May 11-15, 2026

It was a great and busy week as AP exams concluded and weekend dances for 8th grade and the Upper School await this weekend. People are still talking about how wonderful last Saturday’s Mother’s Day Music Festival was from start to finish. The day was relaxing, the music was wonderful and there was such a community feel abounding. Kudos to all who helped make that great annual student-driven event happen. The Music Department would like to see photos or videos you may have taken at MDMF - please send to kdukes@tandemfs.org if you have some good ones to pass on. Our Day of Giving campaign received generous support and you can still donate - see details below. On Wednesday morning the community was surprised by Senior Pranks - including creative parking at the entrance and on our cafe patio, interesting flags in certain rooms, stacked picnic tables, balloons, a rearrangement of Mary’s room, and a revamp of Morning Meeting. The seniors included many more surprises during classes throughout the day, including a Beach Boys serenade, synchronous eating in class, and more. Check out photos below. Our Varsity track team sent 19 members to the State meet today - good luck, Badgers! And to end on a sweet note, there was a student-run bake sale today to support The Piedmont Family Care Closet.

In the Middle School, 5th graders continue their study of human body systems. 6th graders are taking a deep dive into oceanic connections and exploration. 7th graders added a new layer to their study of endangered species (details and photos below). 8th graders had an exciting week that included a visit to the Charlottesville Friends Meeting House for lunch and Meeting for Worship and their culminating class event being held tonight, the 8th Grade Dinner Dance.

In the Upper School, students and teachers are preparing for upcoming class finals and assessments. 9th graders are studying boat design and putting the final touches on their TED Talks on the meaning of life. Sophomores are finishing up preparations for their final Socratic Seminar on May 21, preparing to be able to answer ten in-depth questions. Juniors are preparing exam essay outlines on the topic of individualism in their readings this year. Seniors pulled off their Senior Pranks in the midst of APs, exam prep and Memory Book completion for some. The Upper School prom is tomorrow night, and lots of planning has gone into the decorations and event execution.