On the last day before Thanksgiving Break, the entire Princeton Day School community—from Pre-K through Grade 12—came together in the Upper Gym for one of the few dress-up days of the year: the annual Thanksgiving Assembly. The event, a longstanding PDS tradition, offers a rare moment in which every division gathers under one roof to celebrate gratitude, connection, and the spirit of the season.
The assembly opened with performances from Lower School students, whose songs set a warm and joyful tone for the afternoon. Their voices filled the gym with excitement, sparking smiles across the crowd of older students and faculty. The Middle and Upper School choirs followed with beautifully prepared pieces, and the Madrigals, PDS’s acapella group, also added a rich layer to the musical program.
As part of the ceremony, Head of School Dr. Kelley Nicholson-Flynn offered reflections on gratitude, reminding faculty and students PDS’ core values as a community. That was followed by this year’s faculty speaker, 5th-grade math teacher Ms. Becky Malin, who spoke about having children across all three divisions and her deep appreciation for the PDS community.
One of the most beloved elements of the assembly is the tradition in which a representative from every grade steps onstage to briefly share what they are thankful for. Sophomore Scarlett Krzeminska reflected on how meaningful this moment was for her, saying, “The moment that stood out to me the most was each grade’s advocate recollecting their favorite Thanksgiving traditions. I thought this was so sweet and showed that no matter what age you are at PDS, you still value the same things all throughout.” She added that the assembly “made me excited to show my gratitude to my family and people in my community. It was a good way to close off our last day before break.”
For Krzeminska, the event also highlighted the deep sense of mutual respect among the divisions. “This assembly showed that the PDS community is supportive and appreciative of each other, being willing to listen to everyone’s thoughts from ages 3-18.” Looking ahead, she shared one hope for future assemblies: “I would love to see some more teachers talk about their favorite Thanksgiving traditions too—it would really showcase that teachers are people with lives, just like us.”
Senior Sophia Barber echoed many of these sentiments. “My favorite moment from the assembly was probably when a student from each grade voices what they are grateful for,” she said. “It is really cute to see the Lower School’s responses while also hearing from other divisions. For her, the assembly captured something essential about the PDS community: “I think it showed how united our community is. Simply getting everyone in one spot is impressive, but being there for a common purpose—thankfulness and gratitude—is another.”
As the assembly concluded and students dispersed for Thanksgiving break, the atmosphere remained one of warmth and reflection. For many, the event serves as a reminder that gratitude is most meaningful when shared, and that the PDS community, across all ages and experiences, remains deeply connected by the values celebrated each year on this day.
