Celebrating 60 Years of CES with a Fall Festival Celebration

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At the end of September, Christ Episcopal School kicked off its 60th school year with the annual Fall Festival. This event brings together current families, alumni, teachers, board members, church members, and other friends of CES for a fun-filled day right here on our cozy Rockville campus. Over 200 guests enjoyed food trucks, a bounce house, games, crafts, and more!

Students enjoyed seeing Comet the Cardinal and getting fun artwork done by the professional facepainter!

New This Year

This was the first community event for new Director of Development and Alumni Relations, Savannah John. She did a wonderful job putting it all together, and even brought some new ideas to the event. One new initiative was “Cider and Conversation” with the Board. Members of the Board of Trustees provided apple cider and fall-inspired donuts for the event and offered a chance for the community to speak with them. Board Chair Tiffany Violante (CES ’93) and fellow Bord Member Brandy Bruyere even took to walking around the event handing out donuts to guests!

The day also included a Story Station in honor or the school’s 60th anniversary. Guests were encouraged to record their CES story in front of a charming 60th backdrop of mums and a light-up marquee. Faculty and staff, current and former parents, alumni, and even grandparents participated. It was a great chance to hear exactly why CES is such a special place.

Head of School Nicole Stone and Parish Rector Father Tim in front of the CES Story Station

Congrats to Our Winners!

No CES Fall Festival is complete without some fun games and raffles! Congratulations to our winners:

  • 50/50 Raffle: Joe Moralez, current parent
  • Butler’s Orchard Experience: Lisa Chow, current parent
  • Guess the Pumpkin Weight: Reed B., grade 5
  • Ring Pop Guessing Jar: Sienna V., grade 6
  • Pumpkin Candy Guessing Jar: Liam B., Preschool 2s

Helping Hands

Thank you to all our vendors and volunteers who donated items and dedicated time to the event. Everything from purchasing a new Lucky Ducky Pond for the preschool activities area to staffing the bounce house, this event would not have been possible without the many helping hands pitching in.

Creating Community

Overall the day was a huge success and a great way to officially kick off our 60th school year celebration. In an email message to the community, Savannah writes, “Throughout the day, I saw so much of what we hope to nurture in our students reflected right back to us by this community: caring, responsibility, resilience, curiosity, and a genuine sense of belonging….The Fall Festival was a beautiful reminder that community is not simply something we talk about at CES. It is something we create together.”

A group of current CES middle schoolers having fun at the Fall Festival and posing with Comet (played by one of their classmates)

CES graduates leave with a deep sense of their responsibilities as members of the world community.”

Weeza Bullard, CES grandparent