Home - Private Schools in Hudson Valley NY | Tuxedo Park School
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Archived: 2026-04-23 16:39
Home - Private Schools in Hudson Valley NY | Tuxedo Park School
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Developing Character
Encouraging Curiosity
Fostering Confidence
Be Fair
Food Drive
Students collect food donations in support of the Community Food Pantry, just in time for the holiday season.
Each fall, the Tuxedo Park School Student Council leads a food drive in support of the Community Food Pantry, which provides much-needed food staples to families in the Sloatsburg, Tuxedo, Hillburn, and Suffern communities. Working in conjunction with their Buddy Class, each grade focuses on collecting specific food items to donate in advance of the holiday season. At the conclusion of the food drive, students gather in the gym for an assembly by a representative from the food pantry. Freshly inspired by the hard work of the food pantry volunteers, the students work together to load the collected donations into waiting cars, who then transport the donated items to the food pantry for distribution just in time for holiday celebrations with family.
Tuxedo Park School is privileged to have such a generous community that recognizes the importance of supporting the broader community, and continually makes an effort to contribute to community service projects.
Be Responsible
Kindergarten Post Office
The Kindergarten class delivers mail to TPS teachers and students.
Learning responsibility starts from a young age at Tuxedo Park School, with projects like the Kindergarten Post Office creating a strong foundation. This event is the culminating project of a unit spent learning about some of the most important people in a community: police officers, firefighters, and mail carriers. Kindergarteners experience firsthand the amount of effort and responsibility each of these crucial roles requires through visits to the local fire station and post office.
Equipped with a newfound appreciation for these community helpers, the Kindergarten class launches the Kindergarten Post Office, which has become a highlight of the TPS school year. For one week, the Kindergarten class takes turns selling their hand-drawn stamps to TPS students, teachers, and staff, collecting letters from the designated KPO drop box, and delivering letters to classrooms and offices in all parts of the school. Funds collected from stamp sales are then donated to a non-profit of the class’ choosing. Through this hands-on learning, Kindergarteners gain a better understanding of the work that goes into the systems that keep communities running, and are also able to see how that responsibility can be used to spread joy.
Be Kind
Buddy Classes
Older students meet with their younger Buddies once a month, creating lasting friendships.
For nearly 30 years, the Tuxedo Park School Buddy Class program has fostered beneficial connections between younger students and their older peers. These monthly meet-ups encourage our middle and upper school students to model kindness and patience during group or paired activities with their younger buddies, which in turn promotes those same traits in our primary school students.
As these students grow up, they carry with them those lessons and pass them along to their buddies, fostering a kind, community-oriented school environment where students across divisions greet each other in the hallways and support each other’s endeavors.
Be Inquisitive
Science Expo
Middle and Upper School students showcase their scientific knowledge during the annual Science Expo.
Students in 4th grade and up showcase their scientific knowledge during the annual Science Expo. From robotics and animal hybrid creations, to explorations of biodiversity and individualized experiments, the breadth of scientific achievement captures the curiosity, creativity, and scholarship of TPS students.
The evening always concludes with a crowd favorite: the 6th grade egg drop. Using mathematical and scientific calculations, as well as a certain amount of ingenuity, teams of 6th-graders construct contraptions with the intention of protecting an egg from a drop over the stairwell banister. With teachers, parents, and peers crowded into the main stairwell, the protective designs are put to the test, earning cheers with every successful drop until a single design proves to be the most effective.
Be Innovative
Animal Fusion Project
5th-grade students participate in a STEM Design Challenge to invent their own species
In Mrs. Masefield’s 5th Grade science class each year, students engage in a STEM Design Project called “Animal Fusion,” which involves designing a new animal using specific structural adaptations from two existing animals. Each adaptation they choose needs to meet one of the specific basic functions that animals perform to survive. This project requires students to be extremely creative, inquisitive, and flexible in order to create a new animal from scratch, including the story behind the animal’s life cycle, how and what this animal eats, feeds its young, and which distinct traits they get from the two animals. Students build their animals using hanger wire, cardboard, and plastic containers for structural support. Then they add paper mache and cloth to shape the body and paint to finish it off. They present these projects to their classes, and administrators often attend to see the students speak about the projects that they worked so hard on. Students answer questions with enthusiasm and ease, eager to tell their classmates all about the animal that they have researched, designed, and ultimately invented.
