In these times of communicating through texts, zooms, and highly-filtered photos, the annual Currier Memorial School (CMS) Harvest Open House was a joyful in-person throw back that brought students, families and friends together for Fall inspired fun.
“Our school takes pride in playing a role that brings our community together,” said CMS Principal Carolyn Parillo. “On this night each year it’s not just students and parents who show up — brothers and sisters and even grandparents attend. The kids introduce their family to their teacher and show off their classroom before everyone heads to the gym to spend some time with old and new friends.”
Advancing the Harvest theme, local farms set up exhibits to showcase their work. “The Open House offers an opportunity to strengthen our farm to school connection,” said Parillo. “It brings the community together and celebrates what makes Vermont a beautiful place to live.”
The Davenport Family Farm raises dairy heifer cows, for instance, and in the gym they displayed three stages of cut hay that serves as animal feed. The Yoder Farm offered Dakota black popcorn for the humans. The Fisk-Haines Farm, which specializes in pork, beef and eggs, offered trays of freshly made — and delicious — deviled eggs.
No surprise that the children were drawn to a table of nose-twitching rabbits. “We haven’t named our farm yet,” explained Drea Stoddard, as she cradled an eight week old Champagne d’Argent rabbit. “But we also raise quail, beef and chickens.” The French breed of rabbits are born entirely black. After a few weeks, they begin to turn and eventually are covered in a silver coat. Stoddard also brought along a super soft Angora rabbit (Luna) ,whose wide eyes seemed to say, "Please don’t come closer."
As if French and Angora rabbits weren't enough, the Smokey House Center presented an exhibition of plant based natural fibers. The Center’s Andrea Myklebust used a wooden spinning wheel to turn flax fibers into linen thread suitable for making cloth. Not as soft as Luna’s fur, perhaps, but a functional fabric.
The students contributed to the party, too. They made fresh apple sauce and carved pumpkins. They also created artwork that wasn’t strictly Autumnal in theme, but the wow factor was both undeniable and autobiographical. Some fifty collages, one made by each Currier student, covered a gym wall. Their work began with an abstract painting, then they added a cutout of a photo of themselves taken in black and white with a point and shoot camera.
Finally, on strips of white paper applied to the canvas, they shared their answers to questions that included: Favorite food? I love? Favorite animal? I want to learn about? Someday I want to be? Responses like pizza, Mom & Dad, unicorn, spelling, and The President showed up on the canvas. Each collage told a different story.
The social gathering offered the opportunity to sneak in some important stuff. Parents were reminded of the upcoming Spirit Week November 13-17. Each day is a different dress code. Spoiler alert: Friday the 17th is Pajama Day. Students could check to see if they were signed up for the school’s dental hygiene program sponsored locally by the Stratton Foundation. Scheduled screenings start in November and Open House handouts included dental floss, toothpaste and toothbrushes.
There was even a game of chance. Players were asked to guess the number of pumpkin candies in a glass jar. The winner received … a glass jar of pumpkin candies!
As part of the gathering, attendees were asked to write their “Wish for the Year'' on a cut-out colored leaf. As the Open House started to wind down, Currier Art Teacher Gretchen Gould was already pasting the “leaf wishes" onto the limbs of the Pre-Kindergarten paper mache tree now “growing” on the wall of the school lobby. A daily reminder to make your wishes come true.
Student hand-carved pumpkins decorated the gymnasium at Currier Memorial School’s Harvest Open House.
Currier Family Support Liaison Beth Eyre instructs a youngster on the art of making applesauce by spinning a metal food mill at the Harvest Open House.
Student abstract art work created a colorful gallery wall at Currier’s Open House.
The Smokey House Center’s Andrea Myklebust demonstrates how a wooden spinning wheel turns flax fibers into linen thread suitable for making cloth.
Drea Stoddard’s rabbits were a major attraction at the Currier Memorial School’s Harvest Open House.