Back-to-School-Picnic
The evening
before the
first day
of school,
in September,
students,
parents,
faculty,
and staff
gather and
get reacquainted.
After saying
hello to
each other,
visiting
old teachers,
and checking
out their
new classroom,
students
and their
families
stake out
a place
on the lawn
to enjoy
a picnic
dinner on
the last
night of
summer vacation.
It is so
exciting
to come
back after
the long
summer and
feel so
at home
again at
school.
It is a
joyful way
to start
the new
year. Back
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Grandparents'
& Special
Friends' Day
Each year
The John
Thomas Dye
School has
a day when
students
invite their
grandparents
or special
friends
to come
and visit
the school.
The day
begins with
guests meeting
in John
Dye Hall
for refreshments
and picking
up their
schedules
for this
fun-filled
day. Students
then meet
their guests
and everyone
lines-up
for assembly.
After this
guests visit
classrooms
where they
get a glimpse
of a day
in class.
The day
ends at
noon with
a picnic
lunch on
the lawn.
The question
no one seems
to be able
to answer
is who have
the broadest
smiles,
the students
or the guests? Back
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Fabulous
Fair
 On
the first
Sunday in
May, the
John Thomas
Dye School
transforms
itself
into a world of color, balloons,
carnival sounds, and joyful
voices as we
celebrate our yearly fair.
The theme for the fair is
different each year.
Some past themes have been
Surfin' JTD, Fiesta JTD, and
Star Spangled Salute.
Parents and students alike,
work together to carry out
the theme. Our art
department supervises students
in designing unique decorations.
Our parents
organize the day, staff the
booths, cook the food, entertain,
and put on
a spectacular event. The JTD
Fair originally
was a "May
Day" Celebration
as seen
in the photograph,
circa 1940. Back
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|
Sixth
Grade Graduation
 The day
after school
ends in
June, the
culminating
event of
the year
takes place,
The John
Thomas Dye
School graduation
ceremony.
Parents
seated,
children
lined-up,
music begins,
the front
doors open
wide and
the girls,
beautiful
in all white,
and the
boys, handsome
in suits,
proceed
into The
John Thomas
Dye Hall
and take
their seats
on stage.
Anticipation
mounts as
the Headmaster
leads up
to giving
the The
John Thomas
Dye Award,
which is
presented
to the "one
outstanding
girl and
boy, taking
into consideration
the qualities
of character,
culture,
good sportsmanship
and proficiency
in academic
pursuits."
Each child
listens
intently
for the
words they
wrote, as
The Wuersten
Award essay
is read.
This award
is bestowed
upon the
student
who pens
the most
thoughtful
and well-written
essay on
"What The
John Thomas
Dye School
Means to
Me."
As the
Headmaster
calls
up each
student
to receive
their
diploma
he shares
teachers'
special memories
of their
years at JTD.
At the
close of the ceremony,
the new
graduates
ascend
to the balcony one last
time to sing traditional
songs, and then,
still
in song, they file out
the doors to a new beginning.
After the ceremony everyone partakes in a traditional buffet of turkey salad on homemade biscuits, strawberries dipped in sour cream and powdered sugar, beef bouillon and a secret-recipe chocolate punch. Pictures are taken, good-byes are tearfully exchanged, and one by one families leave campus one last time.
But wait,
it's not
over yet!
The graduates
reassemble
later
in the day
for a celebration
party of
dancing,
swimming
feasting,
and the
viewing
of the 6th
Grade Video. Back
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