Dancing Around The Maypole

By Susan Coney

First grade students from Sue Green’s class at Head O’ Meadow Elementary School held an early celebration of May Day last Friday, April 28, by dancing around a maypole decorated with colorful streamers. For more than ten years this industrious teacher has been organizing May Day celebrations that have now become a tradition at the school.

Ms Green erected a maypole, draped with multicolored streamers, outside the front entrance of the school and as parents, visitors, and other students watched, members of her class filed out of the building to place bouquets of flowers at the base of the maypole. After the procession the children held hands and formed a circle around the maypole, dancing and singing songs of spring. Later the children introduced themselves and proudly recited their own poetry.

Ms Green said the children have been studying the change of seasons throughout the year as part of the science curriculum. She explained that the children were performing an ancient celebration to welcome in warm, sunny weather. She said that first graders are at a unique stage in their lives; they come in to first grade apprehensive about being in school for a full day and not even knowing their letters or how to read and somehow reach a point during the year when they feel comfortable speaking in front of others.

She emphasized that by reciting their own poetry the children gain confidence in public speaking. Ms Green said that first grade is a time when children can still be themselves because they have not reached an age when they begin to feel self conscientious about what their peers think of them. She said, “It was so nice for the parents to take time out of their busy day to come and make the children their priority.”