The Foyer, 2019-2020, 12

     We have just finished our first full week! We have worked hard in helping your children get organized, ordering supplies, and building habits. They have already dipped into books and they’re learning what to do with them. If you are new to Harvest, you may have questions. Please contact the teachers, especially through MySchoolWorx. We are already working as a team to ensure a smooth transition.

     If you have questions about a particular aspect of Harvest, your first chance to meet with us as a group is next Tuesday (September 3) for the Large Room Meeting at 630. We plan to talk about two things: (1) your questions and (2) The Feast.

     We have already mentioned how you can help with The Feast. Today we have some specifics. The times are 1:00 pm on Tuesday and 12:00 pm on Thursday. We have a special page with links to everything you need to know about The Feast. Please click here for more information.

     Our first handwork is going to be batik. Last year, Carrie Detwiler, our teacher who is also a talented artist, guided her class in making the batik pictured here. We’re excited about this project because it offers many elements of handwork. Students will develop a design, draw it, learn what a resist is and how it works, and paint with glue and with acrylic on cloth. Older students will sew the seam and find a clever way to dress up the string for hanging the cloth.

     Next Tuesday, our first feast of the year begins. You do not have to know anything about art or batik to help. All teachers need is a helping hand to pass out supplies and cheerful heart to encourage a child.

     We will also do our first picture study by the artist Vincent van Gogh. Each class will study a different painting by him. The paintings for the term are here and the notes for each painting are here. Over the course of weeks, classes  rotate through the paintings. You do not have to know anything about art or van Gogh. Often what happens with our helpers is that they begin to enjoy handwork or art or music or nature because of The Feast.

     Thursdays are our most critical need. We would love for you to join composer study and citizenship readings if you are curious. Our composer is Felix Mendelssohn: our playlist is here and information about the composer is here. Primary classes are reading a new book Among the Forest People by Claire Dillingham Pierson while the elementary classes are picking up where they left off from The Story of the Greeks by Helene A. Guerber. Middle and High are studying Aristides from Plutarch’s Lives.

     If you have to make a choice, please consider being a driver. At 1:00 pm on Thursday, we take most of the students somewhere. We need drivers to take a group to visit our friends at Lake Marion Nursing Home and several groups to Taw Caw Park, both of which are in Summerton. Our back-up plans are to walk in town if there aren’t enough drivers. Our Kindergarten teacher Jennifer Bauduin has graciously offered to be the contact person. Please contact her or the offices if you would like to help.

     If your child is interested in archery this year, new and old parents are invited to the archery meeting on Wednesday 9/4 at 2:30.

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