Spirit Week 2023

February 15, 2023 | Melissa McCallihan

Pajama Day and Twin Day are two of the Spirit Week dress up days this year. Eighth grade students brainstormed dress up ideas and voted on the top three. Eighth graders have been deciding the “spirit” of Spirit Week for many years.

Back in the day when Mustard Seed students used to take Terra Nova tests as our standardized tests, there was a downer mood regarding the whole process. Who doesn’t remember misaligning the bubbles and having to fix the entire answer key? Ugh! So the eighth graders and fourth graders gathered together to bring some joy to the week of testing. And a tradition was born.

During the pandemic, spirit week became a whole school activity with students dressing in colors and MSS gear and sharing photos with their entire family dressed for the day. Spirit week was in the spring then. This year we returned it to February after so many gray days in January, we needed a spirit lift. Aside from Pajama Day and Twin Day, today was Outfit of the Day–fancy, and the last day, Thursday, will be the colors of Mardi Gras which is purple, green, and gold. We’ve got the spirit!

Melissa McCallihan

Teacher, Grade 6; Science Grades 6-8

Teaching children to take risks and fail well is important to Melissa McCallihan, who has taught for over 30 years. She believes children learn as much through their failures as they do through their successes. She celebrates both in her classroom. In collaboration with the middle school director, art teacher, and other fourth and fifth grade teachers, Mrs. McCallihan has been instrumental in developing the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) program, an extension of the Lower School’s Shared Space model. “STEAM is where students solve problems and sometimes get it wrong,” says Mrs. McCallihan when asked about risks and failing well. “Students need to learn how to do that with grace, and to try again with grit and determination.” Mrs. McCallihan currently teaches sixth through eighth grade science.

Mrs. McCallihan cares deeply about relationships with her colleagues, students, and families. She works hard to make and maintain connections on a personal and professional level. And follows the mantra “Worship God, Love All.”

When not at school, you can find Mrs. McCallihan searching out a fantastic restaurant or hidden sight to see in New York City.

Spirit Week 2023

Melissa McCallihan

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