Dear Academy Families,
It was truly wonderful to see so many of you at conferences last week. Thank you for the thoughtful conversations, reflections, and your continued partnership. We are deeply grateful to be on this journey with you.
As we head into our final week of school for 2025, we want to share a few important updates and community notes:
Festival of Lights – Friday, December 19
No aftercare on this day.
Please plan to pick up your child at 3:40 p.m. The classroom and aftercare program will be closed after 3:50 p.m. to allow time for staff and students to prepare for the Festival of Lights. The Academy classroom doors will reopen at 5:45 p.m. so that the whole class can arrive to the performance together with their teachers.
Community Hangout / Play Date – Friday, December 19
Friday, December 19 | 3:40–5:45 p.m.
Sophie-Ann’s parents, Jinee and Jason, have generously offered to host a casual after-school hangout and play date for Academy students and their caregivers during the break between dismissal and the Festival of Lights.
Location: 7100 Exfair Rd (a few blocks behind Bethesda Row)
This will be a relaxed, community-building gathering, and we are very grateful to Jinee and Jason for opening their home.
Festival of Lights Schedule
- 5:45 p.m. – Students return to the Academy classroom
- 6:00–7:00 p.m. – Student performance in the Sanctuary
- Holiday Bazaar: This is a great time to shop for any last minute holiday gifts with your child or own your own and support our student crafting from SGA, and our High School micro-economy entrepreneurship projects. The middle school will also be selling delicious treats to fundraise for their class trip.
- 5:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. (before the performance)
- 7:00–7:30 p.m. (after the performance)
Families are welcome to arrive early or stay afterward to enjoy the festivities.
Please reach out if you have any questions.
Best,
Emiko and Andrea
The Peace Academy






