CAP

The Co-Curricular Activities Program (CAP) offers students an opportunity to participate in a variety of activities throughout the year.

The school year is divided into three season: Fall, Winter, and Spring.

Boarding students are required to participate in one activity per season, with the exception of senior boarders who must participate in two out of the three seasons.

Students on a school sports team are not required to participate in an after school activity during the same season.

Activities offered change every semester. Some past programs include:

• Intramural Basketball– half court and full court games with new teams changing weekly.

• YMCA – use of the Holyoke YMCA fitness center and other athletic facilities.

• Yoga – learning techniques for relaxation, flexibility, strength, and balance.

• Ping Pong– a popular activity with high levels of competition.

• Walking Club– Exploring all the acreage that MacDuffie has to offer while getting to know your peers.

• Backyard Games– Cornhole, ladderball, and any other games the imagination can dream up!

Student Publications

MacDuffie’s student publications include The Magnet, The Muse, and The Magnolia.

The Magnet is our school newspaper. Students are responsible for all facets of publishing the paper. They develop content, investigate stories, prepare layout, and distribute to the community. All students are encouraged to contribute to the Magnet.

The Muse is MacDuffie’s literary magazine featuring poetry and short stories written by students. Participation in the magazine allows students the opportunity to expand creative writing and thinking skills and provides a platform to showcase their work to the community.

The Magnolia is MacDuffie’s yearbook. The yearlong elective allows interested students to learn design and publishing skills.

The Arts After-School

MacDuffie Dancers

Open to any upper school student who is serious about dance. To become a member of the MacDuffie Dancers students must audition a piece of work to be considered for the Winter or Spring Concerts. These auditions take place at the beginning of each semester. Students meet monthly to share the progress of their work and give and receive constructive criticism regarding their choreography. Students are also encouraged to dance in each other’s works. Students who participate in The MacDuffie Dancers are strongly encouraged to enroll in Modern Dance and Repertory.

School Plays

MacDuffie presents two main stage productions a year. Auditions are open to all students in the school regardless of the student’s age or experience level. The types of plays vary from year to year, but traditionally, the fall play is a comic or straight play and the spring production is a musical.  In the late spring, more experienced students often direct one-act plays.

Technical Theater

Students may learn stage management, lighting, set design and construction, make-up skills and costuming by volunteering to work behind the scenes on the school plays.

A Cappella Ensemble

This musical group is for interested students, faculty, and staff to work on singing without accompaniment.  Members help to select repertoire. An audition is required prior to acceptance.  The group is student directed.

Orchestra

This group is for faculty, students, and staff who wish to explore the jazz medium. Members must provide their own instruments (a piano is supplied), and availability depends upon interest. Improvisation, reading charts, arranging, and fulfilling specific roles within an ensemble are several areas that are addressed.