A new tradition has sprung at MICDS, showcasing a community full of color, harmony, rhythm, laughter, and joy. That’s right—the inaugural Arts Fest was a vibrant success last Thursday, April 20! Thank you to all who participated in this beautiful evening of the Arts for our Rams! Check out the video below to see just some of the fun that was had!
To paint the picture of the event, all current and newly enrolled MICDS families, faculty, staff, and alumni were invited to celebrate the Arts. Amid a plethora of performances and activities suitable for all ages, guests came together and enjoyed the evening in many wonderful and creative ways.
Performances included a scene from the Upper School Troubadours’ production of Mean Girls, Drama Club performances, and mini orchestra, band, and choir recitals. Student artists from the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools had fun sharing these glimpses into the School’s performing arts experiences in the South Gym.
Over in the McDonnell Athletic Center, families enjoyed food from the Art Cafe and a smorgasbord of artistic activities. Stations throughout the gym offered everything from chalk art, splatter painting, a graffiti wall, and printmaking to drum circles, stick figure puppets, printing with LEGO pieces, and students building your pet for you. You could also walk through the Beasley Cafeteria and hallways to enjoy the masterpieces of our Junior Kindergarteners through fourth graders for Lower School Gallery Night. Additionally, there were stations for learning improv or a dance, and there was even a flash mob street dance for families to participate in or watch.
“The Arts Fest was a wonderful opportunity for us to immerse ourselves in music and art as we moved fluidly from appreciating art to making it,” said Dr. Sally Maxwell, Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning. “We had so many more people than we expected, and we are already talking about ideas for next year.”
Head of School Jay Rainey, his wife, and dog also all had a grand time. “Ruth and I, and our faithful friend Nelson 🐶, had such a wonderful time at Arts Fest. The student performances were outstanding, and we loved the activities and delicious food in the MAC. Above all else, though, we were grateful for the joy and camaraderie that permeated the event. We established the Spring Arts Festival as a community-building exclamation point to the school year, and by this standard, it absolutely succeeded in its debut. We look forward to many more!”
Although Arts Fest 2023 had to move indoors due to forecasted storms, the whole event radiated with brightness and was packed with fun and room for artistic adventure. Even a fire alarm that was swiftly responded to couldn’t take away from the special day. JK-12 Arts Department Chair and Orchestra Director, Dr. Jo Nardolillo, put it best: “I am so awed by the depth of joy our students and faculty poured into this ecstatic celebration of the arts,” she shared. “Neither rain nor fire alarm could dampen the spirit that electrified the event. I could not be more proud of being part of the magical place that is MICDS!”
As part of the excitement leading up to Arts Fest, students in every division enjoyed a variety of arts-related dress-up spirit days. In the gallery below, check out the artistic apparel in honor of Arts Fest!
- Monday, April 17: Monochrome Monday
- Tuesday, April 18: Tie Dye Tuesday
- Wednesday, April 19: Favorite Artist Wednesday (Lower School), Creative Hat Wednesday (Middle School), and Dress like an Arts Teacher Wednesday (Upper School)
- Thursday, April 20: Colors of the Rainbow (LS), MICDS Spirit Wear Thursday (MS), Color War Thursday (US)
- Friday, April 21: Special Dress (LS), Wacky Tacky Mismathed Friday (MS), and Favorite Artist Friday (US)
A very big THANK YOU to Dr. Nardolillo, Dr. Maxwell, and the entire Arts Department for pulling off this fabulous Arts Fest and Spirit Week for all! The following groups also contributed to the magic behind this event: FLIK Independent School Dining, the Parents Association Arts Boosters, and the MICDS Grounds, Housekeeping, Maintenance, Marketing & Communications, Security, and Technology Departments. Also, this event would not be possible without the tremendous planning and coordination work of Sarah Keen, Associate Director for Events, and Beth Miller, Chief Financial and Operating Officer. Thank you, all, for making this event possible!