerebral Palsy Association and those families write what their child needs on a card and put it on the Angel Tree. Then, we ask our families to help a family in need.”