What a fabulous evening in Neverland! Thank you to all who donated, all who participated and bid and all who attended our Never Grow Up Gala. It was a magical night and great success raising money for our PDS community.

The Primary Day School 2018 Gala Committee invites you to save the date for "An Evening in Neverland." Friday, April 27, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. at Badlands Playspace. Formal Invitation and Information on Donations, Tickets & Sponsorships coming soon! Questions? Please contact Dillon Cox in the Advancement Office at d.cox@theprimarydayschool.org. 2018 Gala Co-Chairs Mikel Blair, Allison Carle & Shivani Gupta

The sounds of the holidays filled the Beako room at this year's Winter Wonderland assemblies.

At Primary Day we understand that a culture of community service starts with teaching children about the importance of giving back. Today, as part of Primary Day's commitment to community service the children made lunches for Central Union Mission (Mission DC). 1st and 2nd graders prepared sandwiches while Pre-K and K decorated and packed lunch bags with  sandwiches and snacks. It doesn't always have to be a grand gesture but a simple project that makes the life of someone else a little bit better. 

Monster Mashin' it, Primary Day style!

It’s Open House season! Why not use this opportunity to visit The Primary Day School on November 15. Tour the School and speak directly with faculty and parents about our program. Discover why a Primary Day education is the finest education for the most important years! Call 301-365-4355 or email admission@theprimarydayschool.org. Childcare (with pizza dinner) provided. See below for details. Please share.

What could better define #wisdomwednesday than the Primary Day Book Fair! Open now through Saturday.

We had a blast at Field Day this year! Children were treated to soccer, balloon-popping, pizza box relays, the 50-yard dash, basketball, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, sack races, sponge relays, the Good Humor Truck, "Tim's Gem" truck and more. Thank you to Coaches Manalo and Ouska, Mrs. Hansen, Mrs. Gagarin, and the faculty/staff for making this such a wonderful culminating year-end event!

Second Graders worked for weeks to detail their amazing and hilarious life journeys in their autobiographies. They enjoyed sharing their work with family and friends at the annual Authors' Tea.

The First Graders’ exploration of countries around the world came to a close with their International Program. The show featured folktales from different countries. Students performed skits of "Jamie O’Rourke and the Giant Potato" (an Irish folktale), "The Gifts of Wali Dad" (an Indian folktale), "The Jade Stone" (a Chinese folktale about the importance of creativity and expressing your voice), and "A Caterpillar’s Voice" (an East African folktale that suggests that you don’t have to be big in stature to have a lot of courage). Each group of performers then sang a traditional song from that culture. Following the production the children enjoyed an international feast, featuring the cuisine of the countries studied.

This week, children learned all about serving others. Students heard Those Shoes, Great Joy, Maddi’s Fridge, A Shelter in our Car, and The Teddy Bear in the library. Each class collected food for Manna. On Wednesday, students created breakfast kits for Cup of Joe. They assembled the kits, reinforcing the importance of helping those in need. Thanks to the volunteer parents who made the day successful.

As a culminating activity in their study of Colonial America, Second Graders lived Colonial History by participating in Colonial Trunk Day. The day, coordinated and staffed by Second Grade parents, included a wide range of hands-on-activities: candle making and wallpaper printing; writing with quill pens; grinding coffee and corn; making butter and tasting Johnnycakes; playing colonial games; and creating corn husk dolls.

We had a wonderful time showing off our school to Grandparents and Special Friends!

Discover Primary Day at our first Open House of the season on Wednesday, November 16, 2016 from 6:30-8:30 pm. Childcare and dinner will be provided while you explore our unique school. There are opportunities to talk with faculty, parents, and alums while learning more about our signature programs: Phonovisual, World Languages,  STEM, Technology, Balanced Literacy, Math, and Art & Music. If you are unable to attend this Open House, please join us for an Open House on Sunday, January 8, 2017 from 1:00-3:00 pm. Individual tours of the school are also available during the week.

It was a special first day of school this year with Scott Lawrence as our new Head of School. We look forward to a fantastic year!

We had a blast at Field Day this year! Children were treated to soccer, balloon-popping, pizza box relays, the 50-yard dash, basketball, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, sack races, sponge relays, the Good Humor Truck, a Planetarium and more. Thank you to Miss Bliss, Coach Ouska, and the faculty/staff for making this such a wonderful culminating year-end event!

