Festivals Observing seasonal turning points is one way our school establishes a yearly rhythm for the children and reminds us all of our connection to the natural world, with customs and traditions from cultures around the globe. The festivals of the year are celebrated as conscious nourishment for the soul and community. Festivals are celebrated with beauty and reverence evoking the mood of the event through art, music, stories, poems and songs. The concept behind this not only reflects our emphasis on the natural world, but also stems from the fact that part of our mission is to sustain a global perspective by working with the traditions of the faculty, students and families from around the world. The festivals are celebrated in different ways, some in the classroom, and some by the classes together within the school (Michaelmas, Halloween, Martinmas, Diwaali, Hannukah, St. Nicholas, Candlemas, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, Valentine’s Day and Whitsun) to name a few. At other times, we celebrate seasonal festivals and events together as a whole school community - adults and children together: The Lantern Festival and Diwaali in autumn, the Spiral of Light and Shepherd’s Play in winter and the Community Passover Seder in the spring. We also open our doors to the entire Delaware River Valley Community every winter and spring as we hold the Winter Fair and the Mayfaire festivals. These are wonderful opportunities to welcome visitors and share with them the fruits of what our school has to offer. These events enable us to reach out to our surrounding community and enjoy each other’s gifts, learning about the differences and similarities of our interests and values. It is an opportunity for our school community to be enriched by the many wonderful people who come to visit us and share their ideas and talents.