Happenings and Traditions

Parents’ Club - Meets the first Wednesday of the month when school is in session at 8:30 am, except for January.  Check the school’s master calendar each month to confirm meeting time and location on campus.

Dads’ Club – Dads’ Club does not hold monthly meetings, but instead organize dad only and dad and child/ren activities throughout the year.  Dads’ Club provide volunteers for many activities throughout the school year – General Parents’ Meeting, Dads’ Breakfast, Moms’ Breakfast, Italian Dinner Night, Auction, and International Festival to name a few.

General Parents’ Meeting – The General Parents’ Meeting (GPM) is held early in the school year.  There is a meeting in the gymnasium with announcements and information about the coming year, followed by orientation in the children’s classrooms by their guide.  The Parents’ and Dads’ Club hosts a Parent Social following the classroom meetings that include food and drinks. This is an adults only event.

Annual Fund – Fall - Watch for our brochures in the mail early in the school year for this important fundraising opportunity.  The Annual Fund is the primary fundraising activity of the School and offers direct support of educational programs benefiting all students.  For seven years in a row, we’ve proudly reached a 100% parent participation rate, and we encourage all families to support the Annual Fund each year. There are several levels of giving including:  Friend, Cornerstone, Council of Excellence, Chairman’s Circle, Alcuin Roundtable, Founder’s Circle and Heritage Society.

Journey and Discovery - Fall - A premier Montessori/International Baccalaureate® (IB) education event where the entire Alcuin School faculty devotes a Saturday to the education of our parent community. The parents gather in groups and set out with the Montessori/IB faculty on a journey through the school, visiting each level, from toddler to the upper school. This program is designed to help families better understand the Montessori and IB philosophy and experience for themselves how their children learn in the classroom.  This is one of the best ways to learn about the planes of development that your child will experience, the developmental characteristics of each level, the spiral of Montessori curriculum, cosmic education and Montessori vocabulary, culminating in the IB program.  This is a required event for parents new to Alcuin School.

Fall Festival – October - The Alcuin School Fall Festival is a safe and fun environment for kids of all ages. The costumes are varied (sometimes moms and dads turn up in costume too!), and this family-centered activity allows the children an experience of fun and freedom. Don’t miss this great fall afternoon carnival, sponsored by Middle School students who plan and carry out all of the details.

Parent Observations and Chats – Fall and Spring - Parent Observations and Chats are held each year and are designed for parents with children in each Division level. Small groups of parents meet in the Cardio Room where the Division Head will share observation techniques with the parents. Parents then visit a classroom for observation. After the observation, parents will meet back in the Cardio Room for discussion with the Division Head.  Observations and Chats are a great way to understand how our classrooms work! 

Dads’ Club Breakfast – November - This great event is an opportunity for dads and the little ones to bond over breakfast on a crisp autumn morning.  Grab a bite to eat, watch the kids play up a storm, visit the Book Fair in the Wyly and enjoy time with your children before heading off to work. 

Book Fair – November - This is a huge community event involving many volunteers, and thousands of books and hours of preparation!   Sponsored by the Parents’ Club, the monies raised by the Book Fair are returned directly to the school library. Students, parents and friends come to visit the Book Fair, and because it is also open on Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day, the school is the beneficiary of many books purchased for the classrooms and library by the grandparents and special friends.

Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day – November - On the Friday before Thanksgiving, Alcuin School hosts a day for grandparents and special friends to visit the campus and be observers in the classrooms. Some classes plan special events; others simply invite the grandparents and special friends to observe the classroom environment. In addition to the classroom visit, our grandparents and special friends join us for refreshments, Book Fair and other planned events.  Invitations are mailed directly to grandparents and special friends whose names and addresses have been submitted to the School. 

Primary Parent Work Night –Fall and Spring – Parents join their child in the classroom between 5pm and 6:30pm.  The child shows the parent(s) their work with the materials, demonstrating their skills.  Dress comfortably—you may be on the floor with a map puzzle or golden beads.  Check the calendar for actual dates.

Winter Concert – December – A wonderful and beloved tradition, families gather on a Sunday in December in our Wyly Performing Arts Center to hear our Elementary students perform a diverse array of holiday music that represents the cultures of our Alcuin community.

Italian Dinner Night – January – Formerly known as Spaghetti Dinner, parents and children are invited to the Gymnasium on the last Sunday in January to enjoy good food and friendship!  Hosted by the Parents’ and Dads’ Club, it’s not unusual to see Italian chefs serving spaghetti and other Italian dishes and all the toppings for a fun-filled evening!

The Annual Auction – March or April - This effort sponsored by the Parents’ Club takes in all parts of our community--parents, students and staff. Each year the auction brings the community a wonderful evening, filled with an interesting theme and exciting activities. Monies raised at the auction have supported the staff retirement plan, built the pavilion, supported financial aid, purchased Montessori materials and contributed to Capital Campaigns.  Always a big hit at the auction are the individual classroom projects built with student, guide/faculty and parent help.

Middle Years’ Program (MYP) Personal Project Exhibition – March or April – As part of the completion of MYP, 10^th graders must complete a personal project.  Part of their grade includes presenting their project (project theme, findings and reflections) to the Alcuin community.

International Festival – April – Held on the last Friday in April, the Alcuin community celebrates its rich diversity.  Families host tables of their native origin, complete with cultural foods, dress, items and historical facts.

Dads’ Club Breakfast for the Moms – May - The Dads’ Club Breakfast for the Moms is our way of thanking her for everything she does.  The moms bring the kids to school a little early, and the Dads’ Club provides a breakfast to make the moms feel special. 

Sixth Level Presentations - May - The Sixth Level presentations provide a time when all the skills begin to come together in a culminating project for our students.  Join us to be a witness to the results of extensive research and long practice hours.  The sixth level students fascinate us with their varied interests, their knowledge of the details and their poised presentation.  This is a key component of their preparation for the coming years at Alcuin School.

Alcuin Summer – June through mid-July – This is a wonderful opportunity for school families and others interested in summer fun.  The program offers a broad array of camp choices including Montessori classes, enrichment camps and Primary Adventure Camp.  There’s something for everyone!  Before and After Care is also available during Alcuin Summer.