Spring Spirit, Community Spirit

The Spring Fair this year was a sunny celebration of the community. The festival included tie-dying T-shirts, live music, art sales, eco-theater, face painting, and temporary tattoos that can still be seen adorning arms and legs weeks later. 

Intrepid Parent Involvement leaders, Billy Martyn (Sequoia) and Nathalia Satsuma (Olive) spent weeks and late nights preparing for the event doing everything from laminating signs to designing posters, carting music equipment to organizing volunteers. Nathalia even stepped in as MC for the stage. And the stage itself was built the night before by Billy and his father, a retired engineer. But despite all that work they said, “the most challenging thing was narrowing down what we were going to do from all the great ideas shared by the community.”

For Billy it was a family affair, with his father, brother and mother all working the grill providing high in demand hot dogs. Even daughter Emily “enjoyed helping out at the hotdog stand and making tie dye shirts with her little sister,” recounted Billy. 

Over 50 volunteers chipped in to run the festival, including several from the elementary classes. Almost all of the Eucalyptus middle schoolers also joined in, selling coffee and pastries from the CoffeeWave, produce from the Rooftop Garden and sustainable goods from their Honesty Shop. Special thanks goes to the volunteers who did double shifts and the many who stayed longer to clean up afterwards.

One of the notable results from the fair was the money raised to protect the Japanese giant salamander. A used book sale, children’s art, and a sold-out coloring book made by the student sustainability committee contributed to the donation. 

Live music was provided by all-girl bands from Willow class and a soulful set by Eucalyptus student Moka. Head of School James and musician Lyle Carr played a crowd-pleasing set to a swaying crowd. Not many schools can boast a rock star head of school. Willow teacher Koji and parent Hiro (Ginkgo, Olive) generously donated their time setting up the music equipment and operating the sound.

Even with all the festivities, it’s the little things that children appreciate. “One student thanked us for ‘the best popcorn ever’ and we found out he ate 10 bags!” remembered Nathalia. 

Please enjoy these photo albums by the talented Jaydine and the school album by Wind. In them, the images capture just the surface of a joyful community celebrating the spring.

—Wind Edward Kim