The smell of freshly popped corn lured the adults inside the gymnasium. Volunteers manned various tables outlining the basketball court with everything from tasty treats to parent sign-up sheets to math games to arts & crafts and more. Colorful fall decorations filled the walls with the center of the gym left wide open for conversation and play.
The Annual Harvest Open House at the Currier Memorial School (CMS) was back.
"It’s our first real gathering of the whole Currier family each year,” said CMS Principal Carolyn Parillo. “The students bring their siblings, parents, and grandparents to meet their teachers and see their classroom. Then we all come together in the gym and celebrate our community. It’s a night filled with pride.”
There was a bread taste-test between a homemade variety and store bought. Guess which won handily? Smokey House staff brought samples of maple syrup to be savored and offered hands-on help to the kids who made greeting cards with ink stamps, which were nature oriented, as in acorns, leaves, pears, and other fruits.
The gymnasium also served as a showcase of student work so far this year. The kids, for example, had learned about snake habitats from a guest speaker and then painted patterns on tree roots in a Folk Art tradition making them look like whimsical squirmy creatures. Currier's music teacher, meanwhile, helped students make mini-maracas or “Harvest Egg Shakers” from dried lentils, beans, popcorn, and plastic eggs.
A small petting-zoo with big appreciation from the kids was set up just outside the school building. The kids touched and crooned over a six week old Jersey calf named Briar and three year-old Maple, a miniature horse.
“I look forward to this night every year,” said Parillo. “We’re all together for the evening and then excited about moving on for the full year.”
And this, every parent and caregiver's dream remark, was heard from one enthusiastic little girl. “Grandma, I know you love to read. Let me show you our library!"
(Photo above: Students made mini-maracas or “Harvest Egg Shakers” from dried lentils, beans, popcorn, and plastic eggs.)
The bread taste-test between the homemade variety and store bought resulted in a big win for the artisanal choice.
The Currier kids touched and crooned over three year-old Maple, a miniature horse.
Harvest Open House attendees were asked to write the name of their favorite book on leaves that will decorate a tree.
Smokey House staff helped the the kids make greeting cards with ink stamps, which were nature oriented, as in acorns, leaves, pears, and other fruits.
Whimsical squirmy snakes were painted by Currier students in a Folk Art tradition and showcased at the Harvest Open House.