Celebrating the Season: Head’s Holiday – Decorating Day

“Thank you, everyone, for maintaining all of our COVID protocols with such diligence. Let us take a moment of silence to think about everyone around the world who is suffering as a result of this pandemic… We take a lot of things very seriously at The Grove including global learning, inclusivity, wellness, our academics and studying. And, sometimes, we just need a holiday.”

 

On Monday, our Head of School Anne-Marie Kee made a special surprise announcement in Chapel: Tuesday, December 1 was declared a Head’s Holiday - Decorating Day!

 

The last few months of school have been exceptional ones. Firsts, for many of us. We’ve practiced patience as we’ve adjusted to living and learning in completely new ways, always with safety at the forefront. It’s not always been easy, and we are so proud of our students for their positive attitude and for maintaining our safety protocols with such diligence. We planned a festive surprise to celebrate.

 

Students had the opportunity to sleep in and get into the holiday spirit. Everyone awoke to a blanket of snow covering The Grove with the snow continuing to fall throughout the day, providing a picturesque wintery backdrop. Holiday magic spread throughout The Grove as students decorated the campus with lights and other festive cheer, the sounds of music, laughter and singing filling the air. Christmas trees arrived to campus to be adorned for the coming Festival of Trees for our community (event details to come!). Our Grove Society Parent Chapter volunteers brought support and creativity as they decorated the academic block. Everyone enjoyed time in the afternoon to get active through skating, climbing, yoga, meditation and many other fun activities. Finally, as the sun began to set, students and staff had hot chocolate and took a tour of the lights through campus.

 

We all deserve a day to take care of ourselves and each other; to come together in community.

 

Thank you to all of our Associate Faculty members who worked with our student leadership to create the vision for the residences and trees, and who ran activities in the afternoon. A special note of gratitude and thanks, also, to our incredible supportive and generous parents and volunteers who offered their help to make the day special.