FESTIVALS Celebration of the rhythms of the earth and cycle of the seasons is a vital part of the school’s communal life.  Our fall Apple Fest, winter Nowell, and spring May Fest are the biggest community celebrations of the year, with parents and children participating in creating an atmosphere of festivity.  There are many all-school gatherings which are noted on our calendar.  Additional information concerning these is distributed at the appropriate time and is also available upon request.

APPLE FEST The highlight of our fall is Apple Fest, an all-community harvest celebration, held on a Saturday in mid-October.  The week before the appointed day, students spend a morning at a local orchard picking apples.  On the Friday before Apple Fest, the students and faculty spend the day preparing the feast as they happily peel and slice apples for pies and crisps, and press apples for cider.  The morning of Apple Fest the entire school community gathers to lend a hand at whipping cream, slicing French bread and cheese, pressing cider, and making applesauce.  Sweet is the air of fall!  Everyone joins in song and dance and when the food is ready, we join in a feast to remember all year long.

NOWELL Nowell is an evening festival of song held just before the holiday vacation in the Commons Building.  The program includes seasonal carols and songs, narratives, verses, and instrumental music performed by the children in grades 1 through 8 and faculty.  The festival ends with an all-community carol sing and lighting of candles.

MAY FEST At May Fest, held on the first or second Saturday in May, the Bay School community celebrates the coming of spring with Maypole dances, singing, instrumental music, games, and a potluck lunch.  May Fest provides us with an opportunity for a spring spruce-up of the school with parents, children, teachers, and friends of the school helping to plant trees and flowers.

EXTRACURRICULAR Athletic events occur both on campus and off.  Soccer and cross-country running are offered in the fall to grades 5 to 8, basketball in the winter and after school games in the spring.  These programs, overseen by the faculty, have strong parent volunteerism.  During the third week of May, the fifth grade participates in a Greek Pentathlon with other Maine Waldorf schools as a celebration of the harmonious nature of that age.