• Parent/Guardian Holiday Celebration: Join us this Thursday, Dec. 18, 5 p.m.-6:45 p.m., in Douglas Hall on the Pebble Beach campus for small bites, beverages and great company. The Lower and Middle Divisions performance of "Making Spirits Bright" will begin at 6 p.m., in Keck Auditorium for those attending and others are welcome to remain in Douglas Hall to continue the celebration. Please note: This is an adults-only event. Please register here for the Douglas Hall reception.
• "Making Spirits Bright" Performance: Join us for this music, dance and art program, featuring Carmel campus students, this Thursday, Dec. 18, 6 p.m., in Keck Auditorium on the Pebble Beach campus. After the "Making Spirits Bright" performance, we invite all families to stop by the Rosen Family Student Center from 7:30 p.m.-8:15 p.m., to enjoy a warm cup of hot chocolate and festive cookies, and to explore our students' beautiful art installation. We hope you'll join us in celebrating their creativity.
• Donate to Braxton's Toys: This program is named in memory of Braxton Stuntz '18, who attended Stevenson from kindergarten through Grade 12. Braxton was beloved by his peers, faculty and staff – always modeling compassion, empathy and care for others. He was quick-witted, endearing and full of care for others. In honor of his extraordinary life, Braxton's mother and father established the Braxton Stuntz Foundation. The faculty, staff, students and families of our Stevenson community have been contributing to this endeavor in earnest since its inception. Please help sustain Braxton's legacy by donating a toy; bins will be available outside the Carmel campus administrative office and inside Douglas Hall and Rosen Family Student Center at the Pebble Beach campus until this Friday, Dec. 19. Click here for more information about the program.
• Dusty Boots Tour: Join us this Saturday, Dec. 20 at 11 a.m., for an introduction to the math, science, and engineering building project. School President Dan Griffiths, Director of Advancement Amy Elmore and Director of Facilities and Capital Projects Chris Madill '86 will guide the tour from Douglas Hall to the active construction site. Please be sure to wear closed-toe shoes and long pants. Registration is recommended; click here to register.
• 2026-2027 Academic Calendars: The calendars for next school year have been finalized. To download the calendars, click here and select "Carmel Campus 26-27" or "Pebble Beach Campus 26-27" from the drop-down menu in the upper right side of the page.

Lower and Middle Divisions

• Annual Holiday Box Drive: This year, each Lower and Middle Division class will partner with one of 15 local families experiencing food insecurity or financial hardship. Students will help prepare holiday boxes filled with food staples, toiletries and household essentials. Donation lists can be found here. All donated items are due by tomorrow, Dec. 15; Middle Division – bring to Advisory; Lower Division – bring to classrooms. Questions? Contact Amy Spencer.
• Holiday Performance Rehearsal Schedule:
  • Pre-K and Kindergarten: This Tuesday, Dec. 16, at the Pebble Beach campus. Students will be bused from the Carmel campus. The bus departs at 9:15 a.m. and returns to the Carmel campus at 10:30 a.m.
  • Middle Division Musicians (Grades 5–6 and 7–8 Music Electives): This Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2:35 p.m.-5 p.m., Keck Auditorium. Students will be bused from the Carmel campus to the Pebble Beach campus. Parent pick up is at 5 p.m. at Douglas Hall on the Pebble Beach campus.
  • Middle Division Dance (Grades 5–8), Grade 8 Electives and ASP Dance Students (Grades 4–8): This Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2:35 p.m.-5 p.m., Keck Auditorium. Students will be bused from the Carmel campus to the Pebble Beach campus. Parent pick up is at 5:15 p.m. at Douglas Hall on the Pebble Beach campus.
  • Lower Division Music: This Thursday, Dec. 18, 8 a.m. for Grades 1-2 and 9:30 a.m. for Grades 3-4, Keck Auditorium. Please drop students off at the Carmel campus by 7:50 a.m., as they will be bused to the Pebble Beach campus at 8 a.m. Students will return to the Carmel campus for the remainder of the school day so pick up remains at the Carmel campus.
• Holiday Performance Information:
  • Pre-K and Kindergarten: This Wednesday, Dec. 17, 5 p.m.-6 p.m., Douglas Hall (Pebble Beach campus).
  • Grades 1-8: "Making Spirits Bright," this Thursday, Dec. 18, 6 p.m., Keck Auditorium (Pebble Beach campus).
• Student Arrival Instructions – "Making Spirits Bright": Students should arrive at the following locations on the Pebble Beach campus this Thursday, Dec. 18, at 5 p.m. Parents, please sign in your student performers.
  • Grades 1-3: Pebble Beach campus music room.
  • Grades 4-8 Males: Pebble Beach campus Little Theater.
  • Gradse 4-8 Females: Pebble Beach campus dance room.
• Late Start This Wednesday, Dec. 17: Lower Division at 8:45 a.m. and Middle Division 9 a.m.
• Spirit Week: We are hosting themed days before heading into winter break. As always, it is not mandatory for students to participate in spirit week activities. Students who choose not to participate are required to come to school dressed in uniform.
  • Wednesday, Dec. 17 – Candy Cane Express: Dress in red and white as we begin to deck the halls and celebrate the start of the holiday season.
  • Thursday, Dec. 18 – Holiday Sweater Day: Wear any comfortable sweater you already own (not limited to "ugly sweaters"). The goal is simply to stay warm, cozy and festive.
  • Friday, Dec. 19 – Pajama Day: Enjoy a relaxed final day before break. While getting out of bed may be tough, students can remain comfortable and cozy by spending the day in their pajamas.
• Winter Break: The last day of classes is this Friday, Dec. 19. Classes will resume after the break on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026 (Middle Division Day 1).

