The last few weeks of the semester can be a very stressful time for everyone, and the Holiday Treat is a wonderful way for the school to come together and support our student artists, while also ringing in the holiday season. Students across grades and art classes have been working hard for months, preparing to showcase their art at this year’s Holiday Treat, which takes place on December 11th. Mr. Jeffrey Adams, Fine Arts Co-Department Head, says that the Holiday Treat is something he always looks forward to because “it’s a nice little introduction to Christmas [and a] beautiful community building event.” The Holiday Treat consists of two parts. The first part is a display of visual arts in the Campbell building. The second part is the performing arts showcase in the Performing Arts Center. 

The visual art reception in the Campbell Building displays student art across grades and media, showcasing ceramics, photography, studio art, digital art, stained glass, as well as a 70-minute film screening. During the visual art reception, live piano accompaniment, laughter, and snacks create a lovely atmosphere of community and holiday cheer. Mr. Moshe Quinn, Fine Arts Co-Department Head, says that he loves the visual arts displays and calls them “art parties,” saying that “it really is kind of like a party where you’re coming together.” The Holiday Treat is the perfect place to hang out with friends and enjoy your peers’ artwork. Marcus To ‘26 has been taking filmmaking since his sophomore year, so this is his third Holiday Treat. To says that it is so exciting to “see how they react, [because] the energy is really supportive.”

The performing arts section of the night will take place in the PAC, featuring performances from instrumental music classes, dance, and choir. Mr. Matthew “Monte” Montenegro, Dance Teacher and Pulse Director, says that “the talent in our performing arts programs is just insane this year, and it would be such a shame to miss out on any kind of opportunity to watch us perform.” One very special thing about the Holiday Treat is the opportunity for collaboration between performing arts classes. Ms. Rhonda Smith, Choir Director, says that the collaboration between the a cappella group and rhythm section music class is one to specifically look out for. 

Another group with considerable talent to look out for is the SHP dance program. Monte says that as they are preparing for the holiday treat and picking music, his dance classes are looking to “create stories” with their pieces. Some dance classes will also be collaborating with other music or choir classes, which is a very exciting opportunity because the Holiday Treat is one of the only times that all performing arts students can perform together. In the spring showcases, for example, the dance and music performances happen on different nights. 

There is a great deal of work that goes into the Holiday Treat by students and teachers alike, and many art classes have been preparing for weeks or months already. Maira Srivastava ‘28 says that she has been prepping by “rehearsing [her] songs in class” and constantly listening to them so she can become comfortable. Srivastava will be performing with both the Jazz Band and the Rhythm Section music class and says she is really excited for her friends and family to come watch and support her, as well as the opportunity to perform alongside some of her best friends. 

One of the best parts about the Holiday Treat is all of the learning and artistic process that is displayed throughout grades and art classes. Quinn says that he encourages everyone who attends the Holiday Treat to “pay close attention to what they can see in terms of progression and development,” and ask, “What is the quality of the journey that they can detect?”