Families Lead Diwali Celebration in 2nd Grade

At Parker, the parent/guardian community is more than just people showing up at pickup and drop-off. They are an integral part of the community, dedicated to volunteering and participating in the daily activities of students. Whether dedicating time at events like the Used Book Sale or lending their professional expertise to an Upper School classroom, parents/guardians are vital to the school’s success.

Another way this collaboration manifests is when families want to share a part of their life outside school. And with Diwali taking place, 2nd grade families who observe got together to plan a celebration for the whole grade.

Diwali is a time for performing religious rituals and sharing traditional Hindu stories. The holiday centers around light and the metaphorical victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. The five-day festival culminates on the third day with the Hindu New Year, which coincides with the new moon—the darkest night of the lunar month.

Working with the 2nd grade team on timing, the parent/guardian volunteers went all in to create a plan and programming for the event. They invited Gopi Engineer from Meher Dance Company to lead the first portion of this event. First, they began with a quick clap and stomp repeat to get students attentive and focused before providing information on Diwali, its impact around the globe, background on the Diwali story, details on how exactly the holiday is celebrated and some highlights during a Diwali celebration. And to drive home the connection to their classmates, each parent/guardian volunteer brought up their student to share their favorite part of Diwali. Finally, as a special treat, these parents/guardians arranged for the Meher Dance Company to perform a traditional dance. However, the company didn’t just perform; they also led the entire 2nd grade through the dance, teaching them the significance of each move.

Parker is extremely grateful to these volunteers for taking the time to plan and execute an amazing experience, sharing what happens in their own homes into Parker’s model home.

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