The First Day School’s Corner of the World: February 2021

Happy New Lunar Year! In the Chinese calendar, with its 12 animals in the zodiac, 2021 is the year of the Metal Ox. In addition to its 12-year cycle, each zodiac also circles through the five elements of the Chinese philosophy—metal, water, wood, fire, and earth—which is a fundamental aspect of their approach to medicine. With its elements, each animal enjoys a 60-year reoccurring cycle. The change of one animal to another is based on the movements of the moon. The Rat is the first animal in the cycle while the Ox is the second animal in zodiac for the simple reason that the Rat was tricking the Ox. The tale is told that the 12 animals were invited to a banquet hosted by the Jade Emperor and the order of when they arrived would decide their order in the zodiac. The Ox was doing really well on arriving first, however the Rat asked him for a ride. As they arrived together the Rat jumped off and ran to the Jade Emperor and so was the first to arrive.

Now, this contains some mathematical calculations, moral lessons, an entertaining story, philosophy, and knowledge of the five elements found in Chinese philosophy and medicine—and astrology. What a great way to learn and practice all that! The month of February is Black History Month and our students are well-versed in this topic thanks to schools, educational programs, and social events that are addressing it and have incorporated it as a part of our basic education and understanding of our history and our society. February is also “Heart Month.” Both for our physical heart with a focus on our medical health. And for our Love! We celebrate St. Valentine together with loved ones, families, friends, people, pets, and ourselves. It is also a good time to focus on what we love doing. Reflecting on how love forms us and how love can change the world. On Sunday, February 14th, we will fold in some “love” in RE by asking our students to share what they love doing and possibly something/someone they love. We will spend time together, sharing via Zoom, some love. Love for each other. Love for ourselves. Love for Life. Love for the Light within all of us. Next month it has been 12 months since COVID-19 changed how we live and do things. It has been an interesting 12 months, and it will continue to be interesting for the next 12 months. February 2020 was the last time we had pancake breakfast together and I remember how I had prepared for our St. Patrick’s Day Pancake Breakfast (weekend) and how we swiftly decided to close things down. And we all went to stay at home. In RE we are hoping to mark this 12-month anniversary with being able to gather in the EFM yard in March for a safe being together. Drinking hot cocoa and celebrating Spring Equinox! Celebrating being together! Our students in Primary have now had Camille as our Story Teller for over a month. It is great to see how Camille has grown and how she and her brother Raphael, who both grow up in Meeting, truly are role models; and how attending Meeting, as well as any religious and/or spiritual education, forms us in our thinking and being; and the impact the RE program has had on them has led them to be with us, to be a part of the program as teachers. When I see and hear our students, I wonder who of them will be our next round of teen and adolescent role models and teachers. We are also so extremely lucky to have someone like Liz Moran Kenney on our teaching team. In addition to being an amazing teacher, Story Teller and creator of story baskets and parables items, she is also our fairy visiting our students and dropping off bread dough for baking, candles, and other gifts which are part of our stories. Leaving gifts and creating connection in a time when caring connection is important and hard to establish in the ways we are used to it. Thank you! The RE program is maintaining our relationship with our students by our weekly memos, birthday cards, holiday cards, and other cards. Our fifth Sundays are important to all. We also recognize our families are “Zoomed Out” and have a lot to balance. We take one day at a time. We send Love and Light to everyone. And we hope to see you all soon again!