Festivals

For every time of year there is a festival to celebrate, each with its own activities and traditions, which set the rhythm for the children’s year. In addition, we have a number of community events in which all our families are invited to participate.

Michaelmas Term
Michaelmas – September: this is the time of dragons (made of bread) and songs telling of the strength and bravery of St Michael. Kite flying as a school community on the nearby common presents the perfect occasion to test our own strength and to appreciate the power of nature’s forces.

Then, in October, as darkness closes in and we all need to call on our inner reserves of energy, families come to watch students of all ages overcome their nerves to undertake daring deeds in the gym at the Michaelmas Challenges.

Martinmas – November: our festival of light. With the younger children, we take an evening walk by the light of lanterns which they have made themselves, singing Martinmas songs as we go. We then hear the inspiring story of St Martin, carer of the destitute and poor, before making our way quietly home to a simple meal, in keeping with the spirit of the festival.

Advent – December: on the first Sunday of Advent we hold our Advent Spiral during which those students who wish to do so walk around the spiral of greenery to light a candle from the central Christ light. This is a very moving festival, silent apart from gentle lyre music. Then, each school day until the end of term, there is a short Advent assembly to which all are welcome.

The Acorn School Christmas Fair is a wonderful event involving the whole community. Groups meet regularly beforehand to make handcrafted items (a great way to meet other parents and learn new skills), and parents are asked to help with raffles, making food, manning stalls and organising craft tables.

Carols by Candlelight is usually on the last Wednesday of term and includes contributions from the school choirs and orchestra. And on the last evening of term, the teachers’ gift to the children is the much-anticipated performance of the Oberufer Shepherds’ Play.

Spring Term
Candlemas – February: traditionally, this is the day candles are blessed for use in church for the coming year. This low-key festival is celebrated by the students and teachers by making candles, taking a candlelit walk and with songs.

Easter: activities in kindergarten and the lower school focus on transformation and new life, with Easter gardens growing on plates and the potent symbol of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. In most classes eggs are blown and beautifully decorated to take home to an Easter table.

Summer Term
May Day: the playground is decked in flowers and the children look wonderful in flower garlands and buttonholes to perform their May Pole songs and dances to celebrate the start of summer.

Whitsun: this is the festival of all things white, in keeping with the appearance of a white dove at Pentecost. Younger children at the school make doves from paper or felt and, wearing white clothes, celebrate with a picnic of white food.

St John’s Fire – June 24th: the feast of St John the Baptist and the official calendar Midsummer Day. Ancient peoples lit bonfires at this time to encourage the sun to shine and ripen their crops. We also light a blazing fire, sing songs and share a community picnic to mark this half-way point of the year.

Family Water Day – July: swimming and water sports play an important role in the culture of The Acorn School, and this full day of water-based activities for all our families, usually at a lake near Tewkesbury, is a highlight of the year.