On Friday children at St. Paul’s Day School in Riverside celebrated Winter Festival 2019, a tradition started 12 years ago.
The nursery school, owned and operated by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, non-sectarian and open to all, aims to make learning fun.
At St. Paul’s Day School in Riverside, children enjoyed s’mores after making a colorful ice sculpture and a visit from the Greenwich Fire Dept. March 15, 2019 Photo: Leslie Yager
The theme of Friday’s event, “Learning through Play” was evident in Friday’s lesson that involved changing liquid-to-solid, made fun by adding water color paint to water and freezing it inside empty 64 oz milk or juice containers.
After the containers were cut away from the ice, dozens of big colorful pieces of ice were arranged in a sculpture in the meadow.
Longtime director of the non-sectarian nursery school Toni Natale said the tradition combines fun and learning, and said of course in mid-March it’s also nice it wasn’t snowing or pouring rain.
“We try to have two fun activities that they learn from,” Natale said.
Another highlight of the morning was a visit from members of the Greenwich Fire Dept Lt Dan Natale, who happens to be Toni Natale’s son, and Sean Murphy and “Big Mike” Jedd, who talked to the children about safety.
The firefighters reminded the children not to play on the ice, especially this time of year.
“If your dog goes out onto the ice, what do you do?” Big Mike asked. “Call 911.”
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The children were asked what they do at a crosswalk.
“Look left, right and left again,” said Kailey.
The firefighters explained to the children the reason for the different colored hoses on the truck, each with a different type of spout. They showed the safety ropes and the “jaws of life,” explaining that they are like a big pair of scissors that cut metal and glass and can spread a car apart.
The Winter Festival followed a week of March Madness at St. Paul’s Day School. From March 4-8, each day of the week had a theme. Monday was Crazy Hat Day. Tuesday was Funny Feet Day. Wednesday was Pajama Day. Thursday was Hilarious Hair Day and Friday was School Spirit Day.
More about St. Paul’s Day School is available online.
Lt Dan Natale and his son Jack at St. Paul’s Day School’s Winter Festival in Riverside. Photo: Leslie Yager
Greenwich Fire Dept’s Sean Murphy, “Big Mike” Jedd and Lt Dan Natale. Photo: Leslie Yager
Greenwich Fire Dept’s Sean Murphy Mike Jedd explained the difference betweent he different color hoses on the fire truck. Photo: Leslie Yager
The ice sculpture tradition at St. Paul’s Day School Winter Festival celebrated its 12th year. Photo: Leslie Yager
The ice sculpture tradition at St. Paul’s Day School Winter Festival celebrated its 12th year. Photo: Leslie Yager
The ice sculpture tradition at St. Paul’s Day School Winter Festival celebrated its 12th year. Photo: Leslie Yager
The ice sculpture tradition at St. Paul’s Day School Winter Festival celebrated its 12th year. Photo: Leslie Yager