Orchard School

Events

Everything happening at Orchard: open houses, performances, fundraisers, school days off and more.

Current families: add every event to your own calendar from the Parents page.

November 2026

8 events this month.

  1. Sun 1

  2. Mon 2

  3. Tue 3

  4. Wed 4

  5. Thu 5

  6. Fri 6

    All day First Elective Session Ends

  7. Sat 7

    4:30 PM Parents’ Night Out

  8. Sun 8

  9. Mon 9

  10. Tue 10

    9:30 AM Make-Up Picture Day

  11. Wed 11No school

    All day Veterans' Day

  12. Thu 12

  13. Fri 13

    All day Second Elective Session Begins

  14. Sat 14

  15. Sun 15

  16. Mon 16

  17. Tue 17

    9 AM Kindergarten and 1st Grade Field Trip to Seymour Marine Discovery Lab

  18. Wed 18

    9 AM 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Grade Field Trip to Seymour Marine Discovery Center

  19. Thu 19

  20. Fri 20

  21. Sat 21

  22. Sun 22

  23. Mon 23

  24. Tue 24

  25. Wed 25No school

    All day Thanksgiving Break

  26. Thu 26No school

    All day Thanksgiving Break

  27. Fri 27No school

    All day Thanksgiving Break

  28. Sat 28

  29. Sun 29

  30. Mon 30

Coming Up

November 2026

  1. Make-Up Picture Day

    An opportunity for those who missed Picture Day to take individual photos for the yearbook. Class photos are also taken this day if there were absences on picture day. Photo packages can be purchased.

  2. Veterans' DayNo school

  3. Second Elective Session Begins

  4. Kindergarten and 1st Grade Field Trip to Seymour Marine Discovery Lab

    Students will do a discovery lab to investigate how marine animals use fascinating body structures in a variety of ways to survive in the ocean. We will interact with live animals and realia to observe and identify different structures and construct explanations of how each functions.

  5. 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Grade Field Trip to Seymour Marine Discovery Center

    Students will do a discovery lab, traveling back millions of years in time by exploring real, local fossils. We will uncover ancient environments that were home to fascinating creatures, big and small, and compare them to animals living in our oceans today.

  6. Thanksgiving BreakNo school

December 2026

  1. Santa Cruz Holiday Parade

    Downtown Santa Cruz along Pacific Ave

    Orchard has been a long time participant (and high-light) of the annual Santa Cruz Holiday Parade. All students, parents, and alumni are invited and welcome to participate.

  2. Tech Week for Charlotte's Web

    Orchard School Gym

    All School Rehearsal 10am-12pm

  3. Tech Week for Charlotte's Web

    Orchard School Gym

    All School Rehearsal 10am-12pm

  4. Tech Week for Charlotte's Web

    Orchard School Gym

    All School Rehearsal 10am-12pm

  5. Tech Week for Charlotte's Web

    Orchard School Gym

    Dress Rehearsal 1-3pm- Limited seats for parents. Email Rosy, Manila, and Valerie if you want to watch the dress rehearsal performance.

  6. Tech Week for Charlotte's Web

    Orchard School Gym

    Friday morning student rehearsals as needed.

  7. Winter Play: Charlotte's Web and Holiday Craft Fair

    Orchard School Gym

    The Winter Play will be an all-school performance of Charlotte’s Web. Students need to arrive at 5pm. Performance is 6-7:30pm with a 15 minute intermission. Following the play we will have a finger food potluck and Holiday Craft Fair in the yurt from 7:30-8:30.

  8. Kindergarten/First Grade Field Trip to Natural History Museum

  9. Winter BreakNo school

January 2027

  1. Teacher WorkdayNo school

  2. Kindergarten Field Trip to Aptos Library

    Aptos Library

    The Kindergarteners will enjoy story time and a tour of the Aptos library. They will also have a chance to receive their own library cards.

  3. Martin Luther King Jr. DayNo school

  4. Afternoon Parent Meeting

    Childcare provided free of charge in our school’s aftercare program.

  5. Second Elective Session Ends

  6. Mid-Year Evaluations

February 2027

  1. Third Elective Session Begins

  2. Financial Aid Deadline for Returning Students

    The financial aid deadline for returning students for the 2027-2028 school year is February 12th. We give priority to continuing students but will offer remaining monies to new families shortly after this date. Please be sure to turn in all tax information and all of the necessary paperwork, facts and figures, so there are no delays. The application costs $45 and can be found on the website under the Admissions tab. Look for the button named FAST. For help, please contact FAST’s support email address: familysupport@ismfast.com

  3. President's DayNo school

  4. 3rd/4th Field Trip to Santa Cruz Symphony

    Students will watch the Orchestra Sings Youth Concert at the Mello Center in Watsonville.

March 2027

  1. Re-Registration Deadline

    Please pay your re-enrollment fee by this date to hold your child’s place to attend in the fall.

April 2027

  1. Third Elective Session Ends

  2. Spring BreakNo school

  3. Fourth Elective Session Begins

  4. Afternoon Parent Meeting

    Childcare provided free of charge in our school’s aftercare program.

May 2027

  1. Teacher WorkdayNo school

  2. Memorial DayNo school

June 2027

  1. Fifth/Sixth Grade Graduation

    This is an all school event. Students will participate in a short performance followed by a celebration of our graduates. We’ll end with a zero-waste, finger-food potluck.

  2. End of Last Elective Session

  3. Kindergarten Graduation

    Meet on the kinder deck at 12:30! Kindergarten family and friends only. Ceremony followed by potluck. You may take your children home early or hang around with them until 3pm.

  4. Family Beach Day

    Let’s end the year how we began: a family beach day at Platform’s Beach. Everyone welcome. Bring a picnic, sand toys, and beach games. Drop off your child or stay and frolic with us.

  5. Last Day Of School -- 1/2 Day --

    And that’s a wrap! Half day and no hot lunch! Have a great summer Orchard families!

  6. Family Campout

    Our last Friday is a minimum day — School ends at noon. Families may set up tents then and return to the campout no earlier than 7pm.