Muscota’s events are steeped in tradition. Whose tradition? Our very own! Instead of excluding a minority few during the more popular holidays, we create our own days of celebration in which everyone can join. Here is a list of some Muscota New School’s unique events.
Town Meeting
Each week, a different host class presents the Town Meeting. Students share their recent curriculum with song, sights and performance. There are once-a-month birthday celebrations and occasional special guests. Parents of the host class are invited to attend this special morning meeting. Learn the Muscota Theme Song before you attend. Student and parent musicians are always invite to unpack an instrument or warm up the microphone.
Mad Hatter’s Day parade
The entire school community prepares for this big day for weeks! The celebration starts with a 5th grade skit that reveals the annually appointed Mad Hatter. The reveal leads into a special Town Meeting in which the children give a verbal tour of the wild hats that they create inspired by their recent unit of study. The meeting then transitions outdoors into the Mad Hatters Day Parade where students and parents join in song while marching around the block. Parents are encouraged to join our school community as equals as we parade around the block signing the Mad Hatters songs.
Mad Hatter’s Ball
This is the annual fall carnival fundraiser is hosted by Muscota PA. We invite our entire community to put on crazy hats, costumes, and their dancing shoes! Each year, our Mad Hatter’s Ball includes a crafts, games, prizes, face painting, photo booth, dancing, great food for all.
Candlelight Night
Candlelight Night is a cherished tradition at Muscota that celebrates the brightness on Winter Solstice. Our whole Muscota “family” takes time to enjoy the musical performances of our K-5 students, teachers and parents.
Family Breakfast
Twice a year families gather in the classrooms to get to know each other and to share favorite breakfast dishes. Children perform songs, dances, and other special things they have learned together.
Cozy Learning Day
Pajama Day! Children, teachers and administration wear PJs to school for a day of learning and having fun in a more relaxed school environment.
Talent show
Hosted by our fifth grade elders, this Muscota tradition showcases the talents and collaborative spirit of our children and is a fun night out for out entire community. Families and friends are encouraged to collaborate in group performances.
Pi Day
Pi Day, held every March 14th (3/14) celebrates the math concept Pi, or 3.14, the numerical relationship of a circle’s circumference and diameter. Muscota’s school number is 314, so Pi day is very special for our school.
MuMA
Muscota Museum of Art fundraiser. Every child in the school produces a piece of art that will be framed and put on display. Children are taught to see themselves as artists as they see their work in a gallery setting. Parent volunteers help frame, hang, and sell art at the event. Monies raised from this event are used to support our Visual Arts program at Muscota.
Annual Benefit
This is a parents’ evening out and the largest fundraiser of the year. Parents are encouraged to contribute or secure donations of items or services from vendors and individuals to be auctioned off for the cause. Each class produces an item. The Drama teacher, Dana, contributes a pile of items. Many teachers offer an experience from a lunch out to a day off with treats for the class. The most coveted item is always being Principal for a Day!
Field day
Muscota Field Day is a school wide day full of sporty games and school spirit. The grand event is a series of tug-of-war face off between students, staff and parents. Parents set up and facilitate the games.
Moving on Ceremony
Bring your handkerchief. This will be an emotional event for anyone in attendance. Each graduating student presents a monologue focusing on their Muscota experience. They are then echoed by a staff member to whom they are closely bonded. The entire class is presented with an archive slide show, a selection of photos and work from as far back as kindergarten. This serves as a momento of their time at Muscota and their growth as learners. Music really kicks this event into another level. All underclassmen sing a big send off number which is coordinated with the 5th graders farewell song all accompanied by live parent musicians. (I am literally welling up as I type)