Be Creative
Music Matters
Year after year, TPS students are accepted into the All-County Band, Orchestras, and Choruses.
The music program at TPS produces highly talented instrumental performers, not just by our standards as we enjoy their school performances, but also as formally recognized individuals performing at the All-County Band and Orchestra and the NYSSMA Festival each year.
For many years, TPS has had strong representation amongst those accepted into the All-County Band, Orchestra, and Chorus in both the Elementary (4th-6th grade) and Junior High (7th-9th grade) divisions. This year was no exception, with 12 students receiving 13 placements.
At Tuxedo Park School, it’s common for students to begin instrumental lessons as early as Kindergarten, working with one of our many private music lesson instructors who collectively specialize in a variety of instruments, including piano, voice, violin, clarinet, trumpet, guitar, and drums. With music three times a week through Middle School and anywhere from two to six times per week in Upper School, it is no surprise our students are recognized locally and statewide for their superior musical abilities.
Be Prepared
World Language Assembly
Public speaking takes courage, and students meet the challenge with confidence.
Tuxedo Park School has long valued strong public speaking and communication skills. Our multi-year commitment to these critical life skills significantly builds self-confidence, self-advocacy, and self-awareness in our students. At TPS, students learn how to compose well-constructed and thoughtful essays early and deliver remarks with confidence and poise. Small-scale opportunities present themselves as young as Pre-K, and each year there are many moments to gain confidence while speaking in front of an audience. It takes deliberate instruction and a great deal of practice, which leads to students thriving in front of an audience.
One of our favorite public speaking events occurs at the beginning of each year when the World Language Department hosts a Welcome Assembly. Current sixth graders introduce our new students to the community while speaking in their world language of study. Sixth-grade students are paired with a new student who they interview about their age, town of residence, and favorite activities. They then introduce the new students and share the interview answers in both English and the target language at a whole-school assembly. The applause roars as new students beam with excitement, and sixth-grade presenters feel pride and a sense of leadership. Public speaking takes courage, and students meet the challenge with confidence.
Be Bold
Performing Arts
Students flourish under the lights, embracing the discomfort of being on the big stage.
Tuxedo Park School students engage in many forms of creative expression. Our diverse electives allow students various opportunities to develop new skills or hone existing talents. Students are encouraged to pursue an artistic passion or discover a new one. TPS is the place for students interested in performing arts who have yet to muster up the courage to try out for a drama experience.
The Spring Musical is the most significant drama performance that students and families eagerly anticipate. There are often familiar faces on stage, as students have found their love for drama, but new actors join each year, pushing themselves to be brave. What doesn't falter is the support and camaraderie between co-actors, prompting students to flourish, be bold, and embrace the discomfort of being on the big stage.
If being in the spotlight is not a student's role, there are other ways to be involved. An incredible student music pit ensemble and a student/faculty-run stage crew overseeing lights, sound, and costumes support the cast during production. All these experiences develop students' confidence and public speaking abilities.
When Tuxedo Park School faculty are asked where their favorite place on campus is, many of them will quickly reply, "
The stage
!"
This
is where the magic happens.
This
is where students step outside their comfort zone to be brave.
This
is where students surpass their family's and teachers' expectations. Our stage and these experiences stick with students long after they leave TPS, as many go on to pursue performing arts in secondary school. Being brave and stumbling builds resilience. Being brave and succeeding breeds confidence. We embed these opportunities into our curriculum, so students leave us with the character traits necessary to take on the world.
Be Courageous
TPS Ski Program
Students build confidence on the slopes, pushing the boundaries of their comfort zone.
One of our favorite long-standing traditions is our ski program, where third through ninth-grade students ski at Mt. Peter in Warwick, NY, on four Thursday afternoons during January and February. Ski buddies are an important part of TPS’ program at Mt. Peter, allowing older students to “take the lead” with younger students on the slopes. Tuxedo Park School students build confidence through trial and error, pushing boundaries and taking risks in environments outside the classroom.
Many of our students have never skied before attending TPS. On their first day at Mt. Peter, they can be both excited about trying something completely new but anxious because it's unknown, and they aren't sure what to expect. Week by week, their skiing improves with more accurate turns and fewer tumbles in the snow. As their confidence grows, so does their skiing ability, advancing from the Beginners/Bunny Slope to Green/Blue trails and finally conquering one of the Black Diamonds.
