Festivals & Events
Festivals and community events play an integral role in the yearly rhythm at PWHS. High school students often take on lead roles as planners and participants in these yearly gatherings. In addition to our on-going traditions like the Harvest Festival in fall and May Faire in spring, we encourage additional smaller festivals within classroom communities as a way for students to share different family and cultural traditions with each other.
“Throughout the world, in all civilizations, there are celebrations reflecting nature’s rhythms, important transitions and significant moments in the life of the culture. We celebrate these to sustain and renew ourselves.
For many of us today, our busy lives and full schedules can limit the possibilities for us to participate in the marvel of the seasons. Festivals, marking the cardinal points in the year, can provide a touchstone for the cycles of the earth and renewal of the spirit. In Waldorf schools, the elements of festival—light, food, song and story—permeate the weekly school rhythm; but the cadence of the year receives its form through annual festivals of nature and humanity. We celebrate in ways that foster wonder, reverence and gratitude and nourish the future capacity to respond—to be responsible for and among the human community.”
Autumn
In autumn, Harvest Festival celebrates seasonal bounty with community gathering, dancing, singing, games and a potluck.
At the Michaél Festival, students look inwards as they immerse themselves in stories of overcoming one’s inner doubts and shadows and turning towards one’s inner light of truth and conscience.
We honor our ancestors with a Dia de los Muertos celebration and community altar.
Winter
Traditions from many cultures and eras mark this period of the year as a time to celebrate the light in the darkness of winter.
The Spiral of Light reverently and peacefully embodies this mood.
Our Winter Assembly is an ever changing presentation – a gift from the teachers to the students.
We celebrate the Lunar New Year with song, food and crafts.
Spring
The coming of spring brings our biggest festival of the year: May Faire!
All our friends from the local community and PWS family past, present and future are invited to join us as we celebrate the joy and energy of springtime.