We had a wonderful time with our graduating high school seniors this morning. Welcoming the class and their parents back to PDS was a treat, as was the added bonus that three of our own staff members were parents in this group. Congratulations to all of our graduates - you're off to wonderful places next year. We're glad we could be part of your year-end celebration!

The First Graders’ exploration of countries around the world came to a close with their International Program. The show featured folktales from different countries. Students performed skits of "Jamie O’Rourke and the Giant Potato" (an Irish folktale), "The Gifts of Wali Dad" (an Indian folktale), "The Jade Stone" (a Chinese folktale about the importance of creativity and expressing your voice), and "A Caterpillar’s Voice" (an East African folktale that suggests that you don’t have to be big in stature to have a lot of courage). Each group of performers then sang a traditional song from that culture. Following the production the children enjoyed an international feast, featuring the cuisine of the countries studied.

Laura Murray, author of The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School, Gingerbread Man Loose on the Fire Truck, and The Gingerbread Man Loose at Christmas shared one of her books, taught us a great deal about the writing process, and gave us a preview of her new book, The Gingerbread Man Loose at the Zoo, which is coming out in August.

“Friends of Beako Give Back” Community Service Day gave students an opportunity to learn about four different organizations and to contribute in a hands-on and meaningful way by making items that were donated to the organizations. The day began with an assembly where the children were given an overview of their day and of the organizations by guests and representatives from National Center for Children and Families (NCCF), ShareBaby, Manor Care - Bethesda, and NIH Children’s Inn.  The assembly concluded with the second graders presenting a play written by our librarian. The play was based on the book, Those Shoes, by Maribeth Boelts, a story of “want” vs “need.”  In Literature, second graders discussed Those Shoes, brainstormed ideas, and wrote three original songs: "Needs and Wants," "Kindness and Friendship," and "Giving." During the day, students decorated bookshelves and filled them with donated books for NCCF, collected and bagged clothing and items for ShareBaby, and decorated flower pots, filling them with either soil and a plant or candy and a handmade flower for Manor Care and NIH Children’s Inn.

As a culminating activity in their study of Colonial America, Second Graders lived Colonial History by participating in Colonial Trunk Day. The day, coordinated and staffed by Second Grade parents, included a wide range of hands-on-activities: candle making and wallpaper printing; writing with quill pens; grinding coffee and corn; making butter and tasting Johnnycakes; playing colonial games; and creating corn husk dolls.

Discover Primary Day at our first Open House of the season on Wednesday, November 18, 2015 from 6:30-8:30 pm. Dinner and childcare will be provided while you explore our unique school. There are opportunities to talk with faculty, parents, and alums while learning more about our signature programs: Phonovisual, World Languages,  STEM, Technology, Balanced Literacy, Math, and Art & Music. If you are unable to attend this Open House, please join us for an Open House on Sunday, January 10, 2016 from 1:00-3:00 pm. Individual tours of the school are also available during the week.

It was another wonderful first day of school at Primary Day on Tuesday! We look forward to a fantastic year!

Our Pre-K students dazzled us this morning with their songs and dancing. What a delight it was to have our youngest students perform onstage for friends and family. An added bonus was our graduating senior alums who turned out in droves to enjoy the show and relive their times here at PDS.

Kindergartners delighted their audience with "Viva Mexico!," a musical culmination of their unit on Mexico. The program included dances, presentations and songs in Spanish and English. A maravilloso tapas feast followed the program.

Primary Day’s first “Friends of Beako Give Back” Community Service Day was a terrific success. It gave students the opportunity to learn about five different organizations (National Center for Children and Families, Children’s Inn at NIH, Montgomery Country Humane Society, Carrie Simon House, and Interfaith Works) and to contribute in a hands-on and meaningful way by making items that were donated to the organizations. The day began with an assembly where the children were given an overview of their day and of the organizations. The assembly concluded with the second graders reading thoughtful and moving poems that conveyed their understanding and desire to work together to make a difference in the lives of others. Immediately following the assembly, teachers, staff members, and students walked around the school building to support the homeless. From the Homeless Walk, students progressed to decorating bookshelves and filling them with donated books, making juice box robots, creating doggie toys, and stuffing shower caddies and laundry baskets with household necessities. It was a fantastic day!

We were again treated to two special performances by Tammy Turner at our Peace and Freedom Beakos. Tammy is a local recording artist who has performed all over the world. She sang "What A Wonderful World" with the help of the students and accompanied the whole community on "If I Had a Hammer."

We had a wonderful time showing off our school to Grandparents and Special Friends on Friday!

