The End of Year Gathering (EOYG) is a 5-day celebration held the last week of May every year in Lancaster, PA. Each year, families from around the globe gather to celebrate another year of academic success, and for seniors in the Diploma Program, graduation from high school!
The celebrations began on Wednesday, with around 75 people taking a day trip to Washington D.C. They made the most out of the day trip by going to three major sites: The Bible Museum, The Capitol Building, and a museum of their choosing!
On Wednesday night, students attended Bonjour Bash, where students played ice breakers, signed yearbooks, and gave lots of hugs as they exclaimed, “You have arms AND legs!!”
The next morning, diploma families connected over eggs and croissants.
The Opening Celebration was held at Calvary Church. With so many people in attendance, we continue to seek out facilities that can host us!
Field Day was indoors for the first time this year. We were thankful for the Lord’s providence as it was a very rainy day!
While the kids played, the moms fellowshipped over tea and treats! The ladies talked about the highs and lows of the year and their dreams for their kids.
After lunch, some chose to attend Noah at Sight & Sound Theatres, while others took the opportunity to rest or catch up with old friends. On Thursday evening, teachers presented the student awards, including student government, student of the year for each subject, and students going into the military (the awards will be detailed in another post!).
Friday morning was the main event: 2025 VSA Graduation! Dr. Philip Ryken, President of Wheaton College, gave the commencement speech.
That evening was La Belle Soirée: Night in Paris Gala. The students learned a few old French folk dances and sang their hearts out to every song until the very last minute of the evening!
Saturday morning was a serene painting in the park, led by art teacher Mr. Garfield, followed by shopping at the new warehouse!
We ended our Saturday with a laid-back BBQ at the Detweiler’s backyard, where we took our annual student photo! The students don’t fit on the steps anymore!
After Church on Sunday, we said goodbye with a picnic at the park. We’ll be sharing video recaps on social media, so be sure to follow along to get more insight to this beloved annual celebration!