Lower Division

• Performance Dress Code for Holiday Events (Pre-K-4): Our dress expectation is nice, festive attire, without being too informal. Sweaters, dresses, holiday colors, fun accessories and dress shoes are welcome!
• Holiday Book Exchange: Students are invited to participate in a holiday book exchange this Friday, Dec. 19, and at the end of the day will enjoy a nice cup of hot chocolate. Students should bring one new, wrapped book labeled with their grade by this Wednesday, Dec. 17.

Middle Division

• No After School Program This Week: Middle Division workshops are cancelled this week due to Keck Week. The only exception is Dance Company, and the practice schedule is posted on Google Classroom. Free play is available for any students who need it. Lower Division workshops will continue as usual. 
• "Making Spirits Bright" Performance: Parents, please come and support our young artists and their teachers. In this Dec. 18 performance, as detailed in the All School section above, Grades 5 and 6 students are featured prominently in music and dance – although this is a celebration of art for everyone in Middle Division!
• Student Dress Code for Performances: Please follow these guidelines: all-black shirt, pants, socks and shoes. Dance performers will be provided costumes.
• Grade 8 English Students – Sophie's World Celebration Luncheon: Together with Grade 8 families, we are hosting a  luncheon this Friday, Dec. 19, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Carmel House, to honor the themes of curiosity, questioning and seeing the world with fresh eyes. The food table will be playfully themed to match the philosophers and ideas the students explored. This is a simple lunch – nothing fancy – but the labels and symbolism make it special and help students feel connected to what they've learned.

• Fall Final Assessments: Assessments take place this week, Dec. 15-19. Teachers are available Monday morning between 9 a.m.- 11 a.m. for student support; please encourage your students to take advantage of this opportunity to connect with their teachers in preparation for final assessments. All class meetings during this week are mandatory and cannot be rescheduled or excused due to travel plans. Fall semester reports will be available to families on Jan. 16, 2026, shortly after we return from break.
• Dec. Community Close: This Friday, Dec. 19, we will wrap up the semester together as a school after final assessments. H period final assessments will conclude at 11 a.m., and students will be engaged in community activities until 2 p.m., at which point students are permitted to depart for winter break.
• Residential Life:
  • Winter Break Logistics: Residential students may leave campus for break after their academic and co-curricular obligations this Friday, Dec. 19, and must be out of the dorm by noon this Saturday, Dec. 20. Boarders will be able to return on Sunday, Jan. 4 after 12 p.m. and need to be back before 7:30 p.m. Classes resume Monday, Jan. 5. Please note that Stevenson does not reserve shuttles for the return from break. If you wish to reserve a shuttle, you can do so using Groome Transportation.
  • Closed Weekend – Jan. 9-11: The weekend following break, Jan. 9-11, is a closed weekend. All residential students are required to prioritize being present on campus to spend time together after returning from break. While students have regular off-campus privileges, they will not be able to make overnight passes this weekend. 
• Rising Grade 10 and 11 Students: You may apply to be considered for a leave of absence to attend an approved semester or year-long program. Such requests for the 2026-2027 school year must be submitted to Aimée Bates, head of the upper division, by Jan. 15, 2026. You can learn more about our semester program and year-away policies in The Navigator on page 70 in the "Spring Semesters or Academic Years Away" section.
• Pirate Parent Club: Please mark your calendar for our next meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m., in the Treasure Room. More details will be on your Pirate Page soon. After our meeting, please join the entire school community for a special Martin Luther King Jr. Day assembly.