In addition, Upper School students spend three days at Gore Mountain in the Adirondacks to fine-tune their skills and build more confidence by tackling more challenging slopes while building up friendships with their classmates.
Early Education
| Every child
Embraced
Tuxedo Park School’s Early Education program provides two- and three-year-olds with a warm, nurturing environment where they feel safe, supported, and inspired to grow.
Pre-K
| Every child
Happy
Pre-K at Tuxedo Park School utilizes a developmental approach that meets children where they are, presenting opportunities to engage in new experiences and appropriate challenges.
Primary School
| Every child
Curious
Primary School students are challenged and supported to develop lasting habits of mind that approach the world with curiosity, compassion, and resilience.
Middle School
| Every child
Inspired
Our Middle School Program is designed to allow students to gain independence gradually in a supportive and nurturing environment.
Upper School
| Every child
Confident
In the Upper School’s rigorous preparatory program, students are guided to unearth meaning and approach challenges with confidence.
Freshman Year
| Every child
Ready
Being leaders as Freshmen results in confident, well-spoken, driven teenagers. Their Honors level courses demand more, and they step up to the plate knowing they are learning in a nurturing environment.
"When I came to TPS in 2020, I had to get used to the small classes. It was difficult at first, but I then discovered how much I would really benefit from this. Not only did it give me more one-on-one time with my teachers, but it allowed me to grow personal connections with them. Mrs. McManus is the perfect example. She is kind, caring, and understanding and she sees me for who I am as a person rather than just a student. She has a way of engaging her students in class and really challenging them. However, she will always be there to guide you. TPS has changed the lives of many students including myself, and the teachers here like Mrs. McManus are what makes that possible."
"Ms. Richards is a great teacher for so many reasons. She helps me think about things in new ways and she understands that making mistakes is how we learn. She holds me accountable to do my best, especially when I am rushing. She also really listens to her students. If we have an idea about something in class, she doesn’t just say no, she lets us explore it and decide if we should pursue the idea further. This year, I feel more confident as a student because Ms. Richards encourages me to put in my best effort and she challenges me to do what she knows I’m capable of. And probably even pushes me further than what I think that I can do."
“Mrs. Walz is one of the most kind, loving, and caring teachers I’ve ever known. I always knew I could count on her for anything. Mrs. Walz made it fun to learn and made so many special lessons for us. I will never forget researching Uganda [for Culture Study]."
"Every year in third grade, students are given the opportunity to try out various instruments, see which ones they like, and then choose one to learn to play. One by one, students are brought down to the band room by Mr. Schietroma, where they test out several instruments. I chose the clarinet because he recommended it to me. That was the beginning of my journey. From 3rd grade on, I played clarinet with Mr. Schietroma every week. I joined the middle school band in 4th grade led by Mr. Schietroma and immediately fell in love with playing in an ensemble. When I was in 5th grade, I picked up the bass guitar as well. When I played both, I got more into music, with Mr. Schietroma guiding me the entire way. He takes me to NYSSMA and All-County Auditions every year, and I spend nearly every day of my week seeing Mr. Schietroma in a class, a band, a rehearsal, or an ensemble, which I am happy about. He discusses the importance and difficulty of a music piece with me and gives the Rock and Jazz Ensemble the opportunity to pick their music and compose. Now that I'm in the Upper School Band, at the end of my time at Tuxedo Park School, I'm extremely glad to have had a person like Mr. Schietroma guide me through music, as he's really set up my musical career to be something wondrous. Thank you, Mr. Schietroma. I'll never forget your teachings."
“The connection between teachers and students at TPS is very strong, and it is very easy to develop meaningful relationships with your teachers. I started TPS in kindergarten and one of the first teachers I had was Mrs. Morrisohn. She was my science teacher and every time I went into her class, I was ready and excited to learn. She made her classes enjoyable and informative so, while we were having fun, we were still learning. The fun I had in science continued later with Mr. France, who was also my advisor and basketball coach. I felt very close to him because he was always there for me when I needed someone to talk to and he was fun. I also became close to Senor and Mrs. McManus because they had high expectations for me and always supported me. Having teachers like them who genuinely cared about me and my success motivated me to do well in school. Now that I'm in high school, I think about the lessons they taught me and try to do my best.”
