December is usually an eventful month at The Storm King School when final exams, performing arts recitals, athletic championships, and holiday activities abound. This year’s challenges may have changed the ways in which we celebrate the holidays, but they didn’t stop our community from sharing an abundance of cheer.

 

 

 

The first glimpse of the holidays appeared early in December when students were surprised with a self-serve hot cocoa station strategically placed at the entrance to Orr Commons. The station was restocked daily and remained open for their enjoyment throughout the month, complete with holiday cookies and peppermint candy canes!

As the weather snapped colder during December’s first weekend, students and faculty on campus also rang in the holidays at an outdoor tree-lighting ceremony held on Ledoux Terrace. Those who attended talked about their own holiday traditions, sang Christmas carols, and warmed their hands by a campfire, all under the light of a full moon.

 

 

The last cohort challenge of the semester also had a holiday twist. Cohorts were encouraged to enter a gingerbread house-making competition to win Starbucks gift cards. Several cohorts participated and the students’ whimsical creations brightened the dining hall through final exam week. Congratulations to the winners, Ms. Liggett and the TEAL Cohort, who were awarded their gift cards before departing for Winter Break.

 

 

In the absence of Storm King’s hallmark in-person events this year, our student-performers and their teachers worked hard to spread the holiday spirit through a series of virtual performances. The first event, the virtual Winter Music Concert, was shared with the community just before the start of Winter Break, warming the hearts of all who watched this compilation of outstanding student work.

As 2020 winds to a close and we enter a brand new year, the second virtual event, the Winter Dance Recital, will be shared with our community to top off this year’s holiday festivities. Kudos to all of our students and faculty who’s creativity, flexibility, and perseverance spread the holiday spirit and brought us an abundance of cheer this year, despite all the challenges!