October 27-31, 2025

This week showcased Tandem’s determination, grit, community spirit and creativity. It began on Friday night, with a Halloween-themed Middle School dance that burst at the seams with great costumes, followed up by the Upper School's Homecoming dance on Saturday. The faculty and staff enjoyed a workroom full of treats thanks to the Shallenberger/Shirley family on Monday. Many thanks for that surprise! Spirit Week began on Monday with ‘Dress Like a Teacher” (or student for faculty), followed by Tuesday's “BBQ Dads/Soccer Moms” theme and Wednesday’s “Go Big or Go Home” theme. Thursday was “Decades Day.” There were too many amazing Spirit Week outfits to count. All of that was just a warmup to the main event - Halloween and Pumpkin carving today. Wow! What amazing and abundant costumes AND carved pumpkins. There were fun group costumes by students and faculty . Our Big and Little Badger pairings were announced this week, then those pairings (7th graders with an Upper School mentor or mentors) carved pumpkins together as their first activity. Pumpkin themes were widely varied. The winners will be announced next week during Morning Meetings.

In the midst of all the costumes and community goings on, there were still great academic and community projects underway. 5th graders enjoyed a class on code busting led by senior Eli C. 6th graders are presenting their Torah story projects. 7th graders just completed a diffusion/osmosis lab using eggs as a model for cell membranes: the shell was dissolved in vinegar and became swollen and rubbery. The eggs were then transferred into corn syrup, where they shrank dramatically. After the last set of measurements they enjoyed the ritual Flinging of the Eggs along the back road. Satisfying splats all around! 8th grade science students continue to research their chosen Pseudoscience for debunking. There was a bake sale to support breast cancer awareness and the second Clothing Swap of the year found many great items traded. 9th graders began 1984 and 10th graders are tackling Frankenstein. Juniors are beginning the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass as seniors work on Senior Projects and college applications.

Then there were the varsity sports happenings. Our varsity cross country team hosted the all-conference meet at Darden Towe with amazing results - the boys team won the conference championship, with the top four and seven of the top ten runners from Tandem and Hayes winning and being named GPAC Runner of the Year. The girls team had four on the winners stand, placed second, and ALL team members earned a PR. Our varsity volleyball team hosted - AND WON - two GPAC conference tourney games and then traveled to take on Highland for a tough GPAC tourney championship battle. Cross country runs in the state meet next week to defend their title and the varsity boys soccer teams plays in round one of the state tournament in Staunton today. What an exciting week for the Badgers! Check out more detailed game writeups and results below in This Week in Athletics. 

 

There were soooo many photos taken this week. Check out Spirit Week, dance and some sports photos by clicking on the headline and by looking at this week's photos below.  

 

Click on the link below if you just want to peruse some Halloween and pumpkin carving photos.

 

 

Parent/Teacher Conferences on Monday and Tuesday happening on campus and online (no school for students these days). We look forward to welcoming parents.

Coming up next weekend will be the cast and crew of the Upper School's The Great Gatsby opening their production - check out details and a ticket reservation link here and below. Don't miss it!