Park Day School

And just like that, the '25-'26 school year is over! We closed out the year with yearbook signings, appreciations, one last reading buddy session, big hugs, dance parties, and our traditional "Step Up Day" where lower school students got to meet their new teachers (and class pets) and ask all their burning questions. This year we even had a special promotion ceremony for our 4th graders who are about to enter middle school. Have a great summer, Park Day Schoolers!

We had a joyful Pride at Park Day last week!

Throughout the week, students learned about LGBTQ+ trailblazers and changemakers (including members of our own community!), read stories and had class visitors come talk about identity, family, and belonging, and welcomed q***r author Laura Gao to campus.

The week culminated in Friday's all-school Pride Assembly and Parade, led by our middle school GSA. Students shared LGBTQ+ history and definitions, poetry, and a beloved GSA tradition called "pulling up a chair" where a student performed a rant about gendered language and expectations. After 1st graders shared what the colors in the pride flag represent, the entire school headed around the neighborhood for our annual Pride Parade before closing things out the only way Park Day could: with a schoolwide dance party to Pink Pony Club. Happy Pride, Park Day!

In 3rd grade we're learning all about native Oakland/Bay Area birds. Each 3rd grade ornithologist has been studying a bird of their choice and also learning about birds in general; how they fly, what they eat, how their bodies adapt and how they make their nest. We studied different ways birds make their nests and then in small groups made our own nests. Next, we did a "nest test" with Ilya in the Innovation Workshop where we tested our nests in 3 ways: 1) Does the nest hold their eggs? 2) Does the nest withstand wind and movement (using an earthquake simulator made by Park Day 6th graders) and 3) Does the nest hold through rain and does it filter the water? Spoiler alert: despite lots of nerve-racking close calls, all the nests passed the tests! Next up, we'll study how feathers work and function.

In a collaboration between Learning Garden & Art, TK students have been exploring our campus garden with all their senses, learning about plants, insects, and wildlife through observational drawing, clay sculpture, and pottery. Their work culminated in a delightful garden tea party this week, where our young potters sipped lemon verbena tea (that they harvested, dried, and brewed from our garden) and enjoyed sour sorrel tacos and lemon crinkle cookies. They drank out of and ate off of ceramic cups and saucers they crafted themselves, outfitted in fabulous nature crowns created from the garden. Tea party goers practiced lots of patience as they waited for everyone to get tea in their cup and to fill their plates before starting. And they took great pleasure in the fruits of their labor, with students asking for seconds, thirds, and even fourths of their tea!

We're still buzzing over here from Saturday's Family Fest! We welcomed current, alumni, and incoming families onto campus for a fun-filled day. Between the bouncy house obstacle courses, giant trikes, a photo booth, glitter tattoos, live music, gorgeous weather, old friends reuniting, former reading buddies reconnecting, new friendships forming, and an epic ice cream sundae bar, it’s hard to choose a favorite part.

We especially loved reconnecting with Park Day School's class of 2022. Did you know that this was the class that launched the campaign to make the black crowned night heron the official bird of Oakland? We especially loved sharing with them that the black crowned night heron is now also Park Day School's mascot! Congratulations on graduating high school and reaching this significant milestone. We are incredibly proud of each and every one of you. To all our alumni, remember that Park Day School will always be a place you can call home. And don't forget to visit every once in a while so we can all marvel at how tall you've gotten and hear about your latest adventures.

There have been so many opportunities for students to step into the spotlight lately!

2nd graders welcomed some very special guests into their classrooms for the annual Voices of Change Biography Project. Malala Yousafzai, Bernie Sanders, Alysa Liu, Beyoncé, and many more made appearances as students stepped into character to share the stories of important changemakers. 2nd grade biographers practiced research skills, note-taking, speech writing, and public speaking for their presentations.

Meanwhile, 3rd graders brought their Story Plays to life after months of writing, revising, collaborating, and rehearsing. Beginning in the fall, students worked in pairs to co-write original scripts, participated in editing workshops, and learned how to incorporate peer and teacher feedback throughout the process. After plays were selected from each class, students came together to build the final productions as a community, adding characters, creating costumes and building sets, and stepping into acting roles.

And yesterday, our 8th grade drama students performed their incredible production of She Kills Monsters, showing off their stage combat skills, comedic timing, emotional depth, and so much confidence on stage. Off stage, students worked on sound design, props, stage management, and middle school art students even created the masks used in the production.

And in TK, students have been so inspired by seeing all of the above that they've been working on their own stage productions at the purple stage!

Bravo, Park Day!

Thank you to our amazing Parent Association Chairs, Monica and Leda, who plan so many events and opportunities for connection in our community, and who pulled out all the stops for Teacher Appreciation Week! Thanks also to our Class Parents, parent volunteers, and all of the families who made our teachers and staff feel so special last week. We were spoiled with everything from breakfast, ice cream, snacks, beautiful bouquets, handwritten cards, handmade t-shirts(!!), and all the love.

They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas… but this one was too good not to share.

What a night at the Viva Park Day Sneaker Ball. There really ain’t no party like a Park Day party. From the casino tables to the dance floor, from the live auction to the paddle raise for indexed tuition, our community showed up in full force with incredible generosity, energy, and style.

There were Elvis impersonators, Vegas showgirls, “just married” couples roaming the room, bachelorette parties in full Vegas fashion, and lots of of sequins, sneakers, and sparkle.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered, donated items and experiences, attended, bid, danced, raised a paddle, and helped make the evening such a success. While final numbers are still being tallied, all signs point to record-breaking fundraising in support of Park Day’s Indexed Tuition program and our commitment to socioeconomic diversity.

Missed your chance to raise a paddle at the event? There’s still time to make a gift and support the Indexed Tuition program through our virtual paddle raise: https://event.auctria.com/971a6dce-08f5-47ad-95fe-9ffd50cc84e7/4abc7f6d3e5f4c789ac3710f86d6d533