Skip To Main Content
Home
Developing Character
Encouraging Curiosity
Fostering Confidence
Be Fair
Food Drive
Students collect food donations in support of the Community Food Pantry, just in time for the holiday season.
Each fall, the Tuxedo Park School Student Council leads a food drive in support of the Community Food Pantry, which provides much-needed food staples to families in the Sloatsburg, Tuxedo, Hillburn, and Suffern communities. Working in conjunction with their Buddy Class, each grade focuses on collecting specific food items to donate in advance of the holiday season. At the conclusion of the food drive, students gather in the gym for an assembly by a representative from the food pantry. Freshly inspired by the hard work of the food pantry volunteers, the students work together to load the collected donations into waiting cars, who then transport the donated items to the food pantry for distribution just in time for holiday celebrations with family.
Tuxedo Park School is privileged to have such a generous community that recognizes the importance of supporting the broader community, and continually makes an effort to contribute to community service projects.
Be Responsible
Kindergarten Post Office
The Kindergarten class delivers mail to TPS teachers and students.
Learning responsibility starts from a young age at Tuxedo Park School, with projects like the Kindergarten Post Office creating a strong foundation. This event is the culminating project of a unit spent learning about some of the most important people in a community: police officers, firefighters, and mail carriers. Kindergarteners experience firsthand the amount of effort and responsibility each of these crucial roles requires through visits to the local fire station and post office.
Equipped with a newfound appreciation for these community helpers, the Kindergarten class launches the Kindergarten Post Office, which has become a highlight of the TPS school year. For one week, the Kindergarten class takes turns selling their hand-drawn stamps to TPS students, teachers, and staff, collecting letters from the designated KPO drop box, and delivering letters to classrooms and offices in all parts of the school. Funds collected from stamp sales are then donated to a non-profit of the class’ choosing. Through this hands-on learning, Kindergarteners gain a better understanding of the work that goes into the systems that keep communities running, and are also able to see how that responsibility can be used to spread joy.
Be Kind
Buddy Classes
Older students meet with their younger Buddies once a month, creating lasting friendships.
For nearly 30 years, the Tuxedo Park School Buddy Class program has fostered beneficial connections between younger students and their older peers. These monthly meet-ups encourage our middle and upper school students to model kindness and patience during group or paired activities with their younger buddies, which in turn promotes those same traits in our primary school students.
As these students grow up, they carry with them those lessons and pass them along to their buddies, fostering a kind, community-oriented school environment where students across divisions greet each other in the hallways and support each other’s endeavors.
Be Inquisitive
Science Expo
Middle and Upper School students showcase their scientific knowledge during the annual Science Expo.
Students in 4th grade and up showcase their scientific knowledge during the annual Science Expo. From robotics and animal hybrid creations, to explorations of biodiversity and individualized experiments, the breadth of scientific achievement captures the curiosity, creativity, and scholarship of TPS students.
The evening always concludes with a crowd favorite: the 6th grade egg drop. Using mathematical and scientific calculations, as well as a certain amount of ingenuity, teams of 6th-graders construct contraptions with the intention of protecting an egg from a drop over the stairwell banister. With teachers, parents, and peers crowded into the main stairwell, the protective designs are put to the test, earning cheers with every successful drop until a single design proves to be the most effective.
Be Innovative
Animal Fusion Project
5th-grade students participate in a STEM Design Challenge to invent their own species
In Mrs. Masefield’s 5th Grade science class each year, students engage in a STEM Design Project called “Animal Fusion,” which involves designing a new animal using specific structural adaptations from two existing animals. Each adaptation they choose needs to meet one of the specific basic functions that animals perform to survive. This project requires students to be extremely creative, inquisitive, and flexible in order to create a new animal from scratch, including the story behind the animal’s life cycle, how and what this animal eats, feeds its young, and which distinct traits they get from the two animals. Students build their animals using hanger wire, cardboard, and plastic containers for structural support. Then they add paper mache and cloth to shape the body and paint to finish it off. They present these projects to their classes, and administrators often attend to see the students speak about the projects that they worked so hard on. Students answer questions with enthusiasm and ease, eager to tell their classmates all about the animal that they have researched, designed, and ultimately invented.