Discover Primary Day at our first Open House of the season on Thursday, November 6, 2014 from 6:30-8:30 pm. Dinner and childcare will be provided while you explore our unique school. There are opportunities to talk with faculty, parents, and alums while learning more about our signature programs: Phonovisual, World Languages, EcoWonder & STEM, Technology, Balanced Literacy, Math, and Art & Music. If you are unable to attend this Open House, please join us for an Open House on Sunday, January 11, 2015 from 1:00-3:00 pm. Individual tours of the school are also available during the week.

We had a beautiful Saturday to enjoy fall at Primary Day with cake walks, tattoos, crafts, moonbounces, sand art, and making cards and bracelets for children staying at Children's Inn at NIH. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this special event!

Those pesky Gingerbread Men escaped again this year and our Pre-K students were on a mission to find them! The week-long search took them into classrooms and hallways, through the Beako Room, across the playground, and into offices. By the time they found the elusive Gingerbread Men, three things happened. One, this eager group of newcomers learned their environment inside and out, and they now feel confident and comfortable being here. Two, they got to know each other—strangers are now friends. And three, that powerful, engaging, and the wonderful experience we call a Primary Day education has begun.

We had a wonderful first day of school on Tuesday! We look forward to another fabulous year!

Our Pre-K students dazzled us this morning with their songs and dancing. What a delight to have our youngest students perform onstage for friends and family. An added bonus was our graduating senior alums who turned out in droves to enjoy the show and relive their times here at PDS.

Taiwanese artists visiting the DC area for Asian Heritage month came to Primary Day to demonstrate Dough Figurine Making and Sugar Painting. Dough Figurine Making is a 4,000-year-old Chinese folk art rarely practiced today. Our visiting artist made all kinds of fanciful characters, including our very own Beako. Sugar Painting involves using heated liquid sugar on a steel plate to make elaborate hardened designs. Children were delighted to take some of these masterpieces home with them. Thanks to our Chinese teacher, Grace Maa, for organizing this incredible experience!    

The Second Grade study of France culminated in a musical production, “La Tour de France”.  As four “tourists” traveled the French countryside they encountered “French citizens” who eagerly shared their culture.

The students led us through the Bordeaux region where we learned how grapes are grown, then visited a nearby café; traveled on the Train a Grande Vittesse to the Provence Region, visited the Cote d’Azur, basked in the beauty of the flowers in Grasse, and marveled at the Sur Le Pont d’Avignon, the bridge across the Rhone River.  Then it was off to Giverny, to see where Claude Monet painted his “Gardens and Water Lilies” Series.  The finale of the program was a visit to a French classroom where the Second Graders demonstrated their acquired French vocabulary during a delightfully energetic song.  Following the program, students enjoyed a buffet containing favorites of French cuisine and everyone delighted in viewing the Second Graders’ artwork in the halls, inspired by Monet and Matisse.

Primary Day children participated in our first Help the Homeless Walk and raised almost $2000 for Interfaith Works. Interfaith Works serves thousands of neighbors in need each year in the Montgomery County community.

Second Graders presented colonial songs, dances, and childhood singing games this morning for a delighted audience. It was the perfect send off for Spring Break!

Today each Primary Day class prepared small baggies of peanut-free snack mix for the homeless. The snack mix will be donated to Bethesda Cares, an organization that delivers food to homeless shelters throughout Montgomery County. Thanks to Sue Gordon and Kelly Derrick for organizing this important community service project.

First Graders had a great time exploring aviation at the College Park Aviation Museum. They learned about the Wright brothers' perseverance and the airport's many firsts in flight. They loved seeing the historic and replica aircraft on display, especially when they were allowed to climb in the cockpit and work some of the controls! Our classes enjoyed dressing up as aviators, playing with flight simulators, and experimenting with the power of wind.  We were lucky that the museum also had a special O-gauge train exhibit for the holiday season. Of course, they all came back to school with their own paper airplanes! The great trip was enjoyed by students and parent chaperones alike.

Even in the cold, 2nd Graders enjoyed learning more about Pilgrim History on their trip to Sharp's Farm. Guides in pilgrim dress focused on the daily life of a pilgrim family. Students learned about homes, games and chores, as well as about Native Americans and their relationships to the pilgrims.

