Special Events
Life at Gateway is rich and full of vitality. Memorable events, school traditions, and seasonal all-community gatherings give a sense of belonging for the younger children and bring new perspectives for the older children as they grow and mature. These traditions reinforce important values of respect, responsibility, environmental stewardship, and service to community.
Grade by grade there are special traditions too numerous to mention, but four main “Gateway Gatherings” involve the whole school, building a continuity of experience and shared memories for all the members of the Gateway community.
First Day of School Gathering
On the first day of school, everyone gathers to welcome new members of the school into the community with stories and song.
Peace and Plenty Gathering
Gateway students grow, harvest and winnow wheat in Life Lab,
in preparation for Peace and Plenty. On this special day in October,
students grind flour, knead dough, and bake bread in the outdoor wood-fired
oven, then gather to share stories, song, and homemade bread.
Renewal and Promise Gathering
Gateway’s celebration of spring centers around the sharing of children’s class-grown sprout sandwiches and also the sharing of class by class promises to help the environment.
Graduation: A Community Gathering
Gateway’s final “Gathering” is Graduation,
when the community comes together in celebration of each grade moving
up and of the matriculation of our eighth grade students. Each graduate
gives a speech of farewell, and their younger schoolmates offer them
warm wishes with farewell songs.
