Celebrating Achievement - Triangle Day School

We celebrate many aspects of our growing students, including their academic success.

From the smallest TK child tying shoes for the first time to the eighth graders who complete year-long research projects, from the teachers who travel across the country to conferences and workshops to the families who come together to share their knowledge and support, we’re a community that celebrates the human drive to learn.

While competition is not a core component of our academic program, we hold several fun competitions throughout the year (and participate in others throughout the Triangle). Our students learn the value of preparation and gain the ability to put losing in perspective, all while finding joy and showcasing some rather unique talents! These include:

The All-School Spelling Bee

Those who “opt in” participate in classroom or grade level bees, and winners in grades 1-8 are invited to the annual all-school bee, where they’re asked to use their knowledge of spelling patterns and conventions for words like unicorn, tournament, and bathypelagic. The winner of the school bee heads to Duke University for the regional competition and a possible ticket to Washington, DC, for the Scripps National Bee. Read here about Jason Sorin ’20’s remarkable run.

Pi Day

A celebration of the world’s favorite irrational number, Pi Day is a time when many students shine. Any student who memorizes and recites at least 25 digits of pi enjoys an oatmeal creme pie from Mr. Norry; last year he gave away more than 200 pies! That afternoon, grade-level champions recite what they know in pursuit of the ultimate prize: pie-ing Mr. Norry himself in front of the entire school. The current TDS record holder is Elizabeth Lamb, who recited 1,000 digits in March 2026!

Science Olympiad

Students in grades 3-8 have the opportunity to stretch their school days by participating on this academic team. “SciOly,” as it’s known around campus, is a competition with 23 team-based events in biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, and engineering. These range from conventional tests to building contraptions to solving puzzles. TDS teams in both the lower and middle school compete locally with their eyes on the state competition.

Odyssey of the Mind

Members of the Middle School Odyssey teams focus on creative problem-solving, teamwork, divergent thinking, and building self-esteem while aiming for the international competition in the spring.

Science Week

For one week in February, we collectively celebrate science in all its glory. Parents and community members teach extra science classes, hold demonstrations, and talk to our students about life as a real scientist. Lower School students are invited to create science presentations for their classes, and our Middle Schoolers present their Science Expo projects to the wider TDS community.

Battle of the Books

With teams on both the lower and middle school campuses, the “BoBsters” spend countless hours lost in many good books. Students read sixteen novels from a diverse pool of content, authors, and time periods, and they participate in quiz bowl-style competitions involving recall and reasoning about each title. Strategy, calculation, and teamwork are essential as students remember details, discuss solutions, and answer quickly to earn points.