Discover Primary Day at our first Open House of the season on Thursday, November 7, 2013 from 6:30-8:30 pm. Dinner and childcare will be provided while you explore our unique school. There are opportunities to talk with faculty, parents, and alums while learning more about our signature programs: Phonovisual, World Languages, EcoWonder & STEM, Technology, Math, and Art & Music. If you are unable to attend this Open House, please join us for an Open House on Wednesday, December 11, 2013 from 9:00-11:00 am or on Sunday, January 12, 2014 from 1:00-3:00 pm. Individual tours of the school are also available during the week.

It was a beautiful day to celebrate fall at Primary Day with cake walks, tattoos, crafts, moonbounces, hair chalk, and making cards and bracelets for children staying at Children's Inn at NIH. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this special event!

Our Pre-K students celebrated Pig (the first friend to move in on the Phonovisual Chart) this week. Pig's Parade was the perfect way to party with popsicles and popcorn! 

It was a beautiful day for a picnic on Sunday! Everyone had a wonderful time catching up with new and old friends and enjoying the playground.

We had a wonderful first day of school on Tuesday! Mrs. Geppert loved greeting everyone—it was a great way to start a new year at Primary Day!

Kindergartners had a wonderful time on their field trip to see Joe Romano and his Green Magic Show. At the show, the children learned how they can perform their own magic to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

On Wednesday, we welcomed Oxford University’s premier all-male a cappella group Out of the Blue! The group ran into the Beako room and took command of the stage with their singing and outrageous choreography. The concert was very interactive with the group even teaching the children motions and the refrain for “In the Jungle.” Out of the Blue is currently on tour performing at arts festivals around the world and conducting school workshops, all with the goal of instilling in kids a sense of courage and adventure when it comes to performing and engaging with music.

This year our Gala theme was the Disco Ball and over the past two weeks, PDS children and parents alike have been boogieing down in celebration of our annual gala. On Friday, February 22, the children celebrated with a disco, magician, face-painting, tattoos, disco themed photos, and dinner. As you can see by the pictures, there was much fun to be had.

Friday, March 1, parents, faculty and staff came out to Bethesda Country Club to support PDS at our annual Gala and Auction. It was a wonderful night, with many fun things to bid on, great food to eat, groovy music to boogie to, and fantastic friends to catch up with.

We had a wonderful visit with author/illustrator Jennifer O’Connell. She inspired all of our budding artists and writers!

Operation Welcome Home is an organization that greets 7,000-8,000 soldiers at the airport each month and gives them goody bags with treats and “Welcome Home” cards. These are just small tokens of appreciation for their heroic service which can help to fill some time for them while they wait for connecting flights home. A representative came in on Monday, October 22 to give a brief presentation about the organization and how the children can help. Following the presentation, the children returned to their classrooms to make their cards that will be given to the solders sometime in November. We will also be collecting candy after Halloween to accompany the cards. We are truly excited about this event and know the children will have fun being able to help a real soldier.

We ushered in a new day at Primary Day on Tuesday! Mrs. Geppert greeted each family and students eagerly headed to their new classrooms.If the first day was any indication, a wonderful year is in store!

The First Graders’ exploration of countries around the world came to a close last week with the production “It’s a Small World After All”.  The students in both First Grade classes performed the musical, written by First Grade teacher (and Primary Day alum), Ms. Claire Brown.

The musical follows students in a class who travel to Africa, Australia, Canada, China, Jamaica and Spain.  Through their travels they learn about various customs and traditions specific to each country and that children all over the world share more likenesses than differences.  Following the production the children enjoyed an international feast, prepared by parents, featuring the cuisine of the countries studied.

Primary Day students participated in activities this week in celebration of the 100th day of school.  As bundles of strawstransitioned from groups of 9-tens and 9-ones into a single straw in the hundreds place, related events and activities took shape within each classroom and throughout the school, among them: the Pre-Kindergarten classes made eye glasses out of the number 100 to wear during their celebration; each Kindergartener brought 100 pieces of their favorite snack to add to the class buffet, then selected a portion of the mixture to enjoy at snack; First Graders wrote their favorite 100 words and participated in the 100 Olympics; and Second Graders completed 100 multiplication problems and used 100 as the inspiration for creative writing exercises.

Our Primary Day students and faculty recently enjoyed a day with visiting author, Candice Ransom.  Ms. Ransom, the author of over 115 children’s books, explained to the Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten children how she used childhood memories of growing up on a farm as the inspiration for her picture books focused on transportation.  The First and Second Graders learned how Ms. Ransom’s interest in history fostered her creation of the Time Spies series.  The students asked insightful questions about the writing process, shared artwork they created based on two of Ms. Ransom’s books and related their own experiences as budding authors.