Dear SDS Learning Community, 

We are loving the holiday season here at Spartanburg Day School. When you speak of a community of trust, having opportunities to share in traditions and make new ones is the glue that binds us together. Last week, we launched our first annual Trim the Tree tradition with our kindergarten students and their Senior buddies and this week we enjoyed our 3s and 4s Winter Holiday Concert, complete with elf hats and top-notch choreography. Middle School has been wearing holiday themed outfits all week and the Upper School tacky holiday sweater competition has proven difficult to find a winner amongst so many incredibly awful submissions.

As we approach the winter break, our Middle and Upper School students are now focusing on exams and end-of-semester projects, momentarily delaying celebrations. We shape their experience to help them develop skills in managing their time, approaching deadlines with a plan, and feeling prepared for the “big” moments in their life. This focus on summative assessments and the development of these essential habits occurs within our supportive community of trust, which fosters a superior educational experience.

Looking back, we celebrate the incredible growth achieved over the last four months of learning, from students learning to read in Kindergarten, to performing musical theatre in 6th grade, or playing the theme song to Home Alone in the Band concert. For our older students, seeing the 3s and 4s come out of their concert reminds them how far they have come. We are proud that through these varied experiences, our students are developing into purposeful individuals, growing in confidence, and learning to be discerning in their choices.

I wish you all rest and relaxation, joy and laughter, and a strong connection with each other that further cements the bonds of your family and close friends.

Enjoy this season.

Dave