Celebrating Solstice at Farm School
As explained by the Big Kids
Winter is a time when a lot of people celebrate. The Farm School chooses to celebrate Winter Solstice because it is not a specific religious holiday like Christmas or Hanukkah. Solstice is the longest night of the year.
During the winter every year the teachers and our Music teacher, Anne come up with a theme for Solstice. After they decide on a theme, they find songs that are related to it. In Music class all the kids practice the songs over and over until they’re memorized. This past year the theme was friends and friendship, and the year before that the theme was peace. At the celebration, the Little Kids and the Big Kids perform the songs that they have learned over the past month in our music class.
A couple weeks before the celebration during Art class all the kids make presents for their friends and family. This is called Elf Workshop. The Big Kids design and teach crafts to the Little Kids. But before that, everyone makes a list of people for whom they want to make gifts. After the gifts are made, they are wrapped and put under the Friendship Tree.
On the day of Solstice there are many things to do. The Little Kids and Big Kids do a full rehearsal, like all the audience is in front of them. After that presents from the Solstice Fairy and from Elf Workshop are opened.
When the celebration starts. Everyone brings in dishes for the potluck. The families gather. The students gather together in the multipurpose room and walk on stage. The students’ nerves are high. And then it’s show time. The Big Kids and Little Kids sing their songs to the audience. It is a jaw dropping performance. After the performances we have goodbyes and speeches by the staff, then the potluck starts and the Big Kids serve the food and everyone loves it.
After everyone eats, they clean up and go home with happy feelings about winter break and sad feelings about people leaving for a long time.
To learn more about Farm School please visit our website at www.ocfarmschool.org or email us at info@ocfarmschool.org to find out how much your child can enjoy learning.
