A Wonderful May Day

Although the rain forced the assembly inside, spirits were still high as the community excitedly celebrated a very special May Day. As is tradition, the Beginners kicked off the festivities by dancing around the maypole.
 

The audience then sang Unite and Unite as the jester and hobby horse performed their dance. The Kindergarten class followed with a fun song and dance set to Good Golly, Miss Molly. Grade I performed a dance to Michael Jackson’s Man in the Mirror and Grade II sang and danced to Bill Staines’ River. The Grade III students, wearing leis, treated the audience to the traditional Hawaiian hula dance, Hukilau. Grade IV danced to an upbeat traditional Greek folk dance, while Grade V performed an intricate traditional Chinese stick game with instruction from Master Bing. Grade VI danced a Malian folk dance, Di Da Di, while Joh Camara led an energetic group of teachers and students on drums. Grade VII performed their traditional American square dance with Clark Baker leading the students.

 

Between the class performances, two Afro-Jazz ensembles performed: the Afro-Jazz Dance Club and the Afro Jazz Arts elective group.

 

The faculty then made their presence known by making a little noise and doing a little dance themselves, much to the excitement of the students. After the faculty finished, Head of School Mark Stanek honored longtime faculty member Jane Hardy for her 45 years of wonderful work at Shady Hill. Two seventh graders thanked Jane on behalf of all of the students she has taught and presented her with flowers.

 

The moment segued nicely into the final dance of the assembly. In two groups, the eighth grade gathered around the maypole and danced the Maypole Dance. They wound the maypole ribbons to the music of Sellinger’s Round, following in the footsteps of generations of Shady Hill graduates.

 

The assembly came to a close with the community joining together to sing the May Day Carole, another wonderful annual tradition.