Light & Life 2024

Dear Mead School Families,

We are pleased to announce that our long-standing curriculum tradition, known as Light & Life, will begin on Monday, December 16th.

Light & Life is a week-long celebration to commemorate the Winter Solstice, as well as discover and nurture passions that live inside each of us. Around the world, celebrations of light are occurring in various forms. Mead’s form of celebration has been in place for over five decades. 

During the week prior to our Winter Break, faculty, staff and students in Pre-K through Grade 8 step away from their usual routines, out of their comfort zones and into a week of discovery, exploration, collaboration and fun. Traditionally, the K-8 community begins each day by gathering on the stage for a themed assembly before moving into daily workshops. Our teachers have created a wide range of special workshops, designed to open up our students’ imaginations. Whether it’s cooking, dancing, singing, acting, working the soundboard, painting a picture, socializing over a friendly board game, designing a costume, or encouraging a friend, our students are engaged in activities that grow their confidence, test their skills, give them space and time to relax, tickle their funny bones, and create memories that will last them well into the future. Light & Life is as much about stretching and trying as it is about collaborating with friends and teachers in unique and delightful ways. The more we understand each other, in all of our different roles as complex individuals, the more we can expect from and appreciate one another. It is also a magical transition to Winter Break for both students and adults.

Please note that the Light & Life tradition consists of two distinct parts – the daily workshops and the evening celebration. During this evening celebration, some of the daily workshops may be represented as exhibits, but other workshops usually culminate in stage performances. The evening Light & Life Celebration will take place on Thursday, December 19th at 6:45pm in the Canning Family Theatre for The Performing Arts. You will receive information on this event closer to the date.

Joining our current students, parents, and faculty, alumni also come back in heavy numbers to reminisce, re-experience and reflect upon the profound impact this week has had upon them. This is a night that our school positively shines.

The goal of Light & Life is not to put on a perfect performance. It is for every individual to experience something new, to champion friends’ efforts, to “give it your best shot,” even if it’s hard, and maybe even a little bit scary.  It’s about cheering for all the people who have stepped onto the stage for the first time, or simply appreciating an original piece of art, designed by someone who “isn’t an artist.” It is as much about stretching and trying as it is about collaborating with friends and teachers in a unique and magical way.

Please be sure to talk about the daily Light & Life workshops with your children, and make every effort to see the Light & Life Exhibits & Performance on Thursday, December 19^th.  Doors open at 6:00 pm, enabling you to peruse the crafts and handiwork that stemmed from their workshop efforts, prior to joining us in the Theatre for the performance.  

We extend a special invitation to the families of ELC, Pre-K, and Kindergarten. Watching from their seats, students will love Light and Life Evening, and they will even know some of the songs! This evening is a wonderful way for the entire community to be together and celebrate long-held Mead School traditions. 

Happy Light and Life,

The Mead School Faculty