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Several times during the academic
year, Chapin comes together as a community to
celebrate each other, to learn or to just have a
good time.
Parents' Association Family Barbeque
One of the favorite events of the
Chapin family is the annual Family Barbeque
sponsored by the Parents' Association. On the
second Friday after school opens, all Chapin
families, including siblings, faculty, trustees, and
recent alumni come together for an evening of good
food, good cheer, and good company. It's a great
way to begin the new school year!
Back-to-School-Night
In late September parents are invited
to spend an evening at Chapin to meet their child's
teachers and to get an overview of his/her academic
life for the year. Separate nights are held for the
Lower School and Upper School parents.
Halloween Happenings
Each year at Halloween time, the
Parents' Association invites all Chapin families to
attend the Halloween Happening. Although the
activities have changed over the years, the evening
brings together the Chapin family for some fun,
engaging, and seasonal activities.
Book Fair
In November the Parents' Association
sponsors its annual Book Fair. Held in Chapin's
library, Chapin's parents and students have the
opportunity to browse and purchase a wide selection
of handpicked, high quality books. This Book Fair
provides our library with its major source of income
while also expanding the collection directly through
donated books.
Holiday
Music Programs
Each December our students provide
joyful music and good cheer for the holidays. All
parents are invited, and there are separate programs
for the Lower School and Upper School students.
Ice
Scream Bingo Bash
Parents and students beat the winter
blues away with a fun, lively evening of bingo each
January. This event, which is sponsored by our
Parents' Association, is very popular with both the
parents and the students. Like all Chapin events,
the food is both delicious and plentiful.
 Curriculum
Fair
Once
a year, the sixth, seventh and eighth graders,
display their research and academic abilities at the
Curriculum Fair in early February. The students
work on a long term project, and then visually
present their findings on a Sunday using a variety
of media. The sixth graders do their projects on a
science topic, the seventh graders on one in social
studies, and the eighth graders can choose any area
of study.
Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen
Each February Chapin takes on the
responsibility of organizing and serving a lunch
meal to more than 500 people at Trenton's Loaves and
Fishes Soup Kitchen. This massive effort, which
depends on the support and participation of the
school family, is just one way that Chapin
reinforces the importance of service to others.
 Eighth
Grade Play
One
of the highlights of the eighth grade year is when
the whole class combines to put its annual play.
Every year hidden talents emerge, and all of the
students band together to put on a memorable
performance.
 Earth Day
Each
April Chapin celebrates Earth Day with an assembly
and special activities designed to reinforce in our
students the importance of preserving our planet's
natural resources. This event is only for students
and faculty.
Runathon
The
Runathon is perhaps Chapin's most cherished annual
event. For more than 30 years, Chapin parents,
students, faculty, trustees, alumni, and friends
have come together on a Saturday in April to walk or
run around the Chapin course. With individual
pledges and corporate support, more than $23,000 is
raised each year to benefit a local charity,
selected by the Student Council, and Chapin's
Financial Aid Fund The event has supported, among
others, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Sunshine
Foundation, United Cerebral Palsy's Camp Hollowbrook,
Rainbow House, the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed
Association, the Loaves & Fishes soup kitchen, Woman
Space, Habitat for Humanity, and HomeFront. The
past 30 Runathons have raised a total of over
$357,000. Net proceeds of the Runathon are divided
equally between Chapin scholarships and a local
charity.
CommonGround Speaker Series
Chapin was one of the founding
members of CommonGround, a consortium of local
independent schools that annually sponsor three
nationally acclaimed speakers. Hosted by the member
schools, these speakers discuss issues relating to
education and parenting
Talent Shows
 Every
year, the entire school participates (either as
audience or performers) in student/faculty talent
show. One can see performances which include
dancing, singing, lip-synching or skits by everyone
from the Pre-K to the Headmaster.
Sports Day
At
the end of the year, Chapin has for many years held
its Sports Day. Organized and coordinated by our
Physical Education teachers, students spend the day
competing in a series of athletic events. Of
course, there is good food and music, and the
inevitable dancing provides a wonderful flavor to
the day.
Prize Day
At the end of the school before
graduation, we acknowledge and celebrate the
academic achievement of our students. Awards are
given in a number of academic areas, and the eighth
graders also receive their awards. Parents of the
major award winners are invited.
Graduation
Chapin's
school year culminates with the graduation of our
eighth graders. In a very special and unusual
ceremony, faculty members speak about each student
in a personal, often humorous way that could only
happen in a small, intimate school like Chapin.
With a mixture of joy and sadness, we wish our
graduates a fond farewell.
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