As part of their social studies curriculum, two groups at the school have been working on learning to do long sword dancing with John. The "swords" are long, slim wood, and the dance is a series of paired and circular movements that are complex and challenging. It ends with the weaving of the swords into a star shape, which is then passed around the moving circle. Joe and Maura's third grade and Lynn and Tom's fifth and sixth grade students worked for many weeks to master the patterns. Morris dancing is a related form, and all of this arises from England's dim past. On May Day, we had a school-wide celebration that featured songs and dances by our students and by guests from Lansdowne Friends School and the Kingsessing Morris Men. It was a beautiful day and a great way to welcome in the summer!
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