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.
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