Be Creative
Music Matters
Year after year, TPS students are accepted into the All-County Band, Orchestras, and Choruses.
The music program at TPS produces highly talented instrumental performers, not just by our standards as we enjoy their school performances, but also as formally recognized individuals performing at the All-County Band and Orchestra and the NYSSMA Festival each year.
For many years, TPS has had strong representation amongst those accepted into the All-County Band, Orchestra, and Chorus in both the Elementary (4th-6th grade) and Junior High (7th-9th grade) divisions. This year was no exception, with 12 students receiving 13 placements.
At Tuxedo Park School, it’s common for students to begin instrumental lessons as early as Kindergarten, working with one of our many private music lesson instructors who collectively specialize in a variety of instruments, including piano, voice, violin, clarinet, trumpet, guitar, and drums. With music three times a week through Middle School and anywhere from two to six times per week in Upper School, it is no surprise our students are recognized locally and statewide for their superior musical abilities.
Be Prepared
World Language Assembly
Public speaking takes courage, and students meet the challenge with confidence.
Tuxedo Park School has long valued strong public speaking and communication skills. Our multi-year commitment to these critical life skills significantly builds self-confidence, self-advocacy, and self-awareness in our students. At TPS, students learn how to compose well-constructed and thoughtful essays early and deliver remarks with confidence and poise. Small-scale opportunities present themselves as young as Pre-K, and each year there are many moments to gain confidence while speaking in front of an audience. It takes deliberate instruction and a great deal of practice, which leads to students thriving in front of an audience.
One of our favorite public speaking events occurs at the beginning of each year when the World Language Department hosts a Welcome Assembly. Current sixth graders introduce our new students to the community while speaking in their world language of study. Sixth-grade students are paired with a new student who they interview about their age, town of residence, and favorite activities. They then introduce the new students and share the interview answers in both English and the target language at a whole-school assembly. The applause roars as new students beam with excitement, and sixth-grade presenters feel pride and a sense of leadership. Public speaking takes courage, and students meet the challenge with confidence.
Be Bold
Performing Arts
Students flourish under the lights, embracing the discomfort of being on the big stage.
Tuxedo Park School students engage in many forms of creative expression. Our diverse electives allow students various opportunities to develop new skills or hone existing talents. Students are encouraged to pursue an artistic passion or discover a new one. TPS is the place for students interested in performing arts who have yet to muster up the courage to try out for a drama experience.
The Spring Musical is the most significant drama performance that students and families eagerly anticipate. There are often familiar faces on stage, as students have found their love for drama, but new actors join each year, pushing themselves to be brave. What doesn't falter is the support and camaraderie between co-actors, prompting students to flourish, be bold, and embrace the discomfort of being on the big stage.
If being in the spotlight is not a student's role, there are other ways to be involved. An incredible student music pit ensemble and a student/faculty-run stage crew overseeing lights, sound, and costumes support the cast during production. All these experiences develop students' confidence and public speaking abilities.
When Tuxedo Park School faculty are asked where their favorite place on campus is, many of them will quickly reply, "
The stage
!"
This
is where the magic happens.
This
is where students step outside their comfort zone to be brave.
This
is where students surpass their family's and teachers' expectations. Our stage and these experiences stick with students long after they leave TPS, as many go on to pursue performing arts in secondary school. Being brave and stumbling builds resilience. Being brave and succeeding breeds confidence. We embed these opportunities into our curriculum, so students leave us with the character traits necessary to take on the world.
Be Courageous
TPS Ski Program
Students build confidence on the slopes, pushing the boundaries of their comfort zone.
One of our favorite long-standing traditions is our ski program, where third through ninth-grade students ski at Mt. Peter in Warwick, NY, on four Thursday afternoons during January and February. Ski buddies are an important part of TPS’ program at Mt. Peter, allowing older students to “take the lead” with younger students on the slopes. Tuxedo Park School students build confidence through trial and error, pushing boundaries and taking risks in environments outside the classroom.
Many of our students have never skied before attending TPS. On their first day at Mt. Peter, they can be both excited about trying something completely new but anxious because it's unknown, and they aren't sure what to expect. Week by week, their skiing improves with more accurate turns and fewer tumbles in the snow. As their confidence grows, so does their skiing ability, advancing from the Beginners/Bunny Slope to Green/Blue trails and finally conquering one of the Black Diamonds.
