The Ghost of GDS’s Christmas Past

Georgetown Day School has a long and joyful history of celebrating Christmas in ways that reflect its inclusive mission. For decades, Christmas Peace Assemblies have taken place across divisions each December, focusing on shared values such as peace, joy, and respect for a diversity of beliefs. Christmas has long been honored alongside other major holidays, including Passover, with an emphasis on community and connection. The first head of school, Aggie O’Neil, explained that celebrating each other’s holidays helped students understand one another’s days of joy.

As one of GDS’s earliest traditions, the celebration of Christmas began in the winter of 1945, only a few months after the school opened its doors at Grasslands. The first art director, Dante Radice, became known for his elaborate and imaginative decorations for the Christmas or Yule parties, guiding students, parents, and faculty as they worked together to transform school spaces into something festive and unforgettable, often drawing media attention.

Today, GDS continues to mark the end of the year with Christmas assemblies held around mid-December. These gatherings bring musical performances, readings, dance, and a celebration of the season, all centered on the enduring spirit of joy, peace, and community that has defined this tradition from the very beginning.

View archival images and articles of past Christmas celebrations at GDS »