The Winter Concert and Solstice Lantern Walk are almost upon us! Wednesday, December 21, 2022 the whole da Vinci community will gather for music, snacking, and brightening up our neighbourhood with the kids’ beautiful lanterns and songs.
For those new to the school, the lantern walk is a celebration between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice when we acknowledge the light shining within each of us; that this light needs to be fed and protected just as the light in our lanterns. We band together as a community to create light and warmth as the cold and darkness set in for the season.
The children will be making lanterns with their classroom teachers but, if you’re inspired, we encourage families to make and bring their own lantern for the walk as well! There are so many different lanterns that can be made – from quick and easy to seriously crafty! Here are just a couple of the great ideas we saw:
Schedule of Events
| TIME | DETAILS |
|---|---|
| 2:00 pm- 2:10 pm | Families arrive at the school and take a seat in the gym |
| 2:05 pm -2:10 pm | Classes will enter the gym |
| 2:10 pm -2:45 pm | Winter Concert performances |
| 2:45 pm | Classes will return to their room to prepare for dismissal & families are asked to EXIT the school for regular dismissal at 3:00 |
| 3:30 pm | Gather in the school ‘backyard’ and room 100 for potluck treats and hot apple cider |
| 3:50 pm | Principal’s Welcome and learning songs |
| 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm | Lantern Walk |
Important information
‘SNACK-LUCK’: Please bring snacks and treats for the community potluck outside after the Concert – things we can eat with our hands. Nut-free, of course!
MUGS: Please bring your own mugs for hot apple cider to cut down on disposable cups. We’ll have some extras available.
DRESS WARMLY!!
VISITOR STICKERS: For the Concert, please make sure to obtain a VISITOR STICKER at the LLPS main office to wear while in the school
ROUTE: The route will be North on Robert St. to Harbord St., West on Harbord to Major St., South on Major to College St. and then back East to Robert and North once more to the school, where we will circle onto the schools ‘backyard’ for a final song. It’s a rather magical experience and we’re hoping to enlist your help to keep the songs going and the talking to whispers!
da Vinci Lantern Walk Songs
We will be singing as we walk. Feel free to practice them at home with your children. They might be surprised that you know!
Fire’s Burning (traditional)
This will be sung as a 3-part round.
Fire’s burning, fire’s burning
Draw nearer, draw nearer
In the gloaming*, in the gloaming
Come sing and be merry
*Gloaming is an archaic term for dusk, the time of day between daylight and darkness.
Rise Up O’ Flame (traditional)
This will be sung as a 3-part round.
Rise up o’ flame
By thy light glowing
Bring to us beauty
Vision and joy
Humbly (Laurence Cole)
This song has 3 parts sung together in canon, parents can sing Part 1 over and over
Part 1: Humbly we walk here, humbly we sing here, humbly we bless this ground.
Part 2: Humbly, and with gratitude, remembering the ancient ones who walked this ground.
Part 3: Humbly, we walk this ground with the Spirit of Blessing in our hearts.
This Little Light of Mine (H. D. Loes)
This song will be sung in unison.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. x3
Let it shine. x3 (all verses in same format)
Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine…
In my brother’s heart, I’m gonna let it shine…
In my sister’s soul…
All around the world…
(quietly) This little light of mine…
(at end, repeat “Let it shine” x3 slowly)
Thanks and looking forward to celebrating with you!