In addition, Upper School students spend three days at Gore Mountain in the Adirondacks to fine-tune their skills and build more confidence by tackling more challenging slopes while building up friendships with their classmates.
Early Education
| Every child
Embraced
Tuxedo Park School’s Early Education program provides two- and three-year-olds with a warm, nurturing environment where they feel safe, supported, and inspired to grow.
Pre-K
| Every child
Happy
Pre-K at Tuxedo Park School utilizes a developmental approach that meets children where they are, presenting opportunities to engage in new experiences and appropriate challenges.
Primary School
| Every child
Curious
Primary School students are challenged and supported to develop lasting habits of mind that approach the world with curiosity, compassion, and resilience.
Middle School
| Every child
Inspired
Our Middle School Program is designed to allow students to gain independence gradually in a supportive and nurturing environment.
Upper School
| Every child
Confident
In the Upper School’s rigorous preparatory program, students are guided to unearth meaning and approach challenges with confidence.
Freshman Year
| Every child
Ready
Being leaders as Freshmen results in confident, well-spoken, driven teenagers. Their Honors level courses demand more, and they step up to the plate knowing they are learning in a nurturing environment.
"When I came to TPS in 2020, I had to get used to the small classes. It was difficult at first, but I then discovered how much I would really benefit from this. Not only did it give me more one-on-one time with my teachers, but it allowed me to grow personal connections with them. Mrs. McManus is the perfect example. She is kind, caring, and understanding and she sees me for who I am as a person rather than just a student. She has a way of engaging her students in class and really challenging them. However, she will always be there to guide you. TPS has changed the lives of many students including myself, and the teachers here like Mrs. McManus are what makes that possible."
"Ms. Richards is a great teacher for so many reasons. She helps me think about things in new ways and she understands that making mistakes is how we learn. She holds me accountable to do my best, especially when I am rushing. She also really listens to her students. If we have an idea about something in class, she doesn’t just say no, she lets us explore it and decide if we should pursue the idea further. This year, I feel more confident as a student because Ms. Richards encourages me to put in my best effort and she challenges me to do what she knows I’m capable of. And probably even pushes me further than what I think that I can do."
“Mrs. Walz is one of the most kind, loving, and caring teachers I’ve ever known. I always knew I could count on her for anything. Mrs. Walz made it fun to learn and made so many special lessons for us. I will never forget researching Uganda [for Culture Study]."
"Every year in third grade, students are given the opportunity to try out various instruments, see which ones they like, and then choose one to learn to play. One by one, students are brought down to the band room by Mr. Schietroma, where they test out several instruments. I chose the clarinet because he recommended it to me. That was the beginning of my journey. From 3rd grade on, I played clarinet with Mr. Schietroma every week. I joined the middle school band in 4th grade led by Mr. Schietroma and immediately fell in love with playing in an ensemble. When I was in 5th grade, I picked up the bass guitar as well. When I played both, I got more into music, with Mr. Schietroma guiding me the entire way. He takes me to NYSSMA and All-County Auditions every year, and I spend nearly every day of my week seeing Mr. Schietroma in a class, a band, a rehearsal, or an ensemble, which I am happy about. He discusses the importance and difficulty of a music piece with me and gives the Rock and Jazz Ensemble the opportunity to pick their music and compose. Now that I'm in the Upper School Band, at the end of my time at Tuxedo Park School, I'm extremely glad to have had a person like Mr. Schietroma guide me through music, as he's really set up my musical career to be something wondrous. Thank you, Mr. Schietroma. I'll never forget your teachings."
“The connection between teachers and students at TPS is very strong, and it is very easy to develop meaningful relationships with your teachers. I started TPS in kindergarten and one of the first teachers I had was Mrs. Morrisohn. She was my science teacher and every time I went into her class, I was ready and excited to learn. She made her classes enjoyable and informative so, while we were having fun, we were still learning. The fun I had in science continued later with Mr. France, who was also my advisor and basketball coach. I felt very close to him because he was always there for me when I needed someone to talk to and he was fun. I also became close to Senor and Mrs. McManus because they had high expectations for me and always supported me. Having teachers like them who genuinely cared about me and my success motivated me to do well in school. Now that I'm in high school, I think about the lessons they taught me and try to do my best.”