Loose Leaf Notes

-The following first appeared in The Floyd Press on December 26, 2019. Families and friends of Springhouse Community School recently hosted a community Winter Solstice celebration. In a candlelit atmosphere, highlighted by holiday lights, they gathered in the school’s great hall to break bread and share songs together.

“We wanted to honor the Solstice, a time of entering the darkness, which is very much in alignment with what we do at Springhouse in creating an educational design that is orientated around one center,” said Head of School Jenny Finn. She described the time of winter darkness as a creative time for reflection.

Springhouse is a private independent school that fosters a culture of “lifelong learning where people feel true belonging to themselves, their community, and the Earth.” It serves 7 – 12 grade learners and also offers adult programs, including sacred dance. The Solstice, Soup and Song event was organized by the school’s Family Teacher Organization (PTO) as a community sharing (open to the public) and a school fundraiser, with a suggested donation of $12 for the meal.

Finn opened the celebration with a reading of a poem by Rainer Maria Rilke.  “Quiet friend who has come so far / feel how your breathing makes more space around you / Let this darkness be a bell tower / and you the bell. As you ring…”

Along with soups made by Springhouse families, bread that was donated by the community and homemade fruit crisps, students sold their culinary internship creations, wrapped for holiday gift giving. There was a 50/50 raffle with half the winning proceeds going to benefit fellow independent school, Blue Mountain School.

Following the meal, voices filled the hall with Solstice songs. Chris Wolf, Director of Learner Experience, led Springhouse staff and students in a resounding performance of shape note singing, a traditional kind of hymnal singing that has deep roots in Appalachia.