The First Day School’s Corner of the World: October 2023
Head of First Day School, Charlotta Koppanyi
Colorful October is here… the last days of September have been amazing, with warm blue sunny skies, summer green grass, yellow and orange leaves slowly falling from the trees and squirrels gathering their acorns for the winter. I learned that this year has an abundance of acorns due to a “mast seeding event” which occurs on a regular basis, in which oak trees produce more than the usual number of acorns and to the delight of the squirrels!
September’s annual “Welcome Back to School” Potluck Picnic was well-attended and held outside in our beautiful yard. The week after we started our regular RE classes. First things first, so the Intermediate and Middle School wrote their class room covenant, signed it and posted it. If you visit either class, the students will share their class room covenant with you, ask you if you are comfortable with them and if so, sign it. You are also welcome to make suggestions to the class room covenant. I always find it interesting what agreements the students find important to address and list, and especially the wording and how they define and redefine to be sure it covers what they want it to cover.
We are starting October with World Quaker Day, Sunday, October 1, and once again, we have invited David Shiner to join us for this all-students class. Last year, Karen C. and the students wrote letters to Meetings around the world – and a few other places with a few responses coming our way. This year, we will take a look at where Quakers are in the world and learn what the term ubuntu means, https://fwcc.world/living-the-spirit-of-ubuntu-in-2023/ a term defined as I am because we are and is often referring to the a sense of community and interconnectedness through the concept that a person is a person through other persons.
On October 8, Potluck Sunday, we are celebrating Phyllis R. and her move to Michigan. Phyllis has been a big part of the Quaker community in Evanston and ILYM and had an active role in the RE program. She has been on the RE committee, taught classes, attended different trainings such as OWL and Godly Play and joined us for worship. On a personal level, Phyllis and I go back as long as I have been in Evanston. First meeting at the C.G. Jung Institute of Chicago when it was located on Maple Avenue back in the early 90’s, we then met at a Zen center around the time of the millennium and finally once again connected at EFM. She is also the one who told me to come to ILYM and experience the annual sessions, and for the last years I have been in charge of the Children’s Program at annual sessions at ILYM. Earlier this year my husband and I had the wonderful opportunity to take care of Tigerlily, her cat, for a few days and needless to say we fell in love – to the dismay of our own cats. In addition she has given us a bookcase and a few books. So, each day Phyllis is with me… Phyllis’s presence will always be at the Children’s Worship space as she donated a beautiful caned rocking chair sized for children, providing a seat for a young friend to experience community and worship, and religious education.
Sunday, October 29 the RE program will follow our tradition of pumpkin carving as a part of our RE classes for all our students and families. We will gather outside to do the carving in our beautiful fall yard, and possibly even have hot apple cider, for a friendly and fun time together. While the plan is to join the upstairs Meeting as it a 5th Sunday, please understand – and forgive – if the students are led to continue with their pumpkin carving instead.
Planning ahead…. Mark your calendar for Sunday, November 12, from 3- 5 pm for a Fire pit and Story Telling with Friends. We will be inviting a few other Friends…. More information to come from Charlotta & Karen!
Other than that… RE classes are up and running as usual and all is well. I will be in Sweden with my mom at the end of October and beginning of November and can be reached via email during that time. Members of the RE committee are, as always, available if needed. Guest teachers will teaching the Middle School on Sunday, November 5.