photo credit: Kelsey Kobik
“Bethany taught me all my songs! I didn’t sing at the last concert but I did at this one. I knew all the words to Sally Go Round the Sun.” - Preschool student
“I didn’t know how much I would like singing this song until Bethany taught it.” Sixth-grade student
From middle school students singing rounds of "Follow me" on the FSP Bus, Puddle Jumper, to a "Peace Never ending" sing-a-long around a campfire on the 3-4 class overnight...songs that Bethany has taught students pop up consistently.
Bethany joined FSP this Fall and here are a few of her reflections from her first year:
"I remember my first community meeting, during which everyone was sitting in a circle in the courtyard. It was so heartwarming to see so many age groups together, such a clear visual for the huge span of learning and growth that happens at FSP. By the end of the year, rather than being struck by the overall scope of a full school gathering, my focus shifted into seeing all of the individual, known, loved faces of these wonderful young people."
"The beginning of the year was quiet in the music room! Younger students entered the room politely and stared at me with saucer eyes or sang in tiny little voices, while the older students ranged from open and conversational to fully skeptical, skittish at the idea that I might make them sing by themselves. (I didn't.) The younger students quickly got comfortable with musical play, lured by colorful scarves and animal-faced shakers, getting increasingly generous with their singing voices, energy and hugs. As the year went on, I felt The Great Thaw from the middle school students, where week by week, risk by risk, they relaxed and started being much more actively engaged. One of my favorite mental snapshots is a day when a sixth grade student started adding yoga poses to the round we were working on. Within minutes, that whole group was moving and singing together, and then they shared it with the other half of the class, working up to the moment when they successfully sang (and moved) in a round. They got a huge kick out of it, and my heart was soaring."
Back to teaching this year...
"I felt an overall sense of wholeness in coming back to the classroom for the first time in five years. I had a wonderful, fulfilling, tiring, joyful time being home full time, and yet I was so happy to be out in the world more, meeting new colleagues and students. Actually meeting and getting to know students at FSP, getting a sense for what moves them, helped my transition a lot. This is such a warm, welcoming place where immediately felt inspired to join in the fun and learning!"