Dorms Gather for Cheerful Holiday Celebrations

As many families do during the holiday season, our dormitories, which we like to think of as large, extended families, gathered to share meals and conversation, participate in light-hearted gift exchanges, and take a short break from the stresses of school. 

 

Up in the hill dorms, the dorm parents cooked full meals for all of the students, featuring pasta, mac and cheese, brisket, chicken, chili and other foods our dorm parents share with their own families during holidays. After transforming the common rooms to look more like festive living rooms — including a fake fire in the Strong dorm fireplace — students and dorm parents gathered around the tables to enjoy the meals and the warmth of their dorm families. As alumnae/i often note when they return at this time of year, these home-cooked holiday meals and the conversations they shared with their dorm mates remain important memories connecting them to Masters even after they leave.

Embracing the theme of winter wonderland, Thompson dorm was decorated with snowflakes, twinkling lights and projections. Dorm parents served a delicious feast of sparkling holiday punch, chicken, pasta, chopped salad, crispy brussel sprouts, caprese bruschetta, eclair cake and brownies. The dorm parents and proctors began the meal with some opening remarks, and students took time to express gratitude and share hugs with their neighbors. The students ended this celebratory evening with their traditional gift exchange game led by the proctors. Each student selected a small, inexpensive item, wrapped it, and picked a number from a basket. Students could pick a gift from the table or “steal” an item already opened. The popular gift items of the evening were two $10 gift certificates to Thompson Corners, our dorm store which is run by the proctors.

Ford dorm kicked off the week by hosting the December head’s dinner, where the theme was community. Wednesday was the annual Ford holiday celebration with “wings and things,” candy, a special cheesecake delivered from one of our parents, and our favorite tradition: the white elephant gift exchange.  

Cole dorm was happy to have their annual holiday party mid-week to celebrate being together and looking forward to the winter break. We exchanged what we call “secret snowflakes” with each other, where each student got a gift and then had to guess who it came from. Our party included “pigs in a blanket,” more chicken nuggets than could be eaten and holiday song karaoke.

In McCormack dorm, we kicked off the holiday week with secret snowflake gifts being distributed throughout the beginning of the week to each student secretly. We came together mid-week to celebrate the holidays with lots of food and gifts. The students ate and socialized before we began what was a night of laughs: the big reveal of secret snowflakes and white elephant gift exchange.