Solstice
When my children were in Kindergarten-4th grade, they attended a loving elementary school called “The Open Classroom” (OC). Oftentimes, when describing our choice of schools, I would be asked the following question, “Are there walls in the classrooms?”. (“Yes, there are walls in the classroom”). It’s a Co-oping school. Michael and I would take turns co-organizing their on and off-campus sports program for the ENTIRE SCHOOL for the 7 years we attended.
The truth is, so many of our Salt Lake City friends stem from this period of time. Our children have retained friendships from these early grades, and we have retained friendships with their parents; a Co-oping perk!
Our favorite time of year, by far, was the Solstice celebration. Integrating several traditions from around the world, including Native American. Our children would celebrate activities with common themed messages of sharing and giving such as the children’s book Stone Soup and Otuhan in Lakota which translates to Blanket Give Away in English. (Otuhan doesn’t give away blankets, but rather a gathering of precious toys and trinkets from children in the classroom for the other children in the classroom. Together they choose which gift they desire while the one who gave it away explains why the gift is special - this can be a challenging task for a 5-9 year old!)
But I suppose it is the celebration of the Solstice Song and our Heart Dance, as I like to call it, that I loved the most about our Solstice gatherings at the Open Classroom. Our children would be collected by a Pied Piper-type co-oping parent strumming his guitar down each hallway to the tune of “Here Comes the Sun” by George Harrison. Once all the children were gathered, they would form two concentric circles on the playground; the inner circle facing the outer circle. Co-opers and teachers were welcomed to join in the circles as parents were so well-integrated into each classroom. Someone would begin singing and the signed hand gestures (heart song) would unite the two circles of teachers, students and parents. Once a single verse was sung and signed, then each circle would step to their right now facing a new person in their community. The song would cease when the circle had completed its rotation.
Solstice Song:
“May the rays of the sun be upon you,
May its peace abide in you,
May its presence illuminate your heart,
now and forever more.”
-by Hazrat Inayat Khan, Sufi blessing
(modified)
My Salt Lake Arts Academy co-PE teacher, Katherine Pioli, was a student at the Open Classroom 23 years ago. Magically, the movement to memory theory that I have been writing about throughout my previous blogs was once again demonstrated when Katherine, upon no coaxing, began singing and sign-gesturing the Solstice song as we laid eyes upon each other on our last day of school before winter break. Closing with a hug, she told me that she will never forget this blessing song. She once told me, “The Open Classroom is one of the reasons why I can teach at the Arts Academy.” She continues, “The school allows for freedom of expression through many creative outlets both in rigorous academics and in artistic interpretation.” Our school is a compilation of out-of-the-box thinkers who work with out-of-the-box teachers.
Salt Lake Arts Academy first indoor public performance since 2019 (pre COVID).
Upon getting home from our annual Solstice Celebration one year, Abigail promptly disappeared into the backyard. After about 30 minutes, I opened the backdoor to the yard space only to be greeted by a Solstice Snow Child holding a hand blown glass sun welded on a rod. Abigail was captured by the spirit of Solstice, transformed it, and brought it right back to my door.
She is our gal who often does everything without telling anybody. Although her covert behavior may be mute, she continues to express herself through art. Her Solstice gift was her Snow Child holding a rod of sunshine. She placed it by the backdoor so that we could not miss it, nor her gift to us!
James Taylor singing Yo Yo Ma’s version of George Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun”
