Beyond the Classroom| The Independent Day School

All School Activities

It's no surprise that Kyle in Pre-K runs over to Charlotte, a upper schooler, and gives her a big hug. That kind of interaction happens all the time at IDS. How? IDS encourages plenty of all school activities that allow students of different ages to interact, explore, engage, sing, play, learn and even dance together. There is a genuine connection that is felt among all the students. Everybody knows everybody.

Cultural Enrichment

Cultural Enrichment Activities are varied, thought-provoking, engaging, entertaining, enlightening, and educational. Programs can be division-specific or include the entire school community. Past experiences have included:

Capoeira Brazilian Dance Event - Afro-Brazilian music
Crocodile River Music - African and African-influenced music, including Brazilian, Caribbean, and Flamenco
Blue Jupiter - An A Cappella vocal group
Collective Consciousness-Shakespeare: The Remix
Eshu Bumpus – multicultural folk tales
Hip Hop Dimensions – explore the roots of Hip Hop
Taikoza - A troupe of three Japanese drummers and a dancer
Sirius Coyote – Latin American folk songs in English and Spanish
Gayle Danley - Slam Poetry
Yorick's Marionettes – folk tales told by handmade marionettes
Pilobolus – acrobatics and dance
Little Theater of the Deaf – performed “The Brindle Beast”

Author-in-Residence

Student Clubs

Our Upper School club offerings allow students to broaden their perspectives and interests. If your child is like most MS IDS students, he or she will want to try their hand at most anything and everything. Students can engage in:

Chamber Strings
Drama
Interact Club
Jazz Band
Mountain Biking
Student Government
The Green Group
Theatre Tech
Ubuntu Club

Service Learning

If you want to develop caring and compassionate adults, you need to engage the youngest to the idea of giving back. Community service is just part of who we are and is a crucial part of our culture. IDS students make an impact on the lives of others through their involvement in many local organizations including:

Read to Grow
Warm the Children
Empty Bowls Feed the Hungry Project
Spirit Day Service
Clothing Drives
Willy's Friends
Amazing Grace Food Pantry

Grandfriend's Day

Each spring the IDS community invites their Grandfriends (Grandparents or mature friends) to join their grandchildren or young friends to experience a morning at IDS. It is a wonderful celebration of the generations! After classroom visits, which include numerous learning activities and games, our Grandfriends are treated to a mid-morning snack and an All-School Musical Review.

Concerts

IDS holds concerts with student performances twice a year. Members of the 5/6 Band, 7/8 Band, Chamber Strings, Jazz Band, 4/5 Chorus, and Upper School Chorus perform for the Winter and Spring Concerts, as well as for Grand Friends' Day. The 4th Grade Band performs for the Spring Concert and Chamber Ensembles often have various opportunities to perform for concerts, Open Houses and Graduation.

Talent Show

Students from Kindergarten through eighth grade have the opportunity to audition and to perform during a three-minute slot for the annual talent show. In the past, acts have included Karate, singing, playing an instrument, skits, comedy, poetry, animation, dancing, and composing. Respect and appreciation for individual and sometimes unique talents often leave the performer not only with the wonderful experience of having performed for an audience, but also with the growth, confidence and pride that come from having